House Homeland Security Committee Chair, Rep. Mark Green, announced on Sunday that the committee will hold its first impeachment hearing into Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on January 10th. This move escalates the committee’s push against the Cabinet official and marks a significant development in the ongoing debate over immigration policies at the southern border.
According to Green, the American people have long demanded an end to the crisis at the Southwest border and called for Congress to hold those responsible accountable. The committee’s comprehensive investigation into the causes and consequences of the crisis has revealed that Mayorkas’ decision-making and refusal to enforce laws passed by Congress are at the root of the problem.
“The bipartisan House vote in November to refer articles of impeachment to my committee only served to highlight the importance of our taking up the impeachment process – which is what we will begin doing next Wednesday,” Green stated. The hearing, titled “Havoc in the Heartland: How Secretary Mayorkas’ Failed Leadership Has Impacted the States,” will focus on the impact of the growing influx of illegal immigrants on Midwestern states.
If Mayorkas is impeached, he would be the first Cabinet secretary to receive such a mark since 1876, underscoring the gravity of the situation. However, the impeachment push has faced criticism from DHS spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg, who called it a baseless political exercise that distracts from critical national security priorities. Ehrenberg emphasized that Mayorkas and the Department of Homeland Security remain committed to keeping Americans safe.
Mayorkas’ handling of the crisis at the southern border has been a subject of concern for congressional Republicans. With hundreds of thousands of migrants crossing into the U.S., the situation has spiraled out of control. Customs and Border Patrol sources reported over 276,000 migrant encounters near the end of December, setting a new record for monthly crossings.
House Republicans have been pushing for Mayorkas’ impeachment, but their efforts have faced challenges. In early November, the House GOP moved to impeach Mayorkas, but the effort was tabled by eight Republicans who joined Democrats. This defeat highlighted divisions within the party regarding border security and asylum overhaul legislation.
The upcoming impeachment hearing and the subsequent decision could have far-reaching implications for the Biden administration’s immigration policies and the overall approach to border security. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how Democrats and Republicans will navigate this politically charged issue.
Houston Keene, a politics writer for Digital, contributed reporting to this article.
