Pre-election tensions between the White House and the US Congress escalated on Wednesday as Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, made a surprise appearance on Capitol Hill.

Hunter Biden, a target of Republicans over his business dealings, was at the centre of a Republican-led House committee hearing regarding his refusal to testify behind closed doors.

The hearing, which sought to determine if Hunter Biden should be held in contempt, descended into chaos when he unexpectedly appeared in the audience. Republican Representative Nancy Mace labelled it a "PR stunt" and called for Hunter Biden's immediate arrest. The session devolved into shouting matches, with Democrats dismissing the accusations and highlighting the lack of evidence.

Simultaneously, Republicans intensified efforts to exploit the Biden administration's vulnerability on immigration. Lawmakers initiated moves to remove Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, accusing him of negligence in securing the border amid a surge in illegal migration. A record 10,000 daily migrant detentions in December prompted Republicans to term it a "humanitarian catastrophe."

While the impeachment process against Mayorkas faces challenges in the Senate, where Democrats hold a slight majority, the issue remains contentious. Congressional Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green asserted that Mayorkas's failure to adhere to the law justifies impeachment proceedings. A House floor vote for Mayorkas's removal is anticipated in late January, presenting Republicans with a platform to criticize the Biden administration's immigration policies.

The administration dismissed the Mayorkas impeachment as a "baseless and pointless" political move, emphasising its stalled request for $14 billion in border security funding. The pre-election confrontations underscore the heightened political tensions as both parties vie for advantage ahead of the November presidential election.