U.S. Rep. Harriet Hageman was one of the 11 House Republicans to make the ceremonial walk across the Capitol on Tuesday to deliver articles of impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
Hageman is one of the impeachment managers in the case against Mayorkas, in which two articles of impeachment were brought that were then read aloud on the Senate floor. The members demanded a full trial for the first sitting cabinet secretary to be impeached by Congress.
“Secretary Mayorkas has violated his oath of office and is derelict in his obligation to keep us safe from enemies foreign and domestic,” Hageman said. “The two articles of impeachment were filed in response to his willful and systemic refusal to comply with — and violation of — federal immigration laws, and breach of the public trust.”
What’s It For?
The case against Mayorkas focuses on his job performance and handling of immigration at the southern U.S. border.
During Mayorkas’ tenure, arrests for illegal entry at the southern border increased from what was seen during former President Donald Trump’s administration, going from 1.4 million in 2021, to more than 2.3 million 2022, to more than 2.4 million in 2023. The number of people not turned back or apprehended also tripled during this time.
During his tenure, the immigration court backlog has increased, as has the quantity of the drug fentanyl U.S. Customs and Border Protection has seized, up to 27,000 pounds in 2023.
Many Democrats have criticized these points as policy differences and unimpeachable issues.
“The secretary is not being impeached due to ‘differences in policy,’” Hageman said. “He has committed multiple impeachable offenses and must be held accountable.”
Will It Happen?
A two-thirds majority vote would be needed to convict Mayorkas in the Senate, an unrealistic threshold given that Democrats hold the majority in that chamber and are solidly opposed to the impeachment efforts.
Senate Democrats have made it clear that they want to curtail a lengthy trial in favor of a quick vote to dismiss the charges against him.
“The Senate has an obligation to hold a trial, to hear evidence presented and to seriously deliberate after the evidence is heard,” Hageman said. “This is not theater; it is a solemn duty that has been followed in all 21 prior impeachments. Now is not the time for the Senate to set precedent or be derelict in its duty.”
Mayorkas said he hasn’t paid attention to the impeachment efforts.
“When I say that I am not focused on the impeachment proceedings, I actually mean it,” Mayorkas said, according to The New York Times. “I will say this, that it is my hope that my time is not taken away from my work.”
On Tuesday, Mayorkas presented his agency’s budget request to Congress, requesting more money to enforce border laws and increase staff. He said that over the past 11 months, his agency has returned or removed more than 630,000 illegal immigrants from the United States.
Leo Wolfson can be reached at leo@cowboystatedaily.com.
