Impeachment hearings targeting Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, led by House Republicans, stirred intense reactions on Wednesday.
Democrats and legal experts responded with skepticism, asserting that the impeachment lacks a legal foundation.
Homeland Security Committee Probes Record Border Crossings and Fentanyl Concerns
The rare proceedings, initiated by the House Homeland Security Committee, claim justification based on record-high border crossings and concerns about fentanyl trafficking across the southwest border.
Republicans argued that Mayorkas, appointed by President Joe Biden, is deserving of impeachment due to the surge in border crossing numbers and the influx of fentanyl.
They emphasized that 85% of migrants crossing under Mayorkas are released into the US, contrasting it with the 10% during the Obama administration. However, critics pointed out that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is currently holding more migrants in detention than under the Obama administration.
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Republicans Allege Crisis, Democrats Decry Political Theater
During the hearing, Texas Republican Mike McCaul expressed concern, stating, “I’ve never seen this border more out of control.” The last impeachment of a Cabinet-level official was during the Ulysses S. Grant administration.
Constitutional lawyer Frank Bowman of the University of Missouri School of Law, called as a witness by Democrats, saw no evidence justifying Mayorkas’ impeachment for “high crimes and misdemeanors.” He cautioned against using impeachment as a political weapon, emphasizing its futility in changing policy.
Democrats, including committee member Rep. Dan Goldman, criticized the hearings as a political move, with accusations of hypocrisy and a focus on problem-solving rather than political theatrics.
In November, eight Republicans blocked an impeachment vote, referring the matter back to the committee. Mayorkas was absent from Wednesday’s hearing, and Republicans have given him until the end of the day to confirm his participation in the next session.
The impeachment hearings for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas have intensified the partisan divide, with Republicans emphasizing concerns over border security and Democrats labeling the proceedings as a political show.
As the committee navigates this contentious terrain, the fate of Mayorkas and the implications for border policies remain uncertain.
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