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tv   Face the Nation  CBS  February 4, 2024 8:30am-9:01am PST

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i'm jane pauley. please join us when our trump pet sounds again next sunday morning. ♪ . i'm margaret brennan in washington and this week on "face the nation" the u.s. intensifies its airstrike campaign in the middle east and a bipartisan group of senators finalize a border security deal. we'll speak exclusively with kyrsten sinema. the u.s. retall lates following the attack on a u.s. base in jordan that killed three service members.
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the deadliest of 167 attacks on our forces since mid-october. and launches more strikes on houthi targets in yemen. we'll have the latest from the region and we'll hear from white house national security advisor jake sullivan. plus, the heads of the house intelligence economic, ohio republican mike turner and connecticut democrat jim himes will also be here and we're talk with the former head of central command, general frank mckenzie. ntil recently, he overs forces in the region. but first, in a rare television interview, arizona's independent senator kyrsten sinema makes her case for a bipartisan immigration and border security bill. she has the details of the senate proposal. it's all just ahead on "face the nation." ♪ ♪
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good morning and welcome to "face the nation." we've got lot to get to with the escalating tensions the middle east. we begin with another challenge facing this country. how to secure the nation's borders and improve our broken immigration system. there is near universal recognition among americans that the current immigration process is broken and congress has struggled for years to come up with a solution that will gain enough support to become law. the house has passed a bill that is a non-starter in the senate, and we spoke with speaker mike johnson about that earlier this year. but a bipartisan group of senators is expected to unveil their proposal later today. that bill would allow the president to shut down asylum processing during spikes in illegal crossings. it also gives the department of homeland security the ability to expedite deportations. the proposal limits access to
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asylum and requires cases to be reviewed within six months. right now there is no time limit and many cases languish for years before they are processed. joining us now from scottsdale one of the chief negotiators of that deal, arizona independent senator kyrsten sinema and, senator, this is your first official appearance on the sunday show and we thank you for being with us today. >> good morning, margaret. great to be with you. >> you are one of the very few people who know the intricate details of this deal since the text is still not public. but to execute this plan, are you going to need more than the $14 billion that president biden has asked congress for? >> that's really a question for the heads of our appropriations committee who are in the final stages of putting this bill together this afternoon. my job was to lead the negotiations for the border policy changes that we so
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desperately need. that's why i worked with senator langford and senator murphy the last four months to create workable policy that makes dramatic but needed changes to both our asylum system and border policy. >> you will need more personnel or funding to execute this, but in going to the specifics, you have said publicly you are ending catch and release. that's that practice of detaining migrants and then releasing them with a promise of a future court date. how will your plan work? >> i am so glad you asked that question. we have all seen the images on television of what's happening in lukeville, arizona, and in southern texas where large numbers of migrants are approaching the border and being processed and kind of released into the country. sometimes with a piece of paper called a notice to appear where they may see a judge in five, seven, ten years. no one knows. our law changes that and ends
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the practice of catch and release. when people approach the border and say they want to enter our country to seek asylum, they will go into one of two situations. first, short-term detention, which means we take them into custody and we actually do an interview right then and there to determine if they meet the standard for asylum. for individuals who do not meet a standard, which by the way is most of the migrants who are coming to our country right now, they will be swiftly returned to teir home country. for folks that we can't detain like families, for instance, we will ensure that we are supervising them over the course of just three months and conduct that interview with that new higher standard requiring them to show more proof early on about whether or not they qualify for asylum and return them to their country if they don't have the evidence or the proof that they qualify for asylum. so we'll no longer have people just entering the country and
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maybe going to court in the next seven or ten years. instead, we will make swift justice. folks who qualify for asylum will be on a rapid path, six months or less, to start a new life in america. those who do not qualify will quickly be returned to their home countries. >> so, for those who are impoverished coming to america to have a better life, in search of the american dream they won't qualify, right? they will be turned away? >> that's right, margaret. right now individuals who want to come to america just to get a better life or to seek the american dream to find work, those are what we call economic migrants. they are not permitted to enter the country with whenever they would like. and our new law will ensure that they can't get into the country, that they won't get that notice to appear, they will not be allowed in through the border ports of entry or between ports of entry like we see in lukeville. they will be turned away and
