House seeks Mayorkas’ impeachment. Does US have control of border?

[RAY BOGAN]

The House Homeland Security Committee announced it will begin formal impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas with a hearing Wednesday, January 10. 

The committee recently concluded a nearly year long investigation into Mayorkas. They released a series of reports on what they call his dereliction of duty and the unprecedented cartel control of the southern border. 

Committee Chairman Mark Green said in a statement: “Our investigation made clear that this crisis finds its foundation in Secretary Mayorkas’ decision-making and refusal to enforce the laws passed by Congress, and that his failure to fulfill his oath of office demands accountability.”

Republicans also say Mayorkas has lied to them about the current state of immigration. One of the big points of disagreement is what constitutes operational control of the southern border? 

The committee uses the definition in the Secure Fence Act of 2006 which states: “the prevention of all unlawful entries into the United States, including entries by terrorists, other unlawful aliens, instruments of terrorism, narcotics, and other contraband.”

[Rep. Chip Roy, R-TX]

“Do we have operational control?” 

[Alejandro Mayoraks, Homeland Security Secretary]

“Yes we do.” 

[RAY BOGAN]

But Mayorkas told the Senate that in his opinion, operational controls means maximizing resources to deliver the most effective results. He called the statutory definition strict. 

[Alejandro Mayoraks, Homeland Security Secretary]

 “Under that strict definition this country has never had  operational control, but obviously a layer of reasonableness must be applied here, and looking at that definition through the lens of reasonableness we dedicate now 23,000 personnel to the border.”

[RAY BOGAN]

The Committee released transcripts of interviews with Border Patrol Chiefs for the Big Bend, Del Rio, El Paso, Laredo, Rio Grande Valley and Yuma sectors who all said, under the Secure Fence Act definition, we do not have operational control of the border. 

But the House Homeland Security Committee says DHS does not have operational control over the border, whether they use the statutory definition or not. More than 6.7 million immigrants have entered the United States illegally since Mayorkas took control in addition to 1.7 million known gotaways. 

The committee and all House Republicans say that’s unacceptable and it’s happening because the secretary refuses to enforce the law. So now, they’ll move forward with impeachment proceedings. But even if the House votes to impeach him, the Democratic controlled Senate won’t remove a Biden cabinet secretary from office. Straight from DC, I’m Ray Bogan.