Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has been impeached by Republicans in a historic House vote after failing last week.

Majority House Leader Steve Scalise was back in Washington Tuesday after receiving cancer treatment, giving Republicans the necessary votes to overcome the razor-thin majority and get the impeachment over the finish line.

By a 214-213 vote, Mayorkas was the first cabinet official to be impeached since the 1870s. Mayorkas faced scrutiny from Republicans over his handling of the southern border. Several House Republicans say he committed high crimes and misdemeanors.

Things now head to the Senate, where an acquittal is almost certain (in which case, Mayorkas would not face removal from office).

President Joe Biden, in a statement, said "history will not look kindly on House Republicans" for their impeachment of the secretary of Homeland Security.

He called it a "blatant act of unconstitutional partisanship that has targeted an honorable public servant in order to play petty political games."

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices