COX SUPPORT C-SPAN AS A PUBLIC SERVICE. ALONG WITH THESE OTHER TELEVISION PROVIDERS, GIVING YOU A FRONT ROW SEAT TO DEMOCRACY.

A NEW MOBILE VIDEO APP FROM C-SPAN.

ALEJANDRA MAYORKAS TESTIFIED ON THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATIONS BORDER AND IMMIGRATION POLICIES BEFORE THE SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE. HE ADDRESSED SEVERAL ISSUES. SECRETARY MAYORKAS CALLED FOR CONGRESS TO ACT. . ...

HOO THE HEARING WILL COME TO ORDER. THE FIRST OVERSIGHT HEARING FOR INSTANCE JANUARY 16, 2018. THAT WAS THE SINGLE OCCASION IN THE FOUR YEARS OF TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WE HELD AN AGENCY WIDE DHS OVERSIGHT HEARINGS. ANNUAL HEARINGS WERE RUE TUNE UNDER TO BAM ADMINISTRATION AND I HOPE THAT --. THANK YOU THE SECRETARY FOR APPEARING HERE TODAY. WE'VE WORKED HARD TO FIND THIS DAY ON YOUR CALENDAR AVOIDING PANDEMICS AND EVERY OTHER CHALLENGE THAT WERE THROWN AT US A. I'M GLAD YOU ARE WITH US TODAY. SECRETARY MAYORKAS INHERITED A DEPARTMENT THAT WAS IN CHAOS. UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP, SIX IN TOTAL SECRETARIES, ONLY TWO SENATE CONFIRMED. DON'T TAKE IT FROM ME. LP LISTEN TO EVER SENATE CONFIRMED DHS SECRETARY PRIOR TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. TWO REPUBLICAN, TWO DEMOCRATS. THEY JOINTLY ROTE IN JANUARY THIS YEAR. THIS IS A -- AVERAGE A NEW SECRETARY IN THIS DEPARTMENT EVERY NINE AND A HALF MONTHS TO MANAGE THE TURBULENT CHALLENGES OF LARGE SCALE CYBER ATTACK, BORDER SECURITY, VIOLENT WHITE NATIONALISM, WILD FIRES IN THE WEST AND STAFF SHAKEUPS AND FIRINGS. THE GROSS POLITICIZATION OF THE AGENCY'S MISSION AND RULINGS FROM THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE. AND AT LEAST ONE COURT THAT THE MOST RECENT FORMER ACTING SECRETARY WAS SERVING ILLEGALLY. I MIGHT REMIND YOU, THOSE ARE COMMENTS BY THE FOUR PREVIOUS SECRETARIES OF DHS, TWO REPUBLICANS AND TWO DEMOCRATS THEY ADDED THE LEADERSHIP VACUUM IN TURMOIL AT DHS MAY HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE FAILURE TO ANTICIPATE AND ADEQUATELY PREPARE FOR THE ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL HILL. THE REFERENCE OF COURSE IS TO THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION. THEIR MESSAGE WAS CLEAR. THE CHAOS DURING THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION HOBBLED DHS AND PUT OUR NATION'S SECURITY AT RISK. THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY HAS IMPORTANT AND VAST RESPONSIBILITIES. THE SECRETARY MUST DEAL WITH NATURALLY DISASTERS, TRANSPORTATION SECURITY, CYBER SECURITY, INTERNATIONAL AND DOMESTIC TERRORISM. VIOLENT WHITE SUPREMACIST IS THE MOST CONSISTENT AND LETHAL THREAT IN THE HOMELAND. I'VE BEEN SOUNDING THE ALARM ABOUT THIS THREAT FOR MANY YEARS. IN 2012, I HELD A HEARING FOLLOWING THE MASSACRE BY A WHITE SUPREMACIST OF SIX WORSHIPPERS IN OAK CREEK WISCONSIN. I PRESSED THE DHS WITNESS TO DO MORE TO ADDRESS THIS THREAT. INSTEAD THE DEPARTMENT SHUTTERED ITS ONLY OFFICE DEDICATED TO COMBATTING DOMESTIC TERRORISM AND LAUNCHED A PROGRAM WHICH FOCUSED ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY NOT ON HOW MANY GROAN TERRORISTS BUT AMERICAN MUSLIMS. AS THE JANUARY 6 ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL DEMONSTRATED FOR TOO LONG OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS FAILED TO ADDRESS THE GROWING TERRORIST MENACE IN OUR BACKYARD. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM THE SECRETARY ON THIS AND OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES FACING THE AGENCIES AND WHAT CONGRESS CAN DO TO SAFEGUARD OUR NATION. MY REPUBLICAN COLLEAGUES HAVE STRONGLY HELD VIEWS ABOUT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION AND IMMIGRATION. WE'VE HEARD THEM MANY TIMES AND I'M SURE WE'LL HEAR THEM AGAIN THIS MORNING. IT ALMOST SEEMS THEY WOULD LIKE US TO RETURN TO THE POLICIES OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND PERHAPS SOME DO. LET ME REMIND THE COMMITTEE. NOT ONLY WERE PRESIDENT TRUMP'S POLICIES OFTEN INHUMANE AND UNLAWFUL, THEY ALSO FAILED TO SECURE OUR BORDER AND FIX OUR BADLY BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SEPARATED NEARLY 4,000 CHILDREN FROM THEIR FAMILIES BETWEEN JULY 1, 2017 AND JANUARY 20, 2021 UNDER THEIR QUOTE ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY CAUSING PERMANENT TRAUMA TO THESE KIDS. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SHUT DOWN LEGAL AVENUES FOR VULNERABLE FAMILIES AND CHILDREN FLEEING PERSECUTION. THIS CREATED A MASSIVE BOTTLE NECK AT OUR BORDER AND SUPER SIZED THE BACKLOG OF APPLICATIONS THAT ARE STILL PENDING IN THE COURTS TSMS FORMER PRESIDENT'S ATTEMPT TO REPEAL DACA, SOMETHING THEY TAKE VERY PERSONALLY, THREATENED YOUNG IMMIGRANTS WITH DEPORTATION TO COUNTRIES THEY MAY NOT EVEN REMEMBER, UNTIL THE SUPREME COURT ANNOUNCED IN A MAJORITY DECISION THAT THAT EFFORT WAS UNLAWFUL. THIS INCLUDES MORE THAN 200,000 DACA RECIPIENTS WHO ARE, QUOTE, ESSENTIAL, CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKERS, AS DEFINED BY NONE OTHER THAN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S DOECHT HOMELAND SECURITY.DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S ATTEMPT TO TERMINATE PROTECTIVE STATUS PUTS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF LONG TIME U.S. RESIDENTS INCLUDING 130,000 ESSENTIAL CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE WORKERS AT RISK OF DEPORTATION. MILLIONS OF UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS INCLUDING MORE THAN HALF OF OUR NATION'S 2.4 MILLION FARM WORKERS WHO HAVE COMMITTED NO CRIME AND POSE THAT THREAT TO THIS COUNTRY. THIS CREATED FEAR IN IMMIGRATION COMMUNITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY BUT DID NOT MAKE US SAFER. IN FACT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ENDANGERED OUR NATIONAL SECURITY BY LITERALLY TRANSFERRING BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FUNDS TO BUILD THE PRESIDENT'S SO CALLED BORDER WALL. AMERICAN TAXPAYERS, NOT MEXICAN TAXPAYERS, AS TRUMP HAD PROMISE SOD MANY TIMES, HAVE PAID DEARLY FOR THIS COSTLY ENDEAVOR. EVERY DOLLAR DIVERTED FROM MEN AND WOMEN IN THE UNIFORM FOR THE BORDER WALL WAS APPROPRIATED BY CONGRESS TO ADDRESS A NEED IDENTIFIED IN OUR MILITARY. THIS WAS NOT JUST AN ATTACK ON CONGRESS. IT WAS ATTACK ON MILITARY READINESS. SECRETARY MAYORKAS YOU HAVE A LOT ON YOUR PLATE AS A RESULT OF WHAT YOU INHERITED. LET ME BE CLEAR. I BELIEVE WE CAN SECURE OUR BORDER WHILE TREATING PEOPLE HUMANELY. IT IS NOT ONLY POLICY TO DO SO, IT IS NECESSARY. I ALSO LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO GO TO RESTORE AMERICA'S BYPASSING TRADITION OF WELCOMING REFUGEES. THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SET RECORD LOWS FOR REFUGEE ADMISSIONS FOUR YEARS IN A ROW. SADLY U IN FISCAL YEAR 2021 WHICH ENDED TWO WEEKS AGO, THE U.S. HAD ADMITTED ONLY 11411,411 REFUGEES. A SMALL TINY FRACTION OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S GOAL OF 62,500 AND LOWER THAN ANY YEAR DURING THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. I BELIEVE WE MUST DO BETTER. IT IS EASY TO CRITICIZE THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH, BUT EVERY MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE NEEDS TO LOOK IN THE MIRROR AS WELL. ONLY CONGRESS CAN ACTUALLY FIX OUR BROKEN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM. OF COURSE I'M CONCERNED ABOUT THE CRISIS OF THE SOUTHERN BORDER. EVERY MEMBER OF CONGRESS SHOULD BE. THE QUESTION NOT ONLY WHAT HAPPENED BUT WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT? THE CONGRESS, THE SENATE, ARE WE PROUD OF OUR FAILURE TO PASS MEANINGFUL IMMIGRATION REFORM FOR THE LAST 35 YEARS? CONGRESS BEARS RESPONSIBILITY FOR. THIS I'VE TRIED FOR MANY YEARS TO PASS SUCH LEGISLATION, UNFORTUNATELY MANY TIMES SOME REPUBLICANS OBSTRUCTED IT. THEY FILL BUSTERED THE DREAM ACT FIVE SEPARATE TIMES. AND THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED HOUSE BLOCKED THE 2014 IMMIGRATION REFORM THAT WOULD HAVE INVESTED TENS OF BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN SECURING OUR BORDER. WE WERE UNABLE TO MAKE PROGRESS. IN FACT THERE WERE SOME WHO CAME FORWARD AND SAID WE HAVE TO CUT LEGAL IMMIGRATION IN THE UNITED STATES. BUT NOW WE HAVE ANOTHER CHANCE. I'M WORKING TO PASS IMMIGRATION REFORM THROUGH RECONCILIATION. AND STILL UNRESOLVED WITH THAT WILL BE BUT I HOPE IT IS ACHIEVED. THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF AMERICANS SUPPORT A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS. MANY OF WHOM RISKED THEIR LIVES TO GET TO AMERICA AND TO STAY HERE AND RISK THEIR LIVES AGAIN DURING THE PANDEMIC. THIS IS A CRITICAL COMPONENT OF OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND REBUILDING COMMUNITIES AND CANNOT WAIT ANY LONGER. WITH THAT I TURN TO RANKING MEMBER GRASSLEY FOR HIS OPENING STATEMENT. ...

