“Greene Goes for the Throat: Motion Aimed to Topple Mayorkas from Homeland Security Role

A motion to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was recently filed by Republican Congressman Jim Greene of Missouri. This unprecedented move has the potential to shake the foundations of the Biden Administration’s cabinet, and comes as a response to what Greene and other Republicans allege is a “pattern of deceit, obstruction, and disregard for the rule of law” on Mayorkas’s part. To understand the gravity of Greene’s motion, we must first examine the claims the Congressman has made. According to Greene, Secretary Mayorkas has been involved in a relatively new practice of allowing close relatives of individuals seeking asylum in the United States – referred to as “categorical parole” – to remain in the country while their application is being processed. Green alleges that Mayorkas allowed this practice despite the fact that it was illegal and, as such, had no right to do so. Greene also claims that Mayorkas has personally acted to allow individuals with criminal convictions, such as human traffickers and members of gangs, to gain entry into the United States. Furthermore, Greene alleges that Mayorkas has undermined the integrity of the asylum process, by directing DHS staff to allow individuals with dubious backgrounds to remain in the country, when federal law only permits those who meet far more stringent criteria. The implications of Greene’s motion could be significant and far-reaching. Should the House act to impeach Secretary Mayorkas, it would be the first time a sitting cabinet secretary has been forced from office by way of congressional action. It could also lead to a major shake-up of immigration policies, particularly given the current Administration’s focus on protecting the rights of immigrant communities. At this point, however, it is difficult to predict what the outcome of Greene’s motion will be. While he may be successful in garnering enough support from his Republican colleagues to impeach Mayorkas, the path to doing so may still be a lengthy one. Nonetheless, this is an issue that is likely to continue to dominate the news cycle in the coming weeks and months, and only time will tell if Greene’s motion will have its desired effect. A motion to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was recently filed by Republican Congressman Jim Greene of Missouri. This unprecedented move has the potential to shake the foundations of the Biden Administration’s cabinet, and comes as a response to what Greene and other Republicans allege is a “pattern of deceit, obstruction, and disregard for the rule of law” on Mayorkas’s part. To understand the gravity of Greene’s motion, we must first examine the claims the Congressman has made. According to Greene, Secretary Mayorkas has been involved in a relatively new practice of allowing close relatives of individuals seeking asylum in the United States – referred to as “categorical parole” – to remain in the country while their application is being processed. Green alleges that Mayorkas allowed this practice despite the fact that it was illegal and, as such, had no right to do so. Greene also claims that Mayorkas has personally acted to allow individuals with criminal convictions, such as human traffickers and members of gangs, to gain entry into the United States. Furthermore, Greene alleges that Mayorkas has undermined the integrity of the asylum process, by directing DHS staff to allow individuals with dubious backgrounds to remain in the country, when federal law only permits those who meet far more stringent criteria. The implications of Greene’s motion could be significant and far-reaching. Should the House act to impeach Secretary Mayorkas, it would be the first time a sitting cabinet secretary has been forced from office by way of congressional action. It could also lead to a major shake-up of immigration policies, particularly given the current Administration’s focus on protecting the rights of immigrant communities. At this point, however, it is difficult to predict what the outcome of Greene’s motion will be. While he may be successful in garnering enough support from his Republican colleagues to impeach Mayorkas, the path to doing so may still be a lengthy one. Nonetheless, this is an issue that is likely to continue to dominate the news cycle in the coming weeks and months, and only time will tell if Greene’s motion will have its desired effect.