department of homeland security's is playing a central role. trying to safeguard our natural history from the bank's hearing. we are assessing with the department of homeland security needs. we are looking at missions within the coming year.

we are making several investments to combat investments through michigan, as well as all across the's. cyber attacks continue to pose serious threats. this past february, they disrupted thousands of pharmacies and hospitals. last summer, microsoft faced a dangerous cut outsources criminal organization. this included foreign governments to our citizens. it is critical that we receive the resources that it needs. this includes significant resources for the leading cyber security agency. we have a chance to discuss the departments plans to secure our border. the irregular flow of migrants at the southern border

continues to a string on law enforcement officials, as well as neighboring communities. members of this community, they worked incredibly hard to negotiate a bipartisan border bill this past year. it would have been the most significant border bill in decades. trying to strengthen our presence on the board. i would certainly like to take a moment to thank them. thank you for your hard work, developing that compromise. fortunately, they didn't move forward. i have many colleagues that would like to talk about solving a problem. it is so much easier to throw rocks. even though the bill has potential to make substantial changes, it also would have provided critical resources for the funding operators. they got in the way.

this is opposed to the problem solvers. these long-standing challenges, will have his budget with a chance to actually meet that president joe biden's budget request, includes resources for more law enforcement officials. this will keep fentanyl from reaching our communities. we have enough resources to the northern order. i was proud to secure funding, to establish the northern order center. this will create one unified focus, keeping the northern border secure. this is from both of our borders. natural disasters and climate changes, has some of the most serious threat to the homeland. i'll be proud to work on efforts to mitigate damages and

natural disasters. this is earlier on the devastating effects of wildfires. we certainly appreciate the work that the senator has done for that issue. we want to continue disaster response efforts did we have and how this proposal helps continue that work. we have different aerial systems, more commonly known as grounds -- drones. drones can pose a serious secure threat to sporting events, concerts, and so forth. trying to address this problem. we are going to expire this in may. we will keep working to make sure that we authorize and expand that we can continue to take citizens, air orts, critical infrastructure, and the secretary will provide a key perspective on how to address this increasing threat that drones posed to our communities.

this is more serious than ever. the war in serial -- israel is going to be looking at anti- arab, anti-muslim actions. at the same time, they will continue to pose a specific domestic terrorist threat to the united states. i'm proud to work with the department to address this problem. making sure that we are adequately tracking the danger. i'm glad that this proposal includes resources for the nonprofits and dirty grant. this gives organizations and houses of worship the resources they need to stay safe. i look forward to hearing how else we will look at those deposed -- opposed by domestic terrorism. these are a few examples of the many security threats that our nation faces. the solution is what we will do

to have them proposed in the budget. this will be major for us to talk about today. we have a productive, professional discussion today about the department lands to communicate and keep americans safe. i will ask ranking member paul, for his opening remarks. >> yesterday, your impeachment trial ensued in the senate. i'll see this is a happy day, or a day that i take relish or pleasure in. it is a sad day. in that debate over policy, this is what you have been telling the truth. we have disaster at the southern border. a disaster that is very southern to. this disaster cost them the loss of a loved one.

joe smith from venezuela, then they waltz in. there are rules about paroling people under donald trump's administration. a very small number of roles. the administration has become a blanket. he testified with the senator last year. the administration has admitted that it has a public and if it to have migrants come in as migrants. million people come by, and we don't see them at all. somehow, that is better. there is a public entity that did that's changing people as a group. i can't help but be said for the family. they didn't have to have this. he wasn't paroled for any of those reasons. we will get to that question

and answer. either you don't have the knowledge, but you ask about this all the time read how do they get into this country? what is the statute that allow you to do it? how could you sleep at night having done that? there are laws. this is about trenton's administration, and what they believe in. it is about whether we have laws, and if you are going to enforce them at all. the last administration was enforcing the law. they were coming across. they have committed heinous crimes and murder. you will never get her back. that man came in. apparently, there were let go because they said it was full. when the camps are full, you just let people in. we have a system. what is your name? we fingerprint you, then off you go. this is on the watch list.

they were found to be on the watch list. we have people coming to new york, and we give them money. we put them in hotels. they assaulted police officer. coming out past the cameras, they are flipping the bird to everybody in america. that is a sad day for america this isn't a matter of policy. we don't look at a more secure border. you are supposed to enforce the law yesterday was a sad day. the majority went ahead and set the precedent, that there wasn't going to be any examination did congress didn't rise high enough to be looking at high crimes within these demeanors read you probably just didn't feel true at all

worried this was a fix that would have allowed 5000 per day before we would have taken extraordinary measures to try to slow down the influx of migrants. 5000 per day, was going to let them from the limits, still come to the ports of entry. it was a whitewash. all of the laws under donald trump's administration, still are under the administration. you can simply say that we are full up. this was the best thing that happened to them and others. you just don't utilize those

powers. we just think you are not obeying the law. we had to reach a member of the cabinet. they chose not to, one way or another i look forward to trying to get some of the answers today. i hope you will tell the truth. i hope you will just simply say that you don't know about the family. you should know about the murder worried i hope you explain to us how he got to the country, and why that happened. speak this is -- >> stand and raise your right hand these were the testimony you give before this committee will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so hope you got? thank you.

this is the seventh secretary of the department of homeland security. distinguished career over three decades. he's an official employer in the private sector. director of integration services, and the department system for the united states attorney district. thank you, once again, for being in the committee. >> chairman peter, ranking members, distinctions of this committee, every day, the department of homeland security carries out missions at the american people's expense cyberspace, borders, and leaders. this is going to be entering our country. as we speak, they are engaged

in the response to the tragic francis scott key bridge. the combat the scourges of human traffic. this includes exportation and so much more worried this includes the insufficient budget did they deserve full support and they are looking at fully resourced dhs. fiscal year 2025 budget. this is reported for both goals. i love the opportunities to discuss the post budget. this was founded in the wake of 9/11. we have high visibility targets. this was our primary concern. the foreign threat exists. now we confront radicalized offenders, and already

residents here in the united states. this budget requires an $80 billion increase for the nonprofit security program. this is so that dhs can help better communities. in the nationstate, they are targeting the critical infrastructure. they are trying to have the funding to improve. fentanyl is reeking tragedy across communities. they have arrested more individuals for the related crimes within the last two fiscal years, then in the previous five combined. this is including funds for targeted operations. during a time when the world included our hemisphere, experienced the greatest evil since world war ii, dhs has

maximized our available resources. the last 11 months, we have returned more than six and 30,000 individuals that did not have places to stay. every fiscal years and 2013. the president's budget will further expand these efforts we have high x appointment personnel. the immigration system, was fundamentally broken. congress has not updated the immigration enforcement law since 1996 28 years ago. only congress can deliver on more important but for -- border agents. this includes science and technology. our administration worked closely with the bipartisan centers, on a national security

supplement. this is going to be us remaining steady to work with you on this bipartisan action. last year, fema responded to more than 100 disasters and they are helping survivors in the aftermath of major disasters. they will save lives and taxpayer monies. this is across all missions that. trying to retain a different workforce. the president to includes $1.5 million, to maintain our commitment to fairly compensate the tsa programs. the recently passed 2024

budget, will help with many of our operations. this was enacted, and appreciates a highland search. this includes support for cities dealing with related challenges, and cutting critical research and development funding. we are supporting that the extraordinarily talented and dedicated public servants of the dhs need and deserve. thank you, mr. chairman. >> the secretary is here. two rounds for questions. i have a lot of members that want to be here. this is a very challenging time for everyone's schedule. i'm going to be very strict on the time. seven minutes on the first room

for everybody. try to adhere to that with her to our colleagues at all want to ask questions and we will then take a break before the second round, to give the secretary some time. roughly 10 minutes. we will try around 90 minutes. whatever comes first, we will play it by ear. five minutes. this is in the second round. i will be more aggressive than i usually am because of the interest in this committee to make sure that we stay to the time. i will start by leading by example, staying within my time. secretary alejandro mayorkas, i am focused on ensuring that the dhs and the doj have the authorities needed to counter the evolving threat posed by unmanned aerial systems or drones operated by bad actors. your department's current u.s.

