Republican members of the Homeland Security Committee have announced their intention to initiate impeachment proceedings against Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under President Joe Biden. The announcement was made public on Sunday.
The impeachment articles, two in number, accuse Mayorkas of deliberately undermining border security measures. Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Mark Green of Tennessee, issued a statement to The Federalist. He stated that the evidence for Mayorkas’ impeachment is “clear, compelling, and irrefutable.” He accused Mayorkas of systematically refusing to adhere to immigration laws established by Congress and of breaching public trust by making false statements to Congress and the American people.
The impeachment resolution against Mayorkas was originally introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., last year. The resolution was forwarded to the House Homeland Security Committee in November. Since then, Republicans have convened two hearings in January concerning Mayorkas’ impeachment. However, Mayorkas was noticeably absent from both.
Green expressed his concern over Mayorkas’ refusal to testify, labeling it as “deeply troubling.” He stated that despite being given numerous opportunities to clarify his management of the crisis, Mayorkas has consistently defied Congress.
The charges to be formally introduced this week include “Willful and Systemic Refusal to Comply With the Law” and “Breach of the Public Trust.” These charges stem from Mayorkas’ alleged failure to provide adequate border security. According to Republicans, Mayorkas has violated his duty to ensure border security through programs that encourage unchecked migration, such as the expansion of the CBP One App.
This app, which allows migrants to schedule appointments with officials before entering the country, has reportedly been manipulated by Central American cartels to smuggle individuals across the border using virtual private networks (VPNs). Green alleges that Mayorkas’ actions have indirectly contributed to the empowerment of cartels, increased incidences of fentanyl poisonings, and a surge in terror watchlist suspects.
The unveiling of the impeachment articles comes at a time when border arrests have reached an all-time high. December saw a record number of illegal aliens encountered by U.S. border officials, exceeding 300,000. An October report from the House Judiciary Committee estimates that since Biden’s inauguration, around 1.7 million “gotaways” have entered undetected, bringing the estimated total of illegal entries under this administration to roughly 10 million.
If the impeachment is successful, Mayorkas will be only the second presidential cabinet member to be impeached. The first was William Belknap, War Secretary under President Ulysses S. Grant, who was impeached in 1876 over corruption allegations but was subsequently acquitted by the Senate.
