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

US panel backs Trump-themed coin amid controversy

The United States Department of the Treasury confirmed to AFP that the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design of a new collectible coin featuring Donald Trump, with members of the commission appointed by the current administration.

According to the proposal, the coin will feature an image of Trump standing with clenched fists over a desk on the obverse, while the reverse will display an eagle, a traditional symbol of the United States.

The sale price of the collectible has not yet been disclosed, although the United States Mint typically offers similar items for more than $1,000.

“There is no more iconic portrait for the front of these coins than that of our president Donald Trump,” U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement sent to AFP. He added that two additional coins — a $1 piece and a one-ounce gold coin — are also under consideration.

However, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), another body responsible for reviewing new coin proposals, declined to discuss the Trump design in late February.

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“Only nations governed by kings or dictators place the image of a sitting leader on their currency,” said Donald Scarinciat the time. “No country in the world has minted coins featuring a democratically elected leader during their term in office,” he added.

When contacted by AFP, the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

International

Fed’s Waller warns of rising inflation risks amid Middle East conflict

Christopher Waller, a governor at the Federal Reserve, said Friday that he is increasingly concerned about the inflationary impact of the ongoing conflict involving United States and Israel against Iran, particularly due to the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Waller, who had supported interest rate cuts over the past year amid concerns about the labor market, said he has shifted his stance in recent weeks due to rising inflation risks.

“Since the Strait of Hormuz was closed, it suggests this conflict could be much more prolonged and that oil prices will remain elevated for longer,” Waller said in an interview with CNBC.

“Therefore, this indicates that inflation is a greater concern than I had previously assessed,” he added.

Waller also backed the Federal Reserve’s decision earlier this week to keep interest rates unchanged, signaling a more cautious approach as global geopolitical tensions continue to affect economic outlooks.

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International

Brazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint

The government of Brazil has offered to mediate in the ongoing tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, while calling on both nations to exercise restraint.

In a statement released Wednesday, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the parties involved to act with moderation and seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

“Brazil encourages all sides to act with moderation in order to find a peaceful solution to the controversy. It stands ready to support dialogue efforts aimed at preserving peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

Brazil also expressed “serious concern” over reports of deaths in the border area between Colombia and Ecuador, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incidents have not yet been clarified.

The diplomatic move comes amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries, increasing regional concern over stability and security along their shared border.