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tv   Key Capitol Hill Hearings  CSPAN  July 8, 2014 6:00pm-6:31pm EDT

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effectively deal with the situation at the southwest border. the president welcomes their involvement. certainly pleased to see their interest in playing a constructive role in meeting the humanitarian needs of the individuals. governor perry indicated a desire to speak to the president about this and the president extended an invitation for governor perry to join this meeting with other texan whors working on that. >> in addition to governor perry you had that. how do you react? sort of government being paralyzed and not being able to fix this? >> the steps that this government announced not just today but over the last week or so are indicative of our proactive approach. the president has directed the resources be moved from the interior to the border region to address both the backlog and the and x of illegal migration
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we are seeking more resources. that we prioritize more recent border crossers. we are seeking, as we have been discussing, greater authority that the secretary of homeland security could use to remove those individuals that don't have a legal basis for remaining in the country. that is indicative of the aggressive approach that this administration is taking to address this problem. the u.n. high commissioner for refugees is pushing for the administration to consider adults and kids to be refugees, and could give them political asylum. is that being considered here? is that on the table that these adults and children would be considered refugees, not illegal immigrants? >> these individuals from central america are entitled to due process and there is an immigration court system in this country to consider their claims on a case-by-case basis.
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we are asking for more resources for judges and asylum officials on hand to consider these cases carefully and ensure that they are subject to this due process. but what is clear our determination to make sure that once a ruling is made in these immigration proceedings that if they are found to not be -- to not warrant special humanitarian relief, that these individuals can be repay try ated back to their home countries. >> there was a letter to governor perry repeatedly referred to this as a humanitarian situation. the president's request is a budget request. why is it being called a humanitarian situation? is it to dial this back and put pressure on the president? >> the urgency with which we are
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approaching this situation and that is reflective of the fforts to try to address it. we have called it a crisis and it is an emerging situation and it is something that requires the focus on the federal government to make sure that we are ensuring the continued security of our border and making sure that we are enforcing the law and fulfilling the obligation we have to meet the humanitarian needs for those individuals who are showing up on the southwest border. none of those priorities are mute tallly exclusive. we intend to meet the due process rights and make sure they are given a due process opportunity to appear before a judge and to have that judge make a ruling on their claim to remain in this country. we will meet the needs of these individuals, that is consistent with the values of this country
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and we are committed to enforcing the law and we are seeking greater authority that can be wielded by the secretary of homeland security that where try sary, he can repatriot yate individuals. >> we have heard a number of times that the wall is designed to prevent childhood trafficking and return the children to their families. i wonder if there is room for children whose families have deliberately sent them to the united states. does the white house see any nuance possibilities and has the counsel's office weighed in on this? i believe you need new legislation, but could the president take executive action? >> i don't know the details of this law either. there is some flexibility in the
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law and we are going to use that flexibility to implement this law in a way that reflects the situation that we currently face on the southwest border. the president has directed resources within the homeland security department that currently are focused on the interior be directed to the border to reduce the backlog and meet the increasingly difficult situation along the border. so there are some steps the president can take unilaterally and he has done it already. in terms of enforcing the law and ensuring the efficient enforcement of the law, it requires authorization from congress so the secretary of homeland security can exercise some additional discretion. april. >> two quick questions. in terms of the current what al climate and the
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you are expecting to happen with your request from congress? >> you have seen comments from both democrats and republicans urging the administration to take steps to deal with this urgsent humanitarian situation and some people call it a crisis. what i would expect, i would expect those individuals who are talking about this issue to back up that talk with action. and what we would like congress to do is to act promptly, maybe even ith some maybe expeditiously, to consider this proposal and move on it. both parties have acknowledged this is an urgent situation and we hope members of both parties will act promptly to address it. [inaudible] >> is there something in case
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they don't act expeditiously. >> we hope congress will give a fair chance to back up their words with action and consider this proposal and move quickly in bipartisan fashion to ensure that this administration has the resources to deal with this urgent humanitarian situation. >> strategically, you are not .aying the word refugee strategicically, you are not saying the word refugee. is there a reason you are not saying that. that means they are allowed to stay? >> as i mentioned to bob, i'm not steeped in the legal details. but describing someone as a refugee describes them as a specific legal status and what i have been describing, the legal status of these individuals that are apprehended along the southwest border will be determined by an immigration
