U.S. House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., says he is worried about a potential terrorist attack on U.S. soil and plans to bring articles of impeachment against U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in January. He says Mayorkas is derelict in his duty to secure the U.S. border and has implemented policies to open the floodgates to allow what is now an estimated 10 million people to illegally enter the U.S. from all over the world since January 2021.
When asked by Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo if Americans should be worried about a terrorist attack on U.S. soil, he said, “absolutely we should be worried.” He also pointed to testimony of FBI Director Chris Wray, who said the open U.S. border “created an increased risk for his agents who are now hunting these individuals inside the United States and to the American people. He expressed a real fear and worry about what’s happening in our country.”
Green cited data about known, suspected terrorists (KSTs) apprehended at the southern border, failing to mention that 736 KSTs were apprehended nationwide in fiscal 2023, the greatest number in recorded U.S. history. The majority, 66%, were apprehended at the northern border, The Center Square first reported.
To make their case against Mayorkas’ dereliction of duty, Green’s committee has conducted an investigation into Mayorkas, so far releasing four reports.
In July, it published its first report detailing the laws and court orders the committee says Mayorkas “ignored, abused or failed to follow.” It cites alleged violations of the Immigration Nationality Act, including an abuse of its parole program, detention and removal requirements, instituting mass parole programs, ignoring federal court orders, among other actions.
In September, it released its second report detailing how Mexican cartels “have seized unprecedented control at the Southwest border to smuggle illegal aliens, criminals, suspected terrorists, and deadly fentanyl and other drugs into the United States.”
The third report, issued in October, detailed how transnational gangs are working with cartel operatives to oversee a massive human smuggling operation, and expand their weapons arsenals and criminal network. In November, it published its fourth report estimating the cost of the border crisis to U.S. taxpayers of over $451 billion.
The goal is to “convince his colleagues … to get rid of Mayorkas. He’s derelict in his duty. He’s broken the laws of the United States passed by Congress. He’s lied to Congress, he’s got to go,” Green told Fox News.
Green said the committee is going to have “three or four hearings in January” and will then markup impeachment articles that have already been filed by several members of Congress. Green pointed out that Democrats voted to refer the impeachment articles to his committee, which The Center Square first reported, adding that by doing so the House gave him the authority to bring impeachment charges against Mayorkas.
When testifying before the Senate earlier this year, Mayorkas said, “I have unflinching confidence in the integrity of my conduct.” He has also repeatedly testified before Congress that the border is secure.
Three House Republicans have filed articles of impeachment against Mayorkas. U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., filed articles in 2021. U.S. Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, filed three in January. U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Georgia filed one last month.
After Fallon filed his articles, a DHS spokesperson told The Center Square, “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 they have not updated in over 40 years,” adding that Mayorkas “has no plans to resign.”
His position hasn’t changed.
“None of the alleged grounds is factually accurate, and even if they were, none meet the Constitutional standard of treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors,” the spokesperson said.
