House Republicans send Mayorkas impeachment articles to Senate

WASHINGTON — The House on Tuesday sent two articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas to the Senate, forcing a trial on allegations that he has “willfully and systematically” refused to enforce immigration laws.

While the Senate is obligated to hold a trial under the rules of impeachment once the charges are walked across the Capitol, the proceedings may not last long. Democrats are expected to try to dismiss or table the charges this week, before full arguments get underway.

After delivering the articles, the Republican prosecutors appointed by House Speaker Mike Johnson (RLa.) stood in the well of the Senate. The House Homeland Security Committee chairman, Mark Green, a Tennessee Republican who is one of the impeachment managers, read the articles aloud.

Republicans want a full trial. As Johnson signed the articles Monday, he said Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer should convene a trial to “hold those who engineered this crisis to full account.” Schumer (DN.Y.) “is the only impediment to delivering accountability for the American people,” Johnson said.

After Tuesday’s ceremonial procession and presentation of the articles, the proceedings will begin Wednesday. Senators will be sworn in as jurors, turning the chamber into the court of impeachment. The Senate will issue a summons to Mayorkas to inform him of the charges and ask for a written answer. He will not have to appear.

The process could be over within hours on Wednesday. Majority Democrats say the GOP’s case doesn’t rise to the “high crimes and misdemeanors” laid out as a bar for impeachment in the Constitution, and Schumer probably has enough votes to end the trial immediately if he decides to do so. He has said he wants to “address this issue as expeditiously as possible.”

“Impeachment should never be used to settle a policy disagreement,” Schumer said. “That would set a horrible precedent for the Congress.”