Immigration
McCarthy floats impeachment of Biden border chief Mayorkas
"If someone is derelict in their job, there is always the option of impeaching somebody," McCarthy said
April 25, 2022 10:26pm
Updated: April 26, 2022 12:49pm
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy on Monday floated the idea of impeaching Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over his handling of the border crisis.
"This is his moment in time to do his job but at any time if someone is derelict in their job, there is always the option of impeaching somebody, but right now he's got 30 days," the California Republican said during a press conference in Eagle Pass, Texas.
McCarthy urged the Biden administration to not lift Title 42, a Trump-era COVID immigration restriction.
Border Patrol agents are "not prepared" for the wave of illegal immigrants expected after the measure's scheduled expiration next month, McCarthy said.
National Border Patrol Council President Brandon Judd predicted earlier this month that agents would be "overwhelmed across the entire southwest border."
A Louisiana federal judge temporarily stopped the end of Title 42 in a restraining order on Monday.
At another point in the press conference, McCarthy criticized the timing of a question from a reporter who asked him about a recording published last week. McCarthy seemingly predicted former President Donald Trump would be impeached days after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and said he "should resign," according to the leaked audio.
McCarthy said he never asked Trump to resign and followed up, "What's more important than something that happened 15 months ago on a private conversation with about four other people, is what's happening here, right now."
He continued to bring up examples of other issues happening on the border.
"You asked that question on the same day that we found [National Guardsman] Bishop Evan's body. You asked that question on the same day in less than a month or just a month from now that they're going to lift Title 42. You asked that question on the same day I watched a grown man 6-5 who lived his life here 20 miles away break down in tears of what is happening... I don't think that's what the American people are asking. I think they want to know about what's going to happen here and how we're going to secure the border," McCarthy said before taking another question.
More than 130 House Republicans sent a letter to Mayorkas on Monday, pressing the secretary on the situation at the border.
