In a significant development, House Republicans have put forth two articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The allegations against Mayorkas include "willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law" and making "false statements," which the GOP claims breached the public trust. The Homeland Security Committee is set to meet on Tuesday to discuss and potentially vote on these articles.

However, the unveiling of these articles has drawn criticism from the top Democrat on the committee, Representative Bennie Thompson, who accuses House Republicans of misusing their impeachment power. Thompson argues that there is a lack of substantial evidence to support the charges of high crimes and misdemeanors, which is the constitutional threshold for impeachment.

The Department of Homeland Security itself has also fiercely condemned the impeachment efforts, referring to the upcoming committee vote as a "farce" and a "distraction" from more pressing national security priorities. The agency has been preparing its response to the impeachment proceedings, characterizing the inquiry as predetermined and labeling it as "cynical and hypocritical" in a memo released recently.

The memo from the DHS emphasizes that Secretary Mayorkas is diligently executing his duties to protect the homeland and is acting within the boundaries of the law, just like his predecessors. The agency categorizes the impeachment effort as baseless and asserts that Mayorkas is committed to upholding his role amidst the criticism.

Sources familiar with the matter reveal that senior communications, legal, and legislative aides at the White House have been holding regular meetings with senior DHS leadership to align strategies. These discussions have also involved direct calls between Secretary Mayorkas and several aides of President Biden. Despite the mounting pressure and scrutiny, Mayorkas has stood firm against criticism and intends to remain in his position.

If the impeachment attempt against Secretary Mayorkas were successful, it would be an exceedingly rare occurrence. In American history, only one Cabinet official, Secretary of War William Belknap, has ever been impeached, and that was back in 1876.

As the Homeland Security Committee prepares to deliberate on the articles of impeachment against Secretary Mayorkas, the nation awaits the outcome of this consequential process that could have lasting implications for the Biden administration's border policies and the future of the DHS.