authorities, are set to collapse on may 11th, 2024. leaving major events like the indy 500 and the new york city fireworks on july 4th, unprotected. unprotected from is growing drone threat. my question for you sir, what would losing this authority mean to our combined efforts to protect the homeland? >> mr. chairman, the loss of our authority to counter unmanned aerial systems, would leave us less secure, and less safe. the proliferation of unmanned cyst is for adverse uses, has only grown. the capability of the systems, has only increased, with respect to speed and distance covered. payload carried. that system quite compelling.

while i appreciate the dhs operation, i believe they have resulted in seizures of over 5500 pounds of illicit fennel. this is in the first two months of fy 2025 alone. clearly, more needs to be done. looking at dhs's budget request, i'm concerned that the department is relying on congress to pass a supplemental appropriation, to advance the fight against fentanyl and synthetic opioids. my question is, how will the dhs address resources that

address this challenge if congress fails to take action? unfortunately, it has in the past did >> we do the most with what we have. we engage in strategic operations. we have nonintrusive inspection technologies. we deployed operating labs. we have criminal organizations to work with international partners. the department of homeland security do so much with the limited sources that they have. they have provided us with additional resources to combat fentanyl. this is no other than i have seen. you throughout my 12 years as a federal security. ranging from cocaine to black

tar heroin. >> i was looking at watch listing and screening practices from our nations are words. this report, including concrete recommendations that dhs should implement in order to enhance national security. also upholding travelers dignity and rights. dhs, addressed the reform and politics. this is a holistic manner. we are establishing a watch listing and streaming advisory council and my question for you, what actions has dhs taken so far to begin to address these three recommendations and report? >> mr. chairman, we were published. we were certainly acting upon it read this is the highest purpose to ensure the safety and security of the american public treated doing so well complying with civil rights and liberties. we have privacy rights.

department of homeland security, looking to get their own practices. we are looking at the offices of civil rights and civil liberties. we are also working with other departments and agencies. this is with respect to the recommendations, and the important recommendations that are reported the issue. >> i still have remaining time. i'm going to stop the remaining time. i need to relieve temporarily, to look at the armed services committee. senator, this is going to be here right now. i recognize the ranking member for his comments. >> secretary alejandro mayorkas, your ministration, president joe biden's ministration, over 1 million people have been paroled.

what's the criteria that you have used for parole individuals? >> ranking member of the parole process, this is one that we executed according to the law that we make. this is with respect to significant public benefit. we have the urge for humanitarian reasons. >> for what reason was the alleged killer paroled? how were they allowed to come to this country? >> ranking member paul, first and foremost, all of our hearts rake for the family. secondly, the perpetrator of this heinous, criminal act, needs to meet justice to the full extent of the law. i will not comment on the particulars of the case. the matter is being prosecuted by authorities now. >> this is in the case of whether or not he murdered her. why was he paroled?

>> my same answer. >> you are refusing to give the answer? >> i have provided my answer. >> the document says that the subject is accused of killing him. he was paroled due to detention capacity. it was full. the detention capacity, is that allowed to be used for reasoning with role? >> let me assure you that individuals who propose a safety threat, are the highest priority for detention. the reality with respect to this administration, but every administration that proceeds me, is that the number of encounters has exceeded the number of detention beds available. >> is a statutorily legally allowed to use the excuse? he was paroled two to retention

capacity. is that allowed under the law? >> my prior answer stands. >> this means you are not going to answer the question? >> no, ranking member. i have answered the question. >> you haven't. you have testified previously. you have testified today that there are two reasons that you can be paroled. urgent humanitarian need, or significant public in a fit. the reason listed, parole, due to retention capacity, is this a lawful reason for paroling someone? >> ranking member, paul, i am not a legal expert in this regard. let me assure you that when an individual is encountered at the border, and they are deemed to be at the time of encounter, a threat to public safety and national security, they are a

priority for detention. if not, they receive a notice to appear, and replace enforcement proceedings. the number of individuals encountered at the border, exceed the number of beds available in our detention facilities. that is not something specific to this administration. this is something that has been remaining true. >> they might have more beds in mexico. the administration when you came into office, reversed 92 executive orders of donald trump demonstration. this allowed them to have people remain in mexico. allowed them to probably have 90% less paroles than you have. you come to us, and you say you only had more registration and legislation, why don't you bring back the executive order that seemed to be working? you got rid of them for little

purposes. why don't you bring back the 92 executive orders that you reversed? >> i respectfully disagree with the premise of your question. >> that is because you refuse to look at the facts. it is still insulting to all of us. insulting to the memory of others that have been killed by people who came into this country. march 2nd, illegal alien who got into the country, killed washington state trooper, christopher get. haitian men, entering the u.s., was arrested for sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl. march 21st, illegal aliens in el paso rush the fence. you saw that on national television. illegal alien on march 23rd, murdered a 25-year-old michigan resident, ruby garcia. chinese national came across the border. the stories go on and on.

i think a lot of people in america are going to be up old to know that you are refusing to answer the questions. was it lawful to parole him? you say the camp is full. >> this is the federal prosecutor for 12 years >> they need to be held accountable for their crimes. >> that is not much consolation if you have waited until after he has murdered somebody. it this is the honor system. there could be some databases that you check. they would still let them go.

now, they have a new name and fingerprints. they have been given a new identity by your agency. i'm saddened by the loss of loved ones for this. if it were me, i would be upset by this. i would be possible to make sure that another one doesn't get in. i'm surprised that the democrats let you get away with it. >> mr. secretary, welcome. it is good to see you. on behalf of most of us, thank

you for your service. you have taken on most jobs from anybody in the government. i'm a big believer. bipartisan solutions are true. i'm not interested in having talking points, or getting on decisions. i just want to solve problems. not a free man in paris, but a free man in delaware.

they spent nowadays, but weeks. maybe even longer, working with the administration. particularly with you, to find bipartisan solutions. serious solutions will help us address these issues. this is a shared responsibility. looking at the secretary of this department. this is a shared responsibility. this is from the executive branch and the legislative branch. this will since the first created. when we are at our best, we work together. we work across party lines. we do this in this case as well. let me just ask if again, secretary, if you could think back on the last several months. i mentioned three of our colleagues. as we turn the page, how do we

actually solve this problem? what are some key lessons that should emerge for us from those negotiations? >> senator, the senate negotiated bipartisan bill would have been transformative. it would have been transformative in two primary regards. we have resources to the department of homeland security, and the other department agencies in the federal government that administered immigration law. field operations officers, or within u.s. customers and border protection. over 4000 asylum officers. more immigration judges. this is as an example. in addition, very importantly, it would have changed the

system. the broken system dramatically. one of the greatest of our current system. it takes multiple years from the time of encounter. we have a final adjudication of the asylum case. the senate negotiated bipartisan legislation. this would have taken a multi- year process. this draws people to the united states. this would have shrunk it to sometimes less than 90 days. that changes dramatically, the calculation of attending migrants. it would have empowered us to use expedited removal. we have a speedy and fair process for individuals not just in immigration detention. we have those outside of it as well. a transformative piece of legislation that was extremely tough, yet fair. >> i just want to thank you for

that. most of us go home at the end of a legislative week. i go home almost every night. we are going to be doing this for 23 years. i feel lucky to be closely tied to that state. i suspect that we are not in session. we have 3 million people. this is for each county during the week. businesses are based large and small. they have schools and medical school facilities. the questions i asked, i ask how you doing. how are we doing? what can we do to help? this is more of our year. businesses large and small.