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judge. we would like more immigration judges to be on the case, working to determine the legal status of each of these individuals who are apprehended. that is part of their due process rights and we are committed to make sure there are due process rights. what is our anticipation is that the majority of folks that go through that process will not be found by those judges to qualify for humanitarian relief and we want greater authority to officially return them to their home country. >> 1961 convention said that a refugee is someone who fled his or her country and in fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion. these persons that are coming into the united states fall into these categories? i think the point of my
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answers is for judges to make those rulings. and each individual who is apprehended who is from those countries has access to an immigration judge, so that determination can be reached by that judge, not by somebody who is standing here in the white house. >> first a quick clarification on afghanistan. the president called both presidential candidates. >> the president telephoned dr. abdullah but there are senior administration officials that have been in touch with candidates and supporters. >> why would he call the candidates? >> dr. abdullah is the one who is expressing the most significant concern about reports of fraud and what we have done is all along in this process encourage both candidates to remain engaged in
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the process of adjudicating the election. the president telephoned dr. abdullah last night to more forcefully keep up that case that he should remain engaged in the process. >> and on the supplemental request, i want to be sure that i'm reading this properly. it looks like there is significantly more money in this request for providing and caring for these children that have crossed the border, providing health care, shelter, than there is for added border security and deportation. the bulk of this money is to provide money for care for the children that have crossed the border illegally. >> i don't think it is bulk. >> about half. by far the biggest line item. >> $1.1 billion would be dedicated to homeland security resources to ensure we are enforcing the law and securing
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the border and repatrioting those individuals. so i think the point is there are significant resources that are required to deal with this situation both in terms of meeting the various needs that i was describing to ed, the meeting of humanitarian needs. that is not just in line with the law but in line with basic american values. this administration remains committed to enforcing the law and we would like to enforce the law both in processing them through the immigration system, atingso in terms of repay themselves. >> and on the meeting with governor perry, in the letter -- by the way, why this invitation coming from valerie? >> valerie spends a lot of time maintaining our relationships with governors across the country and she responded to
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governor perry's line. >> thank you for your concern about the humanitarian situation. obviously the concern that governor perry has been expressing has been some very harsh criticism of this president and even suggesting last week that there could even be a conspiracy that president and the administration was in on the flow of children over the borders. eptitude. what is the message going to be to governor perry and governor perry has blamed this problem on the president and hinted that the president wanted this. >> despite all the differences that exists when it comes to policy between governor perry and this administration, that there should be a level at which we can agree that it's important for this humanitarian situation to be addressed, both for the well-being of the united states
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and the well-being of these human beings who have been apprehended along the sweft border. you can ask governor perry. i won't speak for him. i assume it's a priority of governor perry and we'll find that out in the context of the meeting. >> the governor said the president doesn't care about border security. >> i don't think any assessment would allow that criticism to withstand criticism. he has made a historic investment and worked with members of congress and increase the number of resources to secure our border. unfortunately, republicans, many from texas are blocking from considering that commonsense bipartisan proposal that would make an additional historic investment in our border. >> there is a members' briefing on the hill on iraq and
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afghanistan. can you shed some light on that? >> i don't have any details specifically about that meeting. i think, however, it reflects the robust nature of coordination or the robust coordination that exists between this administration and congress when it comes to confronting some of the national security challenges that we are facing right now. these kinds of meetings happen with such frequency and we want to make sure our congressional partners are breffed with the latest details. >> is there anything new? >> it's a dynamic situation so the conditions on the ground have been changing rather rapidly and probably changed since they had the opportunity to meet last this. >> back to the supplemental. on the conference call, said all the money is -- [inaudible] >> congress has to appropriate
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the money by september 30. what's the thinking that would happen? >> given the nature of this humanitarian situation, we hope congress will act pretty quickly to ensure the administration has the resources necessary to deal with this situation. >> more of a hope? >> if you take democrats and republicans on capitol hill at face value, then you would expect that their actions would back up their rhetoric. their rhetoric indicates this is a pressing situation that needs to be dealt with immediately and we are hopeful that republicans will follow up those words with action and ensure that this administration has the resources to deal with this situation immediately, but again, it is up to congress to deal with it. >> did president obama tell abdullah that is he sending secretary kerry to afghanistan later in the week? >> when senior administration officials travel to afghanistan, we don't put out the details of
