The party suffered a surprising defeat when they initially tried last week.
The Republican-led House on Tuesday night impeached Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over what they say is his failure to enforce immigration law at the southern border.
He denies that as partisan and “baseless” and Democrats argue the historic impeachment is a political ploy.
It marks just the second time in U.S. history a Cabinet official has been impeached, after William Belknap in 1876.
The articles of impeachment against Mayorkas passed 214-213, with the majority made up of all Republicans and three Republicans voting with Democrats against impeachment. Two Democrats and two Republicans did not vote.
“Alejandro Mayorkas deserves to be impeached, and Congress has a constitutional obligation to do so,” House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement. “Next to a declaration of war, impeachment is arguably the most serious authority given to the House and we have treated this matter accordingly.”
Johnson blamed Mayorkas for “fueling the worst border catastrophe in American history.”
Republicans have accused him of “willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law” and “breach of public trust” amid a surge in unauthorized migrant crossings, according to the articles of impeachment against him.
“This administration has removed, returned, or expelled more migrants in three years than the prior Administration did in four years,” DHS responded in a memo circulated ahead of Tuesday’s vote.
A department spokesperson shot back on Tuesday night, after the impeachment vote, that “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.”
“Secretary Mayorkas and the Department of Homeland Security will continue working every day to keep Americans safe,” the spokesperson said.