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sent back to their home countries because they currently are exploiting the asylum system that's being managed by the cartels. we are ending that system. we are ending that loophole and ensuring that they cannot enter through that manner. >> there is some from democrats that those individuals turned away would in turn be exploited if they are pushed back into mexico and somehow mistreated. how are you going to alleviate democrat concerns about that? >> well, that's an important question, margaret. the reality is that for the last several years cartels have used this loophole to exploit the system. telling folks from latin and south america and really all over the world that they can come to america, claim asylum, and then gain access to the country. we are going to end that process by ending catch and release, and requiring folks who come to claim asylum to actually have their asylum claims determined quickly and fairly. and that will provide a
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disincentive for individuals to come to the country really sacrificing so much in their lives for a fatukasi that no longer can be exploited. so we believe that by quickly implementing this system individuals who come for economic reasons will learn very quickly that this is not a path to enter our country and we will not take the sometimes dangerous or treacherous trek to our border. >> you have said previously that the biden administration does bear some responsibility for this crisis and they should be held accountable for not implementing existing laws. what actions are you asking the president to take independent of congress, and as you say, wasn't implementing existing law, what would be different with your new version of the law? >> well, margaret, our law actually requires the administration to implement these tools. so much has been talked about with the, as you know, the
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number of 5,000 people a day, right. we have all heard misinformation and, frankly, just kind of rumors saying, well, the administration doesn't have to shut down the border until you get to 5,000 crossers a day. that's not true. first of all, our law ends catch and release. but when too many people approach the border asking to come in, seeking asylum, we are now mandating that the government actually shut down the border if those numbers get to 5,000 a day. but we are permitting the government to actually shut down the border when it only gets to 4,000 approaches a day. the reason we are doing that, we want to be able to shut down the system when it gets overloaded so we have time process those asylum claims, whether it's through detention or whether it's through supervision, like for families. we want enough time for the government to be able to process these asylum claims and then turn folks away who do not
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qualify while settling people who do qualify. so we've placed provisions in the law that mandate the enforcement of each of these provisions of our law and require the biden administration and any future administration to actually implement this. so we're requiring it, not permitting it. and that's a key difference from existing immigration law. >> okay. and you just -- i want to underscore your fact check there. the claim has been repeated, including by donald trump, there would be a minimum of 5,000 people let in per day. you explained why that is not factually accurate. it's echoed by the speaker of the house, mike johnson. you said you have a line of commun communication open with him. he said on another network this morning individual senators call, give me tips, but he says he was left out of this entire process. has he assured you that he is going to put this bill on the floor?
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>> you know, i don't know what speaker johnson will do when this bill gets out of the senate. what i do know is that for five months my republican colleagues have demanded and i think rightfully so that we address this border crisis as part of of a national security package. i agree. the crisis on our border is a national security threat. this week the senate will begin to take action on a large national security package that includes a realistic pragmatic and the strongest solution to our border crisis in my lifetime. as you know, margaret, i was born and raised near the border here in arizona. and so more than anyone i know how important this is to securing our national security. so i feel confident when our bill passes through the senate and gets to the house, members of the house, including speaker johnson, will have had ample opportunity to read, understand the bill, and ask questions. and watch our debate in the senate and then they get to make
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a choice. do you want to secure the border? >> do you believe mike johnson can be persuaded? in other words, i hear you saying he hasn't told you no? >> you know, i think everyone has an opportunity to be persuaded. by persuaded, margaret, i simply mean read the legislation. understand how it works. these are powerful new tools that allow any administration, this one and future administrations, to actually gain control of the border. by changing the asylum system so that cartels can no longer exploit it and by giving a powerful new tool to the government that requires them to shut down the border during times of high traffic, when too many people are asking to come into the country to seek asylum, we are giving tools to this administration and future administrations to actually gain control of the border. this is an incredibly powerful
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tool. and i believe that when folks have the opportunity to read the legislation and hear from groups like border patrol agents, i.c.e. agents throughout the country, they will see how important this tool is for our administration to have. the reality is, margaret, that while the current admission does bear responsibility for mishandling the border, we have to give new legal tools to the administration and hold them accountable to implement them. >> by march? >> in order to stop this crisis. sorry? >> what's the timeline? by march? because senator dpram said this isn't going to happen quickly. >> i don't control the timeline. that's a question for the leadership in the senate. what i do have the ability to control is what i have done the last four months, which is work in good faith with senators langford and murphy to craft a real solution to the border. the first one in my lifetime.
