In a much-anticipated event on Capitol Hill today, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is facing House Republicans as they ramp up efforts to impeach him. The House Homeland Security Committee is holding what is likely the first of many impeachment hearings for Mayorkas.
The move comes in the wake of a tumultuous year at the border, with record-breaking encounters totaling nearly 2.5 million in fiscal year 2023 alone. Among these encounters are over 600,000 'gotaways,' individuals who managed to evade capture, as well as 249 people on the terror watch list. The situation at the border in fiscal year 2024 hasn't been any better, with CBP already reporting 34 terror watch list encounters.
Despite the mounting concerns and criticism, Senate Democrats effectively blocked Republicans' attempts to pass a resolution of no confidence against Secretary Mayorkas. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey argues that the border crisis poses a significant risk to American safety, emphasizing that eight million illegal entries have occurred under Mayorkas' watch. To put things into perspective, Bailey likened this number to the entire population of his home state of Missouri. He further contends that the surge in illegal entries is making communities across Missouri less safe.
The impeachment hearing, scheduled to commence at 10 a.m. Eastern, is expected to delve into the various aspects of Secretary Mayorkas' performance and decision-making. This critical examination will likely provide House Republicans the opportunity to formally present their concerns and potentially substantiate their calls for impeachment.
Meanwhile, on a separate note, the House Oversight Committee is currently undergoing a markup meeting. In this session, lawmakers will be addressing a contempt of Congress resolution for Hunter Biden. The resolution is a result of Biden's refusal to comply with a congressional subpoena issued last month.
As the day unfolds on Capitol Hill, tensions are high, and the focus is firmly placed on key figures involved in two distinct but equally contentious issues. The outcome of these events has the potential to shape the political landscape and have far-reaching implications for the individuals and policies under scrutiny.
