Alex Brandon/AP
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testifies during a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on President Biden’s request for supplemental funding, on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2023, in Washington.
The House of Representatives voted Monday to refer a resolution to impeach Alejandro Mayorkas to the House Homeland Security Committee.
The final vote was 209-201, with eight Republicans voting with the Democrats.
The move was a late-stage move by Democrats not to try to kill the resolution outright, but to let the Judiciary Committee continue its existing investigation.
GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia filed a privileged resolution to impeach Mayorkas last week, forcing GOP leadership to schedule floor action on the measure by Tuesday.
Since retaking the House majority, Republicans have long sought to impeach Mayorkas over his handling of the Department of Homeland Security and the US border with Mexico. Greene’s latest move comes as Republicans have pushed for stricter border security provisions in any additional aid package.
A DHS spokesman criticized the effort in a statement Monday, urging Congress to “stop wasting time” and instead focus on funding the government, reforming the immigration system and passing President Joe Biden’s supplemental national security funding request. among other priorities.
“Secretary Mayorkas continues to be laser-focused on the safety and security of our nation,” the spokesman said. “This baseless attack is completely without merit and a harmful distraction from our critical national security priorities.”
This story has been updated with additional information.
CNN’s Melanie Zanona contributed to this report.