Over the past year, the House Homeland Security Committee has been conducting an investigation into the causes and harm of the crisis at the southern border. This investigation revealed mistakes, recklessness, and irresponsibility on the part of Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and the Biden administration.

There are two indisputable facts from our research. First, we are definitely facing a crisis at our southern border. Second, Mayorkas' willful refusal to comply with federal immigration law is the direct cause of the crisis.

Before Secretary Mayorkas took over DHS, our nation's borders were more secure than ever. Under President Trump, the United States has enacted sound border policies and immigration laws designed to do exactly what DHS was designed to do: protect the homeland.

But under Secretary Mayorkas, our homeland will never be safe. More than 8.3 million illegal aliens have crossed the southern border under the Biden administration, a direct result of Mayorkas' deliberate efforts to circumvent federal law.

More than 360 people on terror watchlists have been prevented from entering the country, and countless more may be evading detection. To put that in perspective, 19 men on the watch list were arrested in December alone, the same number as those who carried out the 9/11 attacks. Those who wish to harm the United States and Americans are exploiting weaknesses in this border crisis, but Secretary Mayorkas doesn't seem to care.

Failing to enforce consequences for people who cross the border illegally puts American lives at risk and invites more illegal immigration. In fact, December 2023 was the 34th consecutive month with more illegal border crossings than even the highest number under President Trump.

Just a few weeks ago, Mayorkas announced that more than 85% of undocumented aliens who were “arrested” had been “arrested,” even though federal law says immigrants can only be released on a “limited, case-by-case” basis. He said he was releasing it.

I don't know about you, but I've never heard anyone say 85% is limited or on a case-by-case basis. There is no question that Secretary Mayorkas' refusal to enforce federal law caused this massive crisis.

The committee conducted a faithful and thorough investigation and just last week voted to send articles of impeachment against Mayorkas to the House. I want to be clear. This is not a decision that I or my colleagues made lightly.

This is the result of 10 hearings, testimony from more than 20 witnesses, including the chief and deputy chief of each of the Border Patrol's nine southwestern border divisions, and hundreds of hours of investigation.

Faced with the reality of the situation in which our country finds itself, we must resort to the last possible solution: the impeachment of Alejandro Mayorkas, who has deliberately refused to enforce the law and betrayed the public's trust. yeah.

Congressman Dale W. Strong represents Alabama's 5th District and is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, Homeland Security Committee, and Science, Space, and Technology Committee.