The Republican Party has threatened Alejandro Mayorkas’ impeachment since early 2022. Among others, Josh Hawley, Mayra Flores, Ted Cruz, and Lindsey Graham were some of the congressmen who floated this idea ahead of the midterm elections. After claiming a majority in the House of Representatives and making a first attempt in January, it appears they will finally go after the Secretary of Homeland Security.
Republicans on the House Homeland Security Committee gave notice that they will review Mayorkas’ performance through a five-phase plan to be completed in about 11 to 12 weeks. The initiator of the measure was committee chairman Mark Green (R-TN), who asserted that “his policies have resulted in a humanitarian crisis this country has never seen.”
“Today’s hearing will begin the process of digging into all of the details—the cause and effect of Alejandro Mayorkas’ dereliction of duty. I hope the American people will listen intently. I hope the press will report this, honestly. I hope that the president of the United States, the commander in chief charged with the security and protection of this country, will listen. He can’t possibly know of all of these failures of Mayorkas and have not fired him already,” the congressman added in a statement.
🚨Preliminary report on Secretary Mayorkas' dereliction of duty🚨
This Committee is fulfilling its congressional oversight duties and shining a light on the reckless policy decisions that created the worst border crisis in American history.https://t.co/ZdCI2OKizJ pic.twitter.com/lvmy3hSa1g
— House Homeland GOP (@HomelandGOP) June 14, 2023
The process is the first step to the ultimate goal: dismissing Mayorkas. Green’s statement was followed by a hearing titled “Open Borders, Closed Case: Secretary Mayorkas’ Dereliction of Duty on the Border Crisis.”
However, within the GOP, there is no consensus on this measure, which would mark the first impeachment attempt on a Biden Administration official since it began in January 2021. Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is one of the most skeptical about it. “I know people are very frustrated with [Mayorkas],” McCarthy told CNN last month, although he clarified that no impeachment process should be conducted “for political reasons.”
The investigation initiated by Green will now move to another panel and eventually end up with Jim Jordan (R-OH), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.
