Calls to impeach DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas from GOP lawmakers grow louder

House Republican lawmakers are increasingly calling for the lower chamber to impeach Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas when the GOP secures control of the House in January.

Conservative lawmakers continue to pressure current House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to commit to such an action in the next session of Congress. Mayorkas has long been the subject of GOP criticisms amid an unprecedented migration surge that has thus far seen nearly 4 million illegal migrants enter the country since President Joe Biden took office, including 2.4 million who arrived in fiscal year 2022 alone.

"Now that we have the majority in the House of Representatives, I expect our party to pursue impeachment next Congress," Arizona Republican Rep. Andy Biggs said, per The Hill. "Secretary Mayorkas has committed high crimes and misdemeanors. His conduct is not incompetent. It is not negligent. It is willful and intentional."

Colorado Rep. Lauren Boebert, meanwhile, shared equally harsh words at the Tuesday press conference, which saw GOP lawmakers back Mayorkas's ouster. "He regularly lies to the American people, claiming that the southern border is closed... I've been there. It's wide open," she said, according to Fox News.

Rep. Mayra Flores of Texas said "House Judiciary Republicans have summoned Mayorkas for border investigation... Nothing short of an impeachment and removal proceedings should be the outcome."

McCarthy himself called for Mayorkas's resignation while in El Paso, Texas, last month. While the California Republican has suggested that an investigation of the DHS secretary could "lead to an impeachment inquiry," he has not committed to attempt to remove Mayorkas from office.

Biggs has already declared that he will challenge McCarthy for the role of Speaker of the House when the next Congress is sworn in and is leading a group of conservative lawmakers in opposing McCarthy for the post. The narrow Republican margin of control in the House leaves the California lawmaker with little room to maneuver when seeking a majority to back his leadership.

Also at the press conference were several lawmakers who have backed McCarthy's leadership, including Arizona Rep. Debbie Lesko and Oklahoma Rep. Kevin Hern, The Hill noted.