The House of Representatives sent the articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the Senate on Tuesday (April 16).

The House impeached Mayorkas in February by a 214-213 vote for his failure to handle the migrant crisis at the southern border.

Mayorkas is just the second cabinet official to be impeached by the House.

It is unclear what will happen next. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is hoping to dismiss the charges as quickly as possible.

"We're ready to go whenever they are. We are sticking with our plan. We're going to move this as expeditiously as possible," Schumer said last week after Republicans delayed sending the impeachment articles to the Senate.

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers are demanding a full trial in the Senate.

"It would be beneath the Senate's dignity to shrug off our clear responsibility and fail to give the charges we'll hear today the thorough consideration they deserve," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said. "I'll strenuously oppose the effort to table the articles of impeachment and avoid looking at the Biden administration border crisis squarely in the face."

Jim Fisher