House to begin process to impeach the secretary of homeland security

The House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday released plans to hold its first hearing on Jan. 10 in the impeachment inquiry into Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Committee Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., said Mayorkas failed in his duty to secure the nation’s southern border and that his policies have contributed to increased illegal border crossings. Mayorkas, who attended a tour of the border with Republicans near Eagle Pass, Texas, on Wednesday, has said he’s focussed on “solutions.” United States border agents last month reported more than 300,000 encounters with migrants, according to U.S. Border Patrol. Mayorkas said Wednesday that he’ll cooperate with the impeachment proceedings.

When did lawmakers first consider impeachment? Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., in November introduced two resolutions to impeach Mayorkas. House members voted to block her first attempt, and she withdrew the second resolution after Republican leaders agreed to refer the issue to the committee. 

Dig deeper: Read Leo Briceno’s report in The Stew about the House impeachment probe into President Joe Biden.