In confirming the GOP’s plans to filibuster, Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas instructed reporters Wednesday on Capitol Hill that “there’s plenty of issues” with Mayorkas’ nomination.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has pushed to have Mayorkas confirmed rapidly, however Cornyn and different Senate Republicans argue that Mayorkas hasn’t been correctly vetted on immigration points and are calling for an extra listening to into his nomination.
Republicans’ deliberate objections to Biden’s nominee to lead the Homeland Security Department means Schumer would have to take procedural steps to overcome a filibuster on Mayorkas. The Senate Democratic chief would want 51 votes within the Senate to overcome the filibuster, a course of positive to eat a number of days of ground time except an settlement is reached for a faster vote.
Republican Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri tried to block Mayorkas’ fast consideration after the listening to, arguing in an announcement that Mayorkas had inadequately defined how he’ll safe the US southern border.
In a letter Tuesday, Cornyn led seven different GOP senators on the Senate Judiciary Committee, together with Hawley, in demanding a listening to for Mayorkas earlier than their panel.
They argued that Mayorkas spoke about “immigration priorities at size” throughout his January 19 listening to proving that immigration points will likely be a “high focus” of his, and that the Senate Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over immigration issues.
“All Members of the Committee ought to have the chance to hear from Mr. Mayorkas immediately, and to publicly focus on with him his plans with respect to the Department’s immigration elements and capabilities,” the Republican lawmakers wrote.
Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, who is ready to chair the Judiciary Committee, instructed CNN, “I do not see why that is crucial” and referred to as the request for a listening to “completely political.”
While a number of of Biden’s nominees have been confirmed and have moved at a slower tempo than a few of his predecessors’ Cabinet picks, Republicans had not but threatened to filibuster a nominee till Wednesday. Mayorkas is now the primary.
The division has been and not using a Senate-confirmed chief since Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was ousted in early 2019.
CNN’s Geneva Sands and Priscilla Alvarez contributed to this report.
