AUSTIN, Texas — At the state and federal level, Texas Republicans slammed Senate Democrats for dismissing the impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday.

What You Need To Know

  • The Senate trial of Mayorkas lasted less than a day, and Republicans including Sen. Ted Cruz criticized Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s decision to dismiss the charges before arguments could be heard

  • Cruz argued that Mayorkas and, by extension, President Joe Biden had ignored federal and Texas law with their immigration policies. Mayorkas was impeached by the House in February over the Biden administration’s handling of the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border

  • Sen. John Cornyn said in his remarks after the vote that Mayorkas and the Biden administration have refused to enforce immigration laws

  • Two Texas representatives were tapped as House impeachment managers to make their case to the Senate — Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, and Rep. August Pfluger, R-San Angelo. 

The Senate trial of Mayorkas lasted less than a day, and Republicans including Sen. Ted Cruz criticized Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s decision to dismiss the charges before arguments could be heard. 

“The majority leader’s position is asking members of the Senate to vote on political expediency to avoid listening to arguments,” said Cruz in a speech on the Senate floor following the vote. “The only rational way to resolve this question is actually to debate it, to consider the Constitution and consider the law.” 

Cruz argued that Mayorkas and, by extension, President Joe Biden had ignored federal and Texas law with their immigration policies. Mayorkas was impeached by the House in February over the Biden administration’s handling of the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border. 

Back in December, illegal border crossings reached an all-time high of 250,000, but they have fallen in the months since. 

The two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas argued that he refused to enforce existing law and breached public trust by lying to Congress, saying that the border was secure. 

Sen. John Cornyn said in his remarks after the vote that Mayorkas and the Biden administration have refused to enforce immigration laws. 

“[Mayorkas] violated the public trust by repeatedly lying under oath to Congress and the American people, and he must be held responsible for his actions,” said Cornyn. “By rejecting the articles of impeachment, Senate Democrats have disregarded their duty to the American people, while setting an unfortunate precedent in order to sweep the Biden administration’s failing border policies under the rug.”

Two Texas representatives were tapped as House impeachment managers to make their case to the Senate — Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, and Rep. August Pfluger, R-San Angelo. 

McCaul said in a post on X, formerly Twitter, he was proud to represent Texas as an impeachment manager and wanted a Senate trial. 

After the quick proceedings, McCaul blasted Schumer and Senate Democrats for refusing to hear arguments in the case. 

“Today will go down in history as the day Senate Dems abandoned their constitutional responsibility, defied centuries of precedent and failed the American people,” said McCaul in an X post. 

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott also took to X to post his response to the dismissal. 

“If Sec. Mayorkas will not be held accountable for refusing to follow federal law, why should ANY American be accountable for refusing to follow federal law?” Abbott said in the post. “The Senate sets a double standard for Americans. You will reap what you sow.”

Biden and Democrats had argued that the impeachment of Mayorkas was unconstitutional, and Schumer called the proceedings a political show. They argued Congress should instead be focused on border security reforms.