On Sunday, House Republicans unveiled two articles of impeachment against Alejandro N. Mayorkas, the homeland security secretary.
Republicans accuse President Joe Biden's top immigration official of failing to uphold the law and betraying the public's trust in his management of the influx of migration at the US border with Mexico.
The House Homeland Security Committee leaders presented their arguments against Mayorkas in preparation for a Tuesday meeting to approve the charges. This sets the stage for a swift House vote, potentially as early as next month, to impeach him.
It would mark the apex of Republicans' criticisms of Biden's immigration policies and a remarkable decision considering the growing agreement among legal experts that Mayorkas's actions are not considered serious offenses.
House Republicans are strongly opposing a bipartisan border compromise that was negotiated with the help of Mayorkas and has the support of President Biden, thanks in part to encouragement from former President Donald J. Trump. House Republican lawmakers have criticized the agreement, claiming it is insufficient and expressing doubts about President Biden's ability to address migration given his previous track record.
If the allegations against Mayorkas are approved by the full House, it is highly unlikely that they will gain traction in the Democratic-led Senate. For Mayorkas to be convicted and removed, a two-thirds majority would be required, which seems unlikely to happen.
However, this would result in a captivating political event during an election year. It would essentially subject Biden's immigration record to scrutiny, as Trump, known for his strong stance on border control, aims to secure the Republican presidential nomination to challenge him.
The first impeachment article characterizes the Biden administration's border policies as a formal offense. The report alleges that Mayorkas has deliberately and consistently disregarded laws that mandate the detention of migrants by implementing policies that result in "catch and release."
This practice allows certain individuals to remain in the United States while their court proceedings are pending, and permits others from war-torn and economically devastated countries to temporarily live and work in the country. Immigration laws provide the president with significant flexibility to accomplish both.
In the second article, it is alleged that Mayorkas provided false information to Congress regarding the security of the border and impeded lawmakers' attempts to investigate him.
The Biden administration and Democrats have staunchly supported Mayorkas, asserting that his actions were lawful and honest. They contend that he fully cooperated with the GOP's investigations even prior to the initiation of an impeachment inquiry.
Critics have strongly criticized the impeachment, claiming that Republicans are using Mayorkas as a scapegoat to appease the hard right, instead of collaborating on bipartisan measures to address the border crisis, which leaders from both parties acknowledge, as per The New York Times.
The two articles represent the conclusion of an extensive investigation conducted by Republicans into the secretary's management of the border and their assertion that the administration has created a self-inflicted crisis.
Republicans argue that the administration, particularly Mayorkas, either eliminated Trump-era policies that had managed migration or implemented their own policies that incentivized illegal migration from various countries to the US through the southern border.
They also alleged that Mayorkas provided misleading information to Congress, citing his statements regarding the security of the border and the vetting process for Afghans brought to the US. Republicans highlight the increasing influx of migrants that has occasionally strained the ability of Customs and Border Protection authorities to handle and manage them.
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US-Mexico Border Crisis
The number of arrests for illegal crossings has exceeded 2 million in both of the US government's previous two budget years. In December, there was a significant increase in arrests for illegal border crossings from Mexico, marking a new record in the number of apprehensions.
Over the past budget year, the number of individuals in immigration court has increased by 1 million, resulting in a significant backlog. In the articles, Republicans claim that Mayorkas is intentionally disregarding immigration laws passed by Congress, including those that mandate the detention of migrants. They argue that his policies have led to a crisis at the border.
Mayorkas is being accused of releasing migrants without implementing effective measures to ensure their appearance in court or their removal from the country. They referenced an Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo authored by Mayorkas, which outlines the agency's enforcement priorities, as evidence of his leniency towards individuals who lack the proper authorization to remain in the country.
Critics also criticized the administration's utilization of the humanitarian parole authority, which grants the DHS secretary the power to admit specific migrants into the country. Republicans have criticized the Biden administration, claiming that it has implemented a parole program on a large scale without involving Congress.
They mentioned cities like New York, which have faced challenges due to large numbers of migrants, putting strain on housing and education systems. This serves as evidence of the financial burdens associated with immigration.
Democrats, along with Mayorkas, have contended that the administration's policies are not the sole cause of people attempting to migrate to America. They argue that this movement is a result of a larger global mass migration, driven by individuals fleeing wars, economic instability, and political repression, as per VOA News.
