In a rare move, House Republicans are considering the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as he heads to the southern border today. This action comes amidst a surge of migrants overwhelming already stretched resources. Mayorkas would only be the second cabinet secretary in the past two centuries to face impeachment, marking a significant shift for House Republicans who had previously been targeting President Biden for potential impeachment.
The border crisis has become a major campaign issue and House Republicans see Mayorkas as an easier target than the President. However, with their razor-thin majority in the House, it remains to be seen whether key swing district members will support this endeavor.
Congressman Michael Lawler of New York, who recently visited the border with Speaker Mike Johnson and more than 60 House Republicans, shared his perspective on the situation. He criticized Mayorkas for failing to uphold the Constitution and enforce immigration laws, stating that the border is currently as poor as it has ever been since President Biden took office.
Lawler accuses Mayorkas of lying to Congress about his actions and those of the Homeland Security Administration regarding border security. While specific charges have not yet been released, Lawler emphasizes the need to address the alarming situation at the border, revealing that during their visit to Eagle Pass, Texas, they witnessed a facility designed for 1,000 migrants now processing 6,000. Furthermore, only 10% of migrants are background-checked before being released into the United States within 36 hours, raising concerns about national security.
Despite the push for Mayorkas's impeachment, there are questions about how this move could impact ongoing bipartisan Senate negotiations to address the border crisis. Lawler argues that the crisis has been ongoing for three years due in large part to the policy decisions of the Biden administration. House Republicans passed H.R. 2 earlier this year as a solution, and while the Senate is currently engaged in negotiations, Lawler emphasizes the need for serious reforms to secure the border and states that certain provisions from H.R. 2 must be included in any final deal.
It remains to be seen how the impeachment proceedings will unfold and whether they will hinder or facilitate progress in finding a comprehensive solution to the border crisis. As Republicans and Democrats continue to negotiate, the fate of immigration policy hangs in the balance, with both parties realizing the need for urgent action but differing on the specifics of a viable solution.
