Ted Cruz warns Biden’s border security chief he could be impeached over rise in migrant crossings

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WASHINGTON — As GOP lawmakers proceed to antagonize the Biden administration over its immigration insurance policies, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, warned Division of Homeland Safety Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas that his dealing with of the southern border could possibly be “grounds for impeachment.”

Cruz, together with U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, despatched a letter to Mayorkas on Tuesday blasting him for “gross dereliction of responsibility” and citing record-high numbers of crossings on the southern border.

“These astronomically excessive numbers are due in no small half to the political determination to rescind quite a lot of President Trump’s insurance policies that have been stemming the move of unlawful aliens and illicit medication throughout the southern border,” Cruz and Graham’s letter mentioned. “Withdrawing the Stay in Mexico coverage, ending Title 42 expulsions, terminating border wall building contracts, and numerous different choices, coupled with your individual lax border insurance policies, act as ‘pull’ components which have inspired tens of millions of aliens to undertake the damaging journey to the U.S.-Mexico border.”

The letter shouldn’t be the primary time Cruz has sparred with Mayorkas, who has been a constant goal of conservative ire over immigration. He has repeatedly floated the thought of impeaching him on his podcast.

The Republican senators additionally mentioned Mayorkas was chargeable for the worsening of the opioid epidemic as DHS has “ceded management of our southern border to the cartels.”

DHS didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Texas has put ahead $4 billion to fund Operation Lone Star, which Gov. Greg Abbott launched in March 2021 to ramp up safety alongside the Texas-Mexico border. Abbott has made border safety the centerpiece of his reelection marketing campaign and has torched Biden administration officers for the rise in migrant crossings. However regardless of his efforts, the variety of migrants that officers encounter on the southern border is greater right now than it was earlier than the beginning of Operation Lone Star program.

The robust posture towards the DHS secretary comes as Republicans prep for potential management over the Home and Senate after the midterm elections. Whereas any legislative wins are unlikely with President Joe Biden within the White Home, one supply of leverage Republicans may acquire is management over congressional oversight.

Cruz previewed what his get together would do with a majority within the Senate — which he described as 60% possible — in an look at The Texas Tribune Pageant in September.

“You’ll have actual oversight,” Cruz mentioned in entrance of a crowd in Austin. “Senate Judiciary Committee — we haven’t had a single listening to on the chaos on the southern border. One of many first issues that’s prone to occur is I feel the Home will impeach Alejandro Mayorkas.”

Whereas he admitted the Senate would by no means be capable to convict Mayorkas, he mentioned the worth within the impeachment can be having “an intensive trial on his absolute dereliction of responsibility to place these information earlier than the American individuals.”

It was not the primary time a Republican has put out the trial balloon for Mayorkas’ impeachment. Greater than a dozen GOP lawmakers have already lined up behind the thought of impeachment, in keeping with CNN.