A day after Senate Democrats dismissed his impeachment charges, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas faced GOP lawmakers in a contentious hearing Thursday.

Not only did Republicans on the Senate Homeland Security Committee reiterate their frustrations with Mayorkas’ job performance, but they made clear they were furious he avoided a trial.

“Yesterday was a sad day because the majority went ahead and set the precedent that … there wasn't going to be an examination of whether you lied to Congress. They were just going to simply say lying to Congress didn't rise high enough to be high crimes and misdemeanors,” said Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., the committee’s top Republican.

Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., charged that Senate Democrats “set fire to the Constitution when they refused to allow your impeachment trial.”

Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., asked Mayorkas whether he believed Democrats were “terrified” the trial would examine Mayorkas’ record as Homeland Security chief or they did not trust him.

“Neither, Senator,” Mayorkas answered.

The Republican-led House voted in February to impeach Mayorkas on charges of willful and systemic refusal to comply with the law and breach of public trust.

But in a party-line vote Wednesday, the Senate voted to rule each of the two charges unconstitutional. Democratic lawmakers have argued that none of the allegations met the the constitutional standard for impeachment of “treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors.” 

Mayorkas has called the claims against him “false.” But he acknowledged in Thursday’s hearing he’s never read the articles of impeachment.

“I’d probably want to do that because it alleges that you did not follow the law of the United States of America,” said Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah. “And either you or your legal counsel ought to read that to make sure that you are following the law of the United States of America.”

The focus of Thursday’s hearing was to consider the administration’s budget request for the Department of Homeland Security. 

Committee Republicans used it as an opportunity to again blast Mayorkas and President Joe Biden for border policies they say are leading to more violent crime, fentanyl and other deadly drugs and terrorists in the country while costing Americans jobs.

They also accused Mayorkas of repeatedly lying in previous hearings about the conditions at the border.

“The last administration was enforcing the law, and you just haven't been enforcing the law,” Paul said. “And millions of people are coming across, and they've committed heinous crimes.”

Several Republicans attacked Mayorkas over the February death of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing school student who was killed while jogging. Police say the suspect in her killing, Jose Ibarra, illegally entered the country.

The suspect in her death is a man who police say illegally entered the country.

When Mayorkas told Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., he was “confident that justice will be vindicated in the case,” Hawley responded: “Hopefully he’ll get more of a trial than you got. Otherwise, there will be no justice for anyone at all.”

Paul said he did not “see real remorse” from Mayorkas over the deaths of Americans allegedly by migrants who entered the United States illegally.

“If it were me, I would be so upset by this I would be doing everything possible to make sure that another Jose Ibarra doesn't get in,” Paul said. 

Mayorkas said “all our hearts break” for Riley’s family.

Throughout the hearing, Mayorkas accused Republicans or misstating facts. He also repeated a request he’s made since taking over the department for Congress to pass legislation to help secure the border. 

The Homeland Security secretary and Democrats on the committee criticized Senate Republicans for sinking a bipartisan border and immigration deal in February after former President Donald Trump urged GOP lawmakers reject it.

“Our administration worked closely with a bipartisan group of senators to reach agreement on a national security supplemental package, one that would make the system changes that are badly needed and give DHS the tools and resources needed to meet today's border security challenges,” Mayorkas said. “We remain ready to work with you to pass this tough, fair, bipartisan agreement.”

Said Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., the committee’s chairman: “I have many colleagues who like to talk about solving a problem but would much rather just throw rocks.”