House Republicans to present impeachment articles against Alejandro Mayorkas to Senate

House Republicans on Tuesday are expected to formally present their articles of impeachment against Alejandro Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary, to the Senate, part of the party’s attempt to force an election-year showdown with the Biden administration over immigration and border security.

In February, House Republicans bypassed skepticism within their own ranks and unified Democratic opposition to narrowly approve two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas, making him the first sitting cabinet official to be impeached.

Democrats, who control the Senate, have signalled their plans to quickly dispense with the articles, arguing that the politically charged impeachment amounts to little more than a policy dispute with the administration, a far cry from the high bar of “high crimes and misdemeanors” outlined in the constitution. A two-thirds majority is needed to convict Mayorkas, which would be impossible without the support of some Democrats.

Eleven Republican impeachment managers will transmit the articles to the Senate in a ceremonial procession, crossing the rotunda of the US Capitol to inform the Senate they were ready to prosecute the secretary for “willful and systemic refusal” to enforce border policies and a “breach of public trust”.

The House speaker, Mike Johnson, initially delayed the delivery of the articles to focus on funding legislation to avert a government shutdown. Then the transmission was delayed again after Senate Republicans asked for more time to strategize ways to ensure a Senate trial.

Republicans are pressuring Democrats to hold a full trial.

“We call upon you to fulfill your constitutional obligation to hold this trial,” Johnson and the 11 Republican impeachment managers wrote in a letter to