House Republicans Begin Impeachment Proceedings Against Secretary Mayorkas
Since Joe Biden took office, more than 6.7 million illegal immigrants have been apprehended at our Southern Border — and that is just what we know about. The Biden Administration’s open border policies have emboldened dangerous drug cartels, filled our communities with deadly drugs, and prevented those seeking to immigrate to the United States legally from doing so. Never have we seen such historic numbers of illegal crossings.
In response, the House Committee on Homeland Security conducted an in-depth investigation into the "causes, costs, and consequences" of the border crisis. The report's conclusion confirms that Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is "chiefly responsible" for the chaos we have seen over the last three years due to his willful disregard of the immigration laws on the books.
Articles of Impeachment of Mayorkas, of which I am a co-sponsor, were introduced last year. This past week, the House Committee on Homeland Security officially started impeachment proceedings against Secretary Mayorkas. Congress has a responsibility to hold executive branch officials accountable. We must continue working to bring truth to light to the Biden Administration's role in facilitating the worst border crisis in American history.
Leading Legislation to Make Purposely Blocking Public Roads a Federal Crime
In response to the increasingly radical tactics of activists who intentionally blocked roads and highways across the country as a form of protest, I introduced legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives to impose penalties on those who participate in such activity. This applies to any protest on any issue or cause.
Specifically, H.R. 6926, the Safe and Open Streets Act, would make it a federal crime to purposely obstruct, delay, or affect commerce by blocking a public road or highway. Penalties include fines or up to five years of imprisonment.
It is not fair to the millions of law-abiding Americans who need to care for their families or commute to work to be held up on public roads their tax dollars maintain. The recent behavior by protestors who have intentionally blocked major roadways across the country should not be tolerated. It is not only inconvenient for motorists who are left stranded, it jeopardizes public safety and encourages even more lawlessness.
In November, radical pro-Palestine protestors blocked the Durham Freeway during the peak of rush hour traffic. One week later, protestors shut down a section of Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh. No arrests were made in either event. Just this week, a confrontation occurred in New York City when protestors blocked a concerned father trying to reach his daughter. Incidences like these will only continue and potentially escalate into violence if protestors are not held accountable.
