Ted Lieu Quizzes Mayorkas on Presidents; Mayorkas: 'I'd Prefer Not to Answer Questions of History Right Now' (July 26, 2023)

Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif., used his time at a House Judiciary Committee hearing to quiz Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on presidential history, and even Mayorkas wanted no part of it. “Congressman, I’d prefer not to answer questions of history right now. My focus is on the—” Mayorkas said on July 26, 2023, according to the official hearing record. “Right. I am going to help you with it,” Lieu cut in. “—work of the Department of Homeland Security,” Mayorkas finished [1].

Lieu closed with a jab at Republicans. “Now that the Republicans want to impeach you, good luck with that one. I yield back,” he said [1].

The video above shows the exchange at the House Judiciary Committee’s oversight hearing on July 26, 2023. Quotes are from the official hearing record and the Clerk of the House [1][2].

”This Republican President Resigned”

Lieu turned the hearing into a quiz. “Secretary Mayorkas, who was the Republican President in 1969?” he asked [1].

“Congressman, I have to think back sequentially in reverse chronology, but I’m sure you know the answer—” Mayorkas began. “He resigned,” Lieu said. “I will give you a hint: This Republican President resigned.” [1]

“Congressman, I know the President, President Nixon,” Mayorkas said [1].

Lieu went on to Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. “Secretary Mayorkas, who was the Republican President in 1976? The Vice President to Nixon,” Lieu asked. “I’m sorry?” Mayorkas replied, before asking, “Gerald Ford are you speaking of?” [1]

“The Biden Border Crisis”

Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, laid out the case against Mayorkas in his opening statement. “In fact, there have been more than 5.6 million illegal alien encounters across the Southwest border since the start of the Biden Administration, and that doesn’t include the over 1.5 million gotaways,” Jordan said [1].

“Only this administration and my Democrat colleagues would call it a success when monthly encounter numbers are near 150,000,” he said. “Under the Biden Administration, there have now been 29 straight months—29 months in a row—with more than 100,000 border encounters.” [1]

“According to the IG, we know that even aliens who illegally cross the border who are on the Terrorist Watchlist can be released into the United States, free to board an airplane, and head to the U.S. city of their choice,” Jordan said. “ICE officers are attempting to arrest fewer aliens because of the Biden Administration’s enforcement priorities memo.” [1]

“With the current rate of removals and the current number of nondetained aliens who have been ordered removed from the United States at over 1.2 million, it would take 20 years for removal of those individuals,” Jordan said [1].

“We know that the Biden Administration’s open border policies have led directly to the deaths of Noel Rodriguez and Kayla Hamilton, the violent assault of a teenaged girl in Alabama, and the victimization of countless other American citizens,” Jordan said [1].

”How Many of Those People Have You Deported?”

Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., asked for a number. “Two million encounters and releases under your watch. So, not including the Title 42 expulsions, not including violent criminals, of those two-million-plus that you’ve encountered and released, how many have you told to go home?” [1]

“Right. ‘Subject to removal’ sounds very different than actually removed,” Gaetz said when Mayorkas described court proceedings. “Just how many of the people? I just want to know how many. Just a number.” [1]

“Congressman, we are dealing with a completely broken immigration system,” Mayorkas said. “I get it. No, no, Mr. Secretary, I’m not going to let you burn my five minutes,” Gaetz replied [1].

Gaetz summed it up. “The Mayorkas doctrine is this: If you show up at the border and get released into the country, if you don’t commit a specific aggravated felony— which, by the way, doesn’t include a lot of assault and battery; doesn’t include a lot of bad domestic violence—but if you’re not one of the people who commit those crimes, you get to stay forever,” he said [1].

”Operational Control”

Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, reminded Mayorkas of his earlier testimony. “Secretary Mayorkas, on April 28, 2022, I asked you, quote, ‘Will you testify under oath right now do we have operational control, yes or no?’ You responded with, quote, ‘Yes, we do,’” Roy said [1].

“Less than a month later in Homeland Security you testified, quote, ‘Under that strict definition this country has never had operational control,’” Roy continued [1].

“I believe that was purposeful. I believe you want the American people to believe we have operational control of the border when we very clearly do not,” Roy said [1].

By the Numbers

5.6 million+: illegal border encounters under Biden, per Jordan [1].
1.5 million+: gotaways, per Jordan [1].
29: straight months with more than 100,000 encounters, per Jordan [1].
2 million: encounters and releases, per Gaetz [1].
1.2 million+: people ordered removed but not detained, per Jordan [1].
214-213: the House vote impeaching Mayorkas [2].

What Happened Next

The House impeached him anyway. Less than seven months after Lieu’s jab, on Feb. 13, 2024, the House adopted H.Res. 863, “Impeaching Alejandro Nicholas Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, for high crimes and misdemeanors,” 214 to 213 [2].

For Mayorkas telling another House panel in 2022 that the border was secure, see HYGO News’ page on Nov. 15, 2022. For Stefanik on the border fight two weeks before the impeachment vote, see the page on Jan. 30, 2024.