The House Homeland Security Committee is opening an investigation into what members call Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ “dereliction of duty.” Committee Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., said they will consider making an impeachment recommendation to the Judiciary Committee when the investigation is over.
“The legal basis is the violation of the law, lying to Congress, those are all dereliction of duty,” Chairman Green told reporters.
According to the committee, this investigation is focused on determining whether Mayorkas has violated his oath, failed to carry out his constitutional obligations to the homeland and been derelict in his duty.
Multiple House Republicans have already introduced impeachment resolutions against Mayorkas, but they have not moved forward. Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., has cautioned that he does not want an impeachment to appear political.
“We’ve asked him point blank, please resign,” Rep. Clay Higgins, R-La., said of Mayorkas. “And yet he stubbornly remains in place, continuously comes before Congress and lies.”
Democrats on the committee criticized the investigation.
“You don’t start with a conclusion and then look for evidence unless you’re simply engaged in political gamesmanship,” Rep. Dan Goldman D-N.Y., said.
Mayorkas has said he’s not going to resign and will remain focused on his job.
“I am focused on the work of the Department of Homeland Security. I will continue to focus on that work throughout my tenure,” Mayorkas said on CNN’s State of the Union.
Republicans blame Mayorkas for record immigration at the southern border which they call a national security, humanitarian and public safety disaster.
Since the Biden administration began, 5.2 million people have crossed illegally which critics contend has led to record profits for cartels participating in human and drug smuggling. Republicans also criticized Mayorkas and the administration for ending measures like Migrant Protection Protocols and border wall construction.
The investigation is expected to take about three months.