>> they have a different responsibility. we have different players trying to respond from different communities. this includes bipartisan legislation. this is including the workforce. it includes immigration. that would help us in a legal way, provide a legal path. stay here for a while. this was every week from our employers. i will pass to the next colleague. can you please speak to the importance of funding the dhs budget request? passing the bipartisan border deal so that the department can

be promptly and properly resourced to carry out the work security missions? >> with respect to the bipartisan? >> looking at the budget requests. >> as i articulated before, with a significant resource to the department. this is not just at the border, but in the asylum process. we can adjudicate those cases more rapidly. they have a shorter period of time. they have a dramatic impact to the border. >> the last thing that i would say before i turn it over, a heartfelt thank you to your family. i can imagine what it has been like to go through this literally last five or six years. thank you to all of them.

senator johnson. >> thank you, mr. chairman, and mr. secretary. not only showing the undeniable reality, from a catastrophe from the border policy, but they also show cause and effect. this is what sparked all of the subsequent crisis use. i'm trying to speak to what donald trump face. because of the reinterpretation for settlement, he was rapidly looking at encounters in the border. it was rapidly increasing. this peaked in 2019. this was back in 2014. obama's humanitarian crisis. donald trump, took action. he used the assisting

authority. we are looking at the floor settlement from interpretation. he secure the border. by april 2020, we were down a little bit over 500 individuals encountered at the border today. when you entered office, he reversed although successful policies. you opened up the border. it is a catastrophe. this is the number of people that you have let in. why did you do it? why did you reverse those policies? why did you create this catastrophe? >> senator, i respectfully disagree with the premise of your question. we did not open up the border.

we enforced the law. >> do you deny that you reversed the donald trump policies that could secure the border? >> no, senator. that is not what i said. we can first the law. >> you reversed the donald trump policies that were at the border. >> if we can look at your chart, forgive me. the chair is blocking them. the former president is remaining in public policy. this was implemented in january 2019. they saw an almost 100% increase in the number of encounters over 2018. >> you went down to 500 and with covid, you started spelling under title 42. you didn't have to do that. let me ask another question.

i was reading a list of a dozen people in the last four months. publicized murders, rape, a two- year-old caught in crossfire. crimes committed by this country illegally. it has not been for your reversing of the donald trump housings. open border policies. those crimes would have been committed. when you go to bed at night, you have any regrets? do you have any remorse? do you have your complicity? it is within these crimes. your open border policies are aided and embedded. this is the murder of americans. the rate of americans. people have lost their loved ones, as of this catastrophe. this open border policy. if you have any remorse or progress?

>> senator, two points. all of our hearts break for the victims of these heinous crimes. second, the criminals who committed those crimes, are responsible. >> they would not have been in this country if you did not allow them through the open border action. do you ever call up the families of the crime victims? do you ever talk to the family? >> senator, as i stated previously, all of our hearts break for the loved ones of those who have been lost at the hands of criminal conduct. >> so your heart is broken. you have regrets? you admit your culpability? do you admit that your actions have resulted in the deaths, murders, and results of thousands of americans? i have the statistics here. assault and battery, up 5.7

times over the last few years and homicide is up 17 times. user from keeping people in this country illegally. this is up 2.5 times. messaging a direct result of your actions. president joe biden's actions. actions of the democrats in the senate. they refused to vote to complete the wall. it would have helped. secretary of homeland security, wants a secure border. they want the open border. they caused this problem. they won't admit it. donald trump, the president authority to open up the border. now you refuse to secure the border let me paraphrase a pretty active quote.

we were playing chess. they were playing checkers. we have the ukraine funding. we are in a lot other shape than we were three months ago on the border. you were negotiating to secure the border. you were looking at political cover for yourself and president joe biden. this is for the democrats and the senate. if you were serious about securing the border, you could have done it. you would have let it remain secure read he would have left those policies that work. they would have secure the border and allowed us to establish a functioning, legal immigration system. you blew it all up. that is the result. that is the catastrophe. you have been denying before this committee repeatedly, that you are a problem set her.

it is a challenge. >> your time has asked wired. >> secretary alejandro mayorkas, you and i have spent a lot of time together. i would daresay that you and i have spent more time together than anyone here. we know things that congress can do to be able to attack this. the challenge is trying to get those things implemented. there is a rumor out there that they are considering a change in 212 f authorities. there could be some used during this time period. could you give us some time? >> i'm proud of the time that we spent together negotiating what would have been a transformative solution. this is to our broken immigration system.

we in the government, consider consistently all the time what options are available to us. this is the responsibility of the government. we have not made any decisions that are in a position to announce today. i can assure you that we are considering all the options before us, looking at responsibilities to the people. >> i know you're making some considerations on that. when would we know? >> no consideration being made yet. i don't have a timeframe to present to you. >> there are clearly differences with how they have them enforcing the border. this is the same executive authority. the negotiated agreements, including el salvador at the time, we don't have the same agreement with them.

we want to re-establish some of the same types of agreements that are right there. we don't have the same enforcement mechanisms. the courts step back in, and remain being able to reinstitute it. the enforcement is different. the differences that are there, one needs to be done, president joe biden, dhs, using all the leverages that you have, to be able to enforce border as obama and president donald trump did, this congress has a responsibility as well. this is what we had negotiated together. this is doubling the deportation flights, doubling the intention of the retention >> the number of immigration judges, changing the definition of asylum so there is a more rapid turnaround in the process of changing the process for expedited removal so that was one of the court decisions that is been made in the past.

all those things were dramatic changes that congress needs to do. i have been hard on members to say that we've got work that we've got to do but you and i have had conversations as well to be able to say that there are things that the administration can do. i encourage the department to be more focused on countries and turning people around. i encourage the department of justice to be more clear on enforcement of things they are not doing it right now but the frustration that you would hear is the sense that congress has things that we need to do but we don't feel like state department, doj, dhs is using every tool of the resource. working courtesy that and what is being determined at this point and what can be done because this last number i saw, we had about 5800 people that crossed yesterday. obviously that is an intolerable number for everybody on it. if i can ask a quick question, this is a different group out there that's been difficult to get information about. it is a group that the dhs has

defined for a while. folks with the potential for a national security risk. we understand there are thousands of individuals have been designated as an special- interest alien. we cannot getting information on it. this committee that the oversight has had one briefing and it was a last year that was a bipartisan briefing. work months to be able to get that one classified briefing on. we asked for a follow-up and we got nothing on it to get details. how many special-interest aliens, where they coming from, what are the details on those. these are folks that your team is identified. we do not know how they are being handled. thousands of them are being released. >> can you give us any clarity on that? >> and various of you here that you feel we have not provided you with the information you have requested with respect to special-interest aliens.

