Andrew Bailey, the Attorney General of Missouri, has accused Alejandro Mayorkas, the United States Secretary of Homeland Security, of neglecting his duty to protect the border. This accusation was part of Bailey's written testimony for a January 10 hearing conducted by the House of Representatives' Committee on Homeland Security. The hearing was held to discuss the potential impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas.
Bailey's statement includes several serious allegations against Secretary Mayorkas. "Secretary Mayorkas, either at the direction of his superiors or of his own volition, has abdicated his responsibilities," Bailey said. He further claimed that Mayorkas "has failed to uphold his oath of office", "has failed to enforce our nation’s immigration laws", and "has failed to do that which is most fundamental to his mission: protect our border."
In addition to these claims, Bailey asserted in his written statement that Mayorkas "refuses to use" funding allocated for securing the border. According to Bailey, funds appropriated in 2020 specifically for building barriers along the border were not utilized by Mayorkas for this purpose. When questioned about this issue, Mayorkas responded by saying that he and his administration "do not agree with the building of a wall". However, Bailey contends that this excuse does not legally justify Mayorkas's actions. The only legal justification would be if Congress themselves cancelled the funding - an action they did not take. Therefore, according to Bailey, Secretary Mayorkas "ignored his constitutional obligations".
Furthermore, Bailey argued in his written statement that Mayorkas is actively working towards making it easier for migrants to enter the United States. He cited a lawsuit filed by Missouri against Mayorkas in January over a new Department of Homeland Security (DHS) program. The lawsuit alleges that this program illegally creates a pathway for many illegal immigrants from various countries to attain citizenship without adhering to stringent standards, bypassing Congress's approval and legal procedures.
Bailey also claimed in his written statement that the DHS is allowing illegal migrants to remain in America for "15 years or longer" before being taken before a judge.
According to his witness biography, Bailey is Missouri's 44th attorney general. He attended the University of Missouri and served as a cavalry officer for two tours in Iraq, earning two Bronze Star Medals. After his military service, Bailey pursued a career in law, working in various legal roles including assistant attorney general and general counsel in the Missouri governor's office.
The Committee on Homeland Security was established in 2002 as a response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. It officially became a Standing Committee of the House in 2005. According to the U.S. House of Representatives' Homeland Security Committee/Republican website, its main function involves developing and enacting policies and legislation aimed at protecting American citizens from terrorist threats.
