Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas was repeatedly pressed Tuesday on whether a terrorist attack is imminent in the U.S. but he declined to say, instead assuring lawmakers he is “vigilant.”
Mr. Mayorkas, speaking just before the start of Senate impeachment proceedings against him, also wouldn’t say whether people on the government’s terrorist watchlist have been caught and released and are roaming free in the U.S.
Instead, he said those whose identities trigger the watchlist can be “priorities” for detention in cases when the government believes they might pose a further national security or public safety threat.
The exchange came during Mr. Mayorkas’s testimony to the House Homeland Security Committee, which wrote the articles of impeachment.
“Is a terrorist attack inside the United States of America imminent?” demanded Rep. August Pfluger, Texas Republican.
Mr. Mayorkas responded: “Let me assure you, congressman, that the safety and security of the American people is our highest priority.”
Law enforcement officials have expressed concern that ISIS has called for more attacks in the wake of last month’s deadly terrorist attack at a concert hall in Moscow.
Mr. Pfluger later asked whether Mr. Mayorkas has briefed President Biden on any impending terror threat, and the secretary again demurred, repeating his “safety and security” answer.
Rep. Dan Goldman, New York Democrat, called the GOP questions “completely uncalled for, unwarranted personal attacks.”
And that was before Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Georgia Republican, tore into Mr. Mayorkas, calling him the smuggling cartels’ “best business partner” because of the massive amounts of cash they have raked in from the surge of illegal immigrants and drugs over the last three years.
She also held up a flier that’s been circulating among Capitol Hill Republicans. They say it came from a migrant center in Mexico and purports to urge migrants to vote for Mr. Biden.
Mr. Mayorkas said voting eligibility is a matter for the states and his department has no role to play.
Democrats cheered on Mr. Mayorkas amid the attacks, predicting he will survive the impeachment proceedings in the Senate and remain at the helm of Mr. Biden’s immigration efforts.
“The impeachment sham against you is dead on arrival in the Senate,” said Rep. Robert Garcia, California Democrat.
• Stephen Dinan can be reached at sdinan@washingtontimes.com.
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