During Tuesday's House and Senate hearings, lawmakers questioned Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the Biden administration's failed border security policies.

Members of the Republican House and Senate Appropriations Committees pressed Mayorkas on the White House's inaction in securing the border despite annual budget increases for the department and Biden's executive authority to end the border crisis.

“For over three years, we have seen skyrocketing illegal immigration at our borders. And every corner of the country can see and feel its impact,” said Republican Ohio Rep. Dave Joyce in his opening statement.

Joyce criticized the administration's approach to the border crisis, stating, “The American people know that the border is not secure; it is a full-blown crisis that this Administration has sought to downplay for years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLnRaXiaBEc

While recently, their messaging has changed as the 2024 election nears; this budget shows those are just empty words. This request is not serious if the goal is to fix the problem and secure the border.”

Republican Texas Rep. Michael Cloud questioned Mayorkas about the president's authority to secure the border, accusing him of “filibustering” the question.

Cloud emphasized that Biden has full authority to solve the border crisis but has instead done “everything to undermine the border.”

Republican Iowa Rep. Ashley Hinson criticized Mayorkas for not addressing the southern border crisis more directly. After admitting there was a crisis, Mayorkas defended the administration's efforts to secure the border.

During the Senate hearing, Republican Louisiana Sen. John Kennedy rebuked congressional Democrats and the Biden administration for ignoring the influx of illegal immigrants through the US southern border.

The House of Representatives impeached Mayorkas in February, with the Senate scheduled to begin trial proceedings next week.

Alejandro Mayorkas is an American lawyer and government official who has played a significant role in shaping immigration and homeland security policies in the United States.

Born on November 24, 1959, in Havana, Cuba, Mayorkas and his family fled to the United States as refugees when he was a child. They settled in California, where Mayorkas would eventually pursue his education. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1981 and went on to receive his Juris Doctor from Loyola Law School in 1985.

After completing his law degree, Mayorkas began his career as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Central District of California.

He gained recognition for his work in prosecuting white-collar crimes and was eventually appointed as the United States Attorney for the Central District of California in 1998, becoming the youngest U.S. Attorney in the nation at that time. In this role, he oversaw significant cases, including the prosecution of the “Buffalo Billion” corruption case and the takedown of major drug trafficking organizations.

In 2009, Mayorkas was appointed by President Barack Obama as the Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), where he implemented key immigration policies, including the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. In 2013, he was confirmed as the Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), where he focused on issues related to cybersecurity, border security, and disaster response.

In 2021, President Joe Biden nominated Mayorkas to serve as the Secretary of Homeland Security, making him the first Latino and immigrant to lead the department. In this role, Mayorkas has faced challenges related to immigration, border security, and national security, continuing to shape the nation's policies in these critical areas.