Biden’s border chief under fire as Republicans kick off impeachment hearing

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas will come under scrutiny on Wednesday as a Republican-led House of Representatives committee moves to impeach him over allegations he has encouraged illegal immigration with overly lax policies.
Republican attorneys general from Missouri, Montana and Oklahoma will testify at a hearing focused on the Republican claim that Mayorkas – Democratic President Joe Biden’s top border official – has refused to enforce immigration laws passed by Congress.
It is extremely rare for a U.S. Cabinet secretary to be subject to impeachment. The only secretary to ever be impeached was former President Ulysses Grant’s secretary of war in 1876 following allegations of corruption.
Border security is a core issue for Republican base voters and the party has intensified its criticism of Biden’s policies in the run-up to Nov. 5 elections that will determine control of the White House and Congress. Biden is seeking another term and Republican former President Donald Trump, an immigration hardliner, is the leading candidate for his party’s nomination.