Ian Sams, a White House spokesperson, added that “President Biden and Secretary Mayorkas will continue doing their jobs to keep America safe and pursue actual solutions at the border.”

Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) sought to accommodate the wishes of Republican colleagues in agreeing to a period of debate before moving to dismiss the case against Mayorkas.

Engaging in a full trial “would be a grave mistake and could set a dangerous precedent for the future,” he said, urging colleagues to save impeachment “for those rare cases we truly need it.”

Schumer said the first impeachment article — for “willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law” — does not allege conduct that rises to the level of a high crime or misdemeanor and is therefore unconstitutional.

Republicans began stalling by initiating a series of increasingly far-fetched motions, which failed:

— To adjourn the court of impeachment until April 30 at noon.

— To adjourn until May 1 at noon.

— To adjourn until Nov. 6 at noon — the day after the election.

Democrats pushed ahead and dismissed both impeachment articles on a vote of 51 to 49.

Along with their fellow Democrats, both senators from Mayorkas’ home state rejected his impeachment. Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) called Mayorkas an exemplary public servant and said House Republicans failed to provide a shred of evidence that he had committed impeachable offenses.

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