When Republicans took control of the US House in the 2022 election, we expected them to use their power to conduct politically motivated investigations. And indeed, they have done just that, beginning with the wasteful and pointless evidence-gathering exercise to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas for his alleged mismanagement of US border strategy.

It’s no surprise, since Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Bakersfield) has been arguing since last year for Mayorkas to step down or start impeachment proceedings. Articles of impeachment were filed in early January, but GOP efforts gained steam last week with a House Homeland Security Committee hearing on the effect of U.S.-Mexico border policies.

Among the cast of characters testing Tuesday was a Michigan mom who spoke out about the fentanyl-related deaths of her two sons. Rebecca Kiessling’s story was compelling and one that many parents can sympathize with. Except her sons died in July 2020 during the Trump administration and several months before President Biden appointed Mayorkas. When asked about the factual inconsistency, a spokesperson for Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), who sits on the Homeland Security Committee, CNN told reporter Daniel Dale in colorful language that essentially facts are irrelevant in this case.

Next up was Arizona’s Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, a possible Republican contender for the 2024 U.S. Senate. He testified to a massive increase in fentanyl seizures since 2018 and in traffic checks for people smuggling and trafficking, though he noted that most drivers predominantly American. How is this related to Mayorkas? Only in his belief that the border is not safe at the moment.

The truth invariably gets in the way of this bogus impeachment, but thankfully Republicans still have a high bar to meet. To depose Mayorkas, they must prove that he has committed serious crimes and offenses. They allege that Mayorkas has lost operational control of US borders and has been criminally negligent in failing to prevent terrorists, undocumented immigrants, narcotics and weapons of terrorism from entering the country.

enter the country illegally

. But of course, migrants, drugs and guns have illegally crossed the US-Mexico border over the course of several presidential administrations.

Tuesday’s hearing offered an unsurprising look at the U.S.-Mexico border and how it relates to the deadly growth in fentanyl poisonings. David J. Bier, associate director of immigration studies at the Cato Institute, offered possible solutions. More legal routes for migrants would dramatically reduce illegal crossings, he said. And he suggested that broadening the distribution of fentanyl test strips that anyone could use to determine whether a drug contains fentanyl would go a long way toward reducing drug-related deaths.

The Republicans, however, made it clear that they are not looking for solutions, especially solutions they disagree with. The Republican Rep. Dan Bishop of North Carolina, visibly agitated, chided Bier for advocating open borders.

This sideshow is about scoring political points because even if the House were to vote to impeach, Senate Republicans seem unwilling to participate in the charade. (Only once has a cabinet secretary been impeached. In 1876, Secretary of War William Belknap was impeached by the House but acquitted by the Senate.) Nor would removing Mayorkas change border policy. Biden would simply appoint another like-minded secretary to head homeland security.

Last week’s hearing is one of many planned by Republicans, along with photo ops of lawmakers at the border. What a pity. If only House Republicans could put so much time and effort into working across the aisle to address the real issues at the border.