DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has come under fire for his handling of Hurricane Helene relief efforts, including a visit to a high-end sushi restaurant in Washington, D.C. shortly after touring storm-damaged North Carolina. Critics have accused Mayorkas of prioritizing personal leisure over the needs of disaster victims, while he insists the federal government is fully committed to assisting those affected by the hurricane.
The House of Representatives voted to block Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas’ salary, an amendment introduced by Rep. Andy Biggs. This move comes amidst ongoing Republican criticism of Mayorkas and the ongoing border crisis. The amendment passed with just one Republican dissenting, while another amendment to reduce Mayorkas’ salary to zero failed. The DHS appropriations bill also includes funding for border wall completion and restrictions on abortion and transgender care for non-citizens in ICE custody.
DHS Secretary Mayorkas acknowledges that more migrants have crossed the border under President Biden than under President Trump, citing hemispheric factors and a “broken” system. The Biden administration has combined additional consequences for illegal entry with broader pathways for lawful migration but has been criticized by Republicans for rolling back Trump-era policies, causing a surge in migration. In April, there were 179,725 encounters at the southern border, compared to 211,992 in April 2023 and 189,357 in March.
The Biden administration has agreed to disband the Homeland Intelligence Experts Group, following a lawsuit alleging violations of federal law. The group, announced by DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in September, comprised private-sector figures tasked with providing perspectives on national security. Critics argued it lacked neutrality, citing the involvement of former intelligence officials accused of partisanship. The lawsuit, filed by America First Legal, alleged bias and noncompliance with the Federal Advisory Committee Act. As part of the settlement, DHS will wind down the group within 30 days and release meeting agendas and minutes within 15 days. AFL hailed the outcome as a victory while DHS maintains its position that the group did not violate the law.
California Representative Tom McClintock (R-El Dorado Hills) expressed his opposition to the impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. He argued that the impeachment effort was based on policy disagreements rather than legitimate grounds.
In a historic move, the Senate has voted to dismiss impeachment proceedings against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Longtime Democratic Senator Bob Casey of Pennsylvania voted to kill the trial despite his previous support for impeachment proceedings against former President Trump. Republicans are now targeting Casey and other vulnerable Senate Democrats over their vote, highlighting the issue of illegal immigration.
