▶ 0:13:20The Committee on Homeland Security will come to order. Without objection, the chair may declare the committee in recess at any point. During today's hearing, I would remind members that they should direct their comments to the chair or to the secretary. I now I now recognize myself for an opening statement. Good morning, Secretary Nome, and thank you for joining the committee today to discuss President Trump's budget to fund the crucial mission of the Department of Homeland Security.
▶ 0:13:45Before we begin, I want to mention that this is Police Week, a time for us to remember and honor the contributions of the men and women of federal, state, and local law enforcement across this country, including within DHS. I think a lot of people don't realize that there are more badges in HSI than there are in the FBI. So much could be said about all you all of you who devote your lives to service us and to keep us safe. But for now, let me simply say thank you.
▶ 0:14:15Thank you and know that our committee has your back. Madam Secretary, this is your first appearance before the committee and I look forward to continuing to work closely with you and your team as we strive to undo the damage and the chaos created by your predecessor. When you took office, you inherited an unprecedented crisis at our southern border, at our all of our borders, created by President Biden, Vice President, and borders our Kla Harris and Secretary Mayorcus.
▶ 0:14:42For four years, the administration and unaccountable bureaucrats helped create helped craft their extreme extreme agenda, dismantled our secure border, gutted interior immigration enforcement, and implement implemented a policy of mass catch and release that flooded our communities with millions of illegal immigrants. Under the Biden Harris administration, Customs and Border Protection recorded more than 11 million encounters of inadmissible aliens at our border.
▶ 0:15:12On top of that astronomical number, CBP has recorded roughly 2 million known gotaways, a number that exceeded the previous 10 physical years combined. That's more than 13 million inadmissible aliens who violated our sovereign border in just four years around quadruple the number from the first Trump administration. And all because the administration's policies and rhetoric encouraged them to do so.
▶ 0:15:42The first few months of the second Trump administration provided a remarkable contrast. Under your and President Trump's leadership, the Border Patrol has apprehended just around 25,000 illegal crossers at the southwest border. By comparison, in December of 2024, more than 47,000 illegal crossers were apprehended.
▶ 0:16:02We went from a record illegal crossings at the southwest border in December of 23 to just over 7,000 in March, an astonishing 97% decrease. It turns out we didn't need comprehensive immigration reform or woefully misguided Senate border bill that was pushed by the former secretary. We just needed a president willing to enforce the laws Congress had already passed.
▶ 0:16:31Because illegal aliens now know that President Trump will have them removed from the country, they've stopped coming. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle understand this. They do not want to talk about these victories because they know that for four years they stood on the wrong side of this issue defending open borders and the abolition of ICE. They also understand the American people do not trust them on the issue of border security and immigration enforcement in large part because of their radical stances.
▶ 0:16:59I expect they'll spend a lot of time today twisting the truth to mislead the American people. I look forward to hearing you set the record straight. And while we're talking about Democrats anti-inforcement extremism, I'd like to briefly extend my regrets to you, Madam Secretary, and to the entire DHS workforce for the antics we saw on display outside the Delaney Hall detention facility last week. Right now, attacks on law enforcement across this country are up 400%.
▶ 0:17:29Public officials should be sending a clear signal that these brave public servants are to be respected and not assaulted. However, on Friday, current and former Democrat members of this committee stormed their way into an ICE facility in New York, causing mass chaos and verbally and physically accosting members of federal law enforcement in the process.
▶ 0:17:53I'd like to share a video The Department of Homeland Security is warning there could be more arrests following the incident that you see
▶ 0:18:25I love you. I am embarrassed by what I saw and everyone should be. This behavior is utterly unbecoming of a citizen, let alone a member of Congress. Democrats may talk a big game about law and order, but these actions are a violation of the sacred principle.
▶ 0:18:53Not only have Democrats excused these actions, but they've actually tried to blame ICE for what happened. When you punch a law enforcement officer, that's not the law enforcement officer's fault. This behavior demands a swift and firm response, and I assure you, action will be taken. Despite Democrats best efforts to prevent it, the Trump administration has ended the immediate crisis at our borders.
▶ 0:19:15However, more work remains, particularly in removing the millions of individuals who have no lawful basis to be in the United States. It is essential that we swiftly fund enforcement efforts through the reconciliation process. Congress must also codify President Trump's successful policies to ensure they can withstand the schemes of open border radicals. Meanwhile, the open border is not the only threat our nation faces.
▶ 0:19:43While the Biden Harris administration had its back turned, the Chinese Communist Party executed brazen operations on US soil, including running secret police stations in our cities and conducting surveillance operations. On top of that, Chinese affiliated firms are buying up US farmland and commercial properties, including in areas near sensitive government and military sites. More than 60,000 Chinese nationals illegally crossed our southwest border between fiscal year 21 and 24.
▶ 0:20:11Most of them were released by the Biden administration into the interior despite us not having their true intentions or backgrounds. The CCP is pushing the envelope harder than ever. Consequently, we need a robust, innovative, and consistent effort to push right back. Our cyber borders also remain under assault. Most notably, militia cyber actors associated with the Chinese government have targeted us some of the most sophisticated and sustained hacking operations we have ever seen.
▶ 0:20:39The Salt and Bolt Typhoon intrusions revealed significant gaps in our cyber posture, compromising Americans private data and key sectors of our critical infrastructure. We have not forgotten devastating attacks like the Colonial Pipeline in the spring of 21, which led to oil and gas shortages across our country and lines at almost every gas station. We cannot stay ahead of these evolving cyber threats if we do not have the right people with the right skills to defend our nation.
▶ 0:21:08Today, more than 500,000 cyber positions across this country in both public and private sectors are currently unfilled. That's half a million cyber professionals not on the front lines to defend us from the malicious activity jeopardizing our national security.
▶ 0:21:24That's why I introduced the Cyber Pivot Act, which would create an ROC- like scholarship program enabling men and women across this country to gain hands-on experience in cyber security or related fields in exchange for a period of required government service across any level of government. Earlier this year, the committee favorably reported the act to the House.
▶ 0:21:44Democrat Senator Gary Peters, ranking member of the Homeland Security Governmental Affairs Committee, and Senator Mike Rounds, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Cyber Security, introduced a companion legislation to this in the Senate. It's time to bring this bill to the floor for a vote.
▶ 0:21:59Madam Secretary, I look forward to working with you on finding creative solutions to our cyber workforce shortage, as well as ensuring that the agencies under DHS tasked with defending our cyber borders, primarily SISA, remain focused on their task. As your budget rightly indicates, the agency censorship of millions of Americans will come to an end. Instead, CISA's engagement with the private sector must focus on protecting critical infrastructure and our federal civilian networks.
▶ 0:22:28This must include streamlining burdensome regulatory requirements and ensuring CISA remains a trusted and reliable partner to the public and sectors. I trust that over the next four years, you'll devote maximum effort to dismantling the censorship industrial complex while ensuring that SISA is positioned to succeed at its core mission. These are some of the most substantial challenges, but many more await.
▶ 0:22:52Madam Secretary, I expect uh continued progress on all of these issues, but I'm and I'm equally confident in your leadership and resolve to get this job done. Together, let's resecure our homeland. I now recognize the ranking member for an opening statement. Thank you very much, uh, Mr. Chairman. Uh, welcome, Madam Secretary, to the hearing. Uh, Mr.
▶ 0:23:16Chairman, before we begin, I want to recognize National Police Week and thank the officers who protect our communities, this capital, and our country honorably and aly, we appreciate their service.
▶ 0:23:30As we observe National Police Week, I again call on the speaker to follow the law and finally hang the plaque honoring those brave officers who defended the United States capital from a violent mob on January 6. Over 140 law enforcement officers were assaulted that day and honoring their bravery and sacrifice as promised is the least Congress can do.
▶ 0:24:01Turning to today's hearing, I'm glad Secretary Gnome is finally testifying before the committee. After all, it's been 3 months since I sent you a letter asking for her to testify on the Trump administration's dismantling of the Department of Homeland Security and its harmful effects on communities across the country.
▶ 0:24:26Secretary Gnome, I guess the chairman didn't think systematically dismantling the Department of Homeland Security, firing the federal workers who keep us safe and violating the Constitution of the United States justified your timely appearance before this committee.
▶ 0:24:45But when Donald Trump demanded that Congress hand him money to do more damage to our homeland security, Republicans bent over backwards to help him and his billionaire friends at the expense of the American people.
▶ 0:25:01Whatever got you here, Secretary Gnome, I'm glad you found time among your many photo ops and costume changes to testify about why President Trump is seeking more taxpayer dollars and what you plan to do with that money if you get it. And it is a lot of money. We're talking $176 billion.
▶ 0:25:26That's how much President Trump has demanded that Congress give you to spend next year. Never mind the fact that your department is spending taxpayers money so fast this year, you're about to be broke. Now you're saying you need $44 billion more, but all you've done is slash, burn, cut, dismantle, and tear apart DHS since you got here.
▶ 0:25:55You cut programs at the Federal Emergency Management Agency that help Americans prepare for and recover from disasters. You are unlawfully withholding grant money meant to prevent terrorism and respond to emergencies from local communities across the You cut programs at the Cyber Security and Infrastructure Agency, which prevents attacks on power lines, water treatment plants, schools,
▶ 0:26:26hospitals, and other critical infrastructure. You security officers who protect our airports and our airplanes. You cut the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, which keeps DHS from digging into Americans private lives and violating people's rights. You are making Americans less safe.
▶ 0:26:51If you're cutting the things that help keep America safe, why should we give you an extra $44 billion? Is it to deport American citizen children with cancer? Is it to deport more veterans of the United States military? Is it to ignore the Supreme Court's order to facilitate the release of an lawful permanent resident you mistakenly shipped off to a foreign prison?
▶ 0:27:21Is it to punish people for exercising their First Amendment right? Is it to disappear more people off our streets with no due process and ship them to a foreign dictator's prison? Is it to fire more military veterans who continue to serve their country by working for DHS?
▶ 0:27:46Is it to slash efforts to fight persistent threats from foreign terrorist organizations and domestic terrorists? Is it to dismale FEMA as hurricane season is about to get underway? Is it to decimate CISA and invite China, Russia, Iran, and other adversaries into our cyber networks?
▶ 0:28:12Is it just to be mean, threaten, and deny due process to vulnerable people? These are not hypotheticals. These are things that DHS has already done under your leadership or is trying to do, Secretary Nome.
▶ 0:28:28Your policies and actions are so bad that Republican members have been running and hiding from their own constituents, refusing to hold town halls because they know they cannot defend this Republicans are unwilling to defend the Trump administration with the folks back home. So I guess it's down to you to try to do that here today.
▶ 0:28:55But you can't defend the indefensible secretary known. Your department is out of control. On your watch, the department is breaking the law. It's hurting people and it's making America less safe. The Trump administration is outright lying to the courts and the American people.
▶ 0:29:16Just last week, three members from New Jersey, all current members or former members of this committee, tried to visit an ICE detention center, which they are permitted to do, as you know, by law without notice to conduct oversight after reports of issues at the facility.
▶ 0:29:39Instead of following the law, masked out ICE personnel stopped and assaulted the members. Then to make matters worse, instead of launching an investigation into the incident, your department lied to the press about the situation and threatened to arrest members of Congress for doing their job. Absolutely outrageous. It's a sad day for the Department of Homeland Security.
▶ 0:30:07Frankly, I've never seen anything like it. And I've served as a lead Democrat on this committee from its start. Even when the secretary, my Republican colleagues, and I had strong disagreements, we still had productive conversations and did our duty to keep America safe. But that's not the case any longer. My colleagues across the aisle have sold their souls or at least their spines to Donald Trump.
▶ 0:30:38They try to cover the administration lies and blamed Democrats for doing the job our constituents sent us here to do. Republicans have forgotten that Congress is a co-equal branch of government and that the oath we take to the Constitution is the same as the president. Republicans even want to cut Medicaid to fund tax breaks for millionaires.
▶ 0:31:06They put their billionaire buddies over the little guys every chance they get. And now you are here, Secretary Gnome, with your hand out looking for more taxpayer money to continue the slash and burn activities of the Department of Homeland Security over the past 100 or so days. Until the Trump administration starts following the law, that's going to be a very, very hard sale. Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
▶ 0:31:37Gentleman yields. Uh other members of the committee are reminded that opening statements may be submitted for the record. I'm pleased to have the Secretary of Homeland Security before us today for the first time. As Secretary, I ask that uh Secretary Gnome you'd please rise and raise your right hand.
▶ 0:31:59Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you will give before the Committee on Homeland Security, the United States House of Representatives, will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? So help you guide. Let the record reflect that the secretary has answered in the affirmative. Please take a seat. Ma'am, I would now like to formally introduce our witness. The honorable Christy Gnome currently serves as the eighth secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
▶ 0:32:22Prior to her appointment as secretary, she served as governor of South Dakota as a member of the US House of Representatives and in the South Dakota State Legislature. I thank the secretary for being here today and I now recognize Secretary Gnome for five minutes to summarize her opening statement. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and also thank you, Chairman McCall. Good to see you again. I was very privileged to serve with you when I served in this body and to ranking member Thompson.
▶ 0:32:47I appreciate the invitation to be with all of you today and talk about important matters about securing our homeland here in the United States of America. Now having previously served as a member of Congress, it's my honor to be on this side of the dis uh to present as the secretary of homeland security. Today I'm proud to discuss the accomplishments of President Trump and all that he has accomplished since he's taken office in the White House. But first, I would be remiss if I did not address the disturbing actions that we saw last week.
▶ 0:33:16There were members of this very committee that took part in an action at Delaney Hall on May 9th that need to be addressed. I served as a member of Congress in this body for eight years and I understand the importance of congressional oversight. What happened on May 9th was not oversight. It was a political stunt that put the safety of our law enforcement officers, our agents, our staff, and our detainees at risk. Here are the facts.
▶ 0:33:42As a vehicle approached the security gate at Delaney Hall detention center, a mob of protesters, including three members of Congress, stormed the gate, and they trespassed into the detention facility. We have footage of those members of Congress slamming their bodies into our law enforcement officers, shoving them, screaming profanities in their faces, striking them with their fists, and otherwise assaulting law enforcement. The behavior was lawlessness, and it was beneath this body.
▶ 0:34:11Members of Congress should not break in to detention centers or federal facilities. Had these members requested a tour, we certainly would have facilitated a tour. As a body knows, there are proper protocols and there are procedures that must be abided by. These congressional members and staff visit our facilities all of the time and these members could follow the policies that have been in place and they would have been followed. We would have facilitated a tour of this important facility.
▶ 0:34:41However, even after these members assaulted our federal law enforcement officers, we still provided them with a tour of that facility. I'm glad that at their press conference following the tour, these members acknowledge that Delaney Hall is in good condition and meets deferral standards. Charges made by these politicians that Delaney does not have the proper permitting is false. We have valid permits and inspections for plumbing and electricity and fire codes that have been cleared.
▶ 0:35:09Lastly, I'd like to remind Americans and everyone in this body who is detained in this detention facility are murderers, rapists, known terrorists, MS-13 gang members, drug traffickers, and other heinous actors. I hope that those members of Congress will so passionately protest on behalf of the American victims that they were elected to represent and not just violent criminals who are in this country illegally.
▶ 0:35:37And now that I've addressed this issue, I want to return to the reason why I'm in front of your committee today. I want to talk about the first three or first 100 days under the Trump administration. Under President Trump and his leadership, we have already delivered for the American people a drastic turnaround in homeland security. From the southern border to our Coast Guard to cyberspace, and we're just getting started. We've delivered the most secure border in American history.
▶ 0:36:03At the southern border, we have obtained near total control with daily encounters down 93% since President Trump has been in office. March saw the lowest numbers in American history of border encounters at 7200. Under the previous administration, US Customs and Border Protection was at times under Joe Biden encountering over 15,000 people per day. This astonishing turnaround is a testament to the resolve and to the leadership of President Trump to make America safe again.
▶ 0:36:32And as well, it is a testament to the incredible work done by the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security. The secure border has allowed Border Patrol to zero in on fighting cartels in all of their illicit activities. Under President Trump's leadership, six cartels, four dangerous and criminal gangs have been designated as foreign terrorist organizations. This has allowed us to take a whole of government approach to address the illegal activities that these murderers and drug traffickers are taking on.