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and that's what i'll be focusing on, is making sure that colleagues in the house and senate understand what this law will do and see the difference it will make for our border security. >> when we last spoke back in may, you told me that immigration was one of the most important issues for you, potentially in a second term. you have until april to decide whether to run for re-election. you would need about 42,000 signatures to qualify for that three-way race. have you decided? what's holding you back, if you haven't? >> i understand you have to ask that question. i think folks across arizona and the country know that when i decide i am going to work on something that's important for our state and for our nation, i stay focused on it. and i think that the endless questions about politics and elections are really exhausting and it's what makes americans really hate politics. so what i have committed to my constituents is to stay laser
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focused on the policy, on actually solving real problems. that's what i have shown that i do in the work that i do in the united states senate and it's what i'll stay focused on in the coming weeks as we seek to pass this legislation and make a real difference for the lives of arizonans. you know, margaret, each time i visit border communities in my state and i hear from folks, whether it's in bis baby or yum they are asking about their everyday lives because this crisis faces us every single day. it's not just a television show for us. it's our daily lives. >> understood. senator, thank you for walking us through the details. and we hope you'll be back with us. all of you, stick with us. vehie from winters wrath of course the hot sun can be tough on vehicles too you need weathertech all year round! come on, protect your investment laser measured floorliners and cargoliner will shield the carpeting from sand and snow
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for your interior, there's seat protector and sunshade plus, mudflaps and bumpstep for the exterior order american made products at weathertech.com surfs up yeah, right my name's cody archie. and i'm erica. cody: and we're first generation ranchers from central texas. erica: and because of tiktok, we're able to show people from all over the world where their food and fiber come from. cody: we have dorper sheep and we have beef cattle for the sole purpose of going into the food chain. we use tiktok as a tool to inform people of what we do and why we do it. there's just a plethora of knowledge and of information swapping going on there. tiktok is helping us protect this way of life for future generations. . we are joined by white house national security advisor jake sullivan. jake, it's good to have you back here with us. the white house described friday's response as a
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multi-tiered plan, not one and done. is this an open ended military campaign, and how are you going to define success? >> well, it's true that what happened on friday was the beginning, not the end of our response. and there will be more steps, some seen, some perhaps unseen, all in an effort to send a very clear necessarist message when american forces are attacked, when americans are killed these three service members tragically were at tower 22, we will respond and we will respond forcefully and we will respond in a sustained way. i would not describe it as some open-ended military campaign. we have a concept how we intend to respond. i am not going to telegraph it on the show. we will execute with the kind of professionalism that only the u.s. military can bring to bear. >> so the u.s. officially has not assessed that tehran directed the attack. but has tehran done anything to
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rein in the militias that they fund and arm? >> we know that iran is behind these militia groups. they train them. they fund them. they arm them, as your question suggests. and they do have influence with them. and i can't sit here today and tell you that tehran shifted its policy. what i can tell you is what the unitd states's approach is going it to be. if we continue to see threats and attacks from these militia groups, we will respond and hold those responsible accountability. >> there are reportedly civilian casualties in iraq and in sierra as a result of these strikes. does the u.s. assess that any of those hit in these strikes were actually iranian al quds force personnel, or did the fact that this was so telegraphed in advance give those personnel time to go to ground? >> well, first of all, margaret, on the telegraphed point, president biden has been saying for months that he would respond to attacks. we have responded to previous
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attacks and when three service members were killed, of course iran knew that the united states would respond. so the idea that somehow this was telegraphed i think is a bit more of a political talking point than a reality. secondly, the targets that we hit, we believe with conviction, were valid military targets. they were ammunition depots and command and control centers. they were the instruments that iranian back shia militia groups were use to go attack american forces. we are looking at the casualties, who was killed. yofl anything to report to you this morning publicly on that. but we will continue to make our accessionments. >> but no one, for example, in irgc leadership, iranian leadership, no one of significance was targeted? >> we are continuing to assess the battle damage and when we are prepared to share that publicly, we will do so. i am not prepared to do that with you today. >> okay.