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that travel in advance. secretary kerry has been in regular touch with the two leading candidates in the afghan presidential election and we expect he will be in close touch with them in the days ahead. kelly. >> what is the president's schedule, you are calling it an urgent situation, why wouldn't the president see value in visiting the border, if not this trip, then sometime soon? >> the president has been to the border as a candidate and as president of the united states. his secretary of homeland security, secretary of h.h.s., fema director, senior white house officials have made separate visits to the border to assess the situation there and assess the strength of the federal government's response to that situation. the president is well aware of what is happening on the border and what we are focused on right now are not political statements that would be made with a --
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with an appearance but with specific concrete action. steps that could be taken to mitigate this situation. >> downsizing him going personally? >> the focus of the president's attention is on making sure that we are taking all of the necessary steps to deal with this urgent humanitarian situation and we hope congress will take the steps that are necessary to deal with this emerging humanitarian situation to give the administration the resources to deal with it. >> both parties are asking the president to visit those who reside in border areas and the governor i'm sure will stepped an invitation for him to go again. is there a downside for the president to go there personally? >> where. >> on the borders to see the current situation? >> what i think is important is for the president to be keenly aware of what is happening on the southwest border and have a thorough understanding of the impact that the government's
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response to that situation is having. the president has been clear that it's important for us to meet the basic humanitarian needs of these individuals, to ensure they are given access to immigration courts in a way that complies with their rights to due process and ensuring that we are enforcing the law. the president is regularly briefed on these efforts and those briefings often will -- are the result of trips made by the secretary of homeland security and secretary of h.h.s. and fema director and other senior administration officials including from those to the white house who have traveled to the border in recent weeks. senior department of state officials will be traveling l. >> does the president want to go there himself. >> there are a lot of eyes focused on this situation. there is an urgent humanitarian situation. and you have seen a proactive response from the federal
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government and what we would like congress to do is act with the same sense of urgency and make sure that the administration has the resources to deal with these situation. >> on afghanistan, you said there is a process, but there is no history of a history like that resulting in a dispute like that. this would be the transition democratic power in afghanistan. what are the stakes and what is the message, to use your words? >> the message that the president delivered was to ask dr. abdullah remain in the process, that as you point out these processes are new and relatively new to the afghan people. >> there has been an election that has been carried out. there was a general election, a runoff. so there is an infrastructure that exists for conducting these kinds of elections and even for
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considering reports of fraud. so there are -- there is an infrastructure, there is a process that is laid out in the afghan constitution for this. there is a question about whether or not these processes will hold up under the pressure of choosing the next president f afghanistan. the important preliminary at play is that the afghan people here should have a say and should be able to determine the lead leadership of that question and we need to have processes in place to conduct those elections and also to dispense with concerns that have been raised about the conduct of these elections. so there's a process in place. the united states is fully supportive of the process and of the afghan people as they go through this process. and that ensuring that we have a
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a leader of afghanistan with the stature necessary to lead the country, it's important for people to have confidence in the conduct of the election and in the outcome. that's why we are seeking both candidates to remain engaged in that process. >> if i understand you correctly, the president called dr. abdullah to say if you pull out and denounce it and reject it, the fate of u.s. financial support, security support hangs in the balance. >> i think there were even some reports overnight indicating that some of dr. abdullah's supporters were asking him to declare himself the president. there was a large range of reports coming out of afghanistan. what we are focused on is making sure that this process that's in place is followed. and because -- and the reason for that is simply that if the process is followed and if the process is used to determine the
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outcome of the election to address concerns that have been raised about fraud, then we can ensure that the outcome of that process will have some legitimacy associated with it, that we will be able to conclude that the afghan people have selected their next leader. the way to determine that is to look at these prewritten rules. and we are encouraging both sides to do this. >> there were diplomatic and law enforcement discussions about this allege. what are the nature of those conversations? >> i can't really comment on the nature of those conversations except -- let me say this. the conversations were designed to resolve this situation appropriately. >> what does that mean? >> i think it means exactly what it sounds. >> what does it actually mean? >> there have been reports in the german media, reports in which i'm not able to comment, but there are have been german
