Clay Higgins (Republican from Louisiana) repeatedly called for Alejandro Mayorkas, Department of Homeland Security Secretary, to resign amid Wednesday’s crisis at the southern border. He called his leadership a failure. “This disaster at our southern border, the disintegration of sovereignty, cannot be sustained.” Anybody with two brain cells that might bump into each other would understand that it’s an abject failure down below,” Higgins said to Mayorkas as he testified before Congress on Homeland Security regarding the department’s request for a budget for 2023.

Higgins wanted to know what Mayorkas would need to admit that he was failing in border management.

“How do you recognize failure if you haven’t delivered what you promised?” Higgins stated, “My God man! Own the moment!”

Mayorkas was quiet during Higgins’ remarks. This included when Higgins threatened that Mayorkas would be impeached if Republicans win the House majority in November’s midterm elections.

“I and others have called you to resign. If we have the majority next year, which we will, you could face impeachment. Higgins stated, “I ask you as a man to own this thing.”

“Please feel my spirit, speak truthfully, get out of your talking points and talk to the American people. Own this thing. We are losing our country and we need you to resign. Your impeachment will cause the country pain.

Mayorkas briefly responded to Higgins’ question at the end.

Republicans and moderate Democrats have criticised the DHS secretary, and the Biden administration, for the recent massive increase in immigration at the border.

Democrats have specifically pressed the Trump administration to address the ending of Title 42. This Trump-era public order allowed border officials to quickly expel illegally crossing migrants to stop the spread of COVID-19.

DHS plans to receive up to 18,000 migrants per day. This is more than twice the average daily crossing of 7,000 people by agents in March.

Mayorkas has been rebuked by dozens of House Republicans and state attorney generals across the country for his handling of the border issue under President Biden.