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jake, half of u.s. adults, according to the ap, say israel's military campaign in gaza has gone too far, and 31% approve of biden's handling of the conflict. at what point is this open-ended israel conflict in gaza not just a political problem, but a national security one for the united states to be so closely associated with the netanyahu government's war with the civilian casualties that we've seen to date and the starvation of women and children in gaza? >> well, first, margaret, i am glad you put the question in those terms because, you know, we don't design our policy towards israel or gaza or middle east based on politics. we do it based on the national security interests ofs united states. we have been clear that we believe israel has a trite respond to their horrific attacks of october 7th and to deal with the threat that hamas continues to pose to israel as
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it asserts that it wants to conduct another october 7th and then another one until israel no longer exists. but we have been equally clear that we have to look out for and respond to the immense and terrible suffering of the palestinian people. and that means pressing israel on issues related to the humanitarian assistance, that we have helped unlock and get into the gaza strip and there needs to be much more tv. secretary blinken is on his way to the reigion as we speak and this will be a top priority when he sees the israeli government that the needs of the palestinian people are something that are going to be front and center in the u.s. approach and that we want to ensure that they are getting access to life-saving food, medicines, water, shelter and we'll continue to press until that is done. >> but it's still not the degree to which you are asking for. to date, prime minister benjamin netanyahu said israel will not agree to a deal that is related to the release of terrorists.
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his national security minister gave an interview to the "wall street journal" saying he'd oppose any deal with hamas that would end the war or free palestinian prisoners and said donald trump would be better for israel than joe biden. does benjamin netanyahu have control of his government and are these right-wing ministers risking blowing up a hostage deal that the united states is trying to put together? >> look, i am going to let the israeli government and israeli politicians speak for themselves. they certainly have no trouble doing so, as you just related. we are going to speak for ourselves. from our perspective a hostage deal that brings out the hostages, including the american hostages, that gets a sustained pause in hostilities so life-saving assistance can more easily get to the palestinian people, this is in the national security interests of the united states and we are going to press for it relentlessly as the president has done, clouding recently in the calls with egypt
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and qatar, central brokers in this effort. it is a paramount priority for us. the israel government can answer whether it's a paramount priority for them. they also have to answer to the israeli people. >> do i understand you saying that then israel's government has not signed off fully on the 30 proposal that the u.s. is backing? i know qatar has said they are waiting on hamas. >> no. no, you haven't -- you didn't hear me correctly. israel has put forward a proposal and as qatar has indicated publicly, the ball is in hamas' court at this time. >> okay. this minister was threatening politically the prime minister in regard to a hostage deal and saying he would vote against it. >> well, right. there seems to be obviously an ongoing debate spilling out into public from the israel government. i am not going to speak to that debate. they have to decide for themselves and work through their own political system. >> and do you stand by your statement you made on the show
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previously that the palestinians in gaza have a are right to ret to their homes? >> i do stand by my statement. it's not jake sullivan's statement. that's a statement of administration policy. secretary blinken laid out it in full. we don't want to see a circumstance in which israel occupies gaza or where there is an effort to permanently displace palestinians from their homes. >> jake sullivan, thank you for your time this morning. and we'll be right back with a lot more "face the nation." stay with us. stay with us. discover a different first treatment. immunotherapies work with your immune system to attack cancer. but opdivo plus yervoy is the first combination of 2 immunotherapies for adults newly diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer that has spread, tests positive for pd-l1, and does not have an abnormal egfr or alk gene. opdivo plus yervoy is not chemotherapy, it works differently. it helps your immune system fight cancer in 2 different ways. opdivo and yervoy can cause your immune system
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