International

Political showdown: Republicans seek to impeach mayorkas over migration crisis

epublicans took a step further on Wednesday to initiate impeachment proceedings against the U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, whom they consider responsible for an “intentional” migration crisis at the Mexico-U.S. border, a hot topic in an election year.

For almost a year, a House committee, where conservatives have a narrow majority, conducted an investigation, claiming to have enough evidence to subject him to impeachment.

Republican Congressman Mark Green labeled Mayorkas as the “architect of devastation” due to intercepting over 8 million migrants illegally crossing U.S. borders since he took office in 2021, including more than 6.7 million at the shared border with Mexico.

“The Secretary has abused his authority and jeopardized Americans,” asserted Green, also complaining about the “astronomical” costs of what he deems an intentional crisis.

“A Circus” –

Democrats defend themselves. The more extreme Republicans “have created this impeachment circus, in part to try to distract from their own failures,” said Congressman Bennie Thompson. It’s a “political maneuver” in an election year, he said.

Three attorneys general from Oklahoma, Montana, and Missouri acted as witnesses during the House homeland security committee session. All responded affirmatively when Green asked if they believed Mayorkas “has failed to enforce or has subverted laws passed by Congress.”

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This was the first in a series of hearings on whether there are constitutional grounds for impeachment, but it’s highly unlikely to see the light of day.

A full House vote is needed first, likely to succeed and could happen by late January. However, it would then move to the Senate, where Democrats have the majority and would likely block it.

Nevertheless, Professor Emeritus at the University of Missouri School of Law, Frank Bowman, questioned the very foundation of impeachment because, according to the Constitution, it is not supposed to be a routine tool.

It is more of a last resort reserved “for grave and dangerous offenses,” for someone who “corrupts or subverts governmental processes or the constitutional order itself,” explained Professor Bowman during the session, suggesting it may not apply in this case.

“Broken System” –

Democrats are adamant on this point. “You can’t impeach a cabinet secretary because you don’t like the president’s policies,” said Thompson, calling it a “farce,” “pure politics,” and “the height of hypocrisy.”

The Biden administration also reproaches Republicans for stalling their request for an additional $14 billion to fund border security. Republicans demand a tougher immigration policy as a condition for approving a Ukraine aid package, including funds for the border.

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Facing criticism, Mayorkas acknowledges the high number of migrants as a “challenge” but insists it’s “not exclusive to the United States.” Regional challenges require regional solutions, he emphasized during a press conference in Texas.

“Some have accused the DHS (Department of Homeland Security) of not enforcing the laws of our country, this could not be further from the truth,” Mayorkas asserted. “We are doing everything possible within a broken system to encourage non-citizens to use legal pathways, to impose consequences on those who do not, and to reduce irregular migration.”

International

Kristi Noem credits Trump for mass migrant deportations by mexican president

U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem claimed that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has deported “more than half a million” migrants due to pressure from former President Donald Trump.

During a cabinet meeting highlighting the “achievements” of Trump’s administration in its first 100 days, Noem asserted that under the Republican leader’s influence, “Mexico has finally come to the table” to negotiate on migration and fentanyl trafficking.

“The president of Mexico told me she has returned just over half a million people before they reached our border,” Noem stated, criticizing media reports that suggest the Biden administration deported more migrants than Trump’s.

“I wish those deportations were counted,” Noem added, “because those people never made it to our border—she sent them back because you made her.” She went on to thank Trump: “They never made it here because they got the message—because you were so aggressive.”

Noem has made controversial claims about Sheinbaum in the past, prompting the Mexican leader to refute them.

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On April 1, Sheinbaum responded to one such statement by declaring, “The president answers to only one authority, and that is the people of Mexico,” after Noem said on Fox News that she gave Sheinbaum “a list of things Trump would like to see” and that Mexico’s actions would determine whether Trump granted tariff relief.

International

Vatican releases special “Sede Vacante” stamps ahead of papal transition

he Vatican’s post offices and select collector shops began selling special edition stamps this week to mark the period between the death of Pope Francis and the election of his successor.

Known as “Sede Vacante” stamps, they feature an image used on official Vatican documents during the interregnum between popes — two crossed keys without the papal tiara. These stamps went on sale Monday and will remain valid for postal use only until the new pontiff appears at the window overlooking St. Peter’s Square.

Until then, they can be used to send letters, postcards, and parcels. “Once the new pope is elected, the stamps lose their postal validity, but their collectible value rises,” said Francesco Santarossa, who runs a collectors’ shop across from St. Peter’s Square.

The Vatican has issued the stamps in four denominations: €1.25, €1.30, €2.45, and €3.20. Each is inscribed with “Città del Vaticano” and “Sede Vacante MMXXV” — Latin for “Vacant See 2025.”

International

Conclave to choose pope Francis’ successor could begin in early may

The conclave, which in the coming weeks must choose the successor to Pope Francis, will strictly follow a precise protocol refined over centuries.

The 135 cardinal electors, all under the age of 80, will cast their votes four times a day — except on the first day — until one candidate secures a two-thirds majority. The result will be announced to the world through the burning of the ballots with a chemical that produces the eagerly awaited white smoke, accompanied by the traditional cry of “Habemus Papam.”

The start date for the conclave could be announced today, as the cardinals are set to hold their fifth meeting since the pope’s passing. Luxembourg Cardinal Jean-Claude Hollerich suggested it could begin on May 5 or 6, following the traditional nine days of mourning. According to German Cardinal Reinhard Marx, the conclave could last only “a few days.”

Although the late Argentine pontiff appointed the majority of the cardinal electors, this does not necessarily ensure the selection of a like-minded successor. Francis’ leadership style differed significantly from that of his predecessor, Benedict XVI, a German theologian who was less fond of large public gatherings. It also marked a contrast with the popular Polish pope, John Paul II.

The Argentine Jesuit’s reformist papacy drew strong criticism from more conservative sectors of the Church, who are hoping for a doctrinally focused shift. His tenure was marked by efforts to combat clerical sexual abuse, elevate the role of women and laypeople, and advocate for the poor and migrants, among other causes.