The Case for Impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas

Contact Your Elected Officials
The Heritage Foundation Header

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  1. The crisis that has unfolded over the past two years on our southwest border has had far-reaching and deadly consequences.
  2. The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has even stated that DHS cannot mass parole immigrants into the country, but Mayorkas has expanded the practice.
  3. Mayorkasโ€™s actions have directly contributed to a historic border crisis, the consequences of which continue to affect every city and state in the country.

The crisis that has unfolded over the past two years on our southwest border has had far-reaching and deadly consequences.

Regardless of oneโ€™s opinions about illegal immigration or immigration reform, we should all agree that the suffering and devastation it has caused, for Americans and migrants alike, demands accountability.

Through the power of impeachment, the Constitution provides it.

Previous generations have typically refrained from wielding that power in all but the most egregious cases. Sadly, the actions of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas demand that Congress take this rare step.

Impeachment was not designed to settle political scores or policy differences. It is reserved for holding public officials accountable when they violate the law, abuse the power of their office or are dishonest with the American people or Congress.

Our colleagues at The Heritage Foundation recently laid outย a clear and compelling legal caseย for Mayorkasโ€™s impeachment along these lines.

First, he has deliberately defied many of the laws he is supposed to execute.

For example, Mayorkas has violated numerous provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), which governs much of U.S. immigration law. He has instructed Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials to mass-parole illegal immigrants into the country, in violation of the statute that dictates parole is to be granted โ€œtemporarilyโ€ and โ€œonly on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.โ€

Theย Fifth Circuit Court of Appealsย has even stated that DHS cannot mass parole immigrants into the country, but Mayorkas has expanded the practice.

DHSโ€™s newest parole program alone will admit as many as 360,000 Haitians, Cubans, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans per year, clearly violating the statute. The most significant effect of these parole policies has been the mass release of individuals into the country who would otherwise have no legitimate claim to enter.

This has encouraged widespread abuse of the asylum system, which has been a driving force behind the crisis, incentivizing millions of individuals to make the journey in hopes of filing a claim and gaining release into the U.S. All this despite data showing that around 90 percent of those claiming asylum do not get relief.

Mayorkas has further defied duly passed laws by restricting Immigration and Customs Enforcement from deporting individuals in the U.S. illegally. His own guidance even dictates that an individualโ€™s presence in the country illegally โ€œshould not alone be the basis of an enforcement action against them.โ€

Second, Mayorkas has abused the power of his office. Through his unlawful policies, he has encouraged millions of individuals to cross the border illegally, most of whom place themselves in the vicious hands of the drug cartels to do so.

He has made clear that anyone who makes a โ€œcredible fearโ€ asylum claim, legitimate or not, will be released into the U.S., knowingly encouraging and facilitating widespread asylum fraud. Mayorkas is a veteran DHS official who knows the data on these claims and yet continues to look the other way, allowing the system to be exploited.

And he has authorized the use of taxpayer funds to transport illegal immigrants throughout the country, often under the cover of darkness, effectively completing the cartelsโ€™ work by ferrying individuals from the border to their final destination.

Third, he has repeatedly lied about his policies and their consequences. In March 2021,ย he told Fox News, โ€œThe border is secure, the border is closed.โ€ In July 2022, he told the Aspen Security Forum, โ€œLook, the border is secure.โ€ On Nov. 15, 2022, he told the House Homeland Security Committee the same thing.

He has even told Congress that DHS maintains โ€œoperational control of the border.โ€

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) hasย recordedย more than 5.5 million encounters since Joe Biden took office. Another 1.2 million โ€œgot-awaysโ€ have evaded Border Patrol altogether and are now at large in the U.S. Among them are violent criminals, including murders, pedophiles, gang members and drug dealers. Fentanyl is now theย leading cause of deathย for Americans 18-45.

As Border Patrol agents are pulled off the line to process the historic flows of illegal immigrants, large areas of our nationโ€™s borders are increasingly vulnerable for the cartels to exploit. CBP has recovered more than 1,500 dead migrants on U.S. soil on Bidenโ€™s watch, another ghastly record.

No objective person would continue to claim the border is secure. DHS does not have operational control. Mayorkas knows this.

Finally, he has knowingly misled the public about the conduct of his own agents who were falsely accused of โ€œwhippingโ€ Haitian migrants in Del Rio, Texas.

Mayorkasโ€™s actions have directly contributed to a historic border crisis, the consequences of which continue to affect every city and state in the country.

His โ€œhigh crimes and misdemeanorsโ€ are โ€œacts committed by public officials, using their power or privileges, that inflicted grave harm on our political order.โ€ Thatโ€™s the definition from the House Judiciary Committeeโ€™s 2019 impeachment of former President Trump. That standard certainly applies today.

The case is compelling. The Constitution provides the means. Our public conscience demands accountability.

By Mark Morgan and Tom Homan

Read Original Article on Heritage.org

The Heritage Foundation
The Heritage Foundationhttps://www.heritage.org/
The Heritage Foundation formulates and promotes public policies based on free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional values, and strong national defense.

Hereโ€™s What the USโ€™ Security Guarantees For Ukraine Might Look Like

Western security guarantees for Ukraine are one of the main issues delaying a political resolution to the conflict. Russia launched its SMO primarily in response to NATO-emanating threats from Ukraine.

The Cost of Anger

I will not write much here. There are no words I can say. I only wish to remember those forgotten casualties, the unseen cost of the current antagonism in America.

Another Mass Trans Shooter Not to be Discussed

Robin (Robert) Westman was identified by police as the suspect behind a shooting at a Catholic school that left two children dead and 17 others injured.

AI Techno-Hell Roundup: The Birds and the Bees

In addition to total supplantation of human labor, AI is also doing a number on homo sapiensโ€™ psychological welfare โ€” seducing lonely techno-serfs.

Flagged for Burning

Trump ordered AG to enforce laws against flag desecration focusing on flag burning linked to violent crimes, property destruction or other illegal activities.

TransUnion Reports Data Breach Affecting 4 Million American Consumers

TransUnion LLC, Chicago-based credit-reporting firm, announced a data breach involving personal information of 4.4 million consumers throughout the US.

Trump Suggests Holding Republican National Convention in 2026

President Trump may call on the RNC to host a Convention midway through his presidential term, sometime before congressional elections in 2026.

US Economy Grew 3.3 Percent In Q2, Beating Prior Estimate

U.S. economy expanded at a 3.3% annualized pace in second quarter of 2025 with rate of growth exceeding earlier estimate and signaling economic strength.

New Mexico Man Diagnosed With Plague in Stateโ€™s First Case This Year, Say Officials

New Mexico health officials confirmed first human case of plague in the state in 2025, occurring in a 43-year-old male who recently went camping.

Trump Says He Will Protect Social Security Amid Potential Congressional Cost-Cutting Proposals

Trump said his admin will protect Social Security and Medicaid, when asked which programs he would want to see cut in a congressional reconciliation bill.

DHS Proposes Revamp of Student and Exchange Visas, Citing Fraud and Abuse

The Dept of Homeland Security on Aug. 27 posted a draft version of proposed changes to temporary visas for overseas students and exchange visitors.

Trumpโ€™s 50 Percent Tariff on India Takes Effect

President Trumpโ€™s additional 25% tariff on India became effective at midnight on Aug. 27, bringing the total rate to 50% on many imports entering the US.

RFK Jr. Says HHS Will Disclose Causes of Autism in September

During a cabinet meeting Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. vowed to announce the causes of autism by September.
spot_img

Related Articles