House Republicans are set to pursue the impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security under President Joe Biden, accusing him of "egregious misconduct and refusal to enforce the law" regarding immigration policies and the southern border.
The House homeland security committee, following a bipartisan vote, will conduct hearings in the coming weeks after investigating Mayorkas's role in the border crisis.
A spokesperson stated that the first hearing is scheduled for January 10, and the move comes after a failed attempt in November to pass a resolution for Mayorkas's impeachment. Conditions at the US-Mexico border have deteriorated, with a backlog of 3 million asylum cases. Republicans have made immigration a central issue in federal government funding and aid to Ukraine talks.
Mayorkas expressed his willingness to cooperate with impeachment proceedings and emphasized the need for additional resources, personnel, and technology to address border security and streamline the asylum adjudication process.
The Department of Homeland Security accused Republicans of pursuing a baseless political exercise, distracting from critical national security priorities. The move highlights the ongoing political battles over immigration in a presidential election year.