House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) on Sunday accused Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of “deliberately” enacting policies that led to the border crisis.
Mr Johnson made the remarks during a lengthy interview on CBS's Face the Nation, telling host Margaret Brennan there must be “accountability”. Johnson led a group of Republican lawmakers on a trip to the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas last week. He and Republican lawmakers have vowed to move forward with impeachment against Mayorkas in the coming weeks.
Johnson listed the crises occurring at the southern border, from large-scale crossings of single adult men to sex trafficking of women and children.
“Anyone in good conscience who came to see this would demand that it stop,” Johnson said.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson on Sunday accused Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of “intentionally” enacting policies that led to the border crisis. (AP)
“But these are very real and pressing issues you're talking about,” Brennan said. “Instead of impeaching the Secretary of Homeland Security, don’t we need his help because it’s a crisis?”
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Johnson responded with a laugh: “We've asked Secretary Mayorkas to do his job since he took office, and he's done just the opposite. He has repeatedly given false testimony to Congress.” .
Johnson listed the crises occurring at the southern border, from mass crossings of single adult men to sex trafficking of women and children. (John Moore/Getty Images)
“But why focus Congressional resources on pushing for impeachment when you can address real problems on the ground?” Brennan asked.
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Johnson responded that the Homeland Security Committee “systematically” investigated the border crisis and determined that Mayorkas was responsible.
Thousands of migrants, most wearing thermal blankets, wait to be processed at a U.S. Border Patrol transit center in Eagle Pass, Texas, on Dec. 19, 2023. (John Moore/Getty Images)
“I think Secretary Mayorkas is a terrible failure, but it's not because of incompetence,” Johnson said. “I believe he did this on purpose. I think these are policy decisions that he made on purpose. And I think there has to be accountability for that.”
Fox News Digital reached out to the Department of Homeland Security for comment, but there was no immediate response.
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection tracked a sharp increase in encounters with illegal aliens at the border by about 240,000 per month in the second half of 2023.
