(DailyVantage.com) – Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said he is “not familiar” with California’s sanctuary state status. During a hearing before the House Judiciary Committee, when asked by Rep. Kevin Kiley (R-CA), Mayorkas feigned ignorance of California’s protections for illegal aliens from arrest and deportation. He refused to criticize the law and went as far as to say he was unaware of the details, despite it impacting his job to enforce federal immigration law.
That wasn’t the only question he avoided during the hearing. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) asked Mayorkas where the apprehended suspects from the “Terrorist Watch List” went, which Mayorkas could not answer. He also couldn’t answer how many deportations occurred, where those released via parole went, or how many unidentified alien children were processed. While it could appear ignorant, the Heritage Foundation asserts that the Biden administration is actively breaking immigration law.
House Republicans had the impression that either he was incompetent in his job and woefully unprepared for the hearing due to a lack of knowledge or that he was pretending to be ignorant to avoid scrutinizing fellow Democrats and to act without accountability. Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) slammed Mayorkas and claimed he was responsible for the epidemic of fentanyl poisoning deaths. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) even openly called for the impeachment of Mayorkas. House Republicans could also attempt to impeach FBI Director Christopher Wray, Attorney General Merrick Garland, or President Joe Biden. However, there could be internal divisions that limit the Republican caucus from impeaching prominent administration officials, which has led to the alternative of cutting their salaries instead.
House Democrats have criticized the attempt to establish impeachment cases against administration officials, deeming it “performance” and “political theater.” Immigration remains a top issue for Republican voters, which could validate the Democratic assertion that there is a political benefit to Republican lawmakers pursuing this issue. However, Republicans believe they owe it to their constituents to pursue immigration and border security if they seek to retain or expand their House majority in the 2024 general election.
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