▶ 0:37:01In March, fentanyl traffic at the border fell by 54% compared to the previous year, and we are enforcing immigration laws to identify, arrest, detain, and remove dangerous, illegal criminals. We're prioritizing those who have committed crimes and aliens who are a threat to public safety and national security, especially those that are affiliated with terrorist organizations like MS-13 and Trendre Aagua. This includes those that already have final orders of removal.
▶ 0:37:31We've also worked to enforce President Trump's America First Trade Agenda and Joe Biden's trade policies hollowed out our industrial base shipped our jobs overseas. Our tariffs have been an effective negotiating tool and we're also reforming emergency management in this country. We have the FEMA Review Council which will be doing its work to make recommendations to the White House.
▶ 0:37:53We are also addressing cyber security, making sure that SISA's back-on mission at protecting the homeland and the Coast Guard is the only US military branch under the umbrella of the Department of Homeland Security. We're making sure they have the resources and the vision to leave and be the point of the spear in the future. Since I took office, one of the responsibilities that I have is in reforming the Secret Service.
▶ 0:38:15We've reassessed Secret Services needs, gotten recruitment away from Biden administration's DEI objectives, and made sure that they are equipped and ready to take on the task of protecting the more powerful into the future. We are so grateful for their bravery, their dedication, and their patriotism. It's our responsibility to continue providing them with the resources that they need to continue to do the important work that they do. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for the time today.
▶ 0:38:40Thank you for allowing me to be here to get the facts out to the American people and to members of this committee of all of the good work that the people of the Department of Homeland Security are doing to serve the American public. With that, I look forward to your questions. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Members will be recognized by order of seniority for their five minutes of questioning. Because we have a restricted time window for the secretary today, just as we did with the last uh secretary, uh I will again limit to five minutes.
▶ 0:39:07So, if you're going to go over, you know, you're going to you're going to get a light tap and then eventually we'll we'll get get a little heavier. But, uh, the goal here is and I will, as I always do, apply the standard equally to both sides. Um, five minutes is five minutes today. Um, I now recognize myself for five minutes of questioning.
▶ 0:39:29Secretary Gnome, in the uh first 100 days, President Trump made the border made border security a top priority by increasing immigration enforcement, deploying additional DHS and DoD personnel to the border, and restarting construction of the border wall. President Trump's decisive strategy was a sharp departure from his predecessor. Former President Biden refused to enforce federal immigration laws, sparking the most severe border crisis in our nation's history. Under President Trump's and your leadership, the tide has turned.
▶ 0:39:59Secretary Nome, which of the president's decisive actions do you believe sent the strongest message to both the cartels and wouldbe illegal border crossers that the United States is no longer open for exploitation? You know, Mr. Chairman, I believe that the strongest thing President Trump did was to make an announcement that we would start following our federal laws. that not only would our border be secure, but that those who crossed it illegally would be considered breaking the law like it should be and that uh they would be prosecuted.
▶ 0:40:30They would be removed and that it would no longer be a facilitation of an invasion like the Biden administration had put forward. He clearly sent that message and before I was even sworn into this job told me that I needed to be aggressive in going out there and telling the world that America was under new leadership, that we were a nation of laws uh and that they would be enforced going forward and that American and the people that lived here were going to be put first.
▶ 0:40:56Secretary Nome, the president has secured the border largely through executive action, but as we know from the Biden Harris administration, those actions can be undone by subsequent presidents. What are the top two to three security immigration enforcement policies that Congress must act urgently to codify so they are no longer executive orders but federal law? Well, you know, President Trump has specifically asked that the executive orders that he's put into place be codified into law. So, they could be long lasting.
▶ 0:41:25So, I'd encourage this body to look at everything that he has put forward in an executive order to see if it could be permanently enacted to secure our nation. I would say enforcement and clarity on what parole is, what asylum is, give us some clarity uh to make sure that that is something that would be long-standing interpreted as to how it was intended when the original law was passed and then ensuring that we have the ability to take action when criminals are in this country.
▶ 0:41:54Uh continue to focusing on getting them out of their country and how those diplomatic relations work with repatriating their citizens back home. Secretary, I'm as I mentioned in my opening statement, you inherited an unprecedented border crisis. Uh in the last four years, a total of over 1700 known or suspected terrorists were apprehended at the border. In the four years prior to that, it was 11 11700.
▶ 0:42:19Uh from your perspective as DHS secretary, can you highlight how the open border policies of the last administration increased the risk to American families when it came to violent criminals and terrorists entering the country? Absolutely, Mr. Chairman. We truly don't have any idea how many dangerous individuals are still in the United States of America. Since President Trump has been in office, just in these few short months, we have deported over 250 known terrorists out of the country.
▶ 0:42:49These are individuals that were allowed to come into our country unchecked by the previous administration. We have deported thousands of criminals that have perpetuated the worst of the worst crimes on our communities. Murderers, rapists, child pornographers, traffickers, uh, and we have returned them back to their home countries. I The message that was sent by the last administration was, "Come to America, send your worst of your worst. They're given free reign to make a home here and given every opportunity.
▶ 0:43:18In fact, we'll even facilitate their housing, their food, their clothing, and take care of them and treat them better than we treat US citizens. That was Joe Biden's policies. What President Trump has done is follow the law. He has implemented the law and said that American citizens should come first and be prioritized as far as their safety and that everybody should be treated treated equally. That the scales of justice should treat everyone exactly the same. And that's what he has implemented.
▶ 0:43:46So, I'm grateful he's given us the ability to go after the worst of the worst and to remove them from our country because our communities overwhelmingly get safer every day as these individuals are Thank you. And uh in keeping with my uh commitment to to be inside my five minutes, I will now yield to the ranking member for his five minutes. Thank you very much. Uh Mr.
▶ 0:44:10Chairman, uh the Department of Homeland Security has been the top target on the Donald Trump's revenge tour and you, Madam Secretary, are the chief accomplice. The Trump administration is hellbent on destroying the Department of Homeland Security built through bipartisan collaboration over the past two decades and evading any accountability for its actions. Let's start with what the administration is doing to FEMA.
▶ 0:44:41Madam Secretary, you said that you want to get rid of FEMA and the administration plan is to sherk its disaster response obligation and leave state and local governments to fame for themselves. Emergency managers across the country are sounding the alarm about the limited ability to respond when disasters strike, but their co calls are falling on deaf ears uh from the White House.
▶ 0:45:10What is the administration's plan to respond to catastrophic disasters beyond shifting responsibilities to states and local communities who are already telling you they don't have the ability to respond? Well, Congressman, President Trump has been very clear that he believes that FEMA should be eliminated as it exists today. He believes there's dramatic reforms that need to happen to the agency in order for it to truly serve people in a time of crisis.
▶ 0:45:40He wants to empower states and local governments to respond to their people. uh the federal government would be there for resources um support um much like block grants but that we need to empower those locally to respond to their people because they know what they need. Uh so that that is something that every state is at a different position today to respond but he wants to give them the opportunity to build up the Thank you very much to respond to their emergency. Madam Secretary, do you have this plan in writing?
▶ 0:46:09The White House is coming forward with the participation of the FEMA Review Council, which we have members from many states that are sitting on that will be making So, so what you're doing now, there's nothing in writing as a Well, sir, you certainly know that there are reform bills here in the House side and in the Senate side of how to address the failures of FEMA from the past recommendations.
▶ 0:46:38Now, you're the secretary. Mhm. And you say you're doing all these things and I'm just asking you, do you have a written plan for what you're doing? There's no formalized final plan for how this goes forward because the input of Congress is critically important. Uh, as you know, there are statutory requirements of the agency.
▶ 0:46:56Well, I'm glad you recognize that needs to be, Madam Secretary, I'm glad you recognize the statutory uh Washington Mississippi, and a couple other states already have request in to you uh or to the president for the last declaration and it's taking an inordinate uh amount of time more than normal.
▶ 0:47:23I just want to know is that inordinate amount of time is based on some plan uh that you have knowledge of but if it's not in writing I understand. So you talked about the rule of law. Um are you telling the committee that due process for anybody that's picked up in this country uh should not be followed?
▶ 0:47:53Congressman, we have utilized due process as it is laid out in the tools that Congress has given us. We have followed the tools and the processes to which Congress has given us to give due process to people appropriately as it is due. So your testimony to this committee under oath is that everybody that ICE has picked up in this country has been given every opportunity as it section five under the constitution provides. Correct.
▶ 0:48:22I believe everybody has gotten due process and every person has been treated appropriately according to the civil or the criminal action to which they were encountering individuals and brought into uh our detainment and then also removed from this country. The tools that you have given us I'm talking about the constitution of the United States. I'm not talking about tools. The constitution is clear. Correct.
▶ 0:48:48And and your testimony under oath to this committee is that everybody that ICE has picked up and any other agency of DHS has conformed to those statutes. For example, congressman expedited removal is one of the tools that you have given us to utilize as due process. I just need a yes or no. Sir, that is the due process tool that you have given us to utilize that has been appropriately. So obviously gentleman's time has expired. I know I have a unanimous consent request. Chairman, I'm sorry.
▶ 0:49:18Have a unanimous consent request. Uh, let's hear it. Uh, I would like to introduce uh Christy Gnome versus Kilmar Armando Armando Abrego Garcia, a nine nothing Supreme Court case where the Supreme Court found that Mr. Arbrego Garcia did not receive due process. Uh, without objection, so ordered. Uh, I now recognize Mr. McCall for his five minutes questioning. Mr. Chairman, Madam Secretary, it's great uh it was great to serve with you in Congress.
▶ 0:49:48It was an honor and it's an honor to see you as Secretary of this uh department. Let me say on behalf of my state of Texas, thank you for what you've done in a very short period of time. I've worked on this issue as a federal prosecutor, as chairman of this committee for over 25 years. I never saw the border more broken, more chaotic than I did under the prior administration. Yet within months, you have restored order to the border.
▶ 0:50:18And the stats speak for themselves. And I want to commend you and President Trump for that. You know, on day one, they rescended the remain in Mexico policy, which led to the chaos. It said, "We're open for business. Come on in." And they did. Over 10 million encounters, two million gotaways. Yet within months of your administration, that number's gone down 93%. Catch and release. I've been fighting that one for years.
▶ 0:50:47The Biden administration did away with it. Now we're de we're decreased to 99.99%. Almost zero catch and release. A very dangerous policy. Uh remain in Mexico's been on the on the books for 30 years. Yet I marked it up on the foreign affairs committee last year as part of the secure border act.
▶ 0:51:10Most offensively and the reason I was an impeachment manager against my orcus was his dereliction of duty to basically prioritize allowing aggravated felons into the country even though Congress by federal law said shall detain aggravated felons. Yet what did he do? He told his agents, "That's discretionary. You can release these dangerous criminals into our society. What have you done within months?
▶ 0:51:4050 days. You have 14,000 criminal aliens arrested. Some of the most brutal gang members like MS-13 and TDA, and it's making this country safer. Fentanel. Each year, more Americans die from fentanyl than the number of Americans who died in the Vietnam War over 20 years.
▶ 0:52:02You recently had the largest massive seizure of these deadly drugs just this last couple weeks by the Cenoloa cartel. And again, my state thanks you for that. Terrorism. You said 250 known suspected terrorists have been deported. We saw after Afghanistan the debacle of the collapse of Afghanistan when Bram was shut down. The prisons were unleashed.
▶ 0:52:28ISIS K went to the Corazan region crossed into the United States and eight were found plotting in this country. You were making this country safer by your actions. The Biden administration made it dangerous and it didn't have to take a bunch of new laws. It needed new leadership which you have provided and the president has provided as well.
▶ 0:52:54My question to you is as you know reconciliation you need resources and nobody knows that better than I do. Um we uh marked up a bill about $70 billion that can be put into your department to start enforcing uh these laws already passed by the Congress. uh the foreign terrorist organization designation was huge. Let me just ask you this.
▶ 0:53:19How will this bill, the reconciliation bill, assist you in your efforts to continue and promote safety in the United States? Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I appreciate all of your leadership on our national security issues uh in the past and and still continue in the future to focus on that. Uh the reconciliation bill is imperative to our future and securing our nation. Uh for years previous the Department of Homeland Security has been neglected.
▶ 0:53:48It's one of the larger agencies in the federal government with one of the smallest budgets and and certainly under the previous administration. The Coast Guard was hollowed out. Uh Border Patrol and ICE were not allowed to do their jobs. They were not allowed to invest in new technologies that they could utilize for interdiction. Also, our borders uh need surveillance and technology to make sure that we're know who's coming into this country and why. our ports of entry uh need new scanners so that we're truly scanning our shipping containers and much of our air freight.
▶ 0:54:18We don't know what's coming in by air either. Uh you know those kinds of adjustments and technology and software upgrades are needed to compete but also to secure our country with the threats that we face. And we don't just face threats from gangs and cartels. It's from China and PRC and Iran and hackers that come into our system. salt and vault typhoon have taught us that we're extremely vulnerable um to these kinds of attempts in the future.
▶ 0:54:45In fact, one of the most alarming things I heard as soon as I was nominated for this position was in a briefing uh from CISA that told me that they knew with Salt Typhoon uh that we had been hacked uh but they also said they didn't know how it happened or how to stop it in the future. Now the main goal of SISA is to hunt and to harden our systems. Hunt bad actors and harden our systems for our small and medium-siz critical infrastructure.
▶ 0:55:12Department of Homeland Security has 10 of the 16 components of critical infrastructure and that's what we need to focus our resources on. Thank you. Gentleman's time has expired. I now recognize Mr. Swallwell for five minutes of questioning. Thank you, Madam Secretary. You have an important job. I think you have one of the most important jobs in the cabinet. Thank you for doing it. I want you to have credibility and and be taken seriously as you do the job. And so I want to put to rest this question about Mr.
▶ 0:55:42Garcia in this photo that the president posted on April 21. Madam Secretary, you agree that the letters MS and the number 13 in Times Roman numeral font that they are doctorred on this photo. Right, Congressman Abrego Garcia? No, no. I'm just asking about this MS. It wasn't based off of tattoos. It was based off an entire case. And I'll accept I'll I'll accept that case for the purpose of this question. You agree though that this is doctorred. Is that right?
▶ 0:56:12The same protocols that are I want you to have credibility and I want you to be taken seriously. Is this doctorred or is it not? I am taken quite seriously because it or not the importance that the president has given me to do. I understand. Is it doctorred or not? thing that's important to remember is that every single time a case is built, Madam Secretary, I have a 7-year-old, a six-year-old, and a three-year-old. I have a [ __ ] detector. I'm just asking you, is this doctorred or not doctorred?
▶ 0:56:38Sir, the protocols in the case built against the question were exactly the same. I don't have any knowledge as to that photo you're pointing to. Okay. Can you take Can you show her the photo? Walk her the photo down there. No, that one. Please take a look at this photo. It was tweeted by the president on April 21. It's been hanging out there for about a month. So, what is your point? My question is the numbers and the letter MS-13. Could you look at the photo, please? It's right in front of you. Are you saying Abrago Garcia is not a wife? No, ma'am. He's not a criminal.
▶ 0:57:07He's not a human trafficker and he's not a member of MS. You vouched for Mr. Garcia when your team said Ma'am, you're you vouched for him when you said he was mistakenly deported. I didn't vouch for him. I did not say that been deported. Absolutely.
▶ 0:57:20It's so telling that you won't look at the photo and we will not be bringing was it doctorred or not if in staying here can you look to your right at the photo in front of me madam secretary can you look to the right at the photo in front of you I have seen this photo as you held it behind your heads thank you and the letters MS and the numbers 13 are those testimony today is on a doctorred photo you don't want to talk about the facts the importance of our national security you acknowledge it was make sure that the
▶ 0:57:50United States is protected. Madam Secretary, this is not a hard question. Are those doctorred or not? Is that is that actually on his hand or not? This is unbelievable to me that you're focused It's unbelievable to me that you can't look at the photo and tell the American people the photo, but I don't have any knowledge as to this photo. Okay. So, it's been hanging out there for 4 weeks. You are one of the chief law enforcement officials in the country. What have you done to investigate whether the president misrepresented the reason that that person has been detained?
▶ 0:58:21Have you have you done anything to try and figure out whether that was doctorred or not? The mission of the Department of Homeland Security is to secure our nation and to make sure that we're out there going after those that are the worst of the worst, the criminals, the bad actors Garcia. So the the answer is you've done nothing to correct the president of MS13, a wife beater and a human trafficker that should never have been in this country to begin with. So Madam Secretary, thank you Mr. Bernett.
