Sen. Josh Hawley
The next book by Joshua (Josh) David HawleyHawley acquired by conservative publisher Trump Allies, Washington members helped plan rallies before the Capitol violation: reports What Martin Luther King, 39, taught me at 35 MORE (R-Mo.) He announced on Tuesday that he would put on a wait Alejandro Mayorkas
Alejandro MayorkasThis week: Tensions are mounting in Trump’s final days. Night defense: Agency watchers investigating response to Capitol riots | 25,000 guards now approved for inauguration security | Troop levels in Afghanistan, Iraq reached 2,500 Biden informed by federal officials about security issues in relation to possession MORE, President-elect Joe Biden
Joe BidenWoman accused of trying to sell Pelosi laptop to imprisoned Russians Trump gets the lowest job approval rate in recent days, while President Trump moves to lift coronavirus travel restrictions in Europe, Brazil MOREthe choice to lead the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
Hawley, who was recently criticized amid allegations that he played a role in the Capitol riot earlier this month, made the announcement just hours after the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs ended its hearing with the Mayorkas. The action delays the appointment of a post-Democrat who argues that it is critical to fill in immediately to protect national security.
“Sir. Mayorkas has not adequately explained how he will enforce federal law and protect the southern border, given President-elect Biden’s promise to reverse major enforcement and security measures,” Hawley said in a statement.
“Just today, he refused to say that he would apply the laws that Congress has already passed to protect the border wall system. Therefore, I cannot consent to skip the standard verification process and speed up this appointment when so many questions remain unanswered, “he added.
Hawley’s opposition comes as Biden and Democrats argue that attacks on the Capitol make the post a priority. Hawley was the first senator to announce that he would vote against certification of the 2020 election results.
His wait could delay a nomination that should move forward once Democrats gain control of the Senate on Wednesday. Defeating the wait will require a vote of 60 senators, demanding that 10 Republicans cross over in favor of the Mayorkas nomination.
Mayorkas, who previously served as deputy DHS secretary in the Obama administration, won no Republican vote when it was confirmed in 2013.
Hawley’s opposition stems from an exchange in which the lawmaker asked Mayorkas if he would oblige $ 1.4 billion in funds set aside for the Trump wall.
“If I can get to the bottom line that I believe you were asking, is whether I will comply with the law and carry out my responsibilities, if I have the privilege of serving as secretary of homeland security. And the answer is yes, I will follow the law. And what I would need to do is to understand what the law provides about the obligation to fund to build a border wall, and then see what are the opportunities to discontinue such obligations, ”said Mayorkas.
Hawley then thanked Mayorkas for getting “right to the point” of his question.
He also asked Mayorkas about Biden’s plans to give legal status to 11 million people residing in the United States, something Hawley said he worried about “especially in this time of severe economic crisis that fell disproportionately in the American working class”.
Mayorkas called the shift a “path to citizenship for individuals who have been in this country for many years, who have contributed to our communities and to this nation’s economic prosperity”.
“I would be privileged to work with Congress to pass immigration reform legislation that provides this path and provides a permanent solution to what is clearly a failed system,” he added.