House Republicans plan to submit the articles of impeachment against Mayorkas to the Senate on April 10

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) told Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) that the House will deliver articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the upper chamber on April 10, roughly two months after he was impeached.

In a letter sent Thursday afternoon, 12 House Republicans, including the managers who will deliver the articles, stated that “the House’s solemn act to impeach the first sitting Cabinet official in American history demands timely action by the Senate.”

“As Speaker and impeachment managers of the U.S. House of Representatives, we write to inform you that we will present to you upon the Senate’s return, on April 10, 2024, the duly passed articles of impeachment regarding Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas,” the representatives wrote. “We urge you to schedule a trial of the matter expeditiously.”

The House impeached Mayorkas on Feb. 13 by a 214-213 vote on charges that he failed to enforce U.S. immigration law. The lower chamber was expected to deliver the articles across the U.S. Capitol by the end of February, but Republicans later indicated they would wait until after Congress averted a partial government shutdown.

On Thursday, the House Republicans, timing the delivery to lawmakers’ return from a two-week recess, demanded the upper chamber follow through with a trial as Democratic leadership contemplates quashing them shortly after they are transmitted.

“We call upon you to fulfill your constitutional obligation to hold this trial,” the lawmakers wrote. “The American people demand a secure border, an end to this crisis, and accountability for those responsible. To table articles of impeachment without ever hearing a single argument or reviewing a piece of evidence would be a violation of our constitutional order and an affront to the American people whom we all serve.”

Senate procedures dictate that the upper chamber meet the day after articles have been delivered. Senators would then be sworn in as jurors, and an impeachment trial would follow, with representatives serving as the prosecution.

The Democratic-controlled Senate has floated the idea of tabling the articles, which has not been done in more than 20 impeachment hearings in the body’s history. It could also move to launch a trial committee and refer the articles to that panel.

To move on tabling the measure, Democrats would only need a simple, 51-vote majority. However, it would require that all Democrats vote straight party-line and do not defect.

The House impeached Mayorkas on charges of refusing to enforce the law and a breach of public trust. More than 8 million non-U.S. citizens have been encountered attempting to enter the United States in the three years since President Joe Biden took office — the highest figure in any three-year period.

The letter signers included House Foreign Affairs Chairman Mike McCaul (R-TX), House Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green (R-TN), Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Clay Higgins (R-LA), Ben Cline (R-VA), Michael Guest (R-MS), Andrew Garbarino (R-NY), August Pfluger (R-TX), Harriet M. Hageman (R-WY), and Laurel Lee (R-FL).

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The Department of Homeland Security has maintained that House Republicans’ effort to investigate and impeach the Cabinet official is nothing more than an election-year political sham.

“Without a shred of evidence or legitimate Constitutional grounds, and despite bipartisan opposition, House Republicans have falsely smeared a dedicated public servant who has spent more than 20 years enforcing our laws and serving our country,” DHS spokeswoman Mia Ehrenberg said in a statement following the Feb. 13 vote.

Cami Mondeaux contributed to this report.