I'M GOING START BY READING THE OATH THAT CABINET PEOPLE TAKE BEFORE THEY START THEIR JOB. DO SOLEMNLY SWEARLY SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AGAINST ALL ENEMIES, FOREIGN AND DOMESTIC. THAT I WILL BEAR TRUE FAITH ALLEGIANCE TO THE SAME, THAT I TAKE THIS OBLIGATION FREELY WITHOUT ANY MENTAL RESERVATION OR PURPOSE OF EVASION. AND THAT I WILL WELL AND FAITHFULLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE ON WHICH I AM ABOUT TO ENTER, SO HELP ME GOD. YESTERDAY, ON TV, IF YOU WERE WATCHING, AND IT WAS REPORTED BUT YOU COULD ALSO SEE PEOPLE CROSSING THE BORDER IN VIOLATION OF OUR LAWS THAT ARE PASSED UNDER THAT CONSTITUTION. I'M ASKED BY IOWANS, SENATOR GRASSLEY WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT THE CRISIS AT THE BORDER? MY USUAL ANSWER AND, I HOPE IT IS NOT INTERPRETED BY MY CONSTITUENTS AS AVOID MIG RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT I SAY WE PASS ALL KIND OF LAWS OVER THE LAST SEVERAL DECADES MAKING IT ILLEGALLY TO ENTER THE COUNTRY UNLESS YOU COME HERE WITH OUR PERMISSION. I'M GLAD WE'RE FINALLY HOLDING A HEARING WE CAN DISCUSS THE CRISIS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION HAS CREATED AT OUR SOUTHERN BORDER. RECENT ANNOUNCEMENTS ONE AND SEVEN TENTHS -- ENCOUNTERS AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER, FISCAL 2021. THAT IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER EVER RECORDED. IT IS HIGHER THAN THE INDIVIDUAL POPULATIONS OF AT LEAST 11 STATES. OF THAT NUMBER, 1 IN 4/10 MILLION TOOK PLACE IN THE WHEN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION WAS IN OFFICE AND CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS HAD A MAJORITY IN CONGRESS. SO IN MONTHS OF UNIFIED CONTROL OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS PRESIDED OVER 1 FOUR TENTHS MILLION ENCOUNTERS WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN BORDER. THAT IS AN ASTOUNDING NUMBER. BECAUSE UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION CHILDREN HAVE BEEN RETAINED, DETAINED UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS FOR WHICH CONGRESSIONAL DEMOCRATS LOUDLY AND REPEATEDLY CRITICIZED THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION. MAKE NO MISTAKE, THIS CRISIS IS A DIRECT RESULT OF IRRESPONSIBLE POLICIES. RECKLESS POLICIES. DANGEROUS IMMIGRATION POLICIES, PURSUED BY THE ADMINISTRATION. AND BY YOU SECRETARY MAYORKAS AND POLITICAL LEADERSHIP OF THE DEPARTMENT HEADQUARTERS, ICE AND BORDER PATROL. DON'T JUST TAKE MY WORD FOR IT. ON MARCH THE 10th.REUTERS REPORTED THAT THE GOVERNMENT OF MEXICO WAS WORRIED THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S ASYLUM POLICIES WERE, QUOTE, STOKING ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND CREATING BUSINESS FOR ORGANIZED CRIME. ITS BEEN REPORTED THAT CARTELS ARE GETTING RICH PAY -- YOU HAVE TO PAY THEM TO CROSS THE BORDER. TO CROSS THE RIO GRANDE. FORMER CHIEF OF THE U.S. BORDER PATROL RODNEY SCOTT SENT A LETTER TO CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP ON SEPTEMBER THE 11thSTATING THAT THE SEISMIC SHIFT IN BORDER SECURITY AND IMMIGRATION POLICY THAT WAS INITIATED ON JANUARY 20, 2021, END OF QUOTE, CREATED THE CURRENT CRISIS AT OUR SOUTHERN BORDER AND THAT THIS CRISIS CONSTITUTES A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT TO OUR NATION. AND ALL YOU GOT DO DO IS GO BACK THREE OR FOUR MONTHS. WE ARRESTED TWO PEOPLE FROM YEMEN THAT WERE ON TERRORIST LISTS OF THE UNITED STATES. SCOTT SERVED AS BORDER PATROL AGENT AND FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENTEM AGENT FOR OVER 29 YEARS AND UNDER FIVE DIFFERENT PRESIDENTIAL ADMINISTRATIONS. INCLUDING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. HE SAID WHAT HE WITNESSED UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION WAS, QUOTE, A LACK OF ANY MEANINGFUL TO SECURE OUR BORDERS. IN HIS PROFESSIONAL ASSESSMENT, QUOTE, THE U.S. BORDER PATROL IS RAPIDLY LOSING THE SITUATIONAL AWARENESS REQUIRED TO KNOW WHO AND WHAT IS ENTERING OUR HOMELAND. MR. SCOTT ALSO SAID THAT SECRETARY MAYORKAS WAS CHOOSING TO IGNORE SOUND RECOMMENDATIONS OF CAREER GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP DESPITE HIS OWN ADMISSIONS THAT HE AGREES WITH THEM. THIS SORRY STATE OF AFFAIRS IS ENTIRELY PREVENTABLE. UNFORTUNATELY DUE TO THE RECKLESS POLICIES OF THIS ADMINISTRATION AND DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, IT WAS ALSO ENTIRELY PREDICTABLE. WHEN YOU TERMINATE PHYSICAL BARRIER CONSTRUCTIONS. WHEN YOU SEVERELY RESTRICT THE ABILITY OF ICE TO DEPORT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. WHEN YOU TERMINATE THE REMAIN IN MEXICO POLICY. WHEN YOU ROLL BACK ASYLUM COOPERATIVE AGREEMENTS, WHEN YOU'VE GOT TITLE 42. WHEN YOU OPENLY SUPPORT SANCTUARY CITIES POLICIES, THEN YOU SHOULD NOT BE SURPRISED WHEN THERE IS A SURGE AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER. WHEN YOU ALLOW THE ACLU AND OPEN BORDER IMMIGRATION ACTIVISTS RATHER THAN CAREER LAW ENFORCEMENT PROFESSIONALS TO DICTATE THE TERMS OF YOUR IMMIGRATION AND BORDER POLICY, THEN YOU SHOULD BE SURPRISED WHEN RECORD SHATTERING NUMBERS OF PEOPLE START SHOWING UP AT THE BORDERS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT SITUATION. WHEN YOU RUN DHS LIKE IT IS AN ABOLISH ICE FAN CLUB. YOU SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED WHEN YOU HAVE AN IMMIGRATION CRISIS ON YOUR HANDS. THE MOST SOLID RESPONSIBILITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY IS TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF UNITED STATES. ONE OF THE SOLEMN RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRESIDENT AND SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES IS AND UPHOLD THE RULE OF LAW ACCORDING TO THE OATH THAT WAS TAKEN BY EVERYBODY IN THE CABINET. IN CHOOSING TO ACTIVELY IGNORE THE IMMIGRATION LAWS PASSED BY CONGRESS AND IN CHOOSING TO PURSUE POLICIES THAT ENCOURAGE UNPRECEDENTED LEVELS OF UNCONTROLLED ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION TO THE UNITED STATES, THIS ADMINISTRATION AND THIS DEPARTMENT HAVE FAILED ON BOTH COUNTS. I'M GLAD, AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS OF TRYING TO GET THIS HEARING, WE FINALLY HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PUBLIC TO DISCUSS WITH THESE LEADERS THESE ISSUES AND TO HOLD THESE LEADERS TO ACCOUNT. THANK YOU MR. CHAIRMAN. ...

THANK YOU SENATOR GRASSLEY. WE WELCOME SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY, THE HON ROBBLE ALE MAYORKAS.ORABLE ALE MAYORKAS. FIVE MINUTES FOR OPENING STATEMENTS. A ROUND OF QUESTIONS. EACH SENATOR WILL HAVE SEVEN MINUTES. SEVEN MINUTES. PLEASE NO NEW QUESTIONS AFTER THE SEVEN MINUTES ARE REACHED. PLEASE TRY TO REMAIN WITHIN YOUR ALLOTTED TIME. FOLLOWING THE FIRST ROUND OF QUESTION, IF SENATORS WISH TO ASK ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS, WE'LL HAVE A SECOND ROUND WITH THREE MINUTES EACH. SECRETARY MAYORKAS IF YOU WOULD PLEASE STAND. DO YOU RAISE YOUR HAND, DO YOU AFFIRM THE TESTIMONY YOU ARE ABOUT TO GIVE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE WILL BE THE TRUTH THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH SO HELP YOU GOD. ...

I DO.

LET THE RECORD REFLECT THE SECRETARY ANSWERED IN THE AVERMENTIVE. SECRETARY MAYORKAS THE FLOR IS YOUR.FFIRMATIVE. SECRETARY MAYORKAS THE FLOR IS YOUR.

THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN YOU TODAY. EVERY DAY 250,000 MEN AND WOMEN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CONFRONT CRITICAL AND COMPLEX CHALLENGES AS WE WORK TO ACHIEVE OUR NOBLE MISSION OF SAFEGUARDING THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, OUR HOMELAND AND OUR VALUES. THE DEDICATION AND TALENT OF OUR EXTRAORDINARY WORKFORCE IS UNSURPASSED, AND I AM PRIVILEGED TO SERVE LOJDS THEM. OUR DEPARTMENT IS EXPANSIVE, THE THIRD LARGEST IN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND OUR MORE THAN 20 AGENCIES AND OFFICES JOIN FORCES AND WORK TOGETHER TO FULFILL THE MANY DIFFERENT RESPONSIBILITIES WE HAVE. FROM INVESTIGATING APPREHENDING AND HELPING BRING TO JUSTICE THOSE WHO EXPLOIT CHILDREN, TO RESCUING THOSE 234IN DISTRESS AT SEA. OUR PERSONNEL SO MUCH IN THE SERVICE OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE. I WILL HIGHLIGHT THE WORK IN OUR FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM, ENHANCING CYBER SECURITY, REBUILDING IMMIGRATION, BRINGING TO SAFETY THOSE WHO SUPPORTED US IN WAR AND COMBATTING CLIMATE CHANGE. I LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING OF SO MUCH MORE IN RESPONSE TO YOUR QUESTIONS. FIRST OUR WORK IN THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM. OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE BUILT A RIGOROUS AND MULTI LAIRD SECURITY, SCREENING AND VETTING ARCHITECTURE TO COMBAT THE EVOLVING TERRORIST THREAT. WE E REMAIN EVER VIGILANT IN PROTECTING OUR HOMELAND FROM FOREIGN TERRORISTS SEEKING TO DO HARM WHILE COMBATTING HOME GROWN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENT EXTREMISTS WHO NOW POST THE MOST PERSISTENT AND SIGNIFICANT TERRORISM RELATED THREAT FACING OUR COUNTRY. LAST WEEK WE I SHOULD OUR FOURTH NATIONAL TERRORISM ADVISORY BULLETIN IN LINE WITH OUR COMMITMENT TO COMMUNICATE WITH THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ABOUT THE EVOLVING THREAT LANDSCAPE FACING OUR HOMELAND TODAY. OVER THE PAST NINE MONTHS WE ESTABLISHED A DEDICATED DOMESTIC TERRORISM BRANCH WITHIN OUR OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYSIS, LAUNCHED THE CENTER FOR PREVENTION PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIP TO PROVIDE COMMUNITIES WITH EVIDENCE BASED TOOLS TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS FROM RADICAL IEZING TO VIOLENCE AND REDOUBLED OUR EFFORTS TO SHARE TIMELY AND ACTIONABLE INFORMATION WITH OUR PARTNERS ACROSS EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENTIZING TO VIOLENCE AND REDOUBLED OUR EFFORTS TO SHARE TIMELY AND ACTIONABLE INFORMATION WITH OUR PARTNERS ACROSS EVERY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT THIS YEAR WE DESIGNATED COMBATS DOMESTIC EXTREMISM A NATIONAL PRIORITY AREA IN OUR FEMA GRANT PROGRAMS, RESULTING IN AT LEAST 77 MILLION DOLLARS BEING SPENT ON CAPABILITIES TO DETECT AND PROTECT AGAINST THIS THREAT NATIONWIDE. SECOND, AS CYBER THREATS HAVE GROWN SO HAVE NATION'S EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN RESILIENCE AND PROTECT INFRASTRUCTURE. RANSOMWARE INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN ON THE RISE WITH VICTIMS PAYING AB ESTIMATED 350 MILLION DOLLARS IN RANSOMS LAST YEAR, A 311% INCREASE OVER THE PRIOR YEAR. THIS SUMMER, ALONGSIDE OTHER FEDERAL PARTNERS, DHS LAUNCHED STOP RANSOMWARE.GOV, THE FIRST GOVERNMENT WEBSITE TO COMBAT RANSOMWARE BY HELPING ORGANIZATIONS OF ALL SIZES MITIGATE THEIR RISKS AND INCREASE THEIR RESILIENCE. THROUGH CISA, OUR NATION'S CYBER SECURITY QUARTERBACK WE ANNOUNCED THE CREATION OF THE JOINT CYBER DEFENSE COLLABORATIVE. A PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP THAT WILL PREVENT AND REDUCE THE IMPACT OF CYBER INTRUSIONS AND ENSURE A UNIFIED RESPONSE WHEN THEY OCCUR. TWO WEEKS AGO, CISA ISSUE AD BINDING OPERATIONAL DIRECTIVE REQUIRING FEDERAL CIVILIAN DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIES TO PROTECT AGAINST MORE THAN 250 KNOWN CYBER VULNERABILITIES. TSA ISSUED TWO NEW SECURITY DIRECTIVES TO PROTECT THE PIPELINES AND THE AGENCY CONTINUES TO EXPLORE DIFFERENT STEPS TO EXPAND PROTECTION FOR SURFACE TRANSPORTATION, AVIATION AND RAIL TRANSIT ENTITIES. CISA AND YOU ARE OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE AND ANALYSIS ARE WORKING WITH ALL FIFTY STATES, LOCAL JURISDICTIONS AND ELECTION TECHNOLOGY EXPERTS TO KEEP OUR ELECTIONS SECURE. WE ARE DEVELOPING A MORE SKILLED, ROBUST AND DIVERSE CYBER SECURITY WORKFORCE. IN MAY WE INITIATED THE DEPARTMENT'S LARGEST AND MOST SUCCESSFUL CYBER SECURITY HIRING INITIATIVE IN ITS HISTORY. YESTERDAY WE LAUNCHED THE DHS CYBER SECURITY SERVICE TO ENABLE OUR DEPARTMENT TO BETTER COMPETE FOR TOP TIER AND MISSION CRITICAL CYBER SECURITY TALENT. THIRD, WE ARE ADDRESSING A REGULAR MIGRATION AND WORKING TO REBUILD A SAFE, ORDERLY AND HUMANE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM. THE CHALLENGE OF DOING SO IS MADE MORE DIFFICULT BY THE ONGOING IMPACTS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND A SYSTEM THAT WAS DECIMATED BY THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION. WE MUST INVEST IN ADDRESSING ROOT CAUSES CREATING LEGAL PATHWAYS AND ENSURING SWIFT ADJUDICATION OF ASYLUM CLAIMS. THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS FUNDAMENTALLY BROKEN. A FACT THAT EVERYONE AGREE UPON. CONGRESS MUST PASS LEGISLATION TO FIX IT. IN THE MEANTIME WE ARE TAKING ACTION WITHIN OUR AUTHORITIES. WE ARE ENFORCING OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS, INCLUDING THOSE OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND HUMANITARIAN RELIEF. WE ARE ENFORCING EXPEDITED REMOVAL, OPERATING REPATRIATION FLIGHTS AND --. WE HAVE LEVERAGED FEMA'S COORDINATION CAPABILITIES, YOU ARE ACTIVATED OUR VOLUNTEER FORCE OF EMPLOYEES FROM ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT AND EXPANDED OUR PROCESSING CAPACITY. WE HAVE PROPOSED A NEW REGULATION TO STREAMLINE THE ASYLUM PROCESS THAT FAIRLY AND EFFICIENTLY ADJUDICATE CLAIMS RESULTING IN THE PROMPT APPROVAL OF THOSE WHO QUALIFY AND THE PROMPT REMOVAL OF THOSE WHO DEMOCRAT. WE ARE EXPANDING SAFE AND LEGAL PATHWAYS AND PROGRAMS. WE INCREASED THE NUMBER OF H 2 B VISAS AVAILABLE FOR FISCAL 2021, CREATING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR INDIVIDUALS TO WORK LEGALLY AND ON A TEMPORARY BASIS IN THE UNITED STATES IN POSITIONS THAT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE BE FILLED. WE ALSO ADDED SIX NEW COUNTRIES TO THE LIST OF THOSE ELIGIBLE TO H2A AND H 2 BE VISA. WE ARE FOCUSING OUR CIVIL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES ON INDIVIDUALS WHO POSE A CURRENT THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY, PUBLIC SAFETY AND BORDER SECURITY. WE ARE FOCUSING OUR WORK SITE ENFORCEMENT ACTIONS ON UNSCRUPULOUS EMPLOYER WHO IS EXPLOIT THE VULNERABLE CREATE UNFAIR LABOR MARKETS AND HARM LAW-ABIDING EMPLOYER WHO IS FOLLOW THE RULES. WE ARE PERFORMING THIS WORK WITH UNWAVERING COMMITMENT TO PROTECTING PRIVACY, CIVIL RIGHTS AND CIVIL LIBERTIES AND MAKING RISK-BASED INVESTMENTS TO COMBAT REAL THREAT TOURS COMMUNITIES. FOURTH, THE DEPARTMENT THE PROUD TO LEAD ALLIES WELCOME OUR GOVERNMENT EFFORT TO RESETTLE VULNERABLE AFGHAN NATIONALS IN OUR COUNTRY. A SIGNIFICANT PERCENTAGE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WORK FOR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT OR ARE COALITION FORCES OR ARE FAMILY MEMBER OF SOMEONE WHO DID. MANY ARE FAMILY MEMBERS OF AMERICAN CITIZENS AND GREEN CARD HOLDERS. OTHERS WORKED AT JOURNALISTS, HUMAN RIGHTS ACTIVITIES OR ON HUMANITARIAN MISSIONS. ALONG WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY PARTNERS, WE ARE EMPLOYING A MULTI LAYERED AND RIGOROUS SCREENING AND VETTING PROCESS THAT BEGINS OVERSEAS, BEFORE INDIVIDUALS ARE CLEARED TO TRAVEL TO THE UNITED STATES. AND IT CONTINUES UPON THEIR ARRIVAL IN THIS COUNTRY. WE ARE ALSO ENSURING THAT AFGHAN NATIONALS ARRIVING IN THE UNITED STATES UNDERGO MEDICAL SCREENINGS, RECEIVE APPROPRIATE VACCINES AND CAN BUILD A NEW LIFE FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR FAMILIES. THIS WORK IS BEING DONE IN CLOSE COLLABORATION WITH STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR. WE ARE GRATEFUL TO CONGRESS FOR OUR PROVIDING FUNDING TO SUPPORT THIS HISTORIC CAUSE. FINALLY, WE ARE COMBATTING THE EXISTENTIAL THREAT POSED BY CLIMATE CHANGE. TO HELP COMMUNITIES RECOVER AND REMAIN RESILIENT, PRESIDENT BIDEN DOUBLED THE SIZE OF THE BUILDING RESILIENT INFRASTRUCTURE AND COMMUNITIES PROGRAM DEDICATING ONE BILLION DOLLARS TO WILD FIRE RESILIENCE EFFORTS, FLOOD CONTROL AND MORE. DHS ALSO AUTHORIZED NEARLY $3.5 BILLION IN HAZARD ADMINISTRATION GRANT PROGRAM FUNDING TO HELP STATES, TRIBES AND TERRITORIES ADAPT AND PREPARE FOR THE IMPACT OF THE CLIMATE CRISIS. FURTHER FEMA REVISED POLICIES FOR AID PROGRAMS. WE CAN EXECUTE THIS CRITICAL MISSION BAUGZ OF OUR INCREDIBLE WORKFORCE AND KEY PARTNERS, MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE, THE ALLIES ABROAD, PRIVATE SECTOR, NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND MORE. THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT. I LOOK FORWARD TO ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS. ...