▶ 0:58:47Two weeks ago, your agency deported a 4-year-old American citizen in a stage 4 cancer battle. What are you doing to get him back to the country so he can get his treatment? Congressman, this mother wished to keep her family together and to take her child with her.
▶ 0:59:03So as every single person is given the opportunity to medical care is given throughout the process and sounds like and for this child medical care was confirmed in their home country so that it would continue and those treatments and whatever needs were needed to be had into the future were confirmed to be provided there before that child's home country is the United States. Do you believe you have a right to deport a US citizen? That that mother chose to keep her family together and that is what President Trump is focused on making. That's not the facts of the case. Yes, it is the facts.
▶ 0:59:33Madam Secretary, moving on that she wanted to keep with her and our families and parents are given that ability to keep their children with them when they return to their home countries. Madam Secretary, do you have a right to deport a US citizen? No, we do not deport US citizens and have not deported US citizens except the four-year-old that we just No, that that mother chose to keep her child with her and that is her prerogative and the law was followed in allowing her the opportunity to do that. So, so Madam Secretary, I'm a former prosecutor.
▶ 1:00:01I have put people away for life sentences who are gang members. I don't need to wear costumes to show how tough I am. What makes me different from you is when I put those individuals away, I did it with the weight of the law behind me. And I yield back. Mr. Chairman, gentlemen, yields. I ask unanimous consent to uh enter an article from Fox 45 that states documents reveal a second protective order filed by the wife against Kilmar Abrego Garcia.
▶ 1:00:32Um uh that whom also had two deportation orders. Uh without objection so ordered. Uh I now recognize Mr. Higgins for five minutes of his of questioning. Thank you Mr. Chairman. My my my my our Democrat colleagues really love illegals in our country.
▶ 1:00:55is it's it's stunning regular Americans like me to listen to this this passionate and contentious defense of the previous policies and the the resultant millions upon millions upon millions of illegals that entered our country over the last four years.
▶ 1:01:19I tell you where where I'm not going to use the the my colleagues the same language because I don't think that kind of language should be used in committee but I tell you where we where we heard uh loads of um not necessarily genuine statements. It was from Secretary Mayorcus for four years.
▶ 1:01:46We had to listen to his testimony again and again how he needed more resources. He needed more laws and Congress had to pass more laws. And yet, and we said for years, what you need is to enforce the laws that we currently have on the books. You need policies that would actually control the border. And we have madame sec secretary before us representing an administration that has done just that.
▶ 1:02:13If the same 1,954 miles of border that you had a year ago is now under control. Have the same men and women that you had a year ago. The border is now under control. Have the same equipment, the same all weather roads. Everything is the same.
▶ 1:02:28The only has changed is the policies coming out of the White House and a Secretary of Homeland Security that will actually execute the laws of our land and protect the citizenry of our That's Madame Secretary Noom who says for force and she should be she should be spoken to with some modicum of respect for my Democrat colleagues. It's amazing.
▶ 1:02:54Our border is secured versus wide open and wild and Democrats complain and they're angry and protest. Illegals are being deported rather than waved in and imported. and Democrats are are are angry and protesting. It's stunning to Americans to witness this.
▶ 1:03:19Madam Secretary, thank you, good lady, for the job that you are doing securing our borders and protecting the citizenry that we are elected to represent in this body. I work for the American citizenry and every one of us has sworn oath. The difference between a parties has never been more stark.
▶ 1:03:46We represent law and order and American citizens and American enforcement of our laws. My goodness gracious. Thank you, madam, for so graciously enduring the assault that you have. I'd like to touch on the 287 Jeep program. Thank you for partnering with our local and state law enforcement to work together to secure our borders.
▶ 1:04:15This is an this is an excellent program. You have voiced support for it. Can you speak, Madame Secretary Nome, can you speak to the importance of of the DHS partnering with local and state law enforcement, including programs like Well, thank you, Congressman. Yes, 287G has been a wonderful program for many years, but not utilized during the previous administration.
▶ 1:04:41It's a partnership between federal uh you know law enforcement officers and also our state and local law enforcement to give them the same authorities to operate in a task force model to go out and to really make sure that we're going after individuals that have broken our laws that have perpetuated violence in our communities, bring them into incarceration and get them out of our country if they don't belong here.
▶ 1:05:05Uh and it has been a fantastic partnership uh one that President Trump has encouraged us to pursue and to continue to build out across the country. Yes, ma'am. We have that program and others likely going to be heavily supported by Republicans on this committee. Finally, ma'am, in my remaining 25 seconds, we we speak to the efforts to locate the children. Thousands and thousands and thousands of of of children waved into our country during the last four years.
▶ 1:05:34They're lost to the interior. Many are being trafficked and abused. Can you speak to the efforts to find these kids? Yeah, up to 300,000 children were lost or missing under the Biden administration. We have located and returned over 5,000 of them to their homes and to their families. Uh but there's many, many more to be found and to be returned and brought to safety. So, we're continuing to work on that every day.
▶ 1:05:58and our HSI officers spend a lot of time and are the experts in the field at training local law enforcement to identify and find them as well. Thank you, Mr. Expect full support there, Mr. Chairman. And I now recognize Mr.
▶ 1:06:12Before I'd ask unanimous consent to introduce the article from PBS NewsHour entitled, "Children who are US citizens deported along with foreign born foreign mothers in which the attorney for that four-year-old US citizen says that at no time did his mother consent to the child US citizen being removed from the country." Without objection, so ordered. And I recognize Mr. Korea for 5 minutes of questions. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. First of all, Secretary Gnome, welcome to this committee.
▶ 1:06:41had the honor of hearing testimony from Secretary Kelly, Secretary Mayorcas, and of course you. Welcome. We all have the same interests, which are protecting Americans, American taxpayers as we move forward in our jobs. And I want to say that your testimony and my colleague from Louisiana and myself have the same interests which are to protect Americans, especially to protect children, especially to protect American citizen children.
▶ 1:07:12That's where my concern is, Madam Secretary, that your administration, I believe, has consensusly violated the law by denying due process to USORN American children. Under your watch, you've deported American children, US-born children.
▶ 1:07:33Some of the examples I only have five minutes to talk about, but I'll come back to the case that was described or discussed a little while ago, which was uh two American children, four and seven, were put on a plane with their mother, sent to Honduras within 24 hours of being detained. There was an attorney involved and we're debating right now the issue as if you stated that uh the mother wanted the child to go with her, but there was an attorney involved. That person was not consulted.
▶ 1:08:03That family was denied the opportunity to talk to attorney. The attorney was there. What is wrong with asking the attorney? You've got a family that had been checking in, following ICE direction. Check in. Bring your family to check in. They weren't let out. That happens in my district all the time. Families check ICE. If they're if ICE determines they should be deported, you know what we do?
▶ 1:08:32I call ICE and I say, "Give them 30 days." Some of these families have been in this country 20, 30 years. Give them 30 days to get their situation in order. Make sure that they figure out how to keep their American children in the US. Make them give them the opportunity to make an educated decision on the lives of American citizens.
▶ 1:08:56In this case, another cases, ma'am, you have split-second decisions to make a decision on those children. And you, Madam Secretary, also make split-second decisions based on whatever coerced discussion you're having with that mother. And I say curse because when you're scared to death, your life is about to change, and you've got attorney next door that you will not permit that family to consult with that attorney, you got an issue.
▶ 1:09:24Case number two, two-year-old American daughter also deported to Honduras. They were also denied access to their lawyers. According to her lawyer, ICE prevented the mother from speaking to the lawyer or anyone else in family. 2-year-old American citizen. Can't we slow it down and just take a moment before they're deported in 24 The mom did want the daughter to stay in the United States.
▶ 1:09:54They may have had relatives in the United States. Family, even the owned federal judge overseeing this case has said that he had a strong suspicion that the government just deported a US citizen with no meaningful due process. Madam Secretary, I think we're all in agreement here. Let's go after MS13. Let's go after drug dealers.
▶ 1:10:22Let's go after Tendrea, the bad folks who hurt my community as well as everybody else's community. But I failed to see where a child, 2year-old, fouryear-old, 7year-old children could be on your top of priorities for deportations. This is still America. Due process, the fifth amendment. Madam Secretary, I know ICE agents. I deal with them all the time.
▶ 1:10:47I've toured the southern border, blue uniforms, green uniforms, talking to them about what they need to do the job. More than happy to have that discussion with you publicly or privately. But deporting usborn children, ignoring attorneys, take a deep breath. You've been here 20, 30 years. A lot of the times back home when I ask the ICE agents, give them 30 days. You know what?
▶ 1:11:17without fail that person comes back or selfseports. We can do better. Madam Secretary, I'm going to ask you one last question in 9 seconds. You're under oath. Have you fired, retired, dismissed any DSA, DSA agents that have not followed your policies? What kind of agents, sir? DHS Homeland Security agents. Yes. Specific law enforcement officers. Yes, ma'am.
▶ 1:11:46officers under your watch. I haven't given any specific orders to any law enforcement officers under the Department of Homeland Security. So, um there are in within the Department of Homeland Security 280,000 uh employees, 47,000 of them are Coast Guard uh individuals. Um so, you know, 230,000 individuals are employees and we're very proud of the work that they do. Um thank you, Mr. Chairman, for recognizing that it's police week.
▶ 1:12:14Um, we have many agencies that have law enforcement officers in them. They get up every single day to serve their communities and to make sure that our laws matter and that they're enforced appropriately and that no one um is treated differently than someone else. Gentleman's time is expired. I now recognize Mr. Mr. Chairman. Mr.
▶ 1:12:32Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to enter for the record uh the Prince George's County Police Department gangfield inter interview interview sheet um in Maryland where from 2019 where they interviewed Kilmar Abrago Garcia um and identified uh through his clothing that he and and in his statements that he is indeed an MS13 gang member.
▶ 1:12:59Without objection, I I'd also ask I also ask unanimous consent to enter for the record um an article that quotes uh Kil Mara Brago's wife stating I am afraid with another protective order filing against deported Maryland man championed by the Democrats. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I have a unanimous consent request. Uh without uh disagreement, we'll put that one in as unanimous consent. You're recognized.
▶ 1:13:29Um, Mr. Chairman, if you have it, I would like to um introduce by unanimous consent a court order establishing that Kilmargo Garcia is a member of MS-13. You're submitting what for unanimous consent? Well, there isn't one, so I'm wondering if you have I do not have that. Okay. Are we ready to go on with the next testimony? Uh, Mr. Guest, you're recognized for five minutes. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Madam Secretary, uh, thank you for being here. Uh, thank you for your leadership.
▶ 1:13:58Uh please thank the men and women that serve under you for the incredible job that they do. Uh I want to particularly thank you for enforcing the law. Uh something that we did not see under the previous administration uh in the short time that you have been serving as secretary. We have seen a dramatic decrease as much as 95% along our southern border.
▶ 1:14:21And I also want to thank you for locating the 5,000 plus missing children uh that just uh in three months you and your agency have been able to find and in some cases possibly rescue them um from what could have been very dangerous situations. Echo what Congressman Higgins talked about a minute ago. Um the law has not changed since you have become secretary. The budget has not changed since you've become secretary.
▶ 1:14:50um the resources that you have, the number of agents have not changed since you've become secretary, but yet we see have seen a dramatic decrease in the number of border crossings because you and the men and women who serve under you have chosen to enforce the law. I want to push back a little bit on some of the narratives that are being um um put out by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle.
▶ 1:15:17Uh first is uh the allegations, the reckless allegations which are completely false and untrue that you and your agency are deporting American citizens. And I heard you try to answer that question. I don't know if you were able to be able to get that answer out there. And so I want to give you that opportunity, but as I understand the situation, we were deporting an illegal alien who was a parent. and that parent then decided to make the decision to take their children with them.
▶ 1:15:47And so I don't know if my friends on the other side of the aisle would ask that we separate those and say no, those parents cannot do that, that the federal government knows better and that these children are going to have to stay in the United States. Or maybe they believe that a parent who is an illegal that has a child therefore is going to be allowed to remain here indefinitely regardless of whether or not there's a final order remove removal regardless of whether there are any criminal charges or anything pending against those individuals.
▶ 1:16:14And so in the in the the instances that have been brought up, Madam Secretary, where there have been allegations that you or your agency has removed American citizens, I just want to give you a brief opportunity to uh address that. Is that true? And if it's not true, please tell us and please share with this committee the truth behind those uh those situations.
▶ 1:16:39Congressman, the children that were referenced previously in the testimony of the gentleman um in both of those cases, the mothers chose to keep their children with them when they returned home to their home country. Uh that is a priority of President Trump to keep families unified. Uh we have instances where mothers from other countries have decided that their children should stay here in the United States and left them with family members or someone else that they trusted.
▶ 1:17:04But these two mothers that they were referencing earlier decided to take their children home with them and uh wanted to return to their home countries as a family. And so we we are giving the parents the choice and then we are honoring whatever their request. Is that what I understand from you madam secretary? That is correct sir. All right.
▶ 1:17:21And then want to talk about one more issue in the last minute and a half that I have this issue of due process where you were asked earlier are we giving individuals due process and you talked about the fact that we are uh con complying with the law that congress uh has given the department and I think specifically and tell me if I'm wrong I think you're talking about the legal immigration reform and immigration responsibility act of 1996 that created this process known as expedited removal.
▶ 1:17:50uh and we know that that law in 1996 that it passed Congress overwhelmingly at both the House and the Senate. I will tell you that I see here a comment that was made by that time President Clinton and this is what President Clinton said about that law. It said President Clinton asserted that the legislation strengthened the rule of law by cracking down on immigr illegal immigration at the border, in the workplace, and in the criminal justice system without punishing those living in the United States. legally.
▶ 1:18:20And so, as I understand as it relates to the issue of due process, you are following the law as Congress gave you almost 30 years ago. And this illegal immigration reform and immigration responsibility act has been upheld repeatedly over the last 30 years by the court. You're enforcing final orders of removal. And so, Madam Secretary, in the last 10 seconds that I have, are you following the law? And are you giving these individuals the due process that you are required to give them?
▶ 1:18:49Yes, Congressman, we are using the due process tools that Congress has afforded us in these instances to ensure that everyone is treated the same and appropriately. Uh, thank you. And Mr. Chairman, I yield back. Gentleman yields. I now recognize Mr. Magaziner for 5 minutes. Madam Secretary, on April 24th, a woman in Louisiana was deported along with her seven-year-old daughter and four-year-old son, both of whom were US citizens. The four-year-old son had stage four cancer.
▶ 1:19:16Now, you just stated under oath that the mother consented to having her US citizen children removed, but I have spoken with the attorney for that US citizen child with stage 4 cancer. Uh, she has also made numerous statements to the press in which she stated unequivocally that at no time did the mother consent to her US citizen children being removed. What evidence do you have to support your claim that she did consent? Congressman, we followed the same policies and procedures.
▶ 1:19:46What evidence do you have? What evidence do you have that she What documentation do you have that that mother consented? We'll get that to you, sir. I don't have it with me. Please do. I understand it's hard to keep them all straight because you deported multiple US citizen children, but I'm asking spec specifically about the four-year-old with cancer who was deported on April 25th. For the record, that family was also not given access to legal counsel before they were deported, even though their lawyer was in the same building at the time.
▶ 1:20:14I'm holding in my hands here a document called ICE Directive 11064, interests of non-citizen parents and legal guardians of minor children. This is the policy for how ICE agents should handle situations like this. It states unequivocally that parents and legal guardians should have the ability to make alternative care arrangements for minor children prior to their arrest or detention and that ICE must afford parents the opportunity to consult with legal counsel.
▶ 1:20:42So, did the ICE agents working on this case who deported this four-year-old with cancer of their own valition fail to follow ICE policies or were they directed to by your office or anyone else in DHS leadership? Sir, this mother chose to keep her child with You have not produced any evidence to say so, but I'm asking again, have you directed Have you directed DHS officers to keep families together? It's very different than the previous administration.
▶ 1:21:10The previous administration on March 15th, reclaiming my time on March 15th, your department sent three airplanes to El Salvador. Those planes carried approximately 261 individuals who were imprisoned upon arrival. Did you personally review and approve the names of those 261 individuals before they were sent? Sir, we have uh deported and sent home.
▶ 1:21:33Have you did you review the names of those individuals individuals that have answered within the department of Are you aware of whether those 261 individuals were given the opportunity to speak with a lawyer or appear before a judge before they were put on those planes? Yes or no? Sir, every single individual followed the exact same They were not all given the opportunity to appear before a judge or speak with a lawyer.
