United States of America - February 2024

By a narrow vote of 214 to 213, the House of Representatives impeached Alejandro Mayorkas, Homeland Security Secretary, for allegedly refusing to comply with immigration legislation and violating public confidence. It is the first time an incumbent member of cabinet is impeached. Those voting to impeach argue he has failed to secure the border with Mexico and mismanaged the growing influx of migrants. Three Republicans joined House Democrats in voting against the impeachment, considering that actions of the Homeland Secretary did not meet the threshold of “high crimes and misdemeanors” established by the Constitution. Critics consider the measure to be a partisan prosecution of the government’s immigration policies. Analysts further consider this could be a dangerous precedent for the future weaponization of impeachment to exert political pressure in cases of partisan disagreement over policy.  

Sources: National Public Radio, The Washington Post, The Guardian