Western South Dakota News

WASHINGTON — U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered a speech on the Senate floor urging for a full Senate trial in the impeachment of U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Thune emphasized the importance of thoroughly examining the House of Representatives' case against Secretary Mayorkas.

Thune began by stating, "Mr. President, tomorrow afternoon the House of Representatives will transmit articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas to the U.S. Senate." He pointed out that the House has presented serious charges supported by evidence, indicating the gravity of the situation.

Highlighting the severity of the border crisis, Thune noted, "We have had three successive years of record-breaking illegal immigration under President Biden." He criticized the Biden administration's weak border security policies, attributing them to the surge in illegal migration.

Thune underscored the challenges faced by the Border Patrol and communities along the border due to the overwhelming number of migrants. He stressed, "Our country cannot be secure while we have two and a half million individuals a year pouring across our southern border."

Expressing concern about the national security implications, Thune mentioned the issue of "hundreds of thousands of known gotaways," individuals that the Border Patrol encountered but could not apprehend. He highlighted the gravity of the situation by stating that this fact is keeping the chief of the Border Patrol up at night.

In conclusion, Thune expressed his disappointment with the potential dismissal of the charges against Secretary Mayorkas, stating, "Unfortunately, I suspect the Democrat leader will continue with his plan to sweep these charges under the rug." He emphasized the need for a thorough examination of the allegations brought forth by the House of Representatives.

As the debate on the impeachment of Secretary Mayorkas unfolds, the call for a Senate trial to address the concerns surrounding the border crisis remains at the forefront of discussions in Congress.