▶ 1:21:57On April 7th, the Supreme Court ruled that detainees must have an opportunity to have a hearing before they are deported. Are you familiar with the April 7th Supreme Court ruling? I am. Are can you assure us that in the future you will abide by that Supreme Court ruling to provide detainees with a hearing before they are following all judges orders? Yes, sir. I have a photograph here of Andre Hernandez Romero, a gay makeup artist from Venezuela.
▶ 1:22:22He fled Venezuela fearing gang violence because of his opposition to the Maduro dictatorship and his sexual orientation. He presented himself at a port of entry and requested asylum. His claim was found to be credible and he was placed in detention to await a full hearing, but he never received a full hearing because you put him on one of those planes to El Salvador where he still is today. Listen to me. He had no criminal record in the United States or in any other country. He did not even enter the country illegally. He presented at a port of entry.
▶ 1:22:53He tried to do it the legal way. And to this date, the only evidence your department has presented to justify his imprisonment is that he had two tattoos, one that said mom and one that said dad. Do you have any other evidence to present for why this individual should be locked up in El Salvador? Sir, every case is used the same protocols and the same processes and inputs. Do you have any evidence other than the tattoos that say mom or dad for why this individual tattoos?
▶ 1:23:23It's who they're affiliated with, their communication. You have not presented any other evidence or has your department reclaiming my time. During your confirmation hearing, you said your focus would be on deporting immigrants who have been convicted of crimes and those who have received removal orders. But that is not what you have been doing. Instead, you have been deporting children with cancer, children who are US citizens, a gay makeup artist who committed no crime and didn't even enter the country illegally. You have been sloppy. Your department has been sloppy.
▶ 1:23:51And instead of focusing on real criminals, you have allowed innocent children to be deported. While you fly around the country playing dress up for the cameras, instead of enforcing the laws, you have repeatedly broken them. You need to change course immediately before more innocent people are hurt on your watch. The gentleman's time is expired. I now recognize Mr. Chairman, sorry.
▶ 1:24:13I ask unanimous consent uh to enter for the record uh uh one of our colleagues had asked if there was evidence if the so-called Maryland man Kilar Brago Garcia was MS-13. According to the attorney general of the United States, uh she posted that the evidence shows Kilmargo Garcia has repeatedly been identified as a member of MS-13 by a Maryland county police gang unit which I introduced for the record.
▶ 1:24:39Uh a reliable confidential informant, ICE officers, an immigration judge agreed and an appellet board agreed without So you have Is that Sorry. Is that a court order? Well, I object. No, she can put anything she wants in the record. It She's not complying to your request, Mr. Goldman. She asked for unanimous consent. Okay. So, you're objecting to her putting that into the record. I I I am objecting subject to a clarification.
▶ 1:25:06Is that a court order that establishes that he's a member of MS-13? An immigration judge agreed that he was MS-13 for bail. Hold on. Don't misrepresent. Hold on. Judge, everybody pause. We're going to let one person talk at the time. You ask a question. Answer the question, please.
▶ 1:25:29Uh, according to the attorney general of the United States, uh, she informed the country that an immigration judge agreed that your Maryland man, Kilmargo Garcia, is MS-13. An appellet board agreed. ICE officating what they Mr. Goldman, the clock is not yours right now. She has the floor. Please continue answering the question. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. A Maryland County. She's not answering the question, sir.
▶ 1:25:59No, she's going to answer the question and then you can object. Make sure that she answers the question. Finish answer. You just said, please finish your your answer. A Maryland County police gang unit agreed that he's MS-13. A reliable, confidential informant agreed that he's MS-13. ICE officers agreed that he's MS-13. An immigration judge agreed that he's MS-13.
▶ 1:26:26An appellet board agreed that Kilmar Abrago Garcia, your Maryland man, is MS13. Okay. I have the floor. What do you want to say? I object because she is misstating the record and the facts. That is not accurate and therefore I object to that being introduced. There's no can I explain you you let her go on. She go ahead. There is no final court order establishing that he's a member.
▶ 1:26:56Maybe he is. So you should put all that evidence before a judge and if he is MS-13, he should be deported. That's that's what we're talking about. But you're misstating what the all of that evidence is. No. I I think I'm going to make a point here. You basically just read what the attorney general said, correct? Yes, sir. You didn't assert that this was a court order, did you? Did you assert that this was a court order? I read the the attorney general of the United States.
▶ 1:27:20And you have a right on our committee to submit for unanimous consent or a vote if we want to put it to a vote. U this for the record. Correct. Is that it? Yes, that is correct. Okay, Mr. Chairman. Could I review Could I review what whether what she is? Oh, she can submit something to this committee, but it matters that she she just said she represented exactly what the attorney general said. She has a document there. I would like to make that document. Let's make a copy for everybody and we'll vote on I'm going to Hold on.
▶ 1:27:50Hold on just a second. We're going to hold We're calling for the question. We're calling for the question. Uh the clerk, we're going to need to set Hold on just a second. Uh brief recess. Please correct. This is great. All right, there's Higgins. I'm just asking the document. I have I I have All right.
▶ 1:28:19So, we have a motion to vote on the submission of this uh for the record. That's all that has been stated. And do not interrupt me again. We are on the vote on whether or not this can be entered into the record and a motion has been made and we will vote on that motion. All of those I have I have a parliamentary inquiry before we vote. Sir, Mr.
▶ 1:28:49Ranking member, uh it Mr. It's our request uh that we object and in the middle of the objection you consider a motion which he was done talking about. Mr. No, he was No, he was. You stopped him from talking. I I just have a parliamentary inquiry. A parliamentary a parliamentary inquiry. Okay. Go ahead. You have you have the floor.
▶ 1:29:15Is it the procedure of this committee that an someone who is making an objection to the admission of evidence cannot review that evidence before we vote on it? Yeah, the content is irrelevant to the motion and the motion has been made to vote on the submission for the record. Um, the content is irrelevant. I mean, that's what I'm objecting to.
▶ 1:29:43If if if she is accurate in what her representation is, I will withdraw my objection. I just need to see the document. Somebody walk the thing over there and let him read it. I mean, get to the bottom of this quickly. We'll hold on your vote. Um, Mr.
▶ 1:29:57Ogles, Mr.
▶ 1:30:24Chairman, given that this is a tweet from the attorney general that is effectively, I believe, consistent with what Miss Taylor Green says. I withdraw my objection. Gentleman withdraws his objection. I now recognize who's up. Mr. Jimenez for his five minutes of questioning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and uh thank you, Madam Secretary, for the fine work that you've done.
▶ 1:30:49I also want to thank you for for approving u uh the members on this side of the aisle, and myself included in in our assertion through the last four years that what happened at the southern border was done uh willfully uh by and purposely by the Biden administration because nobody could be that dumb.
▶ 1:31:10Do you share that Sir, I believe it was a decision made by the previous president to not enforce our laws and to allow an invasion of our country. So, so all the claims by the other side of the aisle that we needed more money for the Biden administration, more people, etc., do you believe that was accurate or do you believe that was inaccurate? No sir, that was not true. That's absolutely because the numbers speak for themselves. True.
▶ 1:31:35And simply by enforcing our laws and having the will to enforce our laws, we've seen a dramatic fall in the number of crossings. And so I want to thank you for that. Now I want to switch over to FEMA. I used to be the mayor of Miami Date County. I used to represent and really it was my job to protect 2.8 million people in one of the most hurricane prone areas of the United States. I was also a city manager of the city and I was a fire chief for the city of Miami. And at the time I was also on a FEMA advisory panel.
▶ 1:32:02And I can tell you that FEMA needs me, many, many reforms. I remember as mayor of Miami date county in 2015, we were still processing claims through FEMA for Hurricane Katrina, which happened 10 years earlier. And so, while I I I do support the efforts to to uh reform FEMA, there are certain states and cities and and counties that actually can respond a heck of a lot better than others. uh and we can't leave those that can't uh fend for themselves, you know, to fend for themselves.
▶ 1:32:32And so I would hope that that's part of your uh your re review and the and the reform of FEMA. Is that what you plan to do? Yes, sir. We know that every single state is not prepared today to take over their emergency operations. That's why the president has been clear uh that he wants to empower states, give them the opportunity to build out their response to also signus with surrounding states and other resources they can use to best serve their people. He just doesn't believe that FEMA has been successful in being there in a time of crisis for people.
▶ 1:33:02I can tell and I can tell you ma'am as mayor of Miami date county that they haven't. Okay? And that I never ever uh when when I talked to my people I said hey we're going to have to do this ourselves. There is no calvary coming from the federal government. We have to take care of ourselves. All we need from the federal government really is the money to reimburse us and you're not even good at doing that. Okay? And so hopefully you can speed that process up.
▶ 1:33:25Um there are some people in my community that are a little bit concerned about the TPS uh rules and and the suspension of TPS. I would hope I would request that you can meet with myself, Representative Mario Dios Balard and Maria Salazar. So maybe we can do a little nuance to this so that we can put those concerns at rest. I also sent a letter to you concerning a 100 uh Cuban oppressors.
▶ 1:33:50They're actually living in the United States that were granted either asylum or entry into the United States that should have never been here. Uh and we need to deport those. Have you received that letter? What's your what's your department uh doing about looking into and vetting those hundred names that I gave you? Yes, sir. I received your letter and read it this week and we'll be responding to you. And that is something that President Trump is focused on is adding integrity back to the programs that we have.
▶ 1:34:17Our immigration programs, our services like TPS, like the visa waiver program, our parole, our asylum programs. A lot of those got perverted and changed and misused and abused during the last administration. And adding integrity back to them is incredibly important for this administration. TPS was always meant to be a temporary program. I agree. Um built on giving people an opportunity to be safe from violence or environmental crisis that may be happening in their home country.
▶ 1:34:46Those individuals, we're working with them and we'll have a chance to meet with you and the other congressmen to to address their needs and and see what their options are. They do have 60 days from the time it is published. Those individuals that you spoke to me about, uh, that still has not been published in the Federal Register. So, they have several months here that we can work on the solutions to make sure that they're in a program that's appropriate for their situation. Fair enough, ma'am. I appreciate that. I hope we can have that meeting soon. Finally, I'm going to give you another example.
▶ 1:35:12When I was mayor of Miami date county, there was then Senator Camela Harris and a lot a lot of other Democrats were were demonstrating outside a homestead facility that was meant for children. uh saying how the bad the conditions were, etc., etc. Well, as mayor of Miami Day County, I asked to actually go in there. I viewed it. I went in there. Since I speak Spanish, I actually spoke to the children. They're all being treated great. There was nothing happening there that would make me ashamed to be an American.
▶ 1:35:37Um, and so what was great about that was that we were actually taking care of those children, unlike what happened under the Biden administration where we lost about 300,000 of them. With that, I yield back. Thank you. Thank you. Gentleman yields. I now recognize Mr. man for 5 minutes questioning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to go back to um Mr. Kilmargo Garcia's case. Uh Madam Secretary, uh but my first question for you is um a pretty simple one. It's basic civics.
▶ 1:36:05Which branch of government does the Constitution give the authority to interpret what the law is? The judiciary or the executive branch? Sir, going forward, the uh interpretation of the law, you make the laws in this body. The judicial branch makes sure that they are have integrity and they're applied properly to individuals.
▶ 1:36:26So that I Okay, so I'm just going to take that as the judiciary Now, let's focus for a second on what the judiciary branch has said about this case. We know the Supreme Court has said nine to nothing that notwithstanding your statements under oath here today that Mr.
▶ 1:36:46Kil Kilmaru Garcia was afforded due process, he was in fact not afforded due process because then if he were, you would have seen the withholding order that did not permit him to be deported to El Salvador. Now, you allege and I guess the attorney general alleges that he's a member of MS-13. That may very well be that very well may be the case.
▶ 1:37:12Um, and if he is, now that that is a foreign terrorist organization, certainly the immigration laws would allow him and in fact require him to be deported. I certainly would support that. But the problem that we have here is what you allege, what Miss uh Green alleges, what the attorney general alleges is not the judiciary. You don't get to decide whether or not he is an MS-13 member.
▶ 1:37:43And you don't have to take my word for it because Judge Wilkinson, a fourth uh circuit judge, very conservative, addressed this argument. and he says the government asserts that Arbrego Garcia is a terrorist and a member of MS-13. Perhaps, but perhaps not. Regardless, he is still entitled to due process.
▶ 1:38:05If the government is confident in its position, it should be assured that position will prevail in proceedings to terminate the withholding of removal order. Will you commit right now to give Mr. Sarbrego Garcia, that process where you can prove your allegation that he is a member of MS-13. Congressman, that judge that you just quoted did not say he was not a member of MS-13. Who did say that he was a member of MS-13?
▶ 1:38:36Was law enforcement officers that encountered this individual? Yeah, he knows. This is a fourth circuit judge. He knows all of what the evidence is and he's saying if that evidence, so you're not going to commit to follow this order. He won't commit to follow this court order. By the way, he Madam Secretary, I am I reclaim my time. Stop filibustering by gang members of MS. Will you give Mr. Albrego Garcia the due process that the Supreme Court and Judge Wilkinson has required you to give him?
▶ 1:39:06Garcia is an El Salvador resident who is in his home country. If he were to come back to this country, he would be immediately removed again. How do you know? He has received and been treated appropriately. So he sure and he is not how can you say he's been treated appropriately if the Supreme Court has ruled nine nothing that he hasn't been treated appropriately why is your opinion better and have more authority than the Supreme Court investigators two judges in immigration court that
▶ 1:39:36all said he was MS-13 and was removed to this from this but you understand that is you saying that that is you saying that that is them saying that this isigators That is you making that determination against him. If you don't has considered all that, the judge has considered all that. Madam Secretary and if you would be quiet because I'm reclaiming my time, you are not following this court order.
▶ 1:40:01But let's focus on the court order because this opinion also says that to facilitate which the Supreme Court is retir requiring is an active verb. It requires that steps be taken. What steps have you taken to return Mr. Abrego Garcia to allow him to get due process? Garcia is in his home country. if you taken If your continued advocacy for him were to I'm not advocating for him.
▶ 1:40:31I'm advocating for a court order. Madam Secretary for this the court order says that you must take steps to follow the court order. You are here under oath. What steps have you taken to return Mr. Orgo Garcia pursuant to this court order? It's got to be extremely dis discouraging to be one of your constituents. To see you fight for a terrorist like this and not fight for them is extremely uh alarming to me. I'm fighting for due process and that's under the Constitution.
▶ 1:41:02Gentleman's time has two due process. The gentleman's time has expired. I now recognize Miss Green for 5 minutes questioning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Democrats have spent the last four years terrorizing Americans with their open border policies. They flooded our communities with over 13 million illegals from over 170 countries and territories who invaded our borders, raped our women and children, and murdered our own people.
▶ 1:41:30It's shocking to hear them to continue to defend cartels, MS13, and terrorists today. Democrats claimed over and over again that legislation was needed to fix the problems the problems that they created. Yet to this day, no new border legislation has been enacted and border crossings are down 93%.
▶ 1:41:52It was just reported that according to CBP, only five aliens were temporarily released into the United States in all of April. Only five. This is compared to the 68,000 released in April of 2024 under the Biden administration. Thank you, Secretary Gnome, for your great work and your leadership. This is truly saving America.
▶ 1:42:19There's nothing Democrats love more than defending the cartels, the criminals, and the rapists. And now we finally have a president in the White House and an administration that defends the American people. Uh, as you're aware, Secretary Gnome, SISA previously developed a censorship laundering scheme through its counter, miss, disc, and malinformation, MDM, efforts that suppress conservative opinions and went after President Trump's supporters, members of Congress, senators,
▶ 1:42:49including myself, uh, were permanently banned. I was permanently banned on Twitter under this. What started as an election interference campaign eventually developed into censoring issues well beyond uh the election and COVID and climate change. Um through their NGO partnerships, tickets were created on post they thought were misinformation and subsequently sent to social media platforms with recommendations for them to be censored.
▶ 1:43:20Would you please provide an update on your efforts to investigate the severity of MDM efforts during the Biden regime and and what steps are you taking to ensure SISA will never again serve as the United States government's Ministry of Truth? Yeah. No, thank you, Congressman. The uh SISA uh definitely um so far off mission that they forgot what their purpose clearly was.
