Politics

Rep. Pat Fallon introduces articles of impeachment against DHS chief Alejandro Mayorkas

Rep. Pat Fallon (R-Texas) introduced articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas this week, accusing the Biden administration official of “high crimes and misdemeanors.” 

Fallon filed the paperwork in the lower chamber on Monday and it has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee, headed by Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). The resolution reportedly accuses Mayorkas of having “engaged in a pattern of conduct that is incompatible with his duties,” and failing to maintain operational control of the border.

“It is unfortunate that we have gotten to this point, but it is necessary,” Fallon said in a statement.

“Secretary Mayorkas’s potential impeachment is not an accident. He has willfully abdicated his duties as Secretary of Homeland Security and actively misled Congress and the American people. To make any progress at our southern border, he must go.”

A Republican introduced articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. AP
Migration across the US-Mexico border has soared in recent months. AP

The Post asked Mayorkas Tuesday afternoon inside Mexico City’s National Palace if he had any comment on the introduction of articles of impeachment against him. Mayorkas, who had just departed meetings with President Biden and the leaders of Canada and Mexico, looked at The Post’s reporter and paused briefly before answering, “No.” His Canadian counterpart, standing next to him, flatteringly noted the succinctness of his answer.

On Sunday, Mayorkas told ABC News that he was prepared to deal with GOP-led investigations now that the House is controlled by Republicans for the first time since Biden took office. 

Pat Fallon accused Mayorkas of “high crimes and misdemeanors.”  CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Imag

“I am. I will be. And I’ll continue to do my work throughout them,” said Mayorkas.

House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) called on Mayorkas to resign back in November, arguing that the DHS chief had failed to secure the southern border, leading to an immigration crisis. McCarthy warned that Mayorkas could be impeached if he didn’t resign.

“If Secretary Mayorkas does not resign, House Republicans will investigate every order, every action and every failure and will determine whether we can begin impeachment inquiry,” McCarthy said in November 2022, during a visit to the US-Mexico border in El Paso, Texas. 

Migrant crossings at the southern border surpassed 2.4 million in 2022, breaking the previous record by more than 1 million, according to data from Customs and Border Protection.