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US Republican lawmakers moved closer on Wednesday to initiating impeachment proceedings against US Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The official faces accusations of failing to secure the border with Mexico amid a surge in illegal crossings over the past year.
The House Homeland Security Committee unveiled two impeachment articles last week. The first article charges Mayorkas with a "willful and systematic refusal to comply" with US immigration laws, while the second alleges that he breached the public trust by making "false statements" to Congress and the American people.
Following a marathon 15-hour debate that extended into the early hours of Wednesday, House Republicans on the committee voted to advance the articles against Mayorkas. They contend that the charges against him constitute impeachable offenses of high crimes and misdemeanors.
The articles will proceed to a vote by the full House of Representatives, although the timing of the vote remains uncertain.
The move reflects escalating tensions over immigration policies and border security, key issues that have polarized US politics in recent years. Republicans have been critical of the Biden administration's handling of immigration, particularly regarding the surge in illegal border crossings.
Impeachment proceedings against a sitting cabinet member underscore the depth of political divisions surrounding immigration policy and the broader challenges facing the US government in addressing border security and immigration reform.
As the impeachment process unfolds, it further underscores the ongoing power struggles and policy debates within the US political landscape, highlighting the complexities of governance in a deeply divided nation.
