By Michael Hernandez
WASHINGTON (AA) - The US House of Representatives sent articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate on Tuesday where they are all but certain to be swiftly rejected.
The move by the Republican-controlled House launches a trial in the Senate that Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has vowed to rapidly conclude without a conviction or removal of the embattled Cabinet secretary. Mayorkas is the first secretary to face impeachment in about 150 years.
Tuesday's action comes after the House narrowly voted 214 - 213 in February to approve the impeachment of Mayorkas amid a surge in migrants crossing the southern US border. The Republican effort to oust him alleges that Mayorkas “willfully and systematically” failed to enforce US immigration law.
Schumer, the top Democrat who is helming the Senate, has said the articles of impeachment against Mayorkas are "absurd."
"Impeachment should never be used to settle policy disagreements," he told reporters last week.
The trial could be completed as soon as this week after the commencement of full arguments, according to reports.