▶ 1:43:48The SISO was created to hunt down bad actors and to harden our systems to support local infrastructure, critical infrastructure that makes this country run. And those small and medium-sized businesses that don't have the resources to make sure that their um software programs, their their technology was secure from hackers and from bad actors around the world. Instead, what they were doing by out there deciding what was truth, what wasn't truth, censoring what people could say was not their mission whatsoever. And so we have stopped those activities.
▶ 1:44:18We have refocused our resources back onto the cyber security mission and ensured that SISA is cooperating with our local and state uh individuals and businesses to make sure that we're truly being proactive at not just hardening our systems but stopping the attacks that we have from countries that hate us. So uh the Ministry of Truth um as what SISA was operating before was uh wrongful actions that were taken by employees of this administration.
▶ 1:44:46the last administration um to go after political targets um to manipulate the the information that Americans were receiving and that has stopped. Um we have fallen far behind in what we've been able to do as far as cooperating with other intelligence agencies and with those at the state level to make sure that we're being proactive.
▶ 1:45:05And that's one thing that we have focused extremely hard on in the last several months is ensuring that those relationships are built back up that we're partnering with private businesses to get uh the support that we need to make sure that that we are hardening America's systems because we're vulnerable to our weakest link. And oftentimes our weakest link is that small business or individual that ties into our largest systems. Yes. Thank you. No, no American should be censored by their government for their political beliefs and their statements.
▶ 1:45:35Thank you for that. Um, also the Trump administration has committed to reuniting unaccompanied alien children lost or trafficked under the Biden Harris administration back to their families and guard guardians. What efforts is DHS taking to ensure that these vulnerable children are safely uh reunited with their loved ones because the Biden administration lost hundreds of thousands of children. Yes, absolutely.
▶ 1:46:01We know that there was upwards to over 300,000 children that were lost uh during the last administration. So, uh President Trump has made it a priority of every cabinet secretarian agency to make sure those children are located, that they are returned to safety.
▶ 1:46:17Uh, as you know, the refugee program and sponsors um were greatly abused under the previous administration and the department of HHS is bringing some integrity back to that program and making sure that these children are cared for appropriately and and that someone is watching over them that truly has um their best uh interests at heart that really truly cares for them as a family member. Um I would say over 5,000 have been found and our HSI individuals and law enforcement officers are continuing to identify them.
▶ 1:46:46Gentle lady's time has expired. I now recognize Mr. Ramirez for five minutes of questioning. Thank you, Chairman. Secretary, it's good to see you. I'm going to go straight to the questions because I have a lot of them. Let me start just following up uh with Congressman Goldman about judiciary. Do you agree that the judiciary is a co-equal branch of government and is your obligation as a member of the executive branch to honor decisions made by the highest court of the land? Yes or no?
▶ 1:47:14Secretary, we are abiding by all all federal judges orders. Absolutely. So, yes, it's a co-equal branch of government. Okay. Well, let me ask you a follow-up question to that. Do you agree that Congress is a co-equal branch of government, and it is your obligation as a member of the executive branch to honor legislation and appropriations duly authorized by Congress? Yes or no? Yes. That's why I'm thrilled to work. Well, let me ask you the follow-up question here because I have a lot of them. Do you agree that article one of the constitution gives congress the power of the purse?
▶ 1:47:44Yes or no? Yes, it is a duty. Do you believe that? Let me ask you another followup. It's just yes or no. Do you believe you have the power to disregard congressional appropriations and unilaterally repurpose funds that have been duly appropriated by Congress? Yes or no? Ma'am, we are not doing that. The answer to you is to let me It was a yes or no, Secretary. Let me continue. Interestingly, you said no. But since you've been secretary, you have repeatedly disregarded the law.
▶ 1:48:14You have illegally impounded funds that Congress appropriated and that your branch of government must implement pursuant to the law. Yet you you've closed offices established in law including the office for civil rights and civil liberties, the office of the immigration detention obsman, the office of the citizenship and immigration services and you've canceled contracts for programs authorized in law including shelter and service programs and citizenship and integration
▶ 1:48:44grants. you you've obstructed and roughed up members of this committee as they attempted to conduct congressional oversight and then you vilified them. But my question is if they were so bad, why were they allowed to go in after to conduct oversight? Let let me just continue. You redirected funds to terrorize our communities.
▶ 1:49:02You created taxpayerf funded political propaganda campaigns to terrorize families and children who don't sleep at night because of the terror of those commercials that you are putting out there. You hold sick, disrespectful press conferences in my state where, let me be clear, you are not welcome.
▶ 1:49:23You corruptly used emergency authority to avoid procurement to make Trump's private prison donors richer by directing $45 billion for them to expand ICE detention centers. You defunded work to address real threats to the homeland. All while you pursued college newspaper editors, labor leaders, and even a Harvard scientist who failed to declare frog embryos at the airport. Clearly, we don't have time for all my questions.
▶ 1:49:53So, I have 13 pages worth of questions that I will be submitting to the record that I expect you and the administration to answer. But here is my final question to you. When you took your oath, did you swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America? Yes or no? Yes, I did. So, I find it laughable. You don't behave like someone who takes that oath seriously. And let me tell you why. We don't live in a dictatorship or a monarchy.
▶ 1:50:23Trump's will is not the guiding doctrine of this nation. And our country is not a playground for his or your twisted authoritarian fantasies. We are a democracy. We defend the constitution and we affirm the rule of law. We respect the co-equal branches of government and we uphold our rights even when we disagree. The foundation of our nation is based on a core set of constitutional rights upon which our prosperity, our pluralism, and our peace depend on it.
▶ 1:50:53You, however, have been leading this work for 116 days. And in that time, you have profiled and dehumanized our neighbors. You've betrayed our constitutional commitment to due process. You've deported United States citizens. You've undermined the courts. You've broken the law. You've engaged in corruption. And you've weaponized the immigration system to violate civil rights.
▶ 1:51:21As Senator Murphy perfectly stated, your department is out of control. But you, you're responsible. You have betrayed the sacred fundamentals of your oath. And I believe to my core that you are not fit to hold the office. And I again to your faith demand your immediate resignation and I put it and place it on the record for all of us to see.
▶ 1:51:49With that chairman, I yield back. Gentle lady yields. Mr. Gabino is recognized. Thank you, chairman. Madam Secretary, thank you so much for being here today. Uh I'm the chairman of the subcommittee on cyber security infrastructure protection. So I I work with CISA a lot. Um I have a few quick questions for you. Cyber Security Information Sharing Act of 2015 provides the modern basis for information sharing between the private sector and the federal government.
▶ 1:52:14Uh my subcommittee tomorrow will be having a hearing on CISA the renewal of SISA 2015 uh since it expires in September. I'm just wondering do you support the reauthorization of CISA 2015 ahead of its expiration? Yes, I do sir. It's an incredibly important piece of legislation. Wonderful. Thank you very Um, another hearing that we had this year, we dealt with the proposed uh, CERSA rulemaking pro uh, process. Um, and it started under the B administration.
▶ 1:52:42We heard from industry they were not happy the way it went. Uh, I'm not happy with the way I'm sure a lot of people aren't the way happy the way it went. Uh, and I still remain concerned that the scope of the proposed rules have strayed from congressional intent. Uh, one of the things that came up at our hearing was whether or not uh, SISA would consider to provide an exparte process uh, so we could get more comments from industry and hopefully get this back on track instead of starting over from scratch because it has to be done.
▶ 1:53:10Is that something that uh, the department would consider? Yes, we would support that, sir. I think that more input from the private sector is important to make sure we're doing the appropriate actions. I mean information sharing and uh making sure that people are actually responding to incidents instead of uh talking to their attorneys I think is very very important. Uh and we want to make sure that this is the response rule not just one of many other uh correct other rules that are out there.
▶ 1:53:36Um I I sent a letter back on 19th regarding workforce reductions. Um it was about CISF staff that was fired uh and their responsibilities and titles. I've not yet received a response.
▶ 1:53:51Um, and given the growing number of cyber security, the growing cyber security threat landscape and the administration's stated interest which they have in addressing these threats, I'm concerned that reducing CIS's staff uh will help will not help CISA accomplish uh the mission of protecting uh cyber security, providing cyber security to the people that need it or helping those.
▶ 1:54:14Uh the letter asked for the number of staff, the responsibilities of those staff and the impacts on CIS's ability to fulfill its mission. Uh I know you can't provide that answer now, but uh can I get a commitment to uh to get that uh response to that letter sometime soon? Absolutely. I appreciate that as well. Uh and I know we're here about the budget, so I do want to ask uh some questions.
▶ 1:54:38In the administration's skinny budget request, um it's seeking a $491 million reduction for SISA. Uh I'm all on board with getting rid of disinformation and misinformation and I was supportive of that cut, but that was in fiscal year 2023. That was only 20 million. Uh only 20 million of its budget went. So getting rid of that, that still leaves about 471 million uh of of cuts.
▶ 1:55:05Um it's about a 17% uh cut to its total budget. What is why why such a large cut? And in addition to that, there was also, I believe, a a re program request moving uh $130 million around. What is that? What programs are going to be affected with that request? Well, Congressman, the focus within SISA needs to be on ensuring that it's fulfilling uh why it was created.
▶ 1:55:34It was created um to support critical infrastructure and to make sure that we're out there addressing the cyber security concerns that we have. Um the reductions that you see are in the areas where it got off mission where it was involved in mis and malinformation and also the censorship activities. Uh that's where the reflection is. But the cyber security side of CISA is strengthened and emboldened under President Trump's leadership and will be into the future and making sure that we're giving them the tools that they need to create new partnerships.
▶ 1:56:04Um those uh plans to partner with private industries will make us much more efficient and accountable to taxpayers while making sure that we actually have answers to some of the threats that we have in front of us. Uh that's the thing that has alarmed me the most about SISA is uh the lack of information that they have. uh the lack of solutions that they have and how they protect our critical infrastructure. And when you look at Volt Typhoon, it wasn't just that we're vulnerable.
▶ 1:56:29It's that the Chinese have proven, PRC has proven uh with bad actors that they can shut down our water plants, our electrical grid, that they have the ability to do that. And if we think um something in the past like a pandemic or a crisis like that was scary, wait until people's electricity is gone or their water system shuts down. And so that is one of the reasons why SISA needs to be laser focused on truly what its mission is. Yeah, I appreciate that.
▶ 1:56:56And I'm out of time, but I also just want to say I hope we can work together on this and I'm very excited for Mr. Plankkey's nomination. I think he's going to do a great job and hopefully they can confirm him uh sometime soon, but I'd like to talk to you more about the budget when we have a chance. Time is expired. Recognized. Mr.
▶ 1:57:12Chairman, I'd like to ask unanimous consent to enter for the record an article from the Oversight Project that quotes the Supreme Court case Gojack versus the United States that talks about uh Congress's power of oversight, stating that uh no committee of either the House or Senate and no senator and no representative is free on its or his or her own to conduct investigations unless authorized.
▶ 1:57:41Um, and that was a Supreme Court case. Um, I'd also ask without objection, so order. Thank you. I also ask unanimous consent to enter for the record that the ICE facility that uh Democrats and and one of our own members here uh stormed uh according to the secretary assistant secretary of homeland categorized these detainees and ICE as murderers, terrorists, child rapists, and MS-13 gang members. Without objection. So chairman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 1:58:11Mr. Mr. Golden is recognized. Uh I would like to uh introduce an article um just published by Bloomberg government in which the acting director of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement acknowledges that any member of Congress has the right to show up at any detention facility with or without appointments and that he will follow that law. Without objection. So thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have unanimous consent also. Yeah. Yeah. Mr.
▶ 1:58:41uh Yeah. gentleman's recognized. Thank you. I just want to also enter for the record section 527A of the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act of 2024. Uh that it says explicitly that members of Congress have the right to access ICE detention facilities with no prior notice at any time. Without objection. Thank you. So, Miss McGyver is recognized. Thank you, uh Mr. chairman and ranking member.
▶ 1:59:09A lot has been said and I expect a lot more will be said about the department's interaction with members of this body when it comes to oversight, but this is not about me. Madame Secretary, it's not every day we have a cabinet member before this committee. As you know, the members of this committee have constitutional oversight responsibility for your department. and and there are many things regarding this administration's homeland security policies that require our immediate attention.
▶ 1:59:40That is the work I am here to do today and every day. Secretary, this committee and the American people deserve answers for the actions of the Department of Homeland Security under this administration and the policies that have been put into place. The department has overseen a regime of cruelty, chaos, and deep disregard for human dignity. all under the pretense of security. The department is being mismanaged and its policies undermine our nation's values.
▶ 2:00:10This does not make us safer. The exact opposite. Exactly. Secretary, we need answers about your department's union busting at TSA, deporting US citizens, terminating the legal status of international students for no apparent reason, and disregarding the rule of law. None of these issues at your department exist in a vacuum.
▶ 2:00:34In fact, they are all fundamentally connected to the administration's overarching cruelty. We want to hear from you because we are hoping you can make it make sense for us because with all due respect, we are all trying to understand why in the world this is taking place.
▶ 2:00:54In my district and around this nation, countless international students had their visas revoked without due process, without warning, and without any regard for how this would devastate their lives. These are students who came here to learn, to build their futures, and join our workforce only to have the rug pulled out from under them by this department's actions.
▶ 2:01:18How can we expect international students to trust our institutions and contribute to our economy when we treat them like they've done something wrong just because they are here? Are we no longer the home of the American dream? I also want you to understand DHS's impact on our entire workforce. I proudly represent over 1,000 dedicated TSA workers who had the right to unionize, but that right has been stripped away by your department.
▶ 2:01:48This is an attack on the people who safeguard our skies and whose dedication we rely on now more than ever. And the destruction doesn't stop there. I represent communities that live in constant fear each and every day. families too terrified to step outside and send their kids to school, go grocery shopping, or take a trip to the doctor because of the harassment of ICE and Homeland Security. This isn't public safety. It's state sponsored fear.
▶ 2:02:18I understand that this administration believes it is it it that it is its business to scare people into submission and act alone with no regard for the law to decide who is worthy to live in this country or not. However, it is this committee's business to make sure your department is held accountable and to get the American people the answers they've been looking for. So with that, Madam Secretary, I have a few yes or no questions.
▶ 2:02:48Do you agree that revoking student visas without notice can cause fear and confusion among international students? Yes or no? Congressman, I do not um Congresswoman, but yes or no, Congresswoman, I do not decide legal status or visa programs for I'll take that as a yes. Do you support restoring full collective bargaining rights for TSA employees? Yes or no? Ma'am, currently today, TSA does not have the ability to unionize. Okay, take that as a no.
▶ 2:03:17Do you believe that TSA workers should make a livable wage? Yes or no? Yes, TSA workers are critically important to Thank you for that. Are you aware Are you aware that recent student visa revocations occur without due process or proper notification? Ma'am, I don't make a determination of stat of state. I'm guessing you don't know. Okay. Do you believe that TSA workers have the right to better workplace conditions? Yes, absolutely. Great. Thank you for that.
▶ 2:03:45Do you believe that students should have an opportunity to appeal before their visas are revoked? Yes or no? All processes are followed and that are set out as I'm guessing it's a no. Okay. One more last question in 9 seconds. Do you believe that rev that revoking collective bargaining rights for TSA workers affects their morale and job performance? Yes or no? I believe TSA is critically important. Okay, I'll take that as maybe you don't know, maybe it's yes or no. Gentle lady's time is fired. I now recognize Mr. Gonzalez for five minutes of his questioning.
▶ 2:04:15Uh, thank you, Chairman, and thank you, Madam Secretary, for doing a wonderful job and it's been a breath of fresh air. A lot of people like to talk about the border. I represent a large part of the border. uh the places that that are on TV are the places that you have vis have visited, the places that I've represent like Del Rio, like Eagle Pass, like El Paso, uh other places, and y'all have done a fantastic job. I want to start with Vortac.
▶ 2:04:37Um Vortac has been when we talk about how do we go out and apprehend these hundreds of thousands, if not millions of convicted criminal illegal aliens that are a threat to all our communities. Borac is always the answer. I I recently met with them. They're based out of Fort Bliss. They're in El Paso. They're always the ones that go out and are doing the heavy lifting. If um I I'd love to put this on your radar. I know you're making a lot of of budget budgetary decisions.
▶ 2:05:04Uh and the administration is that facility is way way outdated for the work that they do. They need a new facility. And I know it's on Fort Bliss. if there's a way that we can work either through this committee or through the appropriations committee to find a way to give them the proper um housing just a proper headquarters that they need. I think this would be very critical in going out there. I'd love to hear your thoughts on Vortekch.