THANK YOU MR. SECRETARY. ONE OF THE ISSUES RAISED BY SENATOR GRASSLEY AND WE CERTAINLY HEARD REPEATED OVER IS THE RESPONSE TO THE ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S INTERAGENCY TASK FORCE AND REUNIFICATION OF FAMILIES IDENTIFIED 3,914 CHILDREN SEPARATED FROM THEIR PARENTS AT THE U.S./MEXICO BORDER BETWEEN JULY 2017 AND JANUARY 2021 WHEN PRESIDENT TRUMP LEFT OFFICE. OF THESE 2,073 HAVE BEEN REUNITED WITH THEIR PARENTS. THAT LEAVES APPROXIMATELY 1,800 CHILDREN WHO WERE SEPARATED DURING THE TRUMP YEAR WHO IS ACCORDING TO THIS TASK FORCE REPORT HAVE NOT BEEN REUNITED WITH THEIR PARENTS. WHAT IS THE CURRENT STATS OF THESE CHILDREN? ...

MR. CHAIRMAN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR QUESTION. I HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACTUALLY INTERVIEW PARENTS WHOSE CHIRND WERE RIPPED FROM THEIR ARMS UNDER THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION. AND TRAGICALLY THE TRAUMA OF THAT SEPARATION, EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE NOT PHYSICALLY REUNITED CONTINUES. THAT TASK FORCE, AND WE HAVE A WONDERFUL KPEKD WHO WORKS DAY TO DAY IN THE EFFORT ISEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR WHO WORKS DAY TO DAY IN THE EFFORT IS IS. WE RECENTLY LAUNCHED A WEBSITE WHERE FAMILIES WHO WERE INDEED SEPARATED CAN REGISTER FOR RELIEF. WE ARE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH COUNCIL FOR THE FAMILIES. WE ARE WORKING WITH THE GOVERNMENT, THE NATION'S OF ORIGIN TO ACCELERATE THE PROVISION OF PASSPORTS FOR PARENT WHO IS DO INDEED WANT TO COME HERE. ...

LET ME ASK YOU MR. SECRETARY. YOU HAVE HEARD THEIR CRITICISM, THAT YOU ARE DOING EXACTLY THE SAME THING THAT TRUMP DID WITH ZERO TOLERANCE. ARE YOU IN FACT FORCIBLY SEPARATING CHILDREN FROM THEIR FAMILIES WITHOUT GOOD CAUSE? ...

ABSOLUTELY NOT. AND LET ME ALSO SAY THAT WE ARE WORKING WITH INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING THE INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION FOR MIGRATION, TO WORK WITH TRUSTED VOICES, TO REBUILD THE TRUST OF THE PARENTS, THAT THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION DESTROYED, SO THEY HAVE THE COURAGE TO COME FORWARD AND BE REUNITED WITH THEIR CHILDREN. ...

MR. SECRETARY. YOU KNOW MY INTEREST IN THE DREAM ACT. AND DACA. AS WELL AS DAPA, AND THE EFFORTS CONGRESS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED IN. WE HAD COURT DECISIONS ON PRESIDENT TRUMP'S EFFORT TO ELIMINATE DACA PROTECTION FOR THE THOUSANDS WHO RECEIVED IT. WHAT EFFORTS IS DHS MAKING TO REDUCE THE BACKLOG OF DACA RENEWAL APPLICATIONS? AT THE END OF JUNE I UNDERSTAND 84,000 REQUESTS WERE PENDING INCLUDING 13,000 RENEWALS FOR MORE THAN 120 DAYS. WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT? ...

MR. CHAIRMAN OUR EFFORTS ARE WELL UNDER WAY IN THAT REGARD. WELFARE WE ARE PRIORITIZING APPLICATIONS BASED UPON THEIR EXPIRATION DATE SO WE MAKE SURE THAT NO LAPSES IN DEFERRED ACTION FOR CHILDHOOD E JIBLT OCCUR. WE ARE ALSO WHEN RENEW APPLICATION MAKING IT EFFECTIVE UPON THE DATE OF EXPIRATION SO THERE IS NO GAP OF ELIGIBLE. ...

WHAT IS THE BACKLOG NOW?

I'M HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THE PRECISE NUMBER AND I WILL DO SO.

I HOPE PROMPTLY.

WE HAVE A WORKED, VERY VERY VIGILANTLY TO REDUCE.

SUGGESTIONS OF SOME PEOPLE WHO MANAGED TO GET ACROSS THE BOARDER AND MAKE SOME CLAIM OR HAVE A RIGHT UNDER ASYLUM LAW TO BE IN THE UNITED STATES ARE RELEASED AND NEVER SEEN AGAIN. THAT THEY ARE SOMEHOW GO INTO THE NATION AT LARGE, DON'T SHOW UP FOR THEIR HEARINGS AND THAT IT IS WORSE NOW THAN IT WAS UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION. IS THAT TRUE? ...

THE TERM CATCH AND RELEASE HAS BEEN USED VERY LOOSELY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS ACROSS DIFFERENT ADMINISTRATIONS. INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE NOT REMOVED, WHO ARE NOT EXPELLED UNDER THE CDC TITLE 42 AUTHORITY ARE PLACED INTO IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDINGS. THOSE WHO ABSCOND ARE A PRIORITY FOR REMOVAL UNDER THE IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PRIORITIES THAT I ISSUED ON SEPTEMBER 30th....

DO THEY SHOW UP AT THEIR HEARINGS?

THE GREAT MAJORITY DO, MR. CHAIRMAN.

AND ARE THERE CONDITIONS THAT YOU CAN SUGGEST WOULD MAKE IT MORE LIKELY THEY SHOW UP AT THEIR HEARINGS?

AND WE ARE IMPOSING THOSE CONDITION MR. CHAIRMAN. WE HAVE ALTERNATIVES TO DETENTION FOR THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN IMMIGRATION DETENTION. WE HAVE IMPOSED CONDITIONS OF PATROL WITH ALTERNATIVES TO DE DETENTION. AND THOSE CONDITIONS BETTER ENSURE THEIR APPEARANCE IN COURT. WE ARE COMMUNICATING WITH INDIVIDUALS MOST EFFECTIVELY BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT IS NOT AN INTENT TO ABSCOND BUT A MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE REQUIREMENTS AND A VERY LABYRINTHIAN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM. WE ARE REALLY FOCUSED ON THIS EFFORT. ...

ANOTHER ONE OF THE FOX GREATEST HITS ARE THAT YOU DON'T DO COVID-19 TESTING AND IN FACT YOU ARE TURNING MIGRANTS LOOGTSE AT THE BORDER AND THEY ARE SPREADING COVID-19 ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IS THAT TRUE? ...

WE TEST MIGRANTS AND PLACE THEM IN ISOLATION OR QUARANTINE AS RESULTS REQUIRE. WE HAVE BUILT AN ARCHITECTURE WITH NOT GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ACROSS THE FEDERAL ENTERPRISE TO TEST MIGRANTS. AND IN FACT WHEN NON GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS ASSIST US IN THAT EFFORT WE HAVE PROVIDED FEMA REIMBURSEMENT FOR THEM THROUGH THE STATE IF THOSE STATES COOPERATE WITH US. ...

WE KNOW SMUGGLERS ARE ENDANGERING AND EXPLOITING THOSE MIGRANTS WHO ARE ANXIOUS TO FIND A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE. WE SAW THAT JUST RECENTLY IN DEL RIO TEXAS, WHEN SO MANY HAITIAN IMMIGRANTS SEEMED TO APPEAR ALMOST BY DESIGN TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THEM. HOW DID THEY HAPPEN TO ALL COME TOGETHER DURING THAT PERIOD OF TIME? ...

WE HAVE A NUMBER OF OPERATIONS WHERE WE'RE GOING AFTER LOGISTICS AND WALKING THE MONEY AND APPREHENDING THEM THAT WAY. I HAVE MET SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF MEXICO AND ASSISTED IN THE APPREHENSION OF ORGANIZATIONAL LEADERS. WE ARE VERY FOCUSED ON THE ORGANIZATIONS THAT EXPORT THE VULNERABLE AND FACILITATE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION. ...

WHAT IS THE BACKLOG IN IMMIGRATION COURTS? I UNDERSTAND IT WAS 1.4 MILLION CASES AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. HAS THERE BEEN ANY PROGRESS MADE IS THIS. ...

THERE'S BEEN MODEST PROGRESS, MR. CHAIRMAN. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE ARE VERY FOCUSED ON. THIS HAS BEEN AN ENDURING CHALLENGE. IT SPEAKS TO THE FACT THAT OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND IN DIRE NEED OF LEGISLATIVE FIX. ...

SENATOR GRASSLEY.

WELCOME SECRETARY. ON OCTOBER THE 28th THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL" REPORTED THAT YOUR DEPARTMENT, AND SEVERAL OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE INVOLVED IN TALKS TO OFFER MASSIVE FINANCIAL PAYMENTS TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS. THIS IS BEING DONE IN ORDER TO SETTLE LITIGATION REGARDING THE ZERO TOLERANCE ENFORCEMENT POLICY. AS YOU CAN IMAGINE, MANY AMERICANS THINK IT IS PRETTY OUTRAGEOUS IDEA TO OFFER MASSIVE TAXPAYER-FUNDED PAYMENTS TO ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO BROKE OUR LAWS, PARTICULARLY IN THE MIDDLE OF A RECORD-SHATTERING BORDER CRISIS THAT THIS ADMINISTRATION HAS CREATED. THE JOURNAL MADE IT CLEAR THAT DHS IS INVOLVED IN THESE DISCUSSIONS, AS THE LEADER OF YOUR DEPARTMENT, PRESUMABLY YOU HAVE BEEN KEPT IN THE LOOP. WERE YOU AWARE OF THE PAYMENTS AMOUNTS UNDER CONSIDERATION? ...

