Holding Mayorkas accountable

By U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer
R-Missouri

Washington, D.C. – If you fail your basic responsibilities, lie to everyone, and actively put others in harm's way, would you lose your job? For most Americans, the answer is, “yes.”

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is yet another Biden administration official who has avoided accountability after egregious malpractice. The president seems to think people in his circle should be immune to the same expectations everyone else faces every day.

Sec. Mayorkas failed to secure our southern border. Worse, he lied to the American people about his failures and obstructed oversight investigations.

As Americans mourned the loss of loved ones due to fentanyl and human trafficking, Sec. Mayorkas violated detention requirements and misused parole authority to implement a catch-and-release scheme— which allowed illegal immigrants to roam about the country undeterred.

Under oath, he falsely claimed to have the border under control, until the situation grew so dire he had to reverse course and insist he never said it. Sec. Mayorkas also declared, “the border is no less secure than it was previously,” a flat-out, blatant lie thanks to his and President Biden’s flimsy enforcement of immigration laws.

As for Sec. Mayorkas’ obstruction, he has neglected to answer TWO subpoenas for documents related to the pressing crisis. I’ll ask again, what do you think would happen to you if you disregarded a subpoena?

Based on a thorough, fair, and comprehensive investigation into the causes, costs, and consequences of the unprecedented border crisis, evidence pointed to Sec. Mayorkas as a central figure in the disaster. Accordingly, the House of Representatives acted this week to impeach him.

For every American who has suffered due to Sec. Mayorkas’ agenda, I hope this measure of accountability brings some satisfaction, though I fully understand it does not make up for what is lost.

From here, the Senate will take up the issue and decide if he will lose his job. With a hard-lined Democratic majority, which has refused to work across the aisle to pass legislation in recent months, it’s hard to imagine the Senate will do the right thing.

Still, the House of Representatives – the People’s House – has sent a clear message. We expect public officials to serve with honesty, integrity, and responsibility. The Biden border crisis rages on, and I will continue pushing for swift, effective action.

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