Ft Wayne Times

In a bold move, Congressman Jim Baird (IN-04) has voiced his support for the Committee on Homeland Security's decision to release articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Rep. Baird accuses Mayorkas of failing in his duty to secure the homeland and protect American lives.

"Secretary Mayorkas has completely failed in his duty to secure the homeland and protect American lives," stated Rep. Baird. "He has intentionally left our southern border open as drugs, crime, and human trafficking ravage American communities. We do not need more Congressional action to secure our southern border. We only need Alejandro Mayorkas to do his job and enforce existing laws. There must be consequences for this unacceptable and willful dereliction of duty. I fully support the Committee on Homeland Security's decision and look forward to holding Secretary Mayorkas accountable for his intentional lack of action."

Rep. Baird's concerns regarding border security are backed by alarming statistics from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Since President Biden took office, there have been approximately 6.7 million encounters at the southern border, along with 1.7 million known gotaways. These numbers paint a concerning picture of the situation at hand.

Furthermore, CBP reports that in FY2023, they stopped 169 individuals whose names appeared on the terrorist watchlist from crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Out of these, 18 were apprehended in September alone. The gravity of the situation becomes even more apparent when considering the fact that CBP arrested 35,433 migrants with criminal convictions or outstanding warrants in the same fiscal year. Among them were 598 known gang members, with 178 being members of the notorious MS-13 gang.

Perhaps most alarming is the fact that in FY2023, CBP seized a staggering 27,293 pounds of fentanyl at the southern border. This amount of fentanyl is enough to kill more than 6 billion people. It is worth noting that fentanyl is the leading cause of death for Americans between the ages of 18 and 49.

Rep. Baird's strong stance on the impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas reflects the growing concerns over border security and the need for decisive action. As the issue continues to impact American communities, it is crucial that those responsible are held accountable for their actions or lack thereof. The Committee on Homeland Security's decision to pursue articles of impeachment signals a commitment to addressing these issues head-on and ensuring the safety and security of the American people.