In a significant development, House Republicans have formally released two articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday. The charges focus on the administration's handling of the U.S.-Mexico border and accuse Mayorkas of "willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law" and a "breach of public trust."

The impeachment resolution, spanning 20 pages, was presented by Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee ahead of a committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday to consider the articles. The GOP has criticized Mayorkas for alleged failure to enforce immigration laws as the country witnessed a surge in migrant arrivals at the U.S.-Mexico border.

However, Democrats and the Department of Homeland Security have vehemently rejected the impeachment effort, deeming it a "baseless" political attack. They argue that Mayorkas' actions do not meet the threshold of "high crimes and misdemeanors" required for impeachment under the Constitution, citing testimonies from legal experts.

Responding to the articles, the DHS issued a 4-page memo, referring to the impeachment effort as a distraction from important national security priorities and the necessary work to address immigration laws. The memo claimed that House Republicans were more invested in campaigning on the issue rather than finding bipartisan solutions.

The first impeachment article accuses Mayorkas of "willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law," asserting that he repeatedly violated immigration and border security laws enacted by Congress. Republicans claim that such actions not only undermine the separation of powers within the Constitution but also pose a threat to national security and adversely impact communities across the country.

The second article, labeled as a breach of public trust, alleges Mayorkas of knowingly making false statements to Congress and the American people to evade lawful oversight, thereby obscuring the consequences of his refusal to comply with the law. It specifically points to Mayorkas' assertions that the border is "secure," "closed," and under DHS's "operational control," which Republicans argue contradict the reality.

Meanwhile, the DHS memo defends Mayorkas by stating that there is no basis to accuse him of lying to Congress, highlighting differences in the interpretation of the term "operational control" between the statutory definition and the internal usage within the department.

Although the GOP-controlled House may proceed with the impeachment, the chances of conviction in the Senate are highly unlikely, given the Democratic majority. To remove Mayorkas from office, a two-thirds majority vote in the Senate would be required. Nevertheless, if the impeachment moves forward, Mayorkas would become the first Cabinet official to be impeached since 1876.

This impeachment effort against Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas further deepens the divide between Republicans and Democrats over the handling of immigration and border security, amplifying the ongoing political tensions surrounding the issue.