i will work with my team to ensure everything of you who are interested in is very important subject and approach setting. >> we had six formal request just this calendar year and every time we have not received an answer to. we absolutely need more information about this is this a special concern to try to figure how do we get the result we included funding for 50,000 and deportation flights to be dramatically increased. part of the issue was if we are releasing people, especially single adults, it increases the number of people that are coming. then more people just come because there is a delay consequence. >> in the budget request, 40,000 request for budget

requests. we know we could get up to 50,000, 40,000. we could get up to a budget request and a number that you know you need. nice the judge budget is president of the fiscal hospital the act, r25. our budget was presented before. we before support the contention that network presented in the fiscal year 2024. i continue to believe in the context, bipartisan legislation, 50 or 55,000 was an advancement in our efforts and we look forward to working with his committee and congress on funding that attention meds that are needed. nice he we've got to be able to get that resolved. that is a serious issue that

only congress can resolve. >> i will ask for the record. dhs for immigration services found this. the parole programs that are currently being used at our southern border that are allowing will come in, they are required to funding and employer resources with other immigration programs. we ariens in our office and harder for illegal immigration. some of these resource being fundamental to the water processing world. i would love to have a statement from on if that's true, what's being done to be able to change it. why is that not true? these i appreciate you trying to on the timeline. >> for those of you who are not here. everybody is scheduling tightly. i would appreciate that. romney, you are for your

questions. >> in the last 3-4 years, during your term there been more illegal aliens released into the country than under the four prior president combined. >> i know that there may be some in the country that applaud that but i believe that frankly, if president biden is to be turned out of office, it will be largely because of that failure. on is the person responsible for policy. i believe and i think the great majority of american people believe and i think it's such a political bomb for the president. this is an extraordinary crisis and earlier. do you believe that the numbers that you saw that senator johnson put up, this huge increase in the number of illegal aliens, that that is a crisis and terrible problem? >> i have said previously that it is a crisis and it is something we were to address

every single day. nice the the house of representatives took action to underscore the extent of this crisis. they did not want to spend more time talking about that but i would ask you a couple questions. they are not intended to be hostile but the house intended you lied when he said that a house in a hearing that the border was secure. why did you say the border was secure? without a light >> allow me to assure you that i have honored the oath of office that i have taken more than five times in my 22+ years of federal service. >> as it is irrelevant, use of the border was secure. what you mean when you said the border is secure. is that not a likely >> you've asked me if that is a

lie and i have assure you that i have honored the oath of office. >> with the resources and authorities that we have, it is as secure as it can be. news second question, the law states in the house correctly noted that encounters at the border should be detained and release them. why did you release them? >> we release individuals into immigration enforcement proceedings. our detention capacity cannot meet them and attention and they do not pose a threat to public safety or national security based upon the screening that we perform at the border. >> that screening was insufficient given the number of runners and other crimes committed by a number of those people. is there allowing the detention facility is. i understand when you say i can

put them in detention which the law requires that there is no more space but does a lot indicate what you do because under president trump, they were sent back to mexico, as i understand it. under your administration, they were leased in the country. >> in what way? >> because i believe. i want to be accurate in the data that i provide to you. i will verify subsequent to this hearing, senator. i believe that a total of approximately 70,000 people were processed through the remaining mexico policy and the balance either detained or placed into immigration enforcement proceedings on a non-detained docket with a notice to appear that is something that is been characteristic of our broken immigration system. these do you have any? how many were sent back to mexico and omni were released into the country? and is i would be pleased to

provide that to you. >> that would be helpful. nice the house correctly noted that asylum seekers should be evaluated individually and released on block. why is that? >> i don't know to what the house was referring because we make individualized determinations. our asylum officers are trained to do so based upon the facts to them in each case. >> i would refer you to the articles of impeachment which i presume you have the chance to read, is that right? >> actually, i have not read the articles. >> i would want to do that. you did not follow up 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. it indicates that an individual should be evaluated and not let go or released in the country on block and it says that you did release on block, large numbers of individuals in the country that should've been

individually evaluated. is that the case were not the case? he that is not the case. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i have used my time. >> thank you. i appreciate that. senator scott, you are recognized for your questions. news secretary mayorkas, you are the first cabinet official to be impeached in our country's history. a sad. not because this was not warranted but it was completely warranted on a wide-open border. i fully support for the house sit. i think i have been honest with you that i view your job performance. i don't believe not just once but multiple times you lied and growth that the border was secure, it's not. i think that is clearly a lie. it is a lie that our nation is willing for the consequences of your failures. >> have talked to a lot of people and they are doing the best they can. your horrific policy makes

their jobs impossible and they have been cleared with me about that. what i talked to people about, they don't get it. they say does he care about the thousands of americans who have died from overdoses? does he care about the americans have been killed and by aliens that in this country? >> they said you care about the devastation that can happen at the hands of the hundreds of vitamin d our country? >> does he care that the fbi director is allowed into america? >> at my state? they are furious. they do not think that you care at all. just about everybody i talk to believe that america is a more dangerous place as you have a lot of criminal, drugs, and other dangerous people in our

communities. just this week, the report on the federal through the southern border. here is how the report on the committee's report. the chinese government not only subsidizes the manufacture of precursor chemicals. the report says it is an investigation into by warning the targets of investigation. when u.s. law enforcement and sent a formal request for assistance. investigators say multiple have described the notification targets. to revamp operation and make it harder to detect their activities. >> i cannot imagine if i was sitting in your position, i would like to hear this. the government of because of your policies and wide-open border, you have created that they get to do whatever they want. what we know is wants to destroy the united states.

poisoned our nation and taken the lives of more than 70,000 americans each and every year. i assume that you know this. i personally cannot say anything that shows that you care about it. every victims got her name. unfortunately, real americans are being killed, families are being torn apart by vicious crimes and deadly drugs because we have a wide-open border and we do. >> i spoke about one of the americans who was murdered. that the cartels are pushing to our country every day. ashley's mother said that was murdered by your failure to stop but not from pouring into the united states. >> other and is it our also paying the price for your failures. as we all know, was brutally murdered and an illegal alien has been charged with that crime. your agency just confirmed that

this monster was in the u.s. after being paroled by dhs. not for humanitarian reasons but because you claim you don't have detention capacity. that is not how the law is supposed to work. you did and it's against the law and if you follow the law, lincoln riley was still be alive. if you look at the chart, over 10 million people of illegally cross, 6 million of them allowed to stay here. you will love the red carpet for them. there have been sexual assaults committed by illegal aliens all over the country. even florida where just recently a young man was killed. the man charged in his death is an illegal alien. let me go back to what i stated in the beginning. the republican majority of the house, they have voted to impeach you for violating your oath of office. whether you believe that that was right or wrong, that happened. you should've had a trial to make your case. unlike what happened in 2019,

republicans controlled the senate. chuck schumer denied you to defendant at trial. it seems to me he didn't let you defend yourself in trial for a couple reasons. acting in a pure political interest to protect his records, the wide-open border you have created and all the crime, drugs, and illegal immigration it is allowing. he is terrified that would be extremely painful for democrats to explain to the american public. >> here is what i don't understand. a few weeks ago, democrats will vote against gill to stop illegal aliens getting off a commercial flight with no verifiable i.t. this is shocking considering the recent report that in 2023 alone, you approve the transit of 320,000 illegal aliens to 43 u.s. airports, preapproved by

dhs to the cbp one. going to my homestead afford on commercial flights. by a group of illegal migrants. some of them with no gang affiliations who unlawfully entered enter the under your watch. lincoln riley act which commits crimes into custody before tragedies strike. it seems to me the democrats have no problem keeping this with christ going, whether you want to acknowledge it or not. when one comes to you, they shut everything down and allow you to. you seem like a smart guy. you are a former prosecutor. i'm sure you know how to defend yourself and your actions. i am surprised they did not read what they said about you and ask you you of the case on why you shouldn't be found

guilty but you didn't get that chance. they are destroying the rules and traditions. do you think you're being silenced is democrats are terrified of your record and unable to defend you or because they don't trust? >> neither. >> senator holly, you'll recognize with your questions. >> let's just come back to jose ibarra, if we can. you know who that is? do you know what he did? >> i know what he is accused of doing -- >> which is? >> murdering the young woman. >> that was not the first crime he committed in this country, was a question is the senator has articulated previously, i'm not to speak about the facts of the case because there is an ongoing criminal investigation. >> have you read his profile? >> same answer. >> are not going to say whether

or not you read the profile. i got it right here. >> i do not want to speak to the particulars of the case. >> i find this interesting. this is a new answer today. you change your answers all over the map on this and it looks like to me, you just don't want to answer the question. you asked about this in the house homeland committee. i got the transcript in front of me. u.s. the same question. jose ibarra, why was he paroled? you said i don't know. i do not have the case details with me today. all congressman bishop says you don't know? you said i don't know, i do not details with respect to that case but i would be pleased to provide them with you. >> interesting lead, on april 10th, six days before that, you gave the senator katie burt a different answer. she has to the same question. she said why was jose ibarra paroled into the united states?

