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On April 17, 2024, the U.S. Senate dismissed two articles of impeachment againstU.S. Secretary of Homeland SecurityAlejandro Mayorkas. In two votes along party lines, with Democrats supporting and Republicans opposing the motions, the Senate voted that the allegations in the articles of impeachment did not meet the definition of high crimes and misdemeanors.^[1]

TheU.S. House of Representatives voted to approve two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas on February 13, 2024. The vote was 214-213, with 214 Republicans voting in favor. Three Republicans, Reps.Michael Gallagher (R-Wis.),Ken Buck (R-Colo.),Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), and 210 Democrats voted against impeachment. This was the second time the articles of impeachment were put up for a vote, following a failed vote on February 6, 2024. The House transmitted the articles of impeachment to the U.S. Senate on April 16, 2024.

The articles of impeachment alleged that Mayorkas "willfully and systemically refused to comply with the immigration laws, failed to control the border to the detriment of national security, compromised public safety, and violated the rule of law and separation of powers in the Constitution" and breached the public trust "by knowingly making false statements to Congress and the American people and avoiding lawful oversight in order to obscure the devastating consequences of his willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law and carry out his statutory duties."^[2]

Mayorkas responded to theHouse Committee on Homeland Security's vote to approve the impeachment articles, saying, "I assure you that your false accusations do not rattle me and do not divert me from the law enforcement and broader public service mission to which I have devoted most of my career and to which I remain devoted."^[3]

Rep.Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) introduced the articles of impeachment on November 13, 2023. The articles were amended by theHouse Committee on Homeland Security, and passed the committee in a vote along party lines, with all Republicans voting in favor, on January 31, 2024.^[2]

This was the first time the House voted on articles of impeachment against a Cabinet secretary since 1876. In 1876, Secretary of War William Belknap was impeached for "criminally disregarding his duty as Secretary of War and basely prostituting his high office to his lust for private gain."^[4][5]

On this page you will find:

• A timeline of proceedings
• An overview of the House vote on articles of impeachment
• Text of the articles of impeachment
• An overview of the impeachment process

Timeline

• April 17, 2024: Senators were sworn in as jurors.^[6] In two votes along party lines, with Democrats supporting and Republicans opposing the motions, the Senate voted that the allegations in the articles of impeachment did not meet the definition of high crimes and misdemeanors. The Senate then voted 51-49 along party lines to adjourn the impeachment.^[1]
• April 16, 2024: The House transmitted the articles of impeachment to the Senate.
• February 13, 2024: The House voted a second time on the articles of impeachment, approving them in a 214-213 vote.^[2]
• February 6, 2024: The House voted against articles of impeachment. The vote was 214-216.^[2]
• January 30-31, 2024: TheHouse Committee on Homeland Security amended the articles of impeachment and approved them in an 18-15 vote along party lines.^[2]
• November 11, 2023: Rep.Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) introduced articles of impeachment against Mayorkas.^[2]

U.S. Senate votes to dismiss articles of impeachment

On April 17, 2024, the U.S. Senate dismissed the articles of impeachment against Mayorkas. In two votes along party lines, with Democrats supporting and Republicans opposing the motions, the Senate voted that the allegations in the articles of impeachment did not meet the definition of high crimes and misdemeanors.^[1]

Vote to dismiss first article of impeachment

The Senate voted 51-48 to approve the motion to dismiss the first article of impeachment.

• 48 Democrats voted yes.
• Three independents who caucus with Democrats voted yes.
• One Republican, Sen.Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) voted present.
• 48 Republicans voted no.^[1]

Vote to dismiss second article of impeachment

The Senate voted 51-49 to approve the motion to dismiss the second article of impeachment.^[1]

• 48 Democrats voted yes.
• Three independents who caucus with Democrats voted yes.
• 49 Republicans voted no.^[1]

U.S. House votes on articles of impeachment

February 13, 2024, vote

On February 13, 2024, the House voted in favor of impeaching Mayorkas for willfully and systemically refusing to comply with the immigration laws and breaching the public trust. The vote was tied, and a simple majority was required to approve the articles of impeachment.

• 214 Republicans voted yes.
• Three Republicans voted no:
  • Reps.Michael Gallagher (R-Wis.),Ken Buck (R-Colo.), andTom McClintock (R-Calif.).
• 210 Democrats voted no.
• Two Republicans, Reps.Brian Mast (R-Fla.) andMaria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.), did not vote.
• Two Democrats, Reps.Judy Chu (D-Calif.) andLois Frankel (D-Fla.), did not vote.

February 6, 2024, vote

On February 6, 2024, the House voted against impeaching Mayorkas for willfully and systemically refusing to comply with the immigration laws and breaching the public trust.

• 214 Republicans voted yes.
• Four Republicans voted no:
  • Reps.Michael Gallagher (R-Wis.),Ken Buck (R-Colo.),Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), andBlake Moore (R-Utah).
• 212 Democrats voted no.
• One Republican, Rep.Steve Scalise (R-La.), was absent and did not vote.

Media commentary

The section below provides media commentary in response to the impeachment.

Articles of impeachment

The section below provides the text of the articles of impeachment.

Overview of impeachment process

See also:Impeachment of federal officials

TheUnited States Congress has the constitutional authority to impeach and remove a federal official from office—including the president—if he or she has committed an impeachable offense. Impeaching and removing an official has two stages. First, articles of impeachment against the official must be passed by a majority vote of theU.S. House of Representatives. Then, a trial is conducted in theUnited States Senate potentially leading to the conviction and removal of the official.^[12]

In most impeachment trials, the vice president presides over the trial. However, in impeachment trials of the president, the chief justice of theU.S. Supreme Court presides. In order to remove the person from office, two-thirds of senators that are present to vote must vote to convict on the articles of impeachment.^[12]

Process for impeachment and conviction

The following two charts show the process for impeachment, which begins in the U.S. House with the introduction of an impeachment resolution and a committee inquiry conducted by theUnited States House Committee on the Judiciary. If the committee adopts articles of impeachment against the official, the articles will go to a full floor vote in the U.S. House.

When articles of impeachment are adopted by the U.S. House, the process moves to the U.S. Senate where senators will either acquit or convict the official following a trial.

See also

• Impeachment inquiry into Joe Biden, 2023
• Impeachment of Donald Trump, 2021
• Impeachment of Donald Trump, 2019-2020
• Impeachment of federal officials

Footnotes