The Department of Homeland Security said Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has no plans to step down after Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) called for him to resign and threatened that a Republican-led House may impeach him next year if he doesn’t.
The agency defended its record, saying Mayorkas inherited an immigration crisis and will continue to address it in response to McCarthy’s pledge to investigate the secretary. McCarthy made the announcement at the southern border Tuesday in an apparent bid to woo conservative GOP caucus members whose votes he needs to become speaker.
MAYORKAS TESTIFIES ‘ENTIRE HEMISPHERE’ IS IN ‘CRISIS’ BUT NOT US BORDER
“Secretary Mayorkas is proud to advance the noble mission of this Department, support its extraordinary workforce, and serve the American people,” the DHS said in a statement shared with the Washington Examiner. “The Department will continue our work to enforce our laws and secure our border, while building a safe, orderly, and humane immigration system. Members of Congress can do better than point the finger at someone else; they should come to the table and work on solutions for our broken system and outdated laws, which have not been overhauled in over 40 years.”
McCarthy announced in El Paso, Texas: “Today, I am calling on the secretary to resign. We cannot and must not remain in that position,” continuing that his party “will investigate every order, every action, and every failure and determine whether we can begin an impeachment inquiry.”
The move didn’t win over everyone in the hard-line House Freedom Caucus.
Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), one of several conservative members who said they will withhold their votes from McCarthy for speaker, said the vow comes out of political desperation. Biggs, who mounted a failed speaker’s bid against McCarthy last week, and a few of his allies could deny the leader the 218 votes needed to assume the top spot due to the very slim Republican majority.
“He had plenty of time to support impeachment articles against Mayorkas and was radio silent. Not even a month ago he opposed using them. The change in heart was for obvious reasons,” Biggs tweeted.
He had plenty of time to support impeachment articles against Mayorkas and was radio silent.
Not even a month ago he opposed using them.
The change in heart was for obvious reasons. https://t.co/puzTPcAmJA
— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) November 23, 2022
Firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), also a member of the House Freedom Caucus, supported the California Republican’s move. She has been vocal in recent months in her support of McCarthy, who has promised to return her committee assignments after the House voted to strip her of them.
“This should give conservatives a glimpse of the kind of Speaker Kevin McCarthy will be and why I’m supporting him,” she tweeted. “He’s demanding Mayorkas resign or face investigations leading to impeachment [because] the cartels run our border. More things like this to come.”
CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER
This should give conservatives a glimpse of the kind of Speaker Kevin McCarthy will be and why I’m supporting him.
He’s demanding Mayorkas resign or face investigations leading to impeachment bc the cartels run our borderMore things like this to come.
— Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene?? (@RepMTG) November 23, 2022
The House will vote for speaker on Jan. 3, the first day of the 118th Congress.