you said, and i quote, ranking member britt emma there was so no derogatory information which we were aware. you are happy to comment on the case on april 10th but by april 16th, you have developed in the asia and today, you just say you will not comment. which is it, mr. secretary? now that we have the file. i will tell you what the differences. congressman bishop did not have the profile. and now we do have the profile. now we know that the reason paroled in this country was because of lack of detention capacity which, as you and i both know is not a valid reason under the statute. now that we know that for sure, this is right out of the profile. here it is. subject was paroled due to attention capacity in el paso, texas. suddenly, you don't want to talk about it. this is extraordinary. it is also a pattern with. >> let me try one more time.

have you read the profile? >> emily give the same answer. >> are you going to give me the answer that you gave to senator britt or congressman bishop, paul, or for fun? >> i will not to the particulars of the case, giving the pennant pending criminal process. >> you don't want to because it is an absolutely indictment of your policies. let's review jose barrera and how he came to be here. on september 8th, 2022, he was encountered by border patrol in el paso, texas and was paroled into the united states due to lack of detention capacity. a provision, it will that is not permitted under the statute. you and i both know this. he knew it when you are testifying to senator and you know it today. you just never wanted to cop to because the statute does not permitted. lied to senator britt and i you

are hiding behind ongoing cross because it's the last one left to you. you testified falsely under oath. and then on july 19, 2023, reports for an appointment and was fingerprinted. this is a new york area and the results come back and indicate he has a criminal history. he is in this country, he has a criminal history. he is arrested in new york by nypd. for what? injuring a todd child. he is arrested for injuring a child. what happens? the offense was never prosecuted in the arrest was expunged. i am reading read of the profile. expunged. nothing is done to this guy. he had a criminal record to start with. he's in the country on legal grounds. you have falsely and illegally allowed them in. he commits a crime against a child. in november, get this. he files an application for employment authorization, unbelievably, on december 9th, 2023, it's approved area

>> this is your policies and action, mr. secretary. a criminal is permitted in this country on grounds flatly not permitted to the statute. he commits a crime against a child and then he gets a work permit. he gets a work permit. you want to know what all of the jobs in the last two or three years have gone to illegal migrants? working people in this country cannot get a job. there unemployment rate is high. >> and then what does he do? >> in february, he commits famous heinous crime against lincoln riley. is this a record that you are proud of? nice senator, you have misstated some facts. >> i have read from the profile which you have said you do not recall, don't have, you have misses heidi. i have a reading from it. it is right here and i just pursuant to the speech and debate cause, i have just rented into the record. the reason is that you have lied repeatedly to congress and

to the american people about this. they deserve to know. the only way to know is if i tell them. i just told them. it is in the record. i read it verbatim from the profile. i just want to know why did you change your story so often? why didn't you just answer honestly? >> i am confident that justice will be indicated in the criminal prosecution of the case. >> hopefully will get more of a trial and you lot. otherwise there will be no justice for anyone at all. let me ask you something else. travis wolf, do you know the name? >> not the top of my head. >> a 12-year-old boy from missouri. this is him. travis was killed on december 20th, 2023. he was in a tragic attack on the night. he died some weeks later, had on collision. the person driving the vehicle who has now been charged with criminal counsel is entering a

bronco adrina bronco. >> let me communicate that i know that all of our hearts break for the family of this toy who died in that accident. >> she is an illegal migrant here from venezuela. the law enforcement tell me that she was detained briefly at the border in 2023 and then released. then she commits this crime. multiple people have been stabbed missouri by illegal migrants. you have told me over and over our policies are working. maybe they are working for you. maybe they are working for the political objectives, whatever that may be. they are not looking for and can riley, travis wolf, or the people of my state. they are a travesty, what you have done is a travis. it is long past time for you to go. thank you.

>> you are recognized for your questions. thank you, chairman peters and ranking member paul for this hearing. thank you, mr. secretary for coming before the committee today and let me just note that the tragedies and terrible crimes that senator holly just talked about my the ones we could prevent in the future if senator holly and his colleagues had been on the other side of the aisle had voted for a partisan measure that would have significantly increased our attention capacity, our personal would have changed policies for standers of who could see can be granted asylum. as the chair noted at the beginning of this hearing, there are people that appear more interested in throwing rocks than solving problems. i appreciate the hard work that you did in your team did to try to help us rogue or that bipartisan deal that would have improved our capacity to secure the border.

in let me to start with my first question. the most important task for the government is keeping its citizens safe. that includes keeping our borders secure. last year, dhs set a new record for the number of evil it encountered at the southwest border. based on dhs's own data for the first five months of this, dhs art has already encountered million people and the department is on pace for even more total encounters than last year. i traveled to our u.s./mexico border multiple times. i have seen and heard the challenges that our border agents and officers face. dhs needs to do everything it can to address the crisis along the southern border, improve operational control, and track who and what is entering our country. mr. secretary, what are one or two pacific resources or authorities that you need to improve the department's operational control of the border? think you for the question.

we need more personnel. we need more funds to enhance our work with our partners to the south. to execute more removal. to work our interdiction experts with mexico, colombia. the key or one key is to reduce the number of individuals when we encounter at the border in the first instance. and then we need additional resources to ensure that we can remove those who don't qualify for relief under our laws as is possible. we need a holistic approach in bipartisan senate legislation that was negotiated would have delivered a holistic approach. >> thank you. it also would have delivered additional help when it comes

to that fentanyl crisis that we have and that is the topic of my second question. fentanyl and other deadly synthetic opioids are causing deadly overdoses in the state in communities all across our country. due to the strength of sin attic opioids, criminal organizations are able to smuggle fentanyl and smaller and smaller quantities which makes it far harder to detect and interject. what additional equipment and resources does dhs need to detect fentanyl that cartels smuggle in our country, including in smaller and more difficult packages. >> the majority of the smuggle in our country is smuggled in passenger vehicles and commercial trucks through our ports of entry. we need there is funding for nonintrusive and inspection technology and additional ending for more personnel. that is with respect to the ports of entry, those are two examples of what is needed with respect to the small

quantities, we need additional personnel because there is a de minimis exemption under the law with respect to small parcels and i have visited our mail facilities, for example. kennedy international airport will receive dangerous narcotics smuggled into the country. the personnel and technology to enhance our capabilities. those are some of the examples. >> one of the other areas where we really have to push is with the supply chain to the cartels of the precursor chemicals. i have pushed the tiny government to do more to stop illegal trafficking of fentanyl precursors to mexico from china. the cartels manufacture and smuggle into the united needs. our homeland security investigations and custom and border protection's working to disrupt this level supplying

chain. >> senator, we are focused every single day of the fight against fentanyl which is the most dangerous drug that i've seen in my public service and i have processed tar heroin traffickers. that the fatality that fentanyl causes is unprecedented. we fight every day against this scourge. it is not 1-2-3 years in the making. this is been many, many years. it was in 2020 57,000 at the hands of the deadly fentanyl occurred. just a couple months ago, i met with my counterpart from the people's republic of china to confront the issue of the

precursor chemicals in the equipment used to manufacture fentanyl, and uniting from the people's republic of china and we are seeking to tackle the challenge in a very difficult relationship. we are very focused on the search of fentanyl from all actives. >> thank you. i will follow-up with you on that a little bit more but i have one final question. i want to ask about the department's efforts to assess two to the homeland. horrific attack on in march demonstrated that it has grown its operational capabilities to strike anywhere in the world. last year, commander predicted that would be able to attack the u.s. and western interest in as little as six months and has little to loan warning. that is is. dhs and his partners need to be alert and prepare for. separately, we witnessed launch an unprecedented direct attack

