By Casey Harper (The Central Square)
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., sent a letter Thursday to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-Calif., asking to hold a full impeachment trial for the Department of Homeland Security secretary internal Alejandro Mayorkas.
Jonhson sent the letter to Schumer saying that the articles of impeachment for Mayorkas would be delivered to the Senate on April 10.
The letter comes after the House narrowly voted last month to impeach Mayorkas, underscoring the border crisis and unprecedented illegal flow of foreign nationals and drugs into the United States since President Joe Biden took office .
Johnson said Mayorkas was impeached “for high crimes and misdemeanors, including his willful and systematic refusal to uphold the law and his breach of the public trust.”
“The evidence on both charges is clear, comprehensive, and convincing, and the House’s solemn act of impeaching the first sitting Cabinet official in American history requires prompt action by the Senate,” he added.
Specifically, Johnson and the House Republicans who voted to impeach Mayorkas argue that he has willfully refused to enforce current immigration laws and has created new immigration programs that violate those laws. Since Biden took office, more than 11 million illegal immigrants have entered the United States, overwhelming the border communities and major cities where they settle.
The border crisis has also led to the arrest of hundreds of people with known or suspected terrorist ties as they tried to enter the United States illegally, and an unknown number have managed to enter the country undetected. Fentanyl overdoses have also soared, with Mexican drug cartels exploiting the United States’ more open borders.
“He has refused to comply with the requirements of the immigration laws passed by Congress. In fact, he directed, through a series of memos, DHS employees to violate U.S. immigration laws,” Johnson said in the letter. “As a result, the Secretary is responsible for the release of millions of illegal immigrants into the country and the creation of illegal mass parole programs. During his tenure, he repeatedly lied to Congress and the American people about the scope of the crisis and his role in it. His illegal actions are responsible for the historic crisis that has devastated communities across our country, from the smallest border town in Texas to New York City.”
In his letter, Johnson went on to emphasize that Congress has the constitutional authority to impeach Mayorkas.
“We ask you to fulfill your constitutional obligation to hold this trial,” Johnson said. “The American people demand a secure border, an end to this crisis, and accountability for those responsible. Presenting articles of impeachment without ever hearing a single argument or examining a single piece of evidence would be a violation of our constitutional order and an affront to the American people.”
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott met with Johnson on Thursday in Austin to discuss the ongoing impact of the crisis at the border. According to a press release from the governor’s office, Abbott urged Johnson “to pass border security legislation that will help stop illegal crossings between ports of entry along the southern border.”
Abbott also shared details with the speaker about Operation Lone Star, Texas’ border security mission.
Syndicated with permission from The Center Square.