RANKING MEMBER GRASSLEY, THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS LEADING THE NEGOTIATIONS IN LITIGATION ARISING FROM THE FAMILY SEPARATION POLICY OF THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION. I AM NOT INVOLVED IN THOSE NEGOTIATIONS. I MUST DEFER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. MY FOCUS IN LEADING THE TASK FORCE IS TO REUNIFY THE FAMILIES WHO WERE SEPARATED UNDER THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION. ...

OKAY. MR. SECRETARY, THE WHITE HOUSE DEPUTY PRESS SECRETARY AND THE ACLU HAVE ALL ALREADY OFFERED PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THESE SETTLEMENT DISCUSSIONS SO WE EXPECT YOU TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT DHS'S INVOLVEMENT IN THE CASE. SO, YOU ARE SAYING THAT THERE IS NO INVOLVEMENT. ...

I AM NOT AWARE OF OUR INVOLVEMENT IN THE FEDERAL TORT CLAIMS ACT THAT ARE BEING HANDLE BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE. MY FOCUS IS ON THE REUNIFICATION OF THE FAMILIES, THE PARENTS WHO WERE SEPARATED FROM THEIR CHILDREN. ...

UNDER THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE DEATH GRATUITY PROGRAM THE FAMILY OF A SERVICE MEMBER WHO DIES -- TAX FREE PAYMENT OF 100,000 DOLLARS. DO YOU THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR A AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO BROKE OUR LAWS TO RECEIVE MORE MONEY FROM OUR GOVERNMENT THAN THE FAMILY OF A FALLEN SERVICE MEMBER RECEIVES UNDER THAT PROGRAM? ...

RANKING MEMBER GRASSLEY. WHEN AN INDIVIDUAL SACRIFICES HOR LIFE IN THE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY WEARING OUR NATION'S UNIFORM THE FAMILY AND ALL MAKE THAT SACRIFICE AS WELL. AND MY HEART GOES OUT TO ALL OF THOSE WHO. I MUST AGAIN DEFER TO THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE WITH RESPECT TO LITIGATION IN LITIGATION OF FEDERAL TORT CLAIMS. THAT IS NOT WITHIN MY PROVINCE. ...

THE "WALL STREET JOURNAL" PIECE THAT INDICATES THAT AT LEAST ONE OF YOUR DEPARTMENTS ATTORNEYS COMPLAINED THE ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT PAYOUT UNDER DISCUSSION WOULD BE MORE THAN SOME 9/11 VICTIMS FAMILIES RECEIVED UNDER THAT PROGRAM. UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES, IF ANY, DO YOU THINK IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO BROKE OUR LAWS TO RECEIVE MORE MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT THAN ANY ONE FAMILY IN THE 9/11 VICTIMS? ...

I HAVE THE HEARTBROKEN HONOR OF MEETING A NUMBER OF FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES AS A RESULT OF 9/11 ON THE 20th ANNIVERSARY OF THAT TRAGIC DAY. AND WE ARE DEVOTED TO THE WELL-BEING OF THOSE FAMILIES. AGAIN, RANKING MEMBER GRASSLEY, THE RESIDENCE RESOLUTION, THE NEGOTIATION OF THE FEDERAL TORT CLAIMS ACT ARISING FROM FAMILY SEPARATION IS NOT WITHIN THE JURISDICTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY. ...

WELL, I'M NOT ASKING YOU TO COMMENT ON ONGOING NEGOTIATIONS OR LEGAL MATTERS. I'M ASKING YOU FOR YOUR OPINION ON WHEN IT IS APPROPRIATE FOR AN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT TO RECEIVE MORE MONEY FROM THE GOVERNMENT THAN THE FAMILY OF 9/11 VICTIMS. I DON'T THINK YOU ARE GOING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION SO I'M GOING TO GO ON. THERE ARE APPROXIMATE LIT 1 AND 2/10 MILLION ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS IN THE UNITED STATES ORDERED REMOVAL. THEY HAVE RECEIVED DUE PROCESS AND ORDERED IMMIGRATION BY A JUDGE. IN YOUR MEMO YOU SAID THE FACT THAT A INDIVIDUAL IS REMOVABLE NON CITIZEN SHOULD NOT ALONE BE THE BASIS OF AN ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST THEM, ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST THEM DOES THAT REASONING APPLY TO THE IMMIGRANTS WHO HAVE RECEIVED DUE PROCESS AND GIVEN A FINAL RECORD OF REMOVAL BY AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE? ...

RANKING MEMBER GRASSLEY, THE POLICY THAT I ISSUED ON SEPTEMBER 30th, I DREW FROM TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE, NOT ONLY AS A MEMBER OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY BUT AS A FEDERAL PROSECUTOR. WE CANNOT REMOVE 1.2 MILLION INDIVIDUAL, NOR CAN WE REMOVE MORE THAN 11 MILLION UNDOCUMENTED INDIVIDUALS, INDIVIDUALS UNLAWFULLY PRESENT IN THE UNITED STATES WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE FINAL ORDERS OF REMOVAL. ...

YOU MIGHT BE RIGHT ON THAT POINT. BUT MY QUESTION IS, DOES THE REASONING APPLY TO THE 1 AND 2/10 MILLION ILLEGAL IMMIGRANT WHO HAVE RECEIVED DUE PROCESS.

IT CERTAINLY DOES AND I -- HOWEVER, I WOULD NOT NECESSARILY ACCEPT THE FACT THAT ALL OF THEM HAVE RECEIVED DUE PROCESS.

DO YOU AGREE ALL THESE INDIVIDUALS SHOULD BE REMOVED FROM THE UNITED STATES? I GUESS -- YOU SAID YOU COULDN'T REMOVE 1 AND 2/10 MILLION. SHOULD ANY OF THEM BE REMOVED? OF COURSE I DO ...

OF COURSE I DO BELIEVE INDIVIDUAL WHO IS POSE A PUBLIC SAFETY, POSE A NATIONAL SECURITY THREAT, WHO POSE A BORDER SECURITY THREAT SHOULD BE REMOVED AND WE SHOULD BE SMART AND EFFECTIVE IN OUR USE OF RESOURCES. AND WE SHOULD FOCUS ON THE WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND PRIORITIZE INDIVIDUALS FOR REMOVAL. JUST AS I DID AS AN ASSISTANT UNITED STATES ATTORNEY. JUST AS ANY RESPONSIBLE PROSECUTING OFFICE DOES IN THE COUNTRY. ...

I HEARD YOU SAY YOU WANT TO DO YOUR JOB. LET ME ASK YOU THIS. LAST QUESTION. HAVE ANY MIGRANT FAMILIES AT ALL BEEN SEPARATED DURING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. WERE ANY MIGRANT FAMILIES SEPARATED DURING THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION, DURING WHICH YOU SERVED MULTIPLE SENIOR POSITIONS AT DHS, INCLUDING DEPUTY SECRETARY SECRETARY. ...

TO PURPOSELY SEPARATE A CHILD FROM THE PARENT FOR THE SOLE PURPOSE OF DETERRING IRREGULAR MIGRATION OF OTHERS. WE ENDED THAT CRUEL POLICY ON DAY ONE OF THIS ADMINISTRATION. ...

THANK YOU SENATOR GRASSLEY.

I WISH I HAD AN ANSWER OF ANY MEMBERS WERE SO IMPORTANT.

THANK YOU SENATOR GRASSLEY. SENATOR FEINSTEIN.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN. AND MR. MAYORKAS, I'VE KNOWN YOU FOR A LONG TIME. IT IS VERY GOOD TO SEE YOU SITTING THERE AND I THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE. I WANT THE ASK A CONTROVERSIAL QUESTION, AND IT HAS TO DO WITH GUNS. EACH YEAR -- EXCUSE ME, LAST MONTH TSA ANNOUNCED THEIR OFFICERS HAVE SEIZED 4,495 FIREARMS AT SECURITY POINTS THIS YEAR. THAT IS NEW RECORD. IN THE AGENCY'S 20 YEAR HISTORY. HAVING AN AVERAGE OF MORE THAN A DOZEN FIREMANS SEIZED AT AIRPORT CHECKPOINTS EACH DAY IS REALLY TROUBLING. SO WHAT IS HAPPENING? TO WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THIS INCREASE? AND HOW IS TSA COMBATTING THIS VERY CONCERNING ISSUE? ...

SENATOR, IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU, AND I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE SUPPORT YOU HAVE PROVIDED ME THROUGHOUT MY ENFORCEMENT CAREER.

COULD YOU SPEAK UP PLEASE? I DON'T WANT TO MISS IT.

I JUST EXPRESS MY GRATITUDE TO YOU, SENATOR FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

THANK YOU.

AND THROUGHOUT MY ENFORCEMENT CAREER.

THANK YOU.

AND IT IS WONDERFUL TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU.

IT IS DIFFICULT TO UNDERSTAND THE CAUSE FOR THE INCREASE IN THE CARRYING OF FIREARM, THE ATTEMPTED CARRYING OF FIREARMS THROUGH SECURITY CHECKPOINTS IN THE AIRPORTS. I CAN ASSURE YOU, SENATOR, THAT TSA IS DOING EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO BOTH INTERDICT THAT AND TO PREVENT IT FROM CONTINUING TO OCCUR. WE HAVE BEEN VERY ROBUST IN OUR COMMUNICATION TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC, THAT THAT OFFENSE WILL BE DEALT WITH CRIMINALLY IF APPROPRIATE AND CERTAINLY CIVILLY AS WELL. WE MUST PUT AN END TO THAT. IT JEOPARDIZES PEOPLE IN THE AIRPORTS AND OF COURSE OF OUR OWN PERSONNEL, FRONTLINE PERSONNEL WHO RISK THEIR LIVES EVERY DAY IN THE SERVICE OF OUR COUNTRY. ...

WELL, I THANK YOU FOR THAT. SINCE 2012, A TOTAL OF 12.7 MILLION ACRES HAVE BURNED IN MY STATE. THAT IS 1 OUT OF EVERY 8 ACRES IN CALIFORNIA. 53% OF THE FOREST IN CALIFORNIA IS FEDERAL. FEDERAL SALARIES WERE WAY DOWN. WE HAVE NOW CHANGED THAT. TO ENABLE THE POSITION A WILDLAND FIREFIGHTER TO BE BOOSTED SUBSTANTIALLY. WHAT CAN YOUR AGENCY DO TO HELP CONTROL FIRE, WHICH IS GOING TO GET WORSE AS THE CLIMATE GETS LARGER AND PARTICULARLY IN BIG STATES, WITH 53% OF OUR FORESTLAND IN CALIFORNIA BEING FEDERAL? ...

