Accusations of Refusing to Follow Immigration Law and Breaching Public Trust
The House committee is currently meeting to advance two articles of impeachment against Alejandro Mayorkas, accusing him of refusing to follow immigration law and breaching public trust. A vote is expected later in the day, which will likely be along party lines. If the articles are passed, they will move to a House vote at a later date.
Republicans Accuse Mayorkas of “Dereliction of Duty” at Southern Border
Recent tensions between Republicans and Democrats have escalated over the impeachment push against Mayorkas, the Biden cabinet secretary responsible for handling the ongoing crisis at the southern border. Republicans have accused him of a “dereliction of duty” in his handling of the situation. The number of migrants at the border reached a record high of 302,000 in December, following 2.4 million encounters in FY23. Republicans argue that the crisis has been fueled by large releases into the interior and the rolling back of Trump-era policies.
Green Leads Investigation into Mayorkas’ Border Crisis Handling
Representative Green’s majority began investigating Mayorkas’ handling of the border crisis last year. This month, they have held hearings on articles of impeachment that were sent by the House last year. These articles accuse Mayorkas of repeatedly violating immigration and border security laws enacted by Congress and making false statements to Congress regarding the border’s security and DHS’s operational control.
Green Presents “Clear, Compelling, and Irrefutable Case” for Impeachment
Representative Green states that the articles of impeachment lay out a clear, compelling, and irrefutable case for Mayorkas’ impeachment. He accuses the cabinet secretary of willfully refusing to comply with immigration laws and knowingly making false statements to Congress and the American people. Green argues that Mayorkas’ actions have breached the public trust and resulted in disastrous consequences for the country.
Mayorkas Defends Himself, Cites Broken Immigration System
In response, Mayorkas has defended himself by declaring that the problems at the border stem from a broken and outdated immigration system. He states that the immigration laws have not been updated since 1996 and are not equipped to handle 21st-century migration patterns. Mayorkas points to statistics such as increased removals, apprehension rates, and efforts to combat smuggling and drug trafficking.
House Democrats Accuse Republicans of Abusing Impeachment Process
House Democrats have backed Mayorkas and accused the Republican majority of abusing the impeachment process. They argue that the impeachment push lacks evidence of high crimes or misdemeanors, the constitutional standard for impeachment. Democrats believe that Republicans are using the impeachment power to appease their political base and divert attention from their own shortcomings.