The US House Homeland Security Committee disclosed on Wednesday that it had initiated its first impeachment hearing against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The House Republicans accuse Mayorkas of a breach of public trust and a failure to adhere to immigration law in light of the escalating number of border crossings.
Mark Greene, the chairman of Homeland Security Committee, labelled Mayorkas’s performance as a “gross incompetence” and an intentional violation of the established ‘parole’ policy. Greene argues that Mayorkas’ unwillingness to enforce Congressional laws directly contributes to approximately 10,000 border encounters daily.
However, Bennie Thompson, a ranking member, opposes the impeachment hearings. He argued that a Cabinet secretary cannot be impeached because of policy disagreements, reminding Republicans that impeachment is not a political tool per the Constitution. He also criticized Republicans for their reluctance to approve funds that could boost border control, in relation to the rejected White House proposal that intended to pair military aid for Ukraine with $14 billion for hiring additional border agents, asylum officers, and immigration judges.
The hearing witnessed testimonies from the attorney generals of Montana, Oklahoma and Missouri who stated that despite not bordering Mexico, they continue to face the repercussions of Mayorkas’s policies. Moreover, they purported that their states are now shouldering the brunt of drug cartels due to the federal government’s inaction. The three attorney generals unanimously agreed that Mayorkas had failed to enforce laws passed by Congress.
Legal experts, however, caution against the misuse of the impeachment process for policy disputes, emphasizing that they do not meet the constitutional threshold for impeachment of high crimes and misdemeanors. Additionally, longtime committee member Sheila Jackson Lee highlighted the absence of solid evidence against Mayorkas, criticizing her Republican colleagues for undermining the Constitution.
While the Republican-controlled House might approve the impeachment, it is unlikely that the Senate, with its slim Democratic majority, would find Mayorkas guilty of any crimes. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that Mayorkas could become the first cabinet official in nearly 150 years to undergo the impeachment process if the House does vote in favor of it.
For more details, see the full report here.