EXCLUSIVE — Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-OR) will vote to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas when articles come to the House floor as early as next week.

Bentz, who initially voted in November to refer a resolution to impeach Mayorkas to the Homeland Security Committee along with seven other Republicans, now believes there is enough evidence to support the charges.

In a statement provided to the Washington Examiner, the Oregon Republican said, “House Republicans are committed to properly conducting the impeachment process.”

“Because Republicans followed regular order, there is now evidence in the record that the Secretary of Homeland Security, Alejandro Mayorkas, intentionally flouted immigration law, disregarding his constitutional duty to secure America’s borders. Secretary Mayorkas deserves to be impeached, and it is my intention to vote in favor of impeachment,” Bentz said.

Last year, eight Republicans voted with their Democratic colleagues to refer the Mayorkas resolution, brought by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), to committee to be conducted in regular order. Along with Bentz, Reps. Patrick McHenry (R-NC), Tom McClintock (R-CA), John Duarte (R-CA), Virginia Foxx (R-NC), Darrell Issa (R-CA), Ken Buck (R-CO), and Mike Turner (R-OH) voted to send the measure to the Homeland Security Committee. 

Early Wednesday morning, the committee approved two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas, setting it up for a vote on the House floor.

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The move to impeach Mayorkas comes as the southern border emerges as a major issue in 2024 for both Republicans and Democrats. The border was central to former President Donald Trump‘s four years in office and will be the centerpiece of his 2024 campaign. Now, however, President Joe Biden is also signaling a tougher position on immigration, suggesting he will “shut down” the southern border if a bipartisan proposal being negotiated in the Senate granting him that power is passed.

But that legislation faces significant hurdles after Trump urged Republicans against settling for a compromise that doesn’t completely address all of their concerns. House Republican leadership has signaled its agreement with Trump.