Republicans, Ahead of House Takeover, Look To Zero in on Biden Admin’s Handling of Border Crisis

House Republicans, who are just weeks away from taking control of the House of Representatives, are already indicating that border security and illegal immigration will be among the issues top of their agenda when they take the gavel early next year.

Republican gains in the recent midterm elections have handed the GOP control of the House, although the Senate will remain in Democratic hands. Within days of House control being confirmed, Republicans have already made it clear that the ongoing crisis at the border will be a priority.

That was highlighted this week when GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy led a delegation to the southern border — and called on Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to either resign or face a potential impeachment inquiry next year.

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The U.S. has been hit by a nearly two-year long border crisis that saw more than 1.7 million migrant encounters in FY 2021 and over 2.3 million in FY 2022. October has indicated that that surge is likely to continue, as more than 230,000 hit the border in that month alone.

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Republicans in July unveiled a number of policy proposals to secure the border that they said they would advance if they took the House. Policies include finished the Trump-era border wall, expanding Title 42, modernizing technology and overhauling the asylum system.

“I think we’re going to be very aggressive, and I think the administration will have some choices to make,” House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member John Katko told Fox in July. {snip}

In addition to his suggestion that multiple House committees will be firing on all cylinders in investigating the crisis, McCarthy also said that he intends to have hearings physically at the border, so that Democrats can witness the crisis firsthand.

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McCarthy, meanwhile, is likely to face continued pressure from the right of his caucus on the matter if he does not keep up the pressure on the administration on the border security issue. Rep. Andy Biggs, who is co-chair of the border security caucus, expressed his dissatisfaction with McCarthy’s announcement.

“Mayorkas needs impeached. Period. No hesitation,” he said.