McCarthy Warns Of Possible Mayorkas Impeachment As Title 42 Debates Rage On

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., warned of a potential impeachment for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas as GOP lawmakers visited the southern border. The warning came as House Republicans continue to push against lifting Title 42.

Speaking on Monday during a week-long visit of GOP lawmakers to the southern border, McCarthy said Mayorkas should be worried about possible impeachment if Republicans take the Congress, The Hill reported. “This is his moment in time to do his job. But at any time if someone is derelict in their job, there is always the option of impeaching somebody,” McCarthy noted.

McCarthy added that Mayorkas has “30 days” to respond to GOP lawmakers regarding the southern border crisis. Debates have also flared up regarding Title 42, which was used during the peak of the pandemic to turn away migrants seeking asylum at the border for reasons related to public health safety. The Biden administration has said it is planning to lift Title 42 on May 23, but the announcement has led to divisive concerns among Republicans and a growing number of Democrats.

On Monday, 133 members of the 150-seat Republican Study Committee, led by Rep. Jim Banks, R-Ind., noted in a letter that Mayorkas’ “actions to dismantle the security of our nation’s southern border and disregard for the enforcement of U.S. immigration laws” have “willingly endangered American citizens and undermined the rule of law and our nation’s sovereignty.”

The letter did not specifically mention impeachment, but the joint letter called on Mayorkas to “immediately take all legal and necessary actions at your disposal” to “secure the southern border.”

While Republicans wanting to impeach Biden officials appear to have increased steadily over the past months, a source familiar with the situation told Axios that most party leaders are leaning toward a strategy that includes the majority. “Kevin (McCarthy) wants to make the case before we go for the jugular,” the source told the outlet.

Late last week, Mayorkas told CBS News that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has established migrant processing facilities and deployed more medical staff to the southern border as the planned lifting of Title 42 nears. Mayorkas acknowledged that the change will bring about “significant challenges” to the department and the government as a whole, but he insisted that the DHS was prepared to manage the expected surge in migrant arrivals.

However, Mayorkas and President Joe Biden are faced with increasing Democratic rebellion over the plan, CNN reported. Democratic senators from New Hampshire, Nevada, Arizona and Georgia have reportedly started distancing themselves from the decision, with some pointing out the lack of planning and preparation for the migrant crossing after Title 42 is lifted.