Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) defended Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas against impeachment, hours before the months-long pro-immigration border deal effort was expected to come under fire.
Asked about the House’s efforts to impeach the embattled secretary in the midst of an unprecedented border crisis that began on Lankford’s watch, Lankford said, “To use House terminology, the Senate… You’re going to fail,” he scoffed mockingly. If it came, it would be dead by the time it arrived. ”
Lankford says House Republicans are trying to impeach Mayorkas again
“It will be rejected in the Senate. To use the language of the House, it will be dead on arrival…” pic.twitter.com/Mq4twZPzIQ
— Alan He (@alanhe) February 7, 2024
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) previously said on the House floor that Lankford’s border deal was “dead on arrival.” These comments came hours after the long-awaited deal was announced on Sunday night, confirming rumors about highly worrying pro-immigration provisions.
Lankford denied the contents of the leak, particularly the detail that the bill would allow 5,000 immigrants per day before new emergency authorizations are triggered, saying that negotiating a deal that would allow that number was “absolutely unacceptable.” It’s ridiculous.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) during a press conference at the Capitol in Washington on January 10, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Despite Lankford’s assurances, the “deal” was even worse. The threshold that would allow authorities to declare a new state of emergency is 8,500 migrant encounters per day, rather than 5,000. An average of 5,000 migrants per day would need to cross for seven days before the secretary’s powers to declare a state of emergency would be triggered.
Related Video — McConnell: ‘No Real Chance’ Open Borders Bill Passes:
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But a number of loopholes and exemptions mean immigrants don’t count toward that threshold and the president can unilaterally revoke their permits.
Lankford’s latest comments came after a controversial House vote to impeach Mayorkas failed in a deadlock on Tuesday night. Democrats forced Rep. Al Green (D-Texas) into the chamber without shoes and in a wheelchair and hospital gown, stalling the count, prompting Rep. Blake Moore (R-Utah) to support impeachment. forced a change of vote. Procedurally, the vote is no, allowing the House to take up the resolution again.
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas speaks during a press conference at the U.S. Border Patrol Station in Eagle Pass, Texas, on January 8, 2024. (John Moore/Getty Images)
Green is reportedly recovering from emergency surgery.
“I had decided to vote a long time ago, but I didn’t know how close it would be,” Green said. Said He said this in an interview from his hospital bed. new york times. “I never expected my vote to make a difference. I came because it’s personal.”
Related video — “It’s over”: Congressman Clay Higgins tells Alejandro Mayorkas to his face:
Homeland Security Committee Events / YouTube
If all members were present, Republicans would have had the vote. Congressman Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) was recovering from ongoing cancer treatment in Louisiana.
in a TV interview photographed On the day of the vote in Louisiana, Mr. Scalise supported impeachment.
Mr. Lankford continued to attack the substance of the impeachment. “Even if Mr. Mayorkas leaves, the policy will not change,” he said. “We’ll have the same president pushing the same policies as we did during the Trump administration, so we’ll see the same results.
But the House’s responsibility to impeach officials for “high crimes and misdemeanors” is not dependent on the Senate’s political will.
House Minority Leader Steve Scalise (R-Louisiana) speaks to reporters at the Capitol on April 26, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
Additionally, Republicans have made it clear that impeaching Cabinet members for breaking the law is a clear signal that the party is serious about holding accountable not just President Biden, but also whoever will replace President Biden, for misconduct. They claim that it will send a message.
After Lankford’s dance with Democrats produced a widely condemned deal, the overwhelming condemnation even led to Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) calling on Republicans to advance the bill. urged them to oppose the procedural vote. That vote is expected to be rejected Wednesday.
Meanwhile, House Republicans are expected to bring up Mayorkas’ impeachment resolution for a second vote, likely on Tuesday before a special election in New York.
Bradley Jay is Breitbart News’ Capitol Hill correspondent. Follow him on X/Twitter. @BradleyAJay.
