There’s nothing surprising about the disdain with which congressional Republicans hold the Biden administration’s border policies or their determination to talk about them as often and as loudly as possible. But even given the broadest possible definition of “high crimes and misdemeanors,” the obedience shown by Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to the policies Joe Biden has laid out is far from being an impeachable offense. In February, though, the House, on a near-party-line vote, and after one aborted attempt, managed to pass two articles of impeachment pretty clearly aimed at Biden but naming Mayorkas.

This action constitutionally compelled a Senate trial of Mayorkas once the articles were formally presented by House “impeachment managers,” which happened on Tuesday. But as trial proceedings got underway on Wednesday, it was understood from the get-go that Republicans would fall far short of the two-thirds majority required for a Senate conviction.

The title of the first article of impeachment lays out the accusations against Mayorkas: “Willful and Systemic Refusal to Comply With the Law.” What that actually means is that........

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