on israel last weekend while iran has typically used in other countries to attack in western countries. this time it launched a direct attack. if i could ask briefly, how did the department and its partners in the intelligence community assess separate threats posed by the u.s. homeland? >> has put it that finklea for reasons you have articulated. these you are recognized for your questions ariadne's thank you, chairman peters for holding this hearing and thank you for being here and for testifying for the committee. i'm going to build on what was talking about about combating fentanyl at the border because in january, i did visit the southern border again and booked directly with law enforcement personnel about the work they do to stop the flow of drugs in our country and

halting the flow of deadly sub is like fentanyl. it's one of my top priorities. i think his abilities priority. i've been proud to keep our community. signed into law the and fentanyl act which i introduced with senator scott on this committee and senator hassan. the new law is going to help us crackdown on drug smuggling to update for drug seizures at least once every three years and be sure it's up to date on all our substances. >> during my visit to the border, i was also able to see how office putting advanced technology to improve security at the border. however, i was extremely concerned to see a recent report of many of the high-tech scanners that we have provided officers to identify and stop is coming in through vehicles. they are sitting on warehouses. that is because congress has

not divided the funding to install them so the bipartisan border security supplemental that you helped negotiate, i was vowed to vote for, did include money for the installation but some of my colleagues blocked the passage of the from the senate. mr. secretary, can you tell us a bit about how scanners are? this new technology and stopping fentanyl. how this nonintrusive inspection for border process limits the influx of fat no. how does the failure to fully fund under nine cbp is missing to stop the flow of fentanyl in the u.s.. >> i look forward to working with you on the legislation presented. >> quickly detect anomalies. which of the primary means by

which fentanyl is smuggled into this country through the ports of entry. they allow our personnel to do other very, very important work. a posture in our fight against fentanyl. allow me to assure you that we do everything that we can with the resources that we do have. >> want to get the funding to implement and put scanners and. more trucks, more cars, more every kind of vehicle can be scanned and we can use that artificial intelligence to help us stop the drugs. in addition to my and fentanyl act, i was a proud coast answer of the fend off fentanyl act. was included in the sense that partisan border security package which sanctioned drug cartels and chemical suppliers

which you have been talking about, the precursors that come from china, involved in international drug trafficking. can you speak a little bit more building on what senator has not talked about, the importance of not only preventing the activities of international drug cartels also, the activities that you are speaking about in china, stopping this precursor chemicals from coming year. what more can we do? news we are working countries, both partnered countries and with relationships. other contraband, quite frankly. it is vitally important that our border in our fight against fentanyl is not the first line of defense but that we saw the precursor chemicals, the manufacturing equipment from either entering our country directly or entering other with

the prospect of the drugs being manufactured there and smuggled into our country in fully formed development. >> i hope these other fentanyl bills, there is not walking on the passage as well because it is important to all of us. >> i want to move to because nevada's home to thousands of recipients, dreamers who know no other home in the u.s.. they are contributing to our community every single day but due to significant delays in processing times, their applications to renew their work permit or are just taking longer than usual. putting at risk their ability to work and provide for their families area and i recently joined several of my colleagues in successively urging to increase the automatic engine carried. for more permits from 188 540 days. this month, i joined several colleagues calling to provide greater certainty to docket

recipients i reducing these renewal processing times in the first place. the median processing time doubled from 2022-2023 with many applicants waiting over five months for their application to be processed. can you talk to us about what are the biggest factors contributing to the delay of the assessing and can you commit to working with me on trying to reduce the times and let us know what resources you need, we can provide them. nice senator, i can certainly have my commitment to working with you on producing the waiting times. we are addressing the regulatory need to extend the renewal. for work authorization. u.s. citizenship and immigration services has a final fee rule that will put the agency back on financial

footing. it has not received a fee adjustment for seven years even though there is a statutory requirement that a fee will be considered every two years. i expect the financial condition of u.s. citizenship and immigration services to improve for us to be able to hire the people that we can and address the back log that have been growing. despite those backlogs, i must say that as it is known by its acronym has done extraordinary work over and above its normal mission requirements. whether it is uniting for ukraine will operationalize welcome, it is a remarkable workforce which is characteristic of all the men and women in the department of homeland security. these thank you. nice my time is a. i just want to say a question i'm going to submit for the record about anti-semitism in violent

extremism. we will submit that for the record, thank you for your testimony today area >> senator marshall, you will recognize for your questions. >> think you, mr. chairman. yesterday we saw them democrats set fire to the constitution when they refused to allow your impeachment trial. you, as the better of joe biden's policies, have set fire to the sovereignty of this nation. to the safety and security of this nation in a total disregard to the log land. the act of 2006 requires you to maintain operational control of the border in a divine operational control has presenting the entry of unlawful aliens and narcotics. >> it does not surprise me when i go back and talk to law- enforcement officers in my home state and they tell me that the crime crisis is so bad. the amount of human trap, the crime related to those his so bad, they tell me that we

cannot arrest ourselves out of this. >> i could triple their officers and it wouldn't be enough to cover the cases. in the last three years, the last year. >> i would be pleased to provide you. >> what would be your guess? nice so you don't know? >> 250,000 americans have died and poisoning and that is on your shoulders area how many people have you paroled in the last three years? any idea? nice >> you are in charge of this. you have no idea. as of 1 million, 2 million, 2-3 testing is senator, i would be pleased to provide you -- >>, the people that you have paroled have committed a crime? nice >> mr. secretary, do you recall a visit in january to eagle pass?

you were in eagle pass in january. >> it was a precise month but i made over 20 visits to the border. forgive me for not remembering. >> do you recall being in a room in texas with a large number of border patrol officers? did you admit that the release rate was 85% of that time? >> as i testified before, i do not remember the particular exchange which you prefer. >> what range are released? >> i don't want to get as i've said before, senator, i would be pleased to provide you with whatever data -- >> how can you come to this hearing and i know these things? is 1/100 of my job as well. >> said at that meeting and i got multiple witnesses that we were releasing 85% of the folks at the border. there is no way that you could bet that number of people at a time. 85% of the people coming in, illegally breaking the laws. giving them a phone, free

healthcare and a plane ticket or bus ride to somewhere. you say you are protecting the nation's poverty but you really facilitated an invasion. the than invasion. we love 11 million illegal encounters under your watch. >> next question. why are you mass importing tens of thousands of venezuelans into the country via paroled knowing that they cannot be deported because venezuela is an accepting removal of fights. >> we are not doing that, senator. >> you are not rolling tens of thousands of venezuelans into this country? nice your question was broader than that, the way you framed your question. we are not doing what you asked. >> are you importing tens italian of venezuelans into this country? >> we have a nicaraguan venezuelan parole program for

those of venezuelans who are paroled and do not have a basis to remain. >> why you paroling them, knowing that venezuela will not take return flight? nice that is false. we have negotiated in the past. removal of flights venezuela. those are suspended right now. we also remove venezuelans to mexico for example. an individual -- is the why you say it's not correct when it been suspended? nice that is why americans don't trust you, that is why americans don't trust the government anymore because your twist the truth, giving incomplete answers. this is amnesty orchestrated by your organization. there is a reason why venezuelans will not take them back. >> next question. it is my understanding all that

of unlawfully crossed our borders innovated capture by our border patrols. is that correct? >> we do have technologies. that is a force multiplier for our personnel. >> under oath, i am asking you has this technology been operational since you took the post? >> i would like to get back to you if there is any deficit in its operational capability. i would be pleased to get back to you on that. >> has a system ever gone down under your tenure in >> i would be very pleased to to provide you. >> how could you not know that? has it been down once or twice, weeks at a time, months at a time? any range or thought that you could give us. you keep track any way, shape, or form? we deploy so many different technologies across the expanse of our department which consists of 268,000.

a technology goes down for a short period of time, and may not have visibility of that in an apartment. >> think it's been down for a significant amount of time or -- >> as i previously said, i will be pre-pleased to provide you with the information you request substitute to this hearing. i will look into it. >> have any look back track if you have no program in place that tells us working or not working? >> i am sorry. can you repeat your question? >> how can you tell how many you are reporting if you don't know when this technology is working or not working? in other words, how do we know that the cutaways is the number? is the of the individuals on the ground at u.s. customs and border section, i have disability of the operational capability of equipment that they use. they oversee, counting the number of individuals.