▶ 2:05:29Yeah, I spent some time with them as well down at Fort Bliss and they do incredible work and they don't just uh operate within their own agency but also partner with other law enforcement agencies and meet needs around the country uh at a moment's notice. So their skill set is unique. Um their specialty training is is needed and in fact it needs to be expanded.
▶ 2:05:49Um we could use more teams like they have and give them more opportunities to continue to serve because the skill set they bring to the table keeps people safer um and helps us meet the challenges with what we need to protect our officers out in the field and to make sure citizens are protected as well. So we'll certainly uh look at their facilities and see what we can do to strengthen the resources that they have. Uh thank you for that. They're they're just doing incredible work.
▶ 2:06:14Once again, every time there's a problem solved, Boreekch has a role to play, whether it's, you know, on the back, you know, the the intelligence piece to it, helping with some of these task forces or actually going out and and apprehending folks. On that note, you know, UVA is in my district. We had a couple years ago, we had one of the worst school shootings in in in history, certainly in Texas's history. And you know, it was Borac that neutralized that shooter. And so I want to talk about school safety a little bit.
▶ 2:06:41You know, you're you're uh you've got you've got children, you've got grandchildren, I've got children. Um that's one thing that I think can bring us all together is just the safety of our children. And one one area that I think goes unlooked is the Secret Services role. As I've dived into school safety, Secret Service is at the heart of a lot of these solutions and it usually they don't nobody thinks it in that manner. I'd love to get your thoughts when it comes to school safety.
▶ 2:07:09What role do you think the Secret Service can is currently playing or can it play in helping solve some of these problems? Well, right now Secret Service um is underutilized and they also um are underresourced. Uh if you look through our reconciliation request and also fiscal year 26 budget request, uh there's additional dollars that are needed to really give Secret Service the tools, the training, and the resources that they need to meet every single situation that they're involved in right now.
▶ 2:07:36Obviously, they have the protected units and agents that are out there on the ground protecting individuals and the most powerful in the world, but also they have an investigative side that is a skill set that many other agencies like to tap into and ask them for insight into. So, uh working to protect our kids, our kids are our future. Um they really are what America is going to be and is today um for many many years.
▶ 2:07:59So I it's incredibly important that we use that skill set to give advice, wisdom, but also training uh to those individuals that secure our schools. You know, the Department of Education has a partnership with us and how we train school security officers. Um but also how we go out and support local law enforcement to respond to situations like you experienced in your in your home district. Um it's a tragedy uh that we can be better equipped for and prepared for in the future and making sure that we're taking care of people ahead of time. That's it.
▶ 2:08:28And addressing the concerns and the flags that happen before we end up in a situation like you experienced. Yeah, I appreciate that response and and I'm really trying to get ahead of a problem, not wait for the problem to occur and then blame somebody else for why the problem was there. Like let's just make sure our kids are safe as we harden schools, as we look for ideas to to strengthen family units and do those different things. Once again, the Secret Service constantly continues to come up. So, I look forward to working with with you on on that.
▶ 2:08:54And other One thing I would say is in the last several months, Secret Service recruitment has been up over 200%. Amazing. Um, under President Trump and the recruitment efforts that we've had for that agency, um, overwhelmingly people want to be a part of of their mission in the future. you know, part of my schools, and I know I have a just a little time, some part of my district, you know, the guardian program where teachers are armed is what works for that community. Other communities, they don't want to have their teachers armed. That to in my eyes, that's for something for them to decide.
▶ 2:09:22But as far as a federal government response, I think the Secret Service can add to whatever local ideas they have. So, I look forward to working with you on strengthening that and others. Thank you again, and I yield back. Gentleman's time has expired. I now recognize Miss Johnson for five minutes questions. Thank you so much, Mr. Texas. Um, and thank you, Madam Secretary, for appearing before committee today. Um, I want to address several issues.
▶ 2:09:47I'm going to try not to repeat a lot of issues that have been addressed, but I do have some substantial concerns over how ICE agents present themselves to the public. Oftentimes, we've seen many videos out there where they're masked and not properly identified. I have a lot of real personal concern about that. I just put myself in the situation of that woman from TUS, for example.
▶ 2:10:13You're just walking down the street and all of a sudden out of nowhere, three masked men, not properly identified, attack you and try to take you away. I find that to be reprehensible and not the values of this country. What steps are you taking to make sure that your ICE agents are not masked and properly identified when they approach someone? Well, ICE agents always identify themselves to individuals that they're encountering or that they're working with.
▶ 2:10:41Um, what I would say as far as if they are wearing something over their faces, it's oftent times because that agent has been involved in undercover operations or needs to be able to continue the investigative work that they do on a day-to-day bas uh whoever is trying to apprehend them. I think it's is creating this unrealistic vigilante system.
▶ 2:11:04And are you aware that your materials, ICE agents, jackets, and the sorts are available on Etsy for 20 bucks? Anybody can do that. Throw a mask on and run around and terrorizing uh people of color without any regard for the law, without any regard because your agency does not have proper protocols to make sure their agents are clearly identified and marked when they're executing their jobs. Our agents do identify themselves.
▶ 2:11:29they they verbally do that and then also by the clothing that they're wearing and if they do have something that is covering some of their facial features it's for their investigative work or their undercover work that they do as a part of their job duties as well. What I what I would say is that um uh it is important uh that we follow the procedures and protocols for every encounter that we have and they have done that uh in every situation to the best of my knowledge.
▶ 2:11:54I would suggest that your protocols need to be revised because I don't think it's reasonable uh for mass men to be apprehending people on the streets. I think that inferes that instills a lot of fear. It doesn't instill security in the process and in states like Texas that is open carry when any any jackadoo can be walking around with a gun. I think some uh tragic circumstances are at bay. I'd like to switch gears to due process.
▶ 2:12:18I have a lot of concerns about the lack of due process that your agency has been uh affording people in this country. In Texas, for example, um you had rounded up 171 individuals were preparing to deport them. And it wasn't until the Supreme Court issued an opinion that that was unconstitutional and that their due process rights were being violated. Did your agency actually stop and adhere to the Supreme Court's opinion? Um my question to you is um has those efforts ceased in your agency?
▶ 2:12:47Are you going to cease trying to deport people without access to due process in the courts of law in compliance with the United States Supreme Court? Well, Congresswoman, we are following due process and using it as to how Congress has laid out to us in statute and we are complying with all federal judges orders as well. Well, you didn't. You weren't complying at that time. It took the United States Supreme Court to order you to comply. So, you hadn't proactively complied on your own. You are intending to wrongfully deport people without access to a court hearing, without access to the rule of law.
▶ 2:13:17And that is why it was necessary for the United States Supreme Court does not hear who issued an opinion ordering you and your agency to comply with the due process rights of the people in this country. That's what separates that's what makes our country great is we do have access to due process. And so my qu my my comment to you is I I am hoping as you move forward because initially as you were proceeding through these deportation processes you were not affording people due process and the Supreme Court has now ordered you to do so.
▶ 2:13:47So I am assuming by your testimony that you do intend to comply with the Supreme Court's order moving forward and we're not going to have any more instances of wrongful deportation without proper access to due process. Is that correct? We are we are following federal judges orders and we are complying with due process procedures as they are laid out as Congress has given us those tools to do that. Thank you m Madam Secretary. I have one other question um about FEMA. I'm very concerned um about the destruction of FEMA.
▶ 2:14:15You know, Texas is a state that has a lot of hurricanes, tornadoes, and natural disasters. Uh we rely upon FEMA um extensively and um I'm very worried about that. And when you are governor though, you actually utilize FEMA for your own state. So you did recognize at the time when you were serving as a governor that FEMA played an important role in natural disasters within South Dakota. Is that correct? Yes, we had 12 FEMA related disasters during the six years. Uh I served as governor of the state of South Dakota, but I just find it I'm running out of time, but I just find it ironic.
▶ 2:14:47Um I now recognize Mr. Fluger, the gentleman from Texas, for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, Secretary, thank you for being here. What what a difference uh an election makes. What a difference a Congress makes. What a difference having you here um instead of asking thousands of questions and getting no answers.
▶ 2:15:06And I'll start with the first question that I left off with uh with and I know that that may be funny to my colleagues, but it's not funny to me uh because of the known and suspected terrorists, the KSTs that came into this country. Uh, and I'll basically lead off with the last question that I asked your predecessor, um, which was the policy of the Department of Homeland Security and this administration when it comes to KSTs and talk to us about the successes that we've had and kind of where we stand because they left
▶ 2:15:36us with a real mess with 40 plus people that were in this country and um, you know, I'd like to hear uh, what what your um, department has done and and tell us uh, kind of the path forward. Yeah, absolutely. Uh, Congressman, the previous administration let a lot of dangerous individuals into this country and get a foothold and then not only just allowing them to perpetuate um terrorist activities in our country, but also recruit new members and to build out their systems and to gain access to our infrastructure.
▶ 2:16:06So, I'm very proud of the fact that President Trump has aggressively enforced the law. uh let us use the tools that are afforded to us under the Department of Homeland Security to address these threats have bring them to justice and face consequences and to get them out of our country. Uh so he has removed um over 250 uh known terrorists, suspected terrorists on the watch list. Uh thousands and thousands of individuals that were affiliated with them.
▶ 2:16:31um but also individuals that uh committed crimes that are members of MS-13 Trende Aaragua but also cartels um and their um members and affiliates affiliates in this country. So overwhelmingly the safety of our communities is in a much better spot than it was just six short months ago. And even the message that President Trump has been bold enough to send around the world.
▶ 2:16:54Uh he specifically told me uh Christie if you're given this job I want you to tell the world that America has new leadership that we are enforcing our laws now and that Americans get to be prioritized and their safety comes first and if you want to break our laws and come to this country don't even try it and that has sent an overwhelming uh message to the world that they're adhering to. That's one of the reasons you see less encounters at the border is because people are staying home in their home countries because now they know we follow our laws.
▶ 2:17:24The Mexican president and her team told me that they believe they've stopped over 600,000 people in Mexico before they even reached our border um because they got the message they could no longer cross into the United States. So, we don't even know the hundreds of thousands of people that simply were in the process and turned around because President Trump has been very vocal at sending the message to the world, don't come here if you want to break our laws and victimize our people.
▶ 2:17:50Well, the deterrent value of the the policy, just enforcing the laws, has certainly been noticeable. I represent a district that includes um part of your air and marine operations that flies drones out of St. Angelo, Texas, and flies into the the Gulf of Mexico, but also along the border. One of the issues that we faced um in the previous administration was this huge number of known gotaways. Talk to us about the coordination with the state and local level.
▶ 2:18:19I also represent a piece of Fort Kavasos and we have um you know military personnel who have a designated area along the border. How is that process working for deterrence but also to to ensure there are no gotaways like we had?
▶ 2:18:33Well, there are known gotaways and then there's probably hundreds of thousands if not millions of people that we don't necessarily know um how many of them are in this country that uh because we had border patrol and assets and Coast Guard and ICE agents diverted into processing paperwork and facilitating illegal entry into our country. They weren't doing their security operations. They weren't allowed to do their jobs. Uh people have talked about me being out on the front lines with all of our components and agencies. I'll tell you why I'm there.
▶ 2:19:02The reason I'm walking alongside them is because I want to understand their jobs, where they don't have the equipment that they need, what authorizations and authorities they need to do their jobs. And overwhelmingly, they appreciate the fact that they finally have a secretary that shows up to walk alongside them, one that rides with them and doesn't ride over them and doesn't listen to them and has never been out in the field.
▶ 2:19:24um they they want me to be with them and they're proud of the fact that I don't mind representing them and their agency to the rest of the world saying I'm proud of the work that they do. Um we have a lot of gotaways. We also have some we don't even know that are in this country yet. And that's probably what keeps me up at night the most is the fact that that we don't really know the dangerous individuals that may be in this country that we have to get out before something happens uh that jeopardizes our national security.
▶ 2:19:53Secretary, thank you for be being here and for your service. Our country is safer uh having you at the helm and yield back. Gentleman's time has expired. Uh I I now recognize uh Mr. Hernandez for 5 minutes of questioning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Madam Secretary. Hi. I represent Puerto Rico in Congress. And although we may disagree as to how, I do agree that disaster response in this country needs to be reimagined and made more effective.
▶ 2:20:20and I sincerely look forward to and hope to be a constructive partner in that respect. You know, nearly 8 years after Hurricane Maria struck the island, we have around 27 billion that have been obligated for Puerto Rico, yet only $4.4 billion have been dispersed. Um, in the interest of time, I appreciate brief answers because there's a lot of anxiety in the island as to the future of these funds.
▶ 2:20:45Can you assure the people of Puerto Rico that these obligated funds are safe regardless of any FEMA restructuring? That is the biggest concern that we have within FEMA right now is outstanding claims. And the worst thing the federal government can do is to say that there is a claim here. It's valid. That we are committed to fulfilling that responsibility. I'm sorry. In the interest of time, could you say yes or no? So those claims are something my team is going through right now and evaluating and President Trump is committed.
▶ 2:21:14I will assume that the answer is no and I'll proceed to the next question and I hope that we can work to make sure that those funds get to the people. Is it your department's view that the Puerto Rico government has done everything in its power to expedite the reconstruction process? Oh, I believe that Puerto Rico has been working hard to to reconstruct and to put itself back together and partnering with the federal government as well. You're right. So, is the obstacle in the dispersements FEMA's fault? The what? Is the obstacle in these dispersements FEMA's responsibility?
▶ 2:21:43I don't have the knowledge to know specifically where all the problems are with the response in Puerto Rico, although I do know that FEMA has not fulfilled the obligations that previously promised to the to the island. Uh I'm going to shift to immigration uh in the interest of time. So you served as governor of South Dakota. Would you advise governors to give public assurances that federal immigration enforcement will not take place in their state?
▶ 2:22:07Would I advise to governors that that they not that they give public assurances that immigration enforcement will not occur in their states? No, I prefer that governors partner with us to make their states safer. I believe that the relationships that we have on the ground in many states is absolutely critical to making sure. So the answer is no. You would not advise them to tell their constituents no there will not be any enforcement in this state.
▶ 2:22:34Would you have publicly told immigrants as governor in your state not to worry about deportations because your state wasn't a border state like Texas or California? I felt as though my state was a border state because we were everyday impacted by the drug trafficking and the human trafficking that was coming over the border and had put a foothold in the state of South Dakota. Every state was dramatically impacted. Okay. So, so you so you you would not have told immigrants in your state, don't worry about deportation.
▶ 2:23:04You would not have said that. The laws need to apply equally to everybody. That's that's what is so discouraging about the previous administration is they they picked winners. So that's the question has been answered. That's fine. You would not say that. You will not you would tell your constituents immigration laws will be enforced in this state whether or not we are a border state like California or Texas. Laws will be enforced. Absolutely. In January, the governor of Puerto Rico made an opposite claim.
▶ 2:23:29She told immigrants not to worry about deportations because we're not Texas or California. Days later, ICE conducted enforcement operations in immigrant neighborhoods in San Juan. Was that a responsible thing to say? I didn't hear her say that and haven't heard this before. Um, but I believe that the partnerships we have with governors is extremely powerful in keeping their communities safe. That's an answer. Was she aware?
▶ 2:23:55Was she briefed by DHS about the immigrant raids that would happen in the ensuing I have no knowledge to that situation. What I will tell you is that um every governor that I know of feels the responsibility of protecting their state and they should be making the best decisions to secure their communities and their families that live there. And that includes telling people in their states jurisdictions. The administration's policy is that there will be raids to detain people who were undocumented in their jurisdictions.
▶ 2:24:24not to tell them don't worry this will not happen here. I am not certain as to the situation you're speaking to. I'll get more information so that I can respond to you appropriately. I'm not hypothetically as governor as governor would you have told the people of your state. The laws will be enforced here as in any other state. What I would tell my people of South Dakota is that my job is to work for them and to represent them and to be their leader and protect their best interests.
