Republican lawmakers in the United States House of Representatives are intensifying their efforts to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the ongoing border crisis. Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has announced plans to hold a House-wide vote on the matter “as soon as possible,” citing willful ignorance and active undermining of immigration laws by President Biden and Mayorkas. The speaker emphasized that the issue of illegal immigration is a pressing concern for American voters, with polls indicating strong support for stricter border security measures.
Johnson’s letter to colleagues also reiterated the House GOP’s support for Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who is engaged in a tense standoff with the federal government at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Republican party vows to vigorously oppose any policy proposals from the White House or Senate that would encourage illegal immigration.
Meanwhile, bipartisan negotiations on border security between the Senate and White House, which Mayorkas has been involved in, are facing significant challenges. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., expressed uncertainty about the possibility of reaching a border deal within the next 24 to 48 hours. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., leading talks for the GOP, acknowledged the delays in text proposals but remained hopeful for progress.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) spokesperson responded to Johnson’s letter, accusing the House Majority of engaging in baseless and political attacks instead of working towards bipartisan solutions. The spokesperson emphasized Mayorkas’ role in the negotiations to address the border crisis.
However, lawmakers from both parties in the House have cautioned that any border deal reached in the Senate may not be easily accepted in their chamber. Speaker Johnson has publicly and privately demanded measures similar to those outlined in H.R.2, the border security bill passed by House Republicans in May, which includes policies from the Trump-era like the “Remain in Mexico” policy. Democrats have deemed this bill a nonstarter.
Republicans have expressed skepticism about Mayorkas’ involvement in the negotiations, blaming him and President Biden for the current border crisis. The GOP-led House Homeland Security Committee is expected to advance articles of impeachment against Mayorkas in the coming week. However, Republicans are demanding concessions on border security in exchange for their support of Democrats’ $106 billion supplemental funding request for Ukraine.
As tensions escalate between Republicans and Democrats over immigration policies, the fate of Mayorkas and the border crisis remains uncertain. The impeachment push by Republicans underscores their determination to address what they perceive as a failure by the Biden administration in handling immigration issues.