>> you rely on technology to observe those as well. you do not know if your technology is working or not working. these answered the question. no, you did not. you said you do not know. the answer that you have given it you do not know. the you do not know any of the questions we are asking you. this is why we need an impeachment trial. this is why americans are demanding an impeachment trial. i yield back. >> i have one senator, perhaps another one. we will give you a full tenant 10 minute break with your indulgence if we can get through this first round. senator butler, you are recognized for your questions. >> think you, mr. chair. thank you to the ranking member for the hearing today. thank you, secretary mae argus joining interesting nature of my colleagues energy and attention when that same energy and attention seemed to lapse when there was an opportunity to do something to provide the kinds of reports, resources and

technologies that were requested, negotiated in the bipartisan way. i find that energy just interesting. about an expansive rule you are performing on behalf of the united date of america announcement applications in competitive grant process for shelter services at our borders. i was recently in san diego. talking with the incredible women you are doing this you

don't get enough credit challenges that they are facing. your office and teamwork to make sure that application and grant process was competitive. i just wanted to appreciate you for some of the work that you are doing. in the context of your request but the work that your team is doing, relative to ssp, it seems there is a little bit of a disconnect that it one half to talk to you about. fema requested $130 million for ssp will will yet homeland security is acknowledged that the demand already exceeds the 650 million that has been appropriated in fiscal year 24. why is the ss p budget request so low compared to previous

years? >> senator, thank you for recognizing the extraordinary work of the men and women of department of homeland security. i believe we requested 830 million if i am not mr. aiken i will have to drill down on that. i should know that the bipartisan senate legislation would have funded the program at 1.3 billion dollars. we make very difficult trade- offs in the context of the fiscal responsibility act. there is no question that the demand for funds exceeds the amount of funds we have been provided. that is why we've been so careful in the allocation of resources. we have issued our first. we announced. >> thank you, sir. we look forward to following up

because the simple error on our part. we look forward to staying in touch about it. one other piece that i wanted to call just to your attention is another hat in which you are a component of the house that you wear on behalf of our country. noted that the incredible responsibility of keeping the american people safe. one such group of people are our men and women in service. >> and last december under senator blumenthal's leadership, there was a permanent subcommittee on investigations hearing relative to the sexual assault of coast guard members. >> during that hearing, we learn that the coast guard had an ugly history of sexual assault that dated back

decades. >> even worse, we learned that schematically covered up reports on the pervasiveness of that sexual assault and as a result, neither the perpetrators are the leaders that covered up that abuse have been held accountable. are there suggestions requests that are being made in your budget for authorities or resources to continue to hold these perpetrators accountable and to support those young women in the coast guard who were -- young women and men who have experience. how are you taking this on what your next steps you are anticipating? thank you for your question. the fundamental point that it is a fundamental value of our

department in the u.s. coast guard specifically that everyone feels safe in the workplace and that individuals who make others feel unsafe need to be held accountable. that is a fundamental principle, a fundamental value. i can assure you that is fully focused on making sure that individuals are held accountable. that everyone feels safe in the work in that the coast guard of tomorrow is better than the postcard of yesterday. i have complete confidence in. she and i have met a number of times in the united states coast guard. working in coordination with apartment inspector general to ensure where it is due. >> i yield back area >> thank you, senator. we're going to recognize for

his questions and then were going to take eight 10 minute break. senator blumenthal will be back. he will be first up, still in the first round for him but we will take a 10 minute break. >> will recognize for your questions. nice welcome back to the committee. mr. chairman, i cannot help but reflect on what is happened in the last few months of the senate. no one, and i mean no one is interested in or takes seriously lectures on order security from senate republicans. no one. in one of the most stunning acts of political cowardice in recent american history, eight bipartisan border security bill co-authored by a republican

member of this committee was put forward in the u.s. senate. it would have tightened asylums hundreds to stop exploitation of the asylum system. it would have surged enforcement resources the border. it would have met more expedited removals of those who enter this country unlawfully. they would've empowered the federal government to take that fight to the drug cartels who are laying waste communities across our country with sentinel. a bipartisan border security grill. and it was not just voted down by senate republicans, it was denied even a debate on the floor of the united states senate. the former president of the united states, and he said this publicly. thought it was not in his clinical interest for the

nation to be served. it was not in his political interest for a bipartisan security bill to be enacted by congress. >> the american people are smart. all of the performative chest pounding today on border security is utterly disingenuous. once in a republicans their basic governing responsibility and refused even to let us debate and amend that bipartisan border security proposal. the american people see that and understood and that. mr. secretary, the american people also see and understand what is happening at the southern border and just as they see the hypocrisy of senate republicans on border security, they do not

see success in the administration's handling of the crisis at the southern border. >> i wonder if you have reckoned fully with the fact that you do not have a good faith partner in the minority party in congress, willing to work with you to advance bipartisan border security legislation. you are going to have to rely on your authorities and it is past time to do so. >> to the extent, you have additional legal authorities that you can responsibly deploy to control this unacceptable crisis at the southern border that is our national security. it is long past time to do so. that brings me to the budget request is i can understand this. it is a $3 billion decrease from fiscal year 24.

you agree i presume that the situation of the southern border is a serious threat to u.s. national security? >> i do. >> and that personnel are essential to tackling this crisis? >> the president recently commented publicly that there were not efficient customs and border patrol offices and agents at the border, correct? >> we need more resources and one of those resources as additional personnel. >> why are you requesting a $3 billion decrease for. the contract that we have proposed is a baseline budget plus $4.7 million contingency fund and i am not certain that you are accounting for that $4.7 million contingency fund and the gross amount that we are requesting for fiscal year 2025. that contingency fund is -- the

model is that additional funds would be released to us based on the number of encounters that we experience at the southern border. that $4.7 million must be included when looking at our fiscal year 2025 request. >> others especially allocated or reserved for hiring cbp officers? >> being our ability. >> they can be used for other purposes. this is an insufficient request of the u.s. congress, given the severity of what we are facing at the southern border. i would be very, very least work with >> i would be pleased to work with this committee and the congress on increasing the resources above and beyond that which has been requested. >> so given the urgency of the need, why did you not request more funding? >> we work within the context

of the fiscal responsibility act. we continue to believe that the extraordinary resources we could've delivered would be transformative. >> and i agree with you. but president trump killed the bill for political reasons. and it is gone. you don't have a good faith partner. in the minority here. only you, through the funds that you requested cues from the congress and in the appropriations process, and by those authorities, that there is discussion of you exercising. only you have the power to address this crisis, and i urge you -- i urge you to act with other urgency to do so. thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you, senator ossoff. we will now take a break and when we come back, senator

blumenthal will be allowed their first round questions. it is then my attempt -- intent to go back for a second round. we now stand at recess for 10 minutes. dhs taken? >> for folks have not >> the committee will kecome bak . we have folks that have not asked questions in the first round. i will recognize senator blumenthal for his first round , seven minutes of questions. it is been my intention for us to come back.

