House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan subpoenaed Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Wednesday for immigration enforcement records, saying officials have ignored his requests.
The Ohio Republican informed Mr. Mayorkas in a letter that information he demanded from Immigration and Customs Enforcement last November, after they couldn’t provide answers during transcribed interviews, has been disregarded. Numerous follow-ups have been ignored as well.
“Although we appreciate that DHS has provided some limited data, your failure to produce all the requested documents and information prevents the committee from fulfilling its constitutional oversight obligations,” the letter said.
Mr. Jordan said links provided to the committee on Jan. 29 did not “fully satisfy” the requests.
He said the information could be used “to inform potential legislative reforms,” such as alternatives to detention, increasing penalties and enhancing ICE’s tracking, detention and communications standards for immigrants on the terrorist watchlist.
“To inform such potential reforms, the committee must first understand the administration’s current application of federal immigration law,” he said.
DHS shot back at the subpoena, saying “instead of working cooperatively, as DHS has repeatedly sought to do, the House Judiciary Committee continues to waste time with unnecessary subpoenas that serve no purpose beyond political posturing.”
“In this Administration, DHS has produced thousands of pages of documents, provided countless briefings, and sent dozens of witnesses to appear for hearings. On this request alone, DHS already provided the vast majority of the information requested by the committee and made clear that our efforts remain ongoing,” DHS spokesperson Mia Ehrenberg said in an email. “DHS will continue cooperating with Congressional oversight requests, all while faithfully working to protect our nation from terrorism and targeted violence, secure our borders, respond to natural disasters, defend against cyberattacks, and more.”
House Republicans voted to impeach Mr. Mayorkas for refusing to enforce immigration law while telling Congress the border was secure.
The charges against him will head to the Senate next for trial, but senators on both sides of the aisle have shown no interest in moving forward with it.
• Mallory Wilson can be reached at mwilson@washingtontimes.com.
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