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officials that have raised concerns about those reports. you read the same reports that i have. so it is our desire to resolve those concerns that have arisen from those reports that i'm not in a position to talk about. >> how do you resolve something about without even saying to the germans we will investigate? >> i'm not in a position to talk publicly about the nature of the private conversations that are currently ongoing between u.s. and german officials. i'm not in a position to comment. >> your use of words prompt, efficient and effective ring in the ears on behalf of these unaccompanied children. they feel there is something potentially inhumane, cruel and indefendant about efficiency, promptness and effectiveness in the deportation process. how does this administration respond? >> i would respond by saying it
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is important for everyone that considers the remarks i delivered today and the president's remarks, that they be viewed in the context in which we confront this situation. the context is simply this. we are focused on meeting the asic humanitarian needs of the individuals that are apprehended on the southwest border. and that is why, as john pointed out, we sought additional resources from congress to make sure we have the bandwidth necessary to meet the needs of these individuals. those who are apprehended along the southwest border are entitled to a certain process and will be put through the immigration system if they are detained at the border and found not to have the authorization to enter the country. over the course of that immigration proceeding, there will be an impartial judge who will evaluate on a case-by-case
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basis the legal sfanding that the individual has to remain in the country. if it is found by that judge that a particular individual does not have a legal basis for remaining in this country, what we would like to see happen, efficiently, effectively and promptly is for that individual to be removed from this country and returned to their home country. we will undertake that effort in close collaboration with that home country. some of the resources that we are seeking from congress are edicated to working with honduras, el salvador and -- to make sure that there is in some cases a repatriation center and we are not just returning a child who is fleeing a crime-ridden neighborhood back into that crime hiff ridden neighborhood. one thing we have done is establish a repatriation center so there is a place for this
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child to go and for this child to ensure it's returning to somewhere safe. but again this is primarily the responsibility of these home countries to ensure the security of their citizens. but if they need the support and even a contribution of some of the resources from the u.s. government to ensure their security that's an investment worth making because it will contribute to making and stemming the flow. >> supplemental, your message to congress, any member of congress, if you want these things to happen, you have to provide this funding. this new supplemental emergency funding, the hands of this administration are tied or can you do some of the things that are outlined and wait for a continuing resolution sometime late september? >> well, there are some things we can do immediately that we have already undertaken to try to address this surge in illegal migration we have seen.
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there are resources that have been funded by congress that were operating in the interior of this country that have been sent to the border to try to deal with this situation. in order to have the necessary bandwidth to deal with this, we need additional resources and the only way this administration can get additional resources is for congress to appropriate them. what we are seeking is for congress to take action promptly, to ensure that this administration has additional resources to meet all of the goals that we have been talking about here today. >> you want this language in the transmital letter to exercise discretion. are you going to work with congress. why don't you be specific in terms of money? why don't you send them a bill? >> we are talking about two different processes, one is the
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appropriations process. >> you have been a veteran of capitol hill. just for the benefit of people who are watching and thousands of people who are watching at home and absolutely enjoying this conversation, we are talking about two different processes. we have specific funding requests for additional resources. there is a separate process for the legislature giving the executive branch the authorization to use discretion. >> you need the house to pass something and the senate to pass something and how quickly do you need that? >> quickly. >> why don't you send them a bill. you sent them a bill for the highway trust fund. >> when we are seeking legislation from congress is to basically tell them what generally the goal that we would like to achieve in this case, allowing the secretary of homeland security to exercise
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greater discretion and allow congress to do their constitutionally-appointed duty toll write legislation to grant the executive branch authority. i wouldn't rule out that we may give them suggestive legislative language or work with them to design language that would accomplish this goal. it is congress' responsibility to make sure that the administration has the authority and resources to deal with this. we hope they will act quickly. >> secretary general was here and i want to ask you a different subject matter. the president said we will see what the president will do in the next, two, three four weeks and if he remains on the current course and the kind of actions we are prepared to take. that time frame is gone. mr. putin has not changed course, what is the president
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going to do? >> he has had a number of conversations with our allies in western europe. the president telephoned the president of france to discuss this issue. at the end of last week, the president had a conversation with angela merkel to discuss possible next steps. as we have said the economic cost -- [captions copyright national cable satellite corp. 2014] [captioning performed by national captioning institute] >> he tuck as -- conducted as five-minute votes. the first vote is on the motion of the gentlewoman from indiana, ms. brooks, suspend the rules and pass h r. 4263, as amended, on which the yeas and nays are ordered. the clerk will report the title of the bill. the clerk: h.r. 4263 a