SENATOR, WE'RE DOING A NUMBER OF THINGS UNDER THE PRESIDENT'S LEADERSHIP. TO ADDRESS THE EXISTENTIAL THREAT OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND WILD FIRES IN THE WEST IS ONE EXAMPLE OF THAT THREAT. WE HAVE INCREASED GRANT DOLLARS TO STATES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES TO BUILD RESILIENCE TO FIRES AND, IMPORTANTLY, TO FOCUS ON PREVENTIVE EFFORTS. OUR OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IS DEVELOPING INGROUND SENSORS THAT CAN BETTER DETECT WHEN A FIRE MAY ACTUALLY BREAK OUT. WE HAVE AN ALL-OF-DEPARTMENT EFFORT IN THIS BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND BOTH THE GRAVITY AND THE BREADTH OF THE THREAT THAT CLIMATE CHANGE, INCLUDING THE SPREAD OF WILD FIRS, POSES TO OUR WELL-BEING. ...

DO YOU SUPPORT AN INCREASE IN THE SALARY OF WILDLAND FIREFIGHTERS THAT IN TERMS OF A COMPARISON WITH CALIFORNIA? THEY ARE NON COMPETITIVE AND WE HAVE 500 VACANCIES. WE HAVE THE LEGISLATION PENDING TO CORRECT THAT. AND I WOULD HOPE THAT YOU WOULD SUPPORT IT. ...

I LOOK FORWARD TO DOING SO, SENATOR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. THANKS MR. CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU SENATOR FEINSTEIN. SENATOR GRAHAM.

THANK YOU MR. SECRETARY. GLAD YOU ARE RECOVERED FROM COVID AND TO THE EXTENT WE CAN WORK TOGETHER, I'D LIKE TO DO THAT. LET'S JUST PULL BACK A LITTLE BIT AND JUST ASK SOME BASIC QUESTIONS. DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THE BIDEN IM IMMIGRATION POLICIES ARE SUCCESSFUL? ...

SENATOR, I THINK IMMIGRATION SYSTEM AND REBUILDING A DISMANTLED ONE TAKES TIME, AND WE'RE ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS.

SO YOU THINK WE'RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK AS A NATION?

I DO.

OKAY. HOW WOULD YOU GRADE YOURSELF?

SENATOR, I'M A TOUGH GRADER ON MYSELF AND I GIVE MYSELF AN "A" FOR EFFORT IN MISSION AND SUPPORT OF OUR WORK FORCE.

DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING A BETTER JOB THAN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION?

SENATOR, I BELIEVE IN THE POLICIES WE ARE PUTTING FORWARD, AND I CONDEMN A NUMBER OF THE POLICIES THAT WERE PROPAGATED IN THE PRIOR ADMINISTRATION.

SO YOU THINK WE HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER THE BORDER NOW THAN WE DID UNDER TRUMP?

SENATOR, WE'RE VERY FOCUSED ON IT.

THAT'S NOT THE QUESTION. DO YOU THINK WE HAVE MORE CONTROL OVER THE BORDER THAN WE DID IN THE LAST ADMINISTRATION?

I THINK WE HAVE MORE CONTROL CONSISTENT WITH OUR VALUES AS A NATION.

WAS AFGHANISTAN A SUCCESSFUL WITHDRAWAL?

SENATOR, THE EVACUATION THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE AND THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE LED WAS HISTORIC IN EVACUATING SO MANY INDIVIDUALS --

OF THOSE THAT WERE EVACUATED, HOW MANY WERE VETTED BEFORE THEY GOT ON THE PLANE?

SENATOR, IT IS OUR POLICY TO --

IT'S A SIMPLE QUESTION. HOW MANY OF THEM WERE VETTED BEFORE THEY GOT ON THE PLANE?

OUT OF AFGHANISTAN?

YEAH.

I CANNOT SPEAK TO THAT, BUT IT IS OUR POLICY --

SO YOU CAN'T TELL US HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE VETTED BEFORE THEY GOT ON THE PLANE TO COME TO AMERICA.

I'M SORRY, IF YOU'RE SPEAKING OF THE PLANE TO COME TO AMERICA, IF I MAY, SENATOR, LET ME EXPLAIN THE PROCESS. WE WORKING WITH OUR ALLIES --

OKAY, HERE'S A QUESTION. VERY SIMPLE. THOSE THAT GOT ON THE PLANE --

FOR AMERICA, IT IS OUR POLICY --

PLEASE LISTEN TO MY QUESTION.

I APOLOGIZE.

FOR THOSE WHO GOT ON C-17s AND OTHER PLANES, HOW MANY OF THEM WERE VETTED BEFORE THEY GOT ON THE PLANE BY AMERICAN OFFICIALS?

FOR THE UNITED STATES, IT IS OUR POLICY TO VET AND SCREEN 100% OF THEM.

SO 100% OF THEM THAT GOT ON THE PLANE WERE VETTED. THAT'S YOUR TESTIMONY UNDER OATH?

IT IS OUR POLICY TO DO SO.

I DON'T CARE WHAT YOUR POLICY IS. I WANT TO KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE VETTED BEFORE THEY GOT ON THE PLANE. WHAT IS YOUR ANSWER? IF YOU DON'T KNOW, JUST SAY YOU DON'T KNOW. ...

I DON'T KNOW OF ANYONE WHO BOARDED THE PLANE THAT WAS NOT PROPERLY SCREENED AND VETTED.

CAN YOU TELL ME ANY WERE VETTED BEFORE THEY GOT ON THE PLANE?

IF I MAY, SENATOR, ALL OF THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARRIVED IN THE UNITED STATES HAVE BEEN SCREENED AND VETTED.

LISTEN, I'M NOT TRYING TO TRICK YOU. I'M TRYING TO ASK A SIMPLE QUESTION. WE'VE HAD THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE GET ON C-17s AND FLEW OUT OF THE MOST CHAOTIC SITUATION I'VE SEEN SINCE THE FALL OF SAIGON, AND I'M ASKING YOU, BEFORE THEY GOT ON THE PLANE, HOW MANY OF THEM WERE VETTED BY THE UNITED STATES? CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT PERCENTAGE? ...

SENATOR, I WOULD PAUSE IT AND I WILL CONFIRM THIS, THAT WELL OVER 99% OF THEM WERE FULLY SCREENED AND VETTED BEFORE THEY BOARDED THE FLIGHT.

OKAY.

IF, IN FACT, ANY OF THEM --

WHERE DO YOU GET THAT INFORMATION FROM?

MAY I, SIR?

SURE.

IF, IN FACT, THEY WERE NOT, THEY WERE SCREENED AND VETTED WHILE IN FLIGHT, AND IF ANY DEROGATORY INFORMATION WAS PRODUCED, THEY WERE PLACED IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDINGS AND IN REMOVAL. ...

YOU DO KNOW YOU'RE UNDER OATH.

YEAH.

ARE YOU TELLING THIS COMMITTEE UNDER OATH THAT 99% OF THE PEOPLE THAT GOT ON THESE PLANES IN AFGHANISTAN WERE VET BID OUR VETTED BY OUR GOVERNMENT BEFORE THEY GOT ON THAT PLANE. ...

SENATOR, IF I MAY, YOU'RE ASKING ME ABOUT PLANES FROM TRANSIT COUNTRIES, FROM THIRD COUNTRIES --

I'M TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE WHO GOT ON THE PLANES AT THE KABUL AIRPORT.

I CAN'T SPEAK TO THAT.

GOOD. OF THE 1.7 MILLION PEOPLE WHO COME HERE ILLEGALLY, HOW MANY OF THEM HAVE BEEN RELEASED INTO THE COUNTRY?

SENATOR, I CAN BREAK THAT DOWN TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY. NEARLY 1 MILLION, APPROXIMATELY, I WOULD SAY, 965,000 HAVE BEEN SUBJECT TO EXPULSION UNDER TITLE 42 OF THE UNITED STATES CODE. I BELIEVE -- ...

HOW MANY LEFT?

I BELIEVE APPROXIMATELY 40,000 HAVE BEEN REMOVED UNDER OUR IMMIGRATION AUTHORITIES THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY --

WHERE DOES THAT GET US, TO ABOUT 840,000 PEOPLE?

NO, NO, APPROXIMATELY 965,000 WERE EXPELLED. APPROXIMATELY 40,000 HAVE BEEN REMOVED. APPROXIMATELY 125,000 UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE CUSTODY AND THE SHELTER OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. THE BALANCE ARE, TO THE BEST OF MY KNOWLEDGE, IN IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT PROCEEDINGS -- ...

SO WHERE DOES THAT LEAVE US? HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL HERE? OF THE 1.7 MILLION, HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE STILL HERE?

I WOULD ESTIMATE APPROXIMATELY 375,000 ARE --

STILL HERE?

YES. THAT IS MY BEST ESTIMATE AND BELIEF.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT IF YOU HAVE AN IMMIGRATION HEARING AND THERE IS A FINAL ORDER OF DEPORTATION, THAT PERSON SHOULD BE REMOVED?

I DO.

WHY IS 1 MILLION PEOPLE STILL HERE AFTER THEY DID A FINAL ORDER OF DEPORTATION?

SENATOR GRAHAM, AS I RESPONDED TO --

IS THE SYSTEM WORKING?

THE IMMIGRATION SYSTEM IS BROKEN, HAS BEEN BROKEN --

LET ME SAY THIS. IT'S REALLY BROKEN IF A MILLION PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO LEAVE AND THEY HAVEN'T LEFT. DO YOU BELIEVE THE MEXICO POLICY BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS CRUEL? ...

AS IT WAS IMPLEMENTED, I DO.

DO YOU SUPPORT PERSONALLYMANENTLY DOING AWAY WITH THE REMAINING MEXICAN POLICY?

I DO.

DO YOU THINK THAT WILL INCREASE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IF WE DO?

I DO NOT BECAUSE OF THE OTHER EFFORTS THAT WE HAVE UNDERWAY.

THANK YOU, SENATOR GRAHAM. SENATOR WHITEHOUSE?

THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN. SECRETARY, IF I COULD DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION TO CYBERSECURITY FOR A MOMENT. THERE ARE 57 INSPECTORS GENERAL IN THE FEDERAL SERVICE. ABOUT HALF OF THEM ARE APPOINTED BY THE PRESIDENT AND CONFIRMED BY THE SENATE, AND THE OTHER HALF ARE DIRECT AGENCY APPOINTEES. THAT'S AN AWFUL LOT OF INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICES TO HAVE CYBERSECURITY EXPERIENCE AT THE LEVELS THAT WE REQUIRE. I'M WONDERING WHAT THE DEPARTMENT, SPECIFICALLY THE CYBERSECURITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE SECURITY AGENCY, CISA, IS DOING TO INCORPORATE WITH THOSE INSPECTORS GENERAL AND MAKE SURE THEY ARE OPERATING AT THE KIND OF LEVELS OF EXPERTISE THAT WE NEED TO DEFEND OUR AGENCIES AGAINST CYBERATTACKS. ...

SENATOR, I KNOW THAT CISA, ITS ACRONYM, CYBERSECURITY AND SECURITY AGENCIES, HAVE BEEN ADDRESSING KNOWN CYBER VULNERABILITIES.

WHY DON'T WE MOVE THIS OFF LINE AND WE CAN FOLLOW UP WITH A QUESTION FOR THE RECORD OR YOU CAN HAVE A PERSON FROM YOUR AGENCY CALL, BUT I THINK THAT OUR CYBER EXPERTISE IN THE INSPECTOR GENERAL CORPS SHOULD BE CONCENTRATED SOMEPLACE SO ALL THESE INSPECTOR GENERALS HAVE ACCESS TO EXPERTISE AND WE DON'T HAVE TO COVER IT IN 57 DIFFERENT INSPECTOR GENERAL OFFICES. I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ROLE FOR CISA TO UNDERTAKE, AND IF YOU COULD FOLLOW UP WITH ME ON WHAT YOUR PLANS ARE TO BRING ALL 57 INSPECTORS GENERAL UP TO SPEED ON CYBERSECURITY AND WHETHER SOME MECHANISM IS REQUIRED TO DO THAT, WOULD YOU DO THAT FOR ME IN RESPONSE TO A QUESTION FOR THE RECORD? ...

I MOST CERTAINLY WILL, SENATOR.

WE'LL TAKE THAT UP AS A QUESTION FOR THE RECORD. I ALSO WANTED TO MENTION TO YOU THAT SENATOR GRAHAM AND I HAVE A PIECE OF LEGISLATION TO PLUG SOME OF THE ENFORCEMENT HOLES REGARDING CYBERATTACKS. IT DOES REALLY FOUR BASIC THINGS. ONE IS TO MAKE CERTAIN CYBERCRIMES PREDICATE FOR RICO AND FOR MONEY LAUNDERING. DO YOU REMEMBER FROM YOUR AUSA DAYS HOW IMPORTANT A PREDICATE CAN BE? ...

I CERTAINLY DO.

THE SECOND THING IT DOES, IT ALLOWS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE TO ENJOIN AND SHUT DOWN BOTNETS BEFORE THEY'RE ENGAGED IN FRAUD. WE'VE HAD A LOT OF TESTIMONY IN THIS COMMITTEE THAT THERE ACTUALLY IS NO GOOD USE FOR A BOTNET AND TO WAIT AROUND ITUNTIL THEY ACTUALLY GO OFF AND REMAIN IN FRAUD IS A MISTAKE. THE DOJ HAS DONE THIS VERY SUCCESSFULLY. WE MAKE A NEW OFFENSE TO ATTACK AMERICA'S INFRASTRUCTURE WITH CYBERATTACKS. FINALLY, AS YOU KNOW, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO MAY GIVE THEIR EXPERTISE TO PROVIDE MEANS OF ACCESS FOR CRIMINALS TO AND THROUGH THE INTERNET TO ATTACK AMERICAN VICTIMS. AND THOSE INTERMEDIARIES WHO ARE JUST SELLING ACCESS, IT'S VERY HARD TO CHARGE, SO WE HAVE AN OFFENSE FOR INTERMEDIARIES WHO KNOWINGLY SELL ACCESS TO CRIMINALS TO ATTACK AMERICAN INSTITUTIONS. WE ARE WORKING ON GETTING THAT INTO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE BILL THAT'S GOING TO BE UNDER CONSIDERATION THE NEXT FEW WEEKS IN CONGRESS, AND I WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU TO WEIGH IN IN FAVOR OF THAT ONCE YOU'VE HAD THE CHANCE TO REVIEW THAT WITH YOUR TEAM. WOULD YOU DO THE NECESSARY REVIEW AND GET BACK TO ME AND LET ME KNOW THAT YOU WILL WEIGH IN IN SUPPORT OF THAT? ...

I MOST CERTAINLY WILL, SENATOR.

GREAT. THAT'S ALL I HAVE. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN.

THANK YOU, SENATOR WHITEHOUSE. SENATOR CORNYN.

SENATOR MAYORKAS, THERE HAVE BEEN ABOUT 56,000 UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN THAT HAVE COME ACROSS THE BORDER SINCE PRESIDENT BIDEN BECAME PRESIDENT. AS YOU KNOW, ONCE THESE CHILDREN ARE PLACED WITH SPONSORS IN THE UNITED STATES, THERE IS A REQUIREMENT THAT THERE BE A 30-DAY FOLLOW-UP TELEPHONE CALL TO DETERMINE THEIR STATUS. YOU'RE AWARE OF THAT, AREN'T YOU? ...

THAT IS WITHIN THE DOMAIN OF THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, SENATOR. I AM NOT INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THE PROCESS ONCE THE CHILD ARRIVES IN THE SHELTER IN CARE OF HHS. ...

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CHILDREN ONCE THEY'RE PLACED WITH THE SPONSOR?

IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY TO TRANSFER THE UNACCOMPANIED CHILD WITHIN 72 HOURS TO THE CARE AND CUSTODY OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES. I KNOW THAT HHS, OF COURSE, IS RESPONSIBLE TO PLACE THAT CHILD WITH A RESPONSIBLE FAMILY MEMBER OR RELATIVE, AND I DON'T KNOW THE DETAILS OF THE HHS PROCESS. ...

SO ONCE YOU HAND THEM OFF TO DHS, YOU WASH YOUR HANDS OF THE -- OF THAT BURDEN? WOULD IT SURPRISE YOU TO KNOW THAT JUST THIS LAST FISCAL YEAR, IN THE 38-DAY FOLLOW-UP CALLS TO SPONSORS OF UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN, 18% OF THEM DID NOT ANSWER THE TELEPHONE, AND THERE'S BEEN NO SUBSEQUENT FOLLOW-UP ON THESE CHILDREN PLACED WITH SPONSORS, MANY OF WHOM ARE NOT EVEN RELATED TO THESE CHILDREN, AND, FRANKLY, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION DOESN'T KNOW WHETHER THEY'RE BEING FORCED INTO LABOR, BEING TRAFFICKED FOR SEX, BEING ABUSED OR NEGLECTED. WOULD THAT SHOCK YOU TO LEARN THAT AS MANY AS 18% OF THOSE CHILDREN THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS SIMPLY LOST? ...

SENATOR, THAT WOULD, INDEED, SURPRISE ME AND I WOULD RESPECTFULLY DISAGREE WITH YOUR CHARACTERIZATION OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY. WE DON'T WASH OUR HANDS OF THE BURDEN WHEN WE'RE DEALING WITH -- ...

IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM, THEY DON'T ANSWER THE APPROXIMATE PHONE ONCE THEY'VE BEEN PLACED WITH A SPONSOR, HOW WOULD CHARACTERIZE THE COMPLETE NEGLECT OF THE WELFARE OF THAT CHILD AFTER THEY DON'T ANSWER THE SPOHN -- THENSOR DOESN'T ANSWER THE PHONE 38 DAYS AFTER THE CHILD WAS PLACED WITH A SPONSOR? HOW WOULD CHARACTERIZE THAT? ...

SENATOR, I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE DEDICATION OF THE MEN AND WOMEN IN THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES TO ACT IN THE BEST INTERESTS OF THOSE CHILDREN AND I DEFER YOUR QUESTION TO THOSE DEDICATED MEN AND WOMEN. ...

I'M NOT ASKING ABOUT THEM, I'M ASKING ABOUT THE POLICIES AND PROCEDURES OF THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION. APPARENTLY NO ONE IN THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION CARES ABOUT THOSE ROUGHLY 10,000 CHILDREN THAT DON'T RESPOND, THEIR SPONSORS DON'T RESPOND TO FOLLOW-UP TELEPHONE CALLS. SO, FRANKLY, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED TO THEM, GOOD, BAD OR INDIFFERENT. ...

SENATOR --

LET ME ASK YOU ABOUT ANOTHER TOPIC. RECENTLY YOU ISSUED NEW ENFORCEMENT GUIDELINES SEPTEMBER THE 30th, 2021, AND ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH THE NOTION OF PUSH FACTORS AND PULL FACTORS? I'M CONFIDENT YOU ARE. ...

YES, I AM.

SO PUSH FACTORS ARE VIOLENCE, POVERTY, DESIRE FOR A BETTER LIFE, THINGS WE AS HUMAN BEINGS UNDERSTAND. PULL FACTORS ARE INCENTIVES FOR PEOPLE TO MAKE THE DANGEROUS JOURNEY TO THE UNITED STATES IN THE TENDER MERCIES OF THE DRUG CARTELS AND THE CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS. DO YOU AGREE MAYBE NOT ENTIRELY WITH MY CHARACTERIZATION, BUT THOSE ARE PULL FACTORS? ...

I UNDERSTAND YOUR POINT, SENATOR.

WOULD YOU AGREE WITH POLICE CHIEF MENDEZ WHO IS THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S NOMINEE FOR CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION THAT A NON-ENFORCEMENT POLICY BY THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, WHEN IT COMES TO ILLEGALIL ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION IS A PULL FACTOR, ENCOURAGING MORE PEOPLE TO MAKE THAT DANGEROUS TRIP? ...

THAT WOULD BE SPECULATION. WE DON'T HAVE AN ENFORCEMENT POLICY.

I'M JUST ASK IF YOU AGREE WITH POLICE CHIEF MAGNESS WHETHER IT WOULD BE A PULL FACTOR. WHEN YOU ISSUE THESE NON-ENFORCEMENT GUIDELINES, YOU SAID THIS. YOU SAID THE FACT THAT AN INDIVIDUAL IS A REMOVABLE, NOVN-CITIZEN IS NOT ALONE TO BE A BASIS FOR AN ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST THEM. IS THAT WHAT YOU SAID? ...

