Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is scheduled to testify before the House Judiciary Committee on July 26th. The hearing, titled "Oversight of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security," is expected to focus on a range of critical issues, including the ongoing situation at the southern border.

In his official invitation, Committee Chairman Jim Jordan specifically requested that Secretary Mayorkas address border encounter statistics, including apprehensions, "gotaways," paroles, and releases since January 20, 2021. The discussion will also encompass Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) activities, such as arrests, deportations, releases, detentions, and the processing of immigration benefits.

Beyond border security, Chairman Jordan indicated that committee members are likely to question Mayorkas about the Department of Homeland Security's actions related to censorship, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency, the Disinformation Governance Board, and other pertinent matters.

This appearance follows a series of testimonies by Mayorkas before both House and Senate committees this year, where he has faced intense scrutiny regarding the border situation. Migrant encounters surged after the Biden administration took office, exceeding 1.7 million in FY 2021 and reaching over 2.4 million in FY 2022.

Republicans have attributed the increase in migrant encounters to the Biden administration's reversal of Trump-era policies, including the Migrant Protection Protocols and border wall construction, as well as changes to interior enforcement practices. Some GOP members have called for Mayorkas' resignation, dismissal, or impeachment. The House Homeland Security Committee is currently investigating his management of the border situation, alleging a "dereliction of duty."

The Biden administration maintains that it is operating within a flawed immigration system that requires Congressional action to reform and adequately fund. Officials point to a significant decrease in border encounters in May following the expiration of the Title 42 public health order, although the numbers still exceeded 200,000.

Several of the administration's immigration policies, including an asylum rule and a policy for releasing migrants without court dates, are facing legal challenges. However, the administration recently secured a legal victory when the Supreme Court dismissed a lawsuit brought by Republican-led states contesting DHS's enforcement priorities.