House Republicans Impeach Homeland Security Secretary Over Border Policy, But Conviction in Democratic-Controlled Senate Seen as Unlikely

House Republicans have sent 2 articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate, launching a trial even though he is unlikely to be convicted.

Mayorkas is the first Cabinet secretary to be impeached in nearly 150 years. Republicans are targeting him over the handling of the southern border.

The Democratic-controlled Senate is expected to quickly dismiss the charges or conduct a speedy trial that ends without conviction.

Constitutional experts have said the evidence presented does not reach the bar of "high crimes and misdemeanors" needed to impeach.

Democrats blocked a bipartisan border security bill that would have given the president more authority to restrict illegal crossings, which the White House says shows Republicans aren't serious about the issue.