The initial hearing for the impeachment of Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, will be held by the House committee.
Washington — House Republicans are moving forward with their effort to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for his handling of the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border, with their first hearing on the matter set to get underway Wednesday morning.
The House Homeland Security Committee will commence a session at 10 a.m., during which attorneys general from Montana, Oklahoma, and Missouri will provide testimony. The main topic of discussion is likely to be the effects of Mayorkas’ leadership on various states.
8-year hiatus
The Republican party has prioritized border security as a key topic leading up to the 2024 elections and aims to use it as a political advantage after an 8-year break.unprecedented number
Last year, there was an influx of migrants at the southern border.
led a delegation of more than 60 Republicans to the border. He called the trip an “eye opener,” saying they got a “first-hand look at the damage and chaos the border catastrophe is causing in all of our communities.”
The Mayorkas impeachment push
The hearing follows last year’s actions by House leaders.stalled an effort
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene attempted to push for a vote to impeach Mayorkas, but later retracted her resolution after receiving assurances from House leaders that her previous attempt would still progress at the committee level.
Greene’s proposal alleged that Mayorkas had breached federal law and the Constitution by not effectively managing the border and preventing an “invasion.”
Certain members of the Republican party expressed skepticism towards impeachment, stating that Mayorkas’ actions were not grounds for impeachment. Others preferred to postpone an impeachment vote until after the committee’s investigation was concluded.
Last week, the committee chairperson, Green, announced that the panel has completed a year-long investigation into the conditions at the border.
“The hearing will address our findings that Secretary Mayorkas’ actions and disregard for congressional mandates are the root cause of this crisis, and it is imperative that he be held accountable for failing to uphold his oath of office,” the statement read.
The investigation revealed that Secretary Mayorkas’ choices and refusal to carry out the laws approved by Congress were the underlying cause of this crisis. Therefore, it is necessary for him to be held responsible for neglecting his duty as stated in his oath of office. The hearing will focus on our discoveries and emphasize the importance of holding Secretary Mayorkas accountable for his actions.
Although the Republican-led House may impeach Mayorkas, it is doubtful that he will be found guilty in a Senate trial where Democrats hold the majority. However, his impeachment would be significant as he would be the first Cabinet member to face impeachment in almost 150 years.
During his trip to the border on Monday, Mayorkas urged Congress to address the issues with the country’s immigration system and dismissed claims that he has neglected to uphold the nation’s laws as untrue.
“I take our obligation to abide by the law very seriously,” said Mayorkas. He went on to say that during this administration, most of the migrants encountered at the Southern border have been either deported, returned, or expelled.
Mayorkas has been part of talks between the White House and a small bipartisan group of senators who have been
discussing a possible agreement on immigration policy and border security.
“After years of neglect from Congress regarding our flawed immigration legislation, Secretary Mayorkas and a group of Senators from both parties are diligently collaborating to find viable resolutions for these issues,” stated a memorandum from the Department of Homeland Security, published on Wednesday in response to the impeachment proceedings. “Rather than engaging in bipartisan efforts to repair our flawed immigration laws, the House Majority is squandering valuable time on unfounded and fruitless political assaults by attempting to impeach Secretary Mayorkas.”
Nikole Killion and Nicole Sganga both provided information for this report.
Instructions for viewing the Mayorkas impeachment hearing.
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The House Homeland Security Committee is hosting its initial impeachment hearing for Alejandro Mayorkas, the Secretary of Homeland Security.
- Date: Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024
- Time: 10 a.m.
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Watch the live broadcast on CBS News through the above player or on your mobile or streaming device.
Caitlin Yilek
Source: cbsnews.com