Mayorkas’ immigrant insight provokes GOP calls for departure
TL/DR –
Alejandro Mayorkas, the first Latino and immigrant to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is potentially facing impeachment by House Republicans due to the handling of immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border. Supporters credit him with a humanizing approach to immigration and a commitment to public service, while critics accuse him of allowing hundreds of thousands of migrants into the U.S. illegally and failing to detain migrants. Believed to be the second-toughest job in Washington, the DHS oversees a diverse portfolio, from counterterrorism to immigration, and is responsible for the deportation of migrants found without the right to stay in the U.S.
Alejandro Mayorkas: A Divisive Figure in the U.S. Homeland Security Department
Alejandro Mayorkas, often referred to as Ali, is known for being the first Latino and immigrant to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), an agency employing 260,000. Right now, he is amidst an impeachment threat from House Republicans.
The DHS was established post the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, merging 22 different departments to form one of the most challenging job positions in Washington, according to Tom Warrick, a top counterterrorism official at DHS, now at the Atlantic Council.
The DHS’ diverse responsibilities range from responding to bomb threats at historically Black colleges to using AI technology and securing President Joe Biden on foreign trips.
Mayorkas’ role in immigration has made him a target of impeachment. Despite doubts about Republicans’ slim majority, the House could vote on impeachment this week.
When Biden nominated Mayorkas to lead DHS, many believed he would bring a more humane touch to immigration, contrasting starkly with former Republican President Donald Trump’s stringent measures.
Mayorkas, known for his quiet public demeanour, remembers his initial days in government service in 1989 when he served as a prosecutor in California.
An immigrant and a refugee himself, Mayorkas says his background allows him to bring an intense patriotism to the job. His family fled Cuba in 1960 and also suffered the Holocaust.
Supporters commend Mayorkas for his devotion to public service, arguing that the idea of him doing anything warranting impeachment is opposing their perception of the law-and-order-focused former prosecutor.
Republicans criticize Mayorkas for failing to detain migrants and using humanitarian parole to let hundreds of thousands into the country who otherwise couldn’t get a visa.
Republicans’ claim that Mayorkas is not upholding immigration laws is an unprecedented reason for targeting an official for impeachment. The only Cabinet secretary impeached in American history was William Belknap in 1876.
Mayorkas says he doesn’t take criticism personally and calls the impeachment allegations “baseless.” Despite this, he is prepared to defend himself in the Democratic-controlled Senate.
While Republicans dispute Biden’s immigration agenda, immigrant advocates argue that the government’s approach has become exceedingly aggressive, a departure from Biden’s campaign promises and early actions.
Mayorkas, along with many immigration experts, argue that the southern border situation is a global issue. The DHS is reportedly deporting migrants without the right to stay in America aggressively.
Angela Kelley, a senior adviser with the American Immigration Lawyers Association, said Mayorkas has implemented several unnoticed actions like reuniting families separated under Trump, creating protections for undocumented immigrants from employer exploitation, and expediting the naturalization process for new citizens.
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