YES, IT IS.

DID YOU MAKE A STATEMENT TO THE CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS TO SMUGGLE PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES OR TO THE MIGRANTS THEMSELVES THAT IF YOU DON'T COMMIT ANY OTHER CRIMES OTHER THAN ILLEGALLY ENTERING THE UNITED STATES, YOU ARE BASICALLY GOING TO SUCCESSFULLY NAVIGATE OUR IMMIGRATION SYSTEM AND END UP BEING ABLE TO STAY PERMANENTLY IN THE UNITED STATES? ...

ABSOLUTELY NOT. THAT'S 100% FALSE, AND I'LL TELL YOU WHY.

100% FALSE?

YES. AND THE REASON, ONE REASON, IF I MAY, SENATOR, IS BECAUSE RECENT BORDER CROSSERS ARE A PRIORITY FOR ENFORCEMENT ACTION. SO THERE IS, IN FACT, NO INCENTIVE TO BRING SOMEBODY HERE NOW BECAUSE THAT INDIVIDUAL WILL BE A PRIORITY FOR APPREHENSION AND REMOVAL FROM THE UNITED STATES UNLESS THEY HAVE A BASIS UNDER UNITED STATES LAW TO REMAIN HERE. ...

WE KNOW, BASICALLY, BASED ON BORDER PATROL PROJECTIONS THAT THIS FIGURE, 1.7 MILLION, DOES INCLUDE 785,000 PEOPLE OR SO WHO SIMPLY EVADE PROTECTION BY BORDER PATROL. WE KNOW THERE ARE ABOUT 350,000 PEOPLE WHO ARE SUBJECT TO A NOTICE TO APPEAR IN COURT OR A NOTICE TO REPORT. BY MY COUNT, THAT'S 735,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE SUCCESSFULLY MADE THEIR WAY INTO THE UNITED STATES, AND WHAT YOU'RE TELLING US IS THAT UNLESS THEY COMMIT SOME OTHER OFFENSE OTHER THAN ILLEGAL ENTRY IN THE UNITED STATES, IT'S NO CONCERN OF YOURS? ...

NO, THAT IS INACCURATE, SENATOR, IF I MAY. THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE RECEIVED NOTICES TO APPEAR ARE RECENT BORDER CROSSERS AND ARE PRIORITIES FOR ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL FROM THE UNITED STATES. THEY WILL BE REMOVED UNLESS THEY MAKE A CLAIM TO AN IMMIGRATION JUDGE THAT THEY HAVE A BASIS UNDER UNITED STATES LAW TO REMAIN HERE AND THE JUDGE RULES ACCORDINGLY. IF THE JUDGE DENIES THEIR CLAIM, THEY WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE UNITED STATES UNDER THE GUIDELINES I ISSUED ON SEPTEMBER 30 OF THIS YEAR. ...

THANK YOU, SENATOR CORNYN. SENATOR KLOBUCHAR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH, MR. CHAIRMAN. WELCOME, SECRETARY. IN THE NINE MONTHS SINCE YOUR CONFIRMATION AS SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY, YOU FACED A SERIES OF UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES FROM ADDRESSING THE THREAT OF DOMESTIC TERRORISM AND CYBERCRIME TO MAJOR CHALLENGES ON OUR BORDER DURING A GLOBAL PANDEMIC TO WELCOMING THOUSANDS OF AFGHAN REFUGEES AND HELPING THEM FIND A HOME. I DON'T THINK ANYONE HERE BELIEVES THAT THIS IS AN EASY PORTFOLIO. I REMEMBER PRESIDENT OBAMA SAYING THAT WHEN HE FIRST GOT INTO OFFICE AND WAS ASKED ABOUT A SERIES OF CHALLENGES THAT HE CONFRONTED. SO I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR WILLINGNESS TO SERVE AND THE MEN AND WOMEN OF YOUR DEPARTMENT FOR THE WORK THAT THEY DO. I WANT TO ACTUALLY START WITH A POSITIVE TOPIC, AND THAT IS THE WORK THAT YOU AND YOUR CREW HAVE DONE IN OPENING THE LAND AND AIR ENTRY ACROSS OUR NORTHERN BORDER FOR VACCINATED VISITORS, AN ISSUE I'VE LONG BEEN WORKING ON AS HEAD OF THE U.S.-CANADIAN INTERPARLIAMENTARIAN GROUP IN THE SENATE. I CAN TELL YOU THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE CELEBRATING IN MY STATE WHEN WE FINALLY OPENED THE BORDER NOT JUST FOR AIR, GIVEN THAT THE CANADIANS WERE ALREADY OPEN AND YOU COULD FLY FROM MONTREAL TO MIAMI BUT YOU COULDN'T DRIVE FROM THUNDER BAY TO DULUTH, SO WE'RE VERY PLEASED ABOUT THIS DEVELOPMENT. CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT IMPLEMENTATION CHALLENGES THE DEPARTMENT HAS HAD SINCE OPENING THE BORDER LAST WEEK? I HAVE NOT HEARD A LOT ABOUT LINES OR THE LIKE, AND I THANK YOU FOR THAT, BUT COULD YOU TELL ME ABOUT HOW THAT HAS GAUNA CROSS THE BORDER? I'M ONLY AWARE OF MY OWN STATE. ...

THANK YOU, SENATOR, WE'RE VERY PLEASED WITH THE WAY IT HAS GONE. WE COMMUNICATED IN ADVANCE OF JULY 8, THE DATE ON WHICH WE LIFTED THE TITLE 19 RESTRICTIONS OF OUR LAND PORTS OF ENTRY THAT PEOPLE SHOULD BE READY FOR INCREASED WAIT TIMES, WHICH IS NATURAL WHEN AN OPERATIONAL CHANGE LIKE THIS OCCURS, ESPECIALLY AT PORTS OF ENTRY THAT ARE NOT MODERNIZED, BUT FORTUNATELY, WITH YESTERDAY'S HISTORIC INFRASTRUCTURE BILL, WE'RE GOING TO REALLY CHANGE THAT, THANKS TO PRESIDENT BIDEN'S LEADERSHIP. BUT WE HAVE NOT ACTUALLY EXPERIENCED THE LONG LINES THAT WE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED. WE WERE REALLY PREPARED FOR IT, BUT WE ARE CONTINUING TO COMMUNICATE. ...

ONE OF THE ISSUES WE HAVE, WHICH ACTUALLY THE CANADIANS HAVE BEEN GOOD TO WORK WITH. THEY'RE OUR NUMBER ONE TRADING PARTNER, AND WE ARE SO GRATEFUL TO THEM, BUT ONE OF THE THINGS IS THAT WE HAVE PARODY BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES NOW ON LAND AND AIR. WE HAVE 30 THAT VACCINATIONS ARE REQUIRED, WHICH IS A GOOD IDEA, BUT WE DON'T HAVE PARODY RIGHT NOW ON TESTING. IT'S ACTUALLY ON THE CANADIAN SIDE. THE CANADIAN VISITORS NEED TO GET AN EXPENSIVE TEST IN ADDITION TO THE VACCINATION WHEN THEY RETURN. IT CAN BE $70, IT CAN BE $200, AND OF COURSE THAT'S STOPPING A LOT OF THE MORE WEEKEND VISITORS THAT MIGHT COME TO MINNESOTA, THE DAY VISITORS THAT DRIVE TO DULUTH. I READ A LETTER WITH SENATOR COLLINS, SCHUMER AND CREPO ON THIS TO THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT, ASKING THEM TO LOOK AT THIS, AND I URGE YOU TO WORK ON THIS AS WELL. IT'S NOT AN AMERICAN ISSUE, IT'S ON THE CANADIAN SIDE, AND I'VE SPOKEN TO THE AMBASSADOR, BUT IT IS A PROBLEM FOR THE CROSS-BORDER TRAFFIC. WE WANT PARODY. ...

I WILL MOST CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT, SENATOR.

OKAY, THANK YOU. I APPRECIATE THE WORK THE DEPARTMENT IS DOING TO IDENTIFY THEM AND TRANSPORT AFGHAN REFUGEES INTO THE U.S. SO MANY OF THESE REFUGEES, AS YOU KNOW, WORKED WITH US, SERVED OUR COUNTRY. OUR STATE HAS WELCOMED THESE REFUGEES WITH OPEN ARMS, AND I'VE BEEN WORKING WITH SENATOR COONS ON LEGISLATION TO PROVIDE A PATHWAY TO PERMANENT LEGAL STATUS FOR AFGHAN REFUGEES WHO WERE EVACUATED. DO YOU BELIEVE AFGHAN REFUGEES WHO WERE HERE ON HUMANITARIAN STATUS SHOULD BE ABLE TO APPLY FOR PERMANENT LEGAL STATUS? ...

YES, I DO, SENATOR, AND I DO HOPE THAT LEGISLATION PASSES.

THANK YOU. EARLIER THIS MONTH I INTRODUCED A BILL WITH SENATORS CORNYN, COONS AND MURKOWSKI. I ASKED THE DEPARTMENT OF LABOR TO STUDY THE BARRIERS THAT IMMIGRANTS WITH ADVANCED TRAINING, INCLUDING REFUGEES FROM AFGHANISTAN, BUT NOT ONLY REFUGEES IN AFGHANISTAN FACE FINDING EMPLOYMENT IN THE U.S., WHICH IS CRITICAL WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT 17 OF OUR NATIONS WERE STARTED ACROSS THE BORDER. PEOPLE COME HERE AND THEY START COMPANIES AND THEY DO REALLY WELL AND THEY EMPLOY TONS OF PEOPLE. WE ALSO KNOW IN MY STATES, ESPECIALLY IN THE TOURIST INDUSTRIES IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA AS WELL AS IN THE AG INDUSTRIES, WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WORKERS RIGHT NOW, SOMETHING SENATOR TILLIS, I KNOW, CARES A LOT ABOUT, WHICH LEADS US TO LOOK AT A PATH FOR CITIZENSHIP, OR WHAT IS CONSIDERED RIGHT NOW IN A BILL IN FRONT OF US, A WORK PERMIT SITUATION. HOW CAN CONGRESS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE DEPARTMENT'S EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE THAT AMERICA CAN BENEFIT FROM TALENT AND EXPERTISE OF IMMIGRANTS? ...