▶ 2:24:52that includes making sure that that citizens of South Dakota are my number one priority every day. I I understand that and and I thank you for your time and like I said at the beginning of my turn, uh I do look forward to working constructively on ways to reimagine FEMA and disaster response and to make sure that those funds which today you have told us are not guaranteed for the people of Puerto Rico are guaranteed and delivered on time. Thank you. Gentleman's time is expired. Mr. I now recognize Mr. Latrell for five minutes of questioning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 2:25:22Madam Secretary, how are you today? I'd like to talk about the health and wellness of our operators, our DHS or and um immigration, everyone that's underneath your portfolio. Um, I think the one thing that's often lost is that know and you have military veterans in the room with you and and our role and responsibility was to put on a uniform and our in our body armor and we deployed globally to fight terrorism and
▶ 2:25:52um we had to leave the country to do that and the men and women under DHS they put on their uniforms every day and deploy right out their front door and that's challenging. That is that is an that is a um unforgivable, you know, kind of space. And my focus in my focus in the veteran community and active duty service as well as your department is the health and wellness of our of our operators currently and after they leave um the career.
▶ 2:26:22Can you shed some light on it? And to to make another point, you know, one of my my lovely colleague from Texas was concerned about covering they cover their faces up and in and the kits that they wear. And I can understand that's aggressive. That's that's a posturing and it's not we don't get in gunfights every day, but the day that that happens, you will appreciate the fact that you're wearing that uniform.
▶ 2:26:47And I'll also add um you know it's it's just if you're presenting with somebody that's got their face covered that can be scary. I got it. But when you're dealing with terrorist organizations that are internal and on our borders it's not the operator that they're going to go after. They'll take a picture of that face and go after the families. So it's anonymity for the operators too which needs to be said because it's important to protect our the men and women that uh that work under your department.
▶ 2:27:10So, if you will, please can you can you kind of shed some light on me where we currently are now that you're the secretary for our health and wellness cognitively and physically and where we're going, please? Well, it is a concern for me, especially since we've seen an escalation in violence against our law enforcement officers and specifically those even within the Department of Homeland Security.
▶ 2:27:31the aggression that they face every single day as a part of their job duties is something that we have to make sure that we recognize and that we have the tools to help them and their family be successful. So, um, going forward and making sure that we're providing health care, but also mental health care is a priority of the department and this administration, recognizing that the previous administration led a lot of dangerous individuals, terrorists, and uh, gang members and known cartel members into this country.
▶ 2:27:58And now uh and they've recruited new members and they've recruited homegrown terrorists uh that are citizens of the United States that are members of TDA now and MS13 uh that present new and unique challenges. Um that is something that we have made a priority to make sure that we're equipping them um to prepare them for situations they're going to face with training and giving them the right equipment to protect themselves, but also when they step back from that line of duty um how we can help them be whole and go back and and live a successful life with their
▶ 2:28:29family. What I would say is that it's difficult in areas of this country that were neglected for too long, especially in our Coast Guard. They're often very remote and isolated. they don't have access to to specialty care, to mental health care, and it's my commitment to all of our departments and components in the Coast Guard that I get them that kind of care where they're located because um sometimes where they're stationed is not an area where that is available to them readily. Yes, ma'am.
▶ 2:28:55And my office and myself included, look forward to working with you and your team on this. Um I'd hate for it for that to be lost in translation as as hard as Coast Guard TSA Coast Guard Secret Service, our agents, as hard as they work, it's not I I and I can't say I disagree, but it's just something that's happening. We don't do baseline assessments on these operators, which we should absolutely do.
▶ 2:29:18We should track the health and wellness from start to finish, and then when we hand them off back to their families, we we have the the in comfort knowing that they're going to be fine once we once they move on to the next chapter of their life. So, um I look forward to further conversations with you and your team. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I yield back. Gentleman yields. I now recognize Mr. Kennedy uh from New York for 5 minutes questioning. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Secretary Gnome, thank you for your time before this committee. Today is a solemn day for my community in Buffalo, New York.
▶ 2:29:48Three years ago, on May 14th, 2022, a gunman motivated by racism and hatred drove two and a half hours from his home to the east side of Buffalo to carry out an act of domestic terrorism. Equipped with enhanced body armor, a tactical helmet, and a semi-automatic rifle, the gunman opened fire at a local grocery store in a predominantly black community.
▶ 2:30:16In just 123 seconds, he took 10 innocent souls that day, severely injured three, and traumatized countless other individuals. Because of this act of domestic terrorism, radicalized and indoctrinated online and carried out in the name of white supremacy, families in my community will never be whole again.
▶ 2:30:44Buffalo now joins a growing list of communities impacted by mass shootings carried out by homegrown, domestically radicalized, disturbed individuals. Secretary Gnome, in your written testimony today, there's not one mention of this kind of threat to the homeland. You refer to foreign terrorist organizations. You refer to aliens who are affiliated with foreign terrorism. You refer to arrests of suspected gang members.
▶ 2:31:13Not once do you mention the term domestic terrorism, domestic terrorist, or lone wolf. There's a gaping hole in your testimony today. you fail to reassure this committee or the American people that you'll protect the homeland from bad actors radicalized right here in the US like the gunman who opened fire on my community three years ago today. There's been a systematic intentional effort by your department in this administration since January 20th to ignore the very real threat posed by domestic terrorism.
▶ 2:31:43This is a blatant negligence made abundantly clear by the administration's budget and by President Trump's broader actions to defund the Department of Homeland Security initiatives that track and prevent domestic terrorism.
▶ 2:32:00The Trump administration's budget proposal for the Department of Homeland Security completely eliminates the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention Grant Program, a critical DHS program dedicated to helping local communities, including law enforcement, to develop and strengthen efforts to counterattacks of targeted violence and terrorism, just like the racist Buffalo This exact grant program
▶ 2:32:30awarded nearly $1 million in the aftermath of the 514 shooting in Western New York to help close research gaps about the radicalization of domestic terrorists, develop violence prevention modules, and improve bystander intervention.
▶ 2:32:44This program was also used to harden safety and prevention efforts in other communities that experienced targeted domestic terrorism, including a school shooting in Oakland County, Michigan, and a pattern of other domestic terrorist incidents.
▶ 2:33:02The budget proposal you're defending today justifies the elimination of this funding by arguing it was quote weaponized to target Americans exercising their first amendment rights end quote.
▶ 2:33:19If the suggestion that an act of domestic terrorism which took the lives of 10 innocent people and forever changed my community qualifies as protected first amendment speech, then explain that to the families of the victims who were killed that day.
▶ 2:33:38Under this administration, we have a Department of Homeland Security that is making excuses for domestic terrorists under the guise of free speech and insulting communities like mine, especially on a day like today as we mark the anniversary of unimaginable violence and loss. We can do better and we must do better. With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back. Gentleman yields. Uh, I now recognize the gentleman from Alabama, Mr.
▶ 2:34:08Strong, for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Secretary Gnome, thank you for aiding President Trump in securing our border after years of negligence and mismanagement. No new laws were needed. New leadership was the only piece of the puzzle missing. Uh, I'd also like to thank the hardworking men and women of DHS for their tireless dedication to safeguarding our nation.
▶ 2:34:31Last week, I spoke to the FBI director Patel about a recent visit he had to Huntsville, Alabama and Redstone Arsenal. We discussed the cost-effective location, distinct partnership opportunities, high quality of life for personnel, the remarkable talent pool, and available room to grow.
▶ 2:34:50As you may know, I'm proud um uh I'm proud to host HSI, XCOM South, and the National Academy for Advanced Training and Leadership in my district along with many companies and organizations that support DHS. I'd like to invite you to come see for yourself the phenomenal work occurring in North Alabama. Secretary Gnome, I'm curious. Are there plans to move DHS personnel and programs out of the beltway and closer to the citizens they serve?
▶ 2:35:19Well, thank you for the question, Congressman. Currently, there aren't plans to move agencies or components outside of their offices, although we do believe that we need to be accountable to taxpayers and are evaluating every single mission set that each agency is tasked with and the individuals how they are fulfilling it. Um, so that is areas where you'll see reflected in our reconciliation ask and in our fiscal year 26 uh 26 budget request.
▶ 2:35:45uh that reflects where those needs are, but also our ability to reprogram dollars that where the department got off mission and was uh perpetuating activities that were not a part of Homeland Security's uh reason for why it was created. Thank you. I'd also be remiss if I didn't mention my role as chairman of the Emergency Management Technology Subcommittee, and I want to thank you for meeting with us in New Orleans. You made your schedule available to meet that committee right after you were confirmed, and uh we really appreciate that.
▶ 2:36:14As you can imagine, I have an in uh interest in the work of FEMA uh review council and was pleased to see the announcement of 13 new members. Secretary Gnome, the president's executive order said the council would have up to 20 members. Will additional members be added and how are you coordinating with the White House uh on the council? Yes, absolutely.
▶ 2:36:36there is the potential for new members to be added and that is a current evaluation that's ongoing with u me and my team and the white house as well. So if you have recommendations uh we certainly would continue to receive those. Thank you. We're excited about those recommendations. What do you anticipate the priorities of the council will be and how can we support that work? Well, the priorities of the council is to evaluate FEMA as it stands today and how it can better be um reformed and replaced to respond to people's needs in a time of crisis.
▶ 2:37:05What we can do to strengthen states um to give them more tools and resources to take care of their people and empower them to make decisions in a in a critical response period. Um many times you've seen over the years where the federal government has not shown up when they were expected to and then even after a crisis was over had committed to being there to help people restructure and to rebuild and never followed through on it.
▶ 2:37:31We still have claims outstanding in FEMA from Hurricane Katrina, wildfire claims from out west that are 10 years old where people said um you know we have this claim that's lost. FEMA committed to pay it and still has not followed through on that. We saw political targeting that happened in in North Carolina where individuals within FEMA decided who could get help and who didn't get help. Um so that needs to end and this needs some integrity to it and making sure the federal government's there for support, but the states are empowered to do the emergency response is very important to President Trump.
▶ 2:38:02That support was determined based on uh the political sign they had in the front yards of the home. That's correct. And that's totally unacceptable. Switching gears, I'd also like to highlight the great work of SISA to protect our infrastructure and mass gathering events. Their training and exercises help states and localities respond quickly and effectively to evolving threats.
▶ 2:38:22In Huntsville, Alabama, collaboration among the FBI, ATF, SISA office uh for bombing prevention represents a national hub of expertise focused on countering bomb threats and the use of explosives by adversaries. Secretary Gnome, can you speak to how SISA is working with inter agency partners to secure infrastructure particularly ahead of the World Cup and Olympics? Yeah, you know, SISA is the federal cyber security agency.
▶ 2:38:51Um, it is the priority point for all agencies to interact with and their connections to state and local governments. Uh, and many times SISA got siloed and our CIA, FBI, intelligence agencies were siloed and not sharing information. So, we're building out um uh a cooperation that has never existed before in where we're bringing them to the table, sharing information on that we may have as far as vulnerabilities, but also in how we can partner with private industry.
▶ 2:39:19The fact of the matter is that's a resource that was neglected for much too long. And so, bringing private industry to the table to tell us and help us go out there and find uh those bad actors. um oftentimes they know, but they don't have a protection of uh of letting us know without some kind of liability that they expose themselves to.
▶ 2:39:40So, we're committed to to building those kinds of partnerships so that they can flag threats um to us without worried about retribution from those bad actors into their own companies. Secretary Gnome, it's an honor to have you before us today. We'll see you in Alabama soon. Mr. Chairman, I yield back. Uh thank you. The chair now recognizes the gentle lady from New Jersey, Miss Poe. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, Madame Secretary, good afternoon.
▶ 2:40:05Um, I wish we could have heard from you before ramming through a $70 billion reconciliation bill, but nevertheless, I'm really happy that glad that we have a chance to speak with you today. Like many of my colleagues, I am deeply concerned that your department is blatantly ignoring our laws. the the law is very very clear.
▶ 2:40:28Members of Congress can show up unannounced uh to facilities and ICE must accommodate a tour of their detention centers. The fact that your that your spokesperson suggested arresting members of Congress who were given a tour of the facility is disturbing and certainly dangerous.
▶ 2:40:51We will not accept threats or intimidation by anyone at your department or across the administration for exercising our constitutional oversight authority. Now, let me just uh refer now to my questions. The Trump administration's funding freeze has created chaos and unpredictability for state and local governments to respond to threats.
▶ 2:41:21Reportedly, a hundred billion dollars have been has been cancelled or is being unlawfully withheld. You stated today that we are a nation of law of laws yet you are actually violating the law. In recent in our recent markup I offered an amendment to prohibit DHS from delaying or withholding FEMA grant funding. Unfortunately, it was rejected by my GOP colleagues.
▶ 2:41:52As my district ramps up for the World Cup, our first responders and municipalities require resources today. By delaying and withholding grants like the Homeland Security Grant Program, you you do not just create uncertainty, you undermine the ability of state and local governments to begin security planning for one of the world's largest sporting events.
▶ 2:42:17Right now you are a month behind issuing guidance on this critical funding. Simil similarly guidance has not been issued for the nonprofit grant security program which protects synagogues uh churches and mosque from mosque from threats. These delays harm our national security.
▶ 2:42:42Madame Secretary, when does your department plan for the Homeland Security Grant Program and the nonprofit security grant uh program funding to be made available? Congresswoman, every grant under the Department of Homeland Security is being evaluated to make sure that it's following uh statute as required by Congress as to how it should be allocated and obligated to local states and communities.
▶ 2:43:08So, um, as many of those grants were paused and evaluated, you've seen that they've been continued and and put out, but if they were misappropriated, uh, into things that were off of the guidance of what how the grant should be utilized, um, then it was changed. But these grants that have been obligated and should go forward have been continued. Thank you. Thank you. Let me just real quickly because I know our time is very uh, it's nearing to a close.
▶ 2:43:33As you know, New Jersey is one of 11 American citizens that will uh cities, I'm sorry, that will host the FIFA uh World Cup matches next year. The final match will be held in my district in New Jersey. There will be tens of thousands of spectators at the final match and hundreds of thousands more attending FanFest um throughout the northern New Jersey area.
▶ 2:43:57The World Cup is a time of international competition and celebration, but I worry about the chilling effect of the Trump anti-immigrant rhetoric and America's ability to serve as a welcoming host. To add, the the Trump administration is looking to reinstate and expand a travel ban targeting 43 countries for restrictions on entering the United States.
▶ 2:44:22Can you please tell us how you will ensure that fans traveling legally legally to the United States are not are not targeted for the immigration for immigration raids? We are already working as an administration with uh the teams from all the countries that will come and be competing and uh their fans as well to process their paperwork and to help facilitate their travel to the United States.
▶ 2:44:48And as you've seen, the president has uh formulated a task force that will focus on holding this unprecedented event um and doing it in the safest manner possible while adding hospitality to it and having people enjoy the the matches and enjoy interacting with each other. And as you know, over 10 million people will attend the matches over that month-long period of time. Over 22 million people will interact through activities.
▶ 2:45:14Um, you'd mentioned FanFest and that is something that the Department of Homeland Security is is tasked with. It's our responsibility to partner with local communities and cities that are the hosts and we'll be working with your city as well to ensure that it's um we're prepared for it, that we have the needs met and that we are doing all that we can to secure each location. Thank you. I look forward to working with you in that regard. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back. The chair now recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma, Mr. Kane.
▶ 2:45:44Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Madam Secretary, it is so nice to see chaos and confusion and lawlessness being replaced by law and order. Thankful to you uh serving on this administration and implementing sense. I don't know today that it was uh discussed and if it has been, I I missed it.
▶ 2:46:05the Colombian entity that was picked up in the last several days in Houston facing uh not facing convicted of murder that came across the border during the Biden 21-year murder conviction sentence. And the very same ICE agents that were shoved and yelled and cursed at are the same ICE agents that uh you know are responsible for detaining and picking up this individual that was was was in the streets of Texas.
▶ 2:46:35Um you said earlier today in your testimony discussing what happened uh in the last several days with colleagues even on this committee on the Democrat side trying to go to a detention center. This is the same type of place, Delaney Hall, where you would find murderers and rapist and like this Colombian uh entity convicted of murder um and is now in your custody.
▶ 2:47:02It's just madness that lawlessness is is being perpetrated by um even members of Congress. I want to switch gears. FEMA. There is great excitement even as I'm talking to officials in Oklahoma who would love the opportunity to be able to make sure that the decisions for efficient use of taxpayer monies are implemented on a on the state level knowing that the dollars will go farther and knowing that you all as you're discussing block granting.
▶ 2:47:32Um can you elaborate on current conditions, current status? Uh there are people all over the country even, you know, there's a a Democrat member that is uh former emergency management. He talks about the efficiencies that can be picked up on the state level. Can you talk about where you all are at, where we're headed on on FEMA reform that can make the taxpayer dollar go farther?
