Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Tuesday denounced “baseless” and “false” allegations leveled against him by House Republicans ahead of a key vote on articles of impeachment in the House Homeland Security Committee.
“I assure you that your false accusations will not sway me or distract me from the law enforcement and broader public service mission to which I have devoted and continue to dedicate most of my career,” Mayorkas said in a statement. Mayorkas said in a lengthy letter. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green;
The committee is meeting to advance two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas, accusing him of refusing to abide by immigration laws and betraying the public’s trust. A vote is expected later in the day, likely along party lines, with the article moving to a later House vote.
Mayorkas’ letter comes after Republicans locked horns with Democrats and the administration over pushing for the impeachment of Biden’s Cabinet secretary, with Republicans criticizing Biden’s handling of the ongoing and historic crisis at the southern border. He is accused of “neglect of duty.” The number of immigrants in 2013 was 2.4 million, but in December, the number officially reached 302,000, a new record. Republicans say massive inland releases and rollbacks of Trump-era policies have fueled the crisis.
Marjorie Taylor Greene predicts Mayorkas articles of impeachment will pass Congress without Democratic support
Congressman Mark Green, Republican of Tennessee and Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, attends a hearing of the House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday, January 10, 2024 in Washington, DC, USA. (Photographer: Graham Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
The Green majority began investigating Mayorkas’ handling of the border crisis last year, and this month held a hearing on articles of impeachment the House sent last year. These articles allege that Mr. Mayorkas has “repeatedly violated laws enacted by Congress regarding immigration and border security” and “falsely told Congress that the border is secure and closed and that DHS is in charge of border operations.” “I made a statement,” he said.
“These articles provide clear, convincing and irrefutable grounds for the impeachment of Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas,” Greene said this week. “He intentionally and systematically refused to comply with the immigration laws enacted by Congress. He deliberately and systematically refused to comply with the immigration laws enacted by Congress. “He betrayed the public’s trust. These facts are indisputable, and the consequences of his misconduct have had dire consequences for our country.”
Greene accused Mayorkas of “totally disregarding the separation of powers, which is the foundation of our constitutional republic.”
“Congress has a duty to ensure that the executive branch implements and enforces the laws we pass. But Secretary Mayorkas has repeatedly refused to do so. “It’s time for us to take action,” he said this week. “This insult to our equal branches of government, the Constitution, and the American people should be taken seriously.” said in a statement.
Instead, the administration and House Democrats are blaming the crisis on a “broken” system that needs reform and funding from Congress, and blaming Republicans for failing to provide it amid a hemisphere-wide crisis. .
“The problems with our country’s broken and outdated immigration system are not new,” Mayorkas declared in the letter.
“The last time our immigration laws were completely overhauled was in 1996,” Mayorkas said. “Our immigration laws were not simply tailored to 21st century immigration patterns.”
He pointed to statistics that show there have been 500,000 deletions since May, nearly doubling the number of deletions per day from 2014 to 2019. He also said the clearance rate was 78%, the same as the previous administration, and removal flights within the Western Hemisphere had increased significantly.
He also pointed to increased hiring of Border Patrol agents, anti-smuggling campaigns, and increased anti-fentanyl efforts that are increasing seizures of the deadly drug that kills tens of thousands of Americans each year.
“Instead, you are claiming that we have failed to enforce our immigration laws. That is false,” he said.
He also pushed back against criticism the department has received for its alleged lack of response to oversight questions from Congress, arguing instead that it has responded to Congress with testimony, witnesses and documents.
“This allegation is baseless and inaccurate,” he said.
Migrant crisis sets new record with 302,000 people encountered in December, officials admit
Migrants wait to be processed at a U.S. Border Patrol transit center after crossing the border from Mexico in Eagle Pass, Texas, on December 20, 2023. The number of migrants crossing the U.S. southern border has surged at the end of the year, overwhelming U.S. immigration authorities. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) (John Moore/Getty Images)
House Democrats also support Mayorkas on this issue. On Monday, they released a lengthy report accusing the Republican majority of abusing the impeachment process and running a “sham” process while thwarting Mr. Mayorkas’ efforts to address the border crisis.
“What is clearly missing from these articles is an actual charge of a high crime or misdemeanor, or even a shred of evidence, which is the constitutional standard for impeachment. This is not surprising, as the investigation has been thorough. “This is a shocking and factless case. They are abusing Congress’s impeachment power to appease MAGA members, score political points, and distract the American people from a Congress that does nothing.”Ranking Member Benny Thompson said in a statement.
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“Republicans don’t actually want to work on bipartisan solutions to secure the border. In fact, they have repeatedly blocked the Secretary’s efforts to secure the border and defunded the Department of Homeland Security.” Secretary Mayorkas abides by the law and respects the public’s trust.”He has served our country for more than 30 years.” The House must reject this sham resolution. ”
FOX News’ Chad Pergram, Elizabeth Elkind and Tyler Olson contributed to this report.
