Top Republicans question Mayorkas’ role, blast border crisis response

Greater than 50 Republican members of Congress blasted Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ response to the rising border disaster over the weekend, questioning his actions within the function and “suitability for workplace.” 

In a letter despatched to the secretary on Sunday, the lawmakers claimed his actions have dismantled “the safety of our nation’s southern border” and disregards “the enforcement of US immigration legal guidelines.” 

“Your actions have willingly endangered Americans, undermined the rule of legislation and our nation’s sovereignty. Your failure to safe the border and implement the legal guidelines handed by Congress elevate grave questions on your suitability for workplace,” the Republicans led by Border Safety Caucus co-chair Brian Babin (R-Texas) and Republican Research Committee Chairman Jim Banks (R-Ind.) wrote. 

The letter, first obtained by Fox Information Digital, was additionally signed by Home Minority Chief Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) and Minority Convention Chair Elise Stefanik (R-NY.)  

The lawmakers pointed to Mayorkas’ rejection of former President Donald Trump’s “Stay in Mexico” coverage, saying it demonstrates his “willingness to embrace an open-borders agenda that undermines America’s security.” 

Border Patrol agent speaks with mothers-to-be from Haiti and their spouses after they crossed the U.S.-Mexico border on December 10, 2021 in Yuma, Arizona. They
The Republican lawmakers claimed Alejandro Mayorkas’ actions have dismantled “the safety of our nation’s southern border.”
John Moore/Getty Pictures

In addition they criticized the secretary’s determination to halt border wall development alongside the southern border with Mexico, claiming the transfer wasted billions in taxpayers dollars. 

Within the letter, the Republicans referred to as on Mayorkas to take “all authorized and crucial actions at your disposal – of which there are various – to safe the southern border, rectify the harmful insurance policies this administration has put in movement over the previous yr, and produce your company into compliance with the legal guidelines handed by the US Congress.”

In addition they have requested the secretary reply to a variety of questions inside 30 days, together with whether or not he agrees all unlawful immigrants needs to be detained, how a lot it has value to cease border wall development and to offer particulars on how the Division of Homeland Safety is reaching and sustaining operational management over the border. 

Parents-to-be from Haiti stand at a gap in the U.S.-Mexico border wall after having traveled from South America to the United States on December 10, 2021 in Yuma, Arizona.
Republicans requested Alejandro Mayorkas reply to a variety of questions inside 30 days, together with whether or not he agrees all unlawful immigrants needs to be detained.
John Moore/Getty Pictures

Whereas Republican lawmakers have lengthy criticized the Administration’s response to the continued immigration disaster, Sunday’s letter comes one month earlier than the Title 42 public well being order will probably be formally lifted after first going into impact two years in the past. 

All through the COVID-19 pandemic, the order has allowed border officers to rapidly expel migrants crossing on the border with out listening to claims of asylum. 

Native officers and bipartisan lawmakers worry the variety of border crossings will skyrocket after the order is lifted. 

Relieved to have crossed the U.S.-Mexico border and having traveled from Brazil, Haitian families show their passports to a U.S. Border Patrol agent on December 10, 2021 in Yuma, Arizona
Alejandro Mayorkas informed CBS Information that the Division is planning for a rise in migration.
John Moore/Getty Pictures

A development of accelerating encounters has already taken impact, with Customs and Border Safety reporting greater than 221,000 migrant encounters in March – the best quantity recorded within the Biden administration thus far. 

The quantity marked an enormous spike from February, which solely reported 164,973 stops.

Beforehand, the best variety of encounters in a single month underneath President Biden was final July, when 213,593 encounters have been reported. 

In a separate assertion to Fox Information Digital, Babin indicated that Mayorkas needs to be faraway from his place if he can not reside as much as securing America’s security. 

Immigrants wake at dawn after sleeping a night at the U.S.-Mexico border fence on December 07, 2021 in Yuma, Arizona.
Republicans criticized Alejandro Mayorkas’ determination to halt border wall development alongside the southern border with Mexico.
John Moore/Getty Pictures

“Secretary Mayorkas has repeatedly proven a blatant disregard for our legal guidelines and refuses to place radical politics apart and safe our nation,” Babin stated. “He should instantly rectify his harmful insurance policies and uphold his constitutional obligation to guard our borders, or he needs to be faraway from his place. Our security and sovereignty are at stake.”

On Friday, the secretary informed CBS Information that the Division is planning for a rise in migration and is deploying extra sources of personnel, transportation, medical provides, and extra to assist handle it.

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