senator blumenthal, you are recognized for your questions. >> thank you. thank you, mr. secretary, for being here. i think whether any of us on this committee disagree or agree with you, your responsiveness to our questions, your willingness to be here, and frankly, your patience are really admirable. i thank you for your public service but i want to ask about a question that we have discussed briefly, which is the investigation concerning the coast guard. we have an inquiry into the coast guard's handling of their internal inquiry into their operation called fouled anchor. we sent our initial request letter to the coast guard in

september for documents. only about 3% of those documents have been received, and they are only responsive email records. i understand that the total production volume includes 11,700 pages, largely consisting of investigative records. there are fewer than 300 pages of emails. i know they have other work to do. but this delay is unacceptable and i say with sadness that it seems to reflect resistance to coming clean about operation fouled anchor. we have had discussions with

the coast guard. we pressed them on this issue repeatedly. i would like your commitment to this inquiry to make sure the coast guard is responsive and i would like to ask you what you can and will do to ensure the coast guard fully cooperates with our subcommittees inquiry, including accelerating the pace of response in providing all documents without redactions. >> senator, allow me to provide my commitment to work with you and the subcommittee. we have a commitment to work with you and the subcommittee. it is intolerable for anyone in the united states coast guard or any agency or office of our department to feel unsafe. we must hold perpetrators accountable. we owe it to you into this committee to be transparent

with the work we do to achieve the life of that value. the commandant with hill -- whom i have met a number of times in relation to this investigation is committed to achieving that value, to making sure the coast guard is better tomorrow than it was yesterday, to cooperate with you and the committee. you have my full commitment. >> thank you. one of the stated reasons for the slow pace of response is the lack of the technology necessary to screen the documents. in fact, i'm going to exaggerate a little bit, but they are using 1950s technology maybe it is 1980s technology, but that is no excuse. if you are to send the coast guard on a mission, he would not take as an excuse, well, our boats can't get there because they haven't been

modernized. the coast guard.to be responsive to our inquiry, and it will send the most regrettable message if we have to, in effect, subpoena these records. from the coast guard. so it is more than just good intentions. and i know that you have those intentions, and i trust and hope the commandant does, as well, to make sure that the survivors and victims are vindicated in this inquiry, to make sure that the operation fouled anchor work product and other transcripts and interviews and whatever documents are relative -- relevant are provided without unnecessary actions, and i hope you will fulfill that commitment. >> i most certainly will, senator.

and i know i have approved the waiver of the, i believe, the delivery. the subcommittee that you helped lead will receive the information it needs. >> thank you. we are going to press that inquiry with full vigor and priority and i appreciate your cooperation and partnership in pursuing it. i wanted to ask about a topic unlikely to be raised by my colleagues, which is -- island. you are to be forgiven if it doesn't immediately strike a chord with you. it is one of the last gems of undeveloped land in the middle of long island sound more than 100 acres. it houses the department of homeland security plum island disease center.

it is home to pristine beaches, wildlife, shoreline, habitats for hundreds of plants and animals. it is truly a treasure, not just for new york and connecticut, which share long island sound, but for the nation as a whole. unfortunately, the operation of the new facility, which is supposed to replace it, a facility that's supposed to be in kansas, we locate that animal disease center, has been delayed, and it has caused a setback in the transfer of plum island. it has been left in some uncertainty. the multi-here plum island closure program was estimated to cost 150 million, but that program funding is uncertain.

the budget request notes that as a result of the delay, dhs will need additional funding to cover the cost of the plum island disease center program. i am concerned about the delay. i hope that you can commit to working with me and my colleagues from connecticut and new york to finding a long-term conservation outcome for plum island that will avoid commercial development, and a degradation of this pristine and treasured natural resource. >> i do, senator. thank you. >> thank you. >> before i begin, i want to correct the record on a few statements that have been made related to the bipartisan border security proposal introduced earlier this year

with my colleagues senator langford and senator murray. it was 4000 encounters at the border. once we hit that number, there were individuals who enter through the ports of entry. the border would be closed until encounters dropped to 80% of that threshold level. this number was based on capacity. this has worked out closely with secretary mayorkas and his team, allowing us to meet our obligations will making sure we retained the tension capacity so dangerous individuals would not be released to the country. we enter that 1400 individuals were able to apply for asylum through an orderly process at ports of

the port of entry was closed for a month so that they could help agents manage the surge of migrants crossing the desert. that devastated small businesses and that community that depend on international travel.

they do not have the transportation or ngo infrastructure to manage these releases. there's an effort to move migrants to tucson and phoenix, where they are securing transportation out of state. we try to fix that problem with your help and your technical assistance. senator langford, senator murphy, and i crafted a proposal that would decrease the numbers we have seen increasing over the last decade. while partisans in dc have decided that having a prop to talk about is more important than problem-solving, this doesn't mean we can just stop working to provide relief in arizona. in arizona, we must continue to find ways to make meaningful policy changes to secure our border, keep arizona families safe, and ensure that migrants are treated safely and humanely. as you know, secretary, helped

secure $50 million in 2024 for the shelter services program to limit the burden on financial -- the financial burden on local communities. i was pleased to see the notice of funding opportunity published last week that gave arizona its fair share of the money available. this money has come quite late. we were days away from pima county seizing all activities to process and manage migrants. so what steps is dhs going to take to make sure that additional funds are distributed and we don't find ourselves in this situation in pima county once again? >> i was honored to work with you and the other senators on the bipartisan legislation that would have been transformative, not only in its provision of resources, but in the change of authorities with which we would be equipped. the most significant change since 1956. long overdue. we announced with the first distribution last week, we also announced a competitive process

for the second tranche funds under the shelter services program. we are going to receive applications for it from the existing recipients, as well as those that are first-time applicants, and we are very focused on getting the dollars out the door as quickly as possible, as fairly as possible. >> thank you. during the last meeting, we spoke about the importance of the margin for error for the ine numbers. fema announced it would allow up to a 5% margin of error, which is critical for engineers providing services. i was pleased to see that the most recent fiscal year award removed the cap on motel and hotel booking, which we had discussed frequently. in order to make sure that ngos are affected with these grant dollars, fema will need to make sure that condition of the community is clear and concise.

how can we make sure the information is clear and accommodating, given the uncertainties of responding to the crisis at the border? >> what we have developed is to have an identified point of contact for each jurisdiction to make sure that jurisdiction is receiving in timely fashion, the information it needs. if there is any concern with respect to the consistency, accuracy, or timeliness of information, that is something i would like to know about, because we owe it to the communities to receive the data so they can manage operationally their responsibilities. >> following the end of title 42, the administration introduced a series of policies that were designed to incentivize migrants -- to deter

at points of entry. we are seeing increasing growing numbers of migrants arriving between ports of entry. why do you think that the measures implemented today have not been effective -- and what powers do you need to reassert control at the southwest border, particularly between the ports of entry. >> senator, we have seen at times, a significant drop in the numbers. we work very closely with our partners to the south, with mexico. the enforcement effort must not be exclusively at our border. it must occur prior to reaching our border. the best solution that i have seen in my many years in the department of homeland security is the bipartisan legislation that you negotiated with senators murphy and langford. that is a solution that we continue to believe congress needs to pass. it is transformative in the many, many different ways that we have touched upon just briefly this morning. >> thank you. thank you, mr. chair. >> thank you. senator sinema, thank you for the tremendous work you did on the bipartisan package.

you are a true problem solver, rolling up your sleeves. like i said at the beginning of the hearing, unfortunately, those more willing to throw rocks were unwilling to find concrete solutions. seeing no other member here, wishing to be recognized for russians, secretory -- secretary mayorkas, thank you. i want to thank our dedicated men and women that the department of homeland security for the work they do every day. the record will be open for 15 days until may 3rd for submission of statements and questions for the record. this hearing is adjourned.

>> the house will be in order. >> this year, c-span celebrates 45 years of covering congress like no other. since 1979, we have been your primary source for capitol hill, providing bounced, unfiltered coverage of government, taking you to work policies debated and decided, all with the sport of these cable companies. c-span. 45 years and counting. powered by cable. >> today, secretary of state antony blinken will testify about his recent trip to ukraine, the ongoing fighting between israel and hamas and the president's 2025 budget request. watch coverage, beginning at 10:30 a.m. eastern, on c-span 3, c-span now, our free mobile video app, or online at cspan.org.