▶ 2:47:57Yeah, we've got some incredible work ahead of us to do on uh FEMA and our response as a federal government and how we support states in this. And there's certainly a lot of people weighing in. We've got members of Congress uh on the House and the Senate side that have bills and legislation that they want to propose, but also I think it's important to have governors at the table because they're the ones who lead the response many times and know where the where the downfalls are.
▶ 2:48:21In many cases, there's hardworking FEMA employees that do their very best to deliver for those individuals in those communities. But what's happened in the past is that even under the previous administration, some of those FEMA employees were given the opportunity to not respond to a disaster if they didn't want to or if it wasn't convenient.
▶ 2:48:39And so recognizing the importance of this agency uh and prioritizing it and making sure it's there to support the local response is incredibly important to the success for those families that get impacted by unprecedented events. So, uh we're taking input. uh this um this review council is going to be continuing to give insight to the White House as well and and then the president certainly has ideas.
▶ 2:49:03He's traveled and been there for people on their worst days and he's heard their stories of how they thought FEMA would be there. FEMA promised they would be there and then they never showed up. They had a claim the the they couldn't do the paperwork themselves. They had to get people to help them fill out this complicated paperwork process and then the claim was never paid or there was some problem and they had to appeal and appealing was normal and that just doesn't serve people. Um, we need to make sure that it's a predictable process that's timely and the best way to do that is to empower the local supporters.
▶ 2:49:33Well, I've told this story often given I've got a minute. I'll relay it to you. I'll never forget in 2012 in Oklahoma a friend of mine were helping do some cleanup work on machinery. I was on a dozer. He was on a skid steer for people that didn't have insurance. Little rural area required to um push things into vegetative and non-vegetative brush piles.
▶ 2:49:53I'm on a dozer and watched I come from the dirt works world and I watched us not be able to light on fire in a rural area that every rancher you know from your background does on an everyday basis when they're cleaning up their property. We had to uh at state, local, and federal expense reimbured bring in bring in 18 wheelers with half rounds, take an excavator, trackhoe to load that that that non-vegetative timber in the back of that, haul it off ground somewhere to bury it with another dozer or or a track hoe.
▶ 2:50:23you the between the trucking, the dozer, the excavator, four times the cost because and I ran as a state senator uh a new law trying to get state control of that and we could not get uh agency heads in Oklahoma to agree because we they were concerned we would lose FEMA reimbursement if we had state control over it. Loss of efficiency. Uh grateful to you all for your leadership, common sense, returning, not chaos. Uh which was the the former state before you got in this position. Thank you.
▶ 2:50:51The chair nail recognizes the gentleman from Arizona, Mr. Crane, for five minutes. I want to thank you uh Miss Gnome for coming here today and uh giving us your testimony. I also want to thank you for the amazing work that yourself and everybody at Homeland Security have done to not only secure our border um within se just a couple weeks, but also to start deporting folks that aren't supposed to be here in the first place.
▶ 2:51:16Secretary Gnome, I'm very concerned about the behavior of one of my colleagues on this very committee who we saw assaulting both verbally and physically federal law enforcement's officers just last week on national television. Miss Nome, what kind of message do you think it sends to the country and radical political agitators that she sits here today not being charged for a crime to participate in today's hearing? Well, Congressman, I believe that what you saw last Friday at Delaney Hall was not oversight.
▶ 2:51:45I believe that it was breaking into a federal facility um and assaulting law enforcement officers. This congresswoman was surrounded by people who were criminals that were taking criminal actions. And so, we need to be honest about what happened there. Um and we also need to talk about the fact that we have always facilitated visits and tours of federal facilities. We would continue to do that as well.
▶ 2:52:08Um, and we would encourage that they work with us to do that in the future rather than to do the unprecedented destructive actions that the congresswoman and her colleagues engaged in last Friday. Miss Gnome, do you think her presence here today emboldens others to behave in the very same way? I think it would be sad if that's the testimony of what happened last Friday um that gets perpetuated.
▶ 2:52:29Uh um I was shocked when I watched it and saw it and uh was extremely discouraged to see that that the colleagues that surround uh those three defend them. Um because those actions we wouldn't want our kids to act that way, our children, our grandchildren to act that way. That's not the America that we dreamed and envisioned for our country. America should be a land of opportunity and where laws are enforced and there's consequences for breaking the law. Thank you.
▶ 2:52:59Miss Nome, are you familiar with article 1, section 9, clause 2 of the constitution that covers the suspension of the rid of habius corpus? Yes. It says that the rid of habius corpus shall not be suspended unless when cases of rebellion or invasion the public safety may require it. Are you aware of which presidents have suspended the writ of habius corpus? I know that President Lincoln did. Yeah. also Roosevelt and President Grant.
▶ 2:53:29You testified under oath, I believe, that the Biden administration allowed an invasion into our country. Is that correct? That is correct. So, do you think it falls under the constitutional guidelines that I just read to you? I think I'm not a constitutional lawyer, but I believe uh it it does.
▶ 2:53:47You've also witnessed that the Democrats here today and also radical activist judges are trying to halt and deny the president's agenda to carry out his constitutional duties to keep Americans safe and carry out his promise to the American people to secure the border and carry out mass deportations of those who have entered the country illegally. Knowing this, are you open and supportive of this constitutional option to suspend the rid of habius corpus to keep Americans safe and carry out the president's agenda?
▶ 2:54:17Well, this is something that's not uh in my uh purview to weigh in on. This is the president's prerogative to pursue and uh he has not indicated to me that he will or will not be taking that action. I want to thank Rogan O'Hanley for his efforts to bring this constitutional solution into the national conversation. Now, I want to shift gears real quick, Miss Gnome.
▶ 2:54:40Um, on May 5th, 2025, I joined Congressman Zinci and eight of my fellow Republican colleagues in asking why it was appropriate for DoD and DHS to require real IDs for entry into Arlington National Cemetery. I did see that letter this week, sir. My question, what informations can you share on the security posture of Arlington Cemetery that require Real ID? Well, sir, I'm not certain as to the procedures and the requirements at Arlington Cemetery.
▶ 2:55:09I do know that uh Real ID at our airports for travel was required by statute and and law change over 20 years ago. So, that has been implemented on May 7th and we have over uh 90% compliance that has happened at our airport since then. And overwhelmingly the vast majority of travels travelers have had a real ID and have utilized that or a federally recognized ID uh going forward.
▶ 2:55:34But as far as what is required at Arlington Cemetery, I have not um been in the um knowledge of to what those requirements are. In that case, would you consider taking a look at that and also consider recommending appealing repealing that requirement? I can I can certainly take a look at that and and follow up with a conversation with you. Absolutely. Thank you. I yield back.
▶ 2:56:01The chair now recognizes the gentleman from Tennessee, Mr. Ogles, for five minutes of question. Uh thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Madam Secretary, for being here. You know, Mr. chairman. You know, we've spent the last few hours um with some of our colleagues defending uh rapists, murderers, individuals who committed a variety of crimes, and yet I don't believe a single one is asked about the 300,000 children that have been lost in our nation.
▶ 2:56:29I don't think a single one of them asked about Lake and Riley, Lake and Riley's family or the young girls that recently have been reported between the ages of 12 and 14 that been raped. Louisiana, Iowa, New York, and other states. And so, as we sit here and have this conversation, let's level set about who we're really talking about talking about criminals and thugs. And so, let's get back to the reality of who these people are.
▶ 2:56:59And not to mention the fact if they come here illegally, their first action when they come into this country is in fact a criminal act. Now, Madam Secretary, we've had heard a lot of misinformation and rapid fire. Let's see if we can't set the record straight on a few things. When it comes to detention centers and oversight provided to Congress, does that oversight provision allow members of Congress to break into detention centers? No, sir. I don't believe. Does that oversight uh authority give members of Congress the right to assault members of law enforcement?
▶ 2:57:29No, sir. Madam Secretary, is assaulting a member of law enforcement a crime? Yes. I would urge, Mr. Chairman, that this committee look into anyone in Congress who has assaulted a member of uh law enforcement and the resp the respective actions be taken as necessary, looking at the totality of the circumstances.
▶ 2:57:49Regards to FEMA, is my understanding, you can correct me if I'm wrong, upon taking the helm, you discovered that there were uh a variety of unpaid claims, some of those going back 10 to 20 years. Absolutely. It's also my understanding that under the vision of President Donald Trump and your leadership, you plan to change the response time from 10 to 20 years to 6 months. That is true, Madam Secretary.
▶ 2:58:13As someone who was formerly a county executive, whose one of my departments was in fact emergency management, I can tell you that will be a necessary and very useful as states and communities look to be reimbursed. Let's turn to Nashville, uh, which is part of my district. Under your leadership, Homeland Security and ICE has conducted a variety of raids recently. 95, I do believe, of which uh were arrested who had pre uh previous criminal charges.
▶ 2:58:40Uh 31 31 of which were previously deported and snuck back into this country. One of those was a sexual predator. So again, let's level set as to who we are talking about. We're talking about criminals and thugs who have no business being in our country. That being said, instead of thanking you and your leadership and thanking the president, the mayor of Nashville criticized and attacked law enforcement verbally.
▶ 2:59:06He then instructed members of law enforcement to report any communication with federal authorities. He then directed the police community board to direct citizens to file complaints against law enforcement if they cooperate with law with federal law enforcement. Considering we've seen a 400% increase against federal law enforcement, do these types of statements and actions by a municipal leader concern you? Yes, absolutely.
▶ 2:59:34They perpetuate the violence against law enforcement officers. And what happens many times then is that our agents within the Department of Homeland Security go into situations with no backup, with no local response of people who know the communities, know the routes, the roads, um, or the the needs uh, to emergency services that may be there. So it absolutely makes them much more vulnerable to a situation to which um their lives could be in jeopardy. Yes, ma'am.
▶ 3:00:00And if you municip municipal leader is found to be aiding and abetting illegal immigrants from to evade federal law enforcement, would that be a criminal act? Uh yes, I believe it would, sir. And if elected officials impede ICE or homeland security in doing their job and pursuing illegal immigrants, would that be a criminal act? I believe so. Madam Secretary and Mr.
▶ 3:00:23Chairman, I will be asking the Committee of Homeland Security and Judiciary to be looking into the mayor of Nashville and any collusion or impeding of federal authorities and conducting their work in the city of Nashville. I would also encourage this committee and judiciary to look at other leaders, municipal leaders across the country as they obstruct this administration, this Madam Secretary and her employees and doing their constitutional job which is uphold the rule of law.
▶ 3:00:53Madam Secretary, I thank you and I yield back. Is a gentleman trying to offer a motion or what? Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to Secretary Gnome for being here.
▶ 3:01:14So, I represent the third district of South Carolina, and we're happy about the work that you and your team have done and continue to do to secure our our border. Um, it's very important. I mean, we could sit here all day and talk about the fentanil crisis and the trafficking and it does affect each and every one of us. So, you've made it clear that securing the border, it's not just a national security issue, but it's a financial one.
▶ 3:01:42Can you speak to how these enforcement gains translate into tangible cost savings for American taxpayers and counties in middle America where local law enforcement um have had to bear the strain of dealing with these cartel fueled crime and just as the fentanel and the trafficking that I mentioned as well.
▶ 3:02:06Yes, the partnerships we've been able to build um as a federal agency with local law enforcement and with state law enforcement has been key to helping make communities much safer uh in the last several months. Um those state officials are so grateful to have someone come alongside them and help them address the public safety concerns and threats that they have and that they've been living with for the last several years. And so we have created through the 287G program.
▶ 3:02:33There's also other programs out there to where we operate in a task force model to go out and do enforcement operations, but also to um bring consequences for those that are criminally breaking our laws. Um many times you have in areas where these people have committed multiple crimes and been re-released.
▶ 3:02:52In fact, in some sanctuary cities, that's still happening where people have committed um acts of murder or rape that are still out on the loose, but because local law enforcement isn't addressing the issue, um we haven't been able to um capture those individuals yet. So, we're always grateful um for law enforcement that cares about their community and will step up and help protect them from these violent criminals. Well, great. Thank you. and I know you've um worked hard with Governor McMaster and he appreciates your efforts as well.
▶ 3:03:22Um my next question, as part of your broader effort to return DHS to its core mission, um are there specific TSA programs or administrative functions under review for potential reforms or streamlining or or maybe even consolidation? Can you talk about that? Yeah, we're working to make uh to help TSA get the technology it needs to do better screening at airports and to make it much more streamlined for passengers.
▶ 3:03:52Um I think everybody that I meet has some story of frustration that they've had at an airport or while traveling or in security lines. I would say just a few. But I would say that the technology needs uh that TSA has um have been neglected for far too long. So having um exit lanes covered by um by gates instead of individuals would streamline it and help us secure the systems faster.
▶ 3:04:17Making sure that we have the processes in place to streamline luggage and passengers uh without the need to take things out of bags and to take off shoes um are things that um are possible, but we need to invest in them. And that would not only help our our transportation security officers um be able to focus on their responsibilities, but it also would make it a much better experience for families that are trying to use our federal air system. Well, thank you.
▶ 3:04:44I also serve on the science, space, and technology committee, and I look forward to hearing about what's around the corner as well with that committee, and thank you for being here. Thanks again today. And um I yield back. Gentle lady yields. I now recognize Mr. McKenzie from Pennsylvania for 5 minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Madam Secretary, for joining us here today.
▶ 3:05:08I would first like to start by thanking you for the incredible job that you've done securing our southern border in just the first 100 days of the Trump administration. Seeing a 90% decrease in encounters and apprehensions is an incredible job and is a testimony uh to your leadership and the leadership in that we're seeing in this administration. There are two things that I would like to talk about today. First, sanctuary cities and second, uh, protecting American workers.
▶ 3:05:39What we see and hear in this committee today is the defense of violent, illegal immigrant criminals in our local communities. They are more focused on defending these violent criminals from deportation than they are on protecting American citizens in our local communities. And this plays out all across the country.
▶ 3:05:59In my local community in Northampton County, they have signed an executive order, executive order 2028, which bans ICE from arresting illegal immigrants when they're going through processing for a separate crime. And what this means in practice is that when ICE wants to go arrest a violent member of trend Ara or a domestic abuser who is going through the processing in our local community, they cannot go inside that courthouse and actually arrest that person.
▶ 3:06:28They have to stake out the courthouse outside, taking up hours of resources from law enforcement, potentially leaving our community more vulnerable. If that person were to go out a different exit of the courthouse and escape into our local community, they would be free to reign terror all across our our our beautiful Lehi Valley.
▶ 3:06:49So when we see people talking about due process and when we hear about upholding the rule of law, there are people all across this country who want to defend sanctuary city status in violation of federal law. In violation of federal law, yet they want to stand here as hypocrites and say that they are doing the defense of due process and upholding the rule of law.
▶ 3:07:14So my question to you, Madam Secretary, is what can we do to hold these people accountable, elected officials, which are placing Americans in jeopardy all across our country? Yeah. And in sanctuary cities and states across the country, they tie the hands of us to respond to the needs of the local community members.
▶ 3:07:32Um, in many of them, um, even our law enforcement agents can't do their jobs because, uh, they're not allowing them into state-run facilities or to courouses or to areas where they could interdict these criminals that at times are often violent criminals. Um, we had an instance just recently where a murderer um that committed a a murder um, has been on the loose in a community and that is a sanctuary city and we're not able to find this individual yet because we have a lack of cooperation from local law enforcement.
▶ 3:08:01It not only endangers the public, but it endangers those officers that go out there every day and they live in those communities, too. This is where their kids go to school and they go to church and where they live. And um they're demonized because of the defense um that these uh individuals and members of this committee uh on the Democrat side um perpetuate by defending criminals over their constituents. And so it's disheartening.
▶ 3:08:27Um, but the responsibility of immigration laws and enforcement lies with the federal government and we will continue to pursue law and order uh as long as President Trump is in the White House. Well, I appreciate that and I look forward to working with you to figure out how we can hold these local elected officials accountable to their actions which endanger the je the safety of people all across our communities.
▶ 3:08:51uh because ultimately uh when we see bad policy like this, somebody is going to get hurt on the other end and there needs to be accountability at the end of the day. Uh the second thing I would like to talk about is protecting American workers.
▶ 3:09:04Uh there have been numerous reports about how visas are being abused by foreign uh workers who come into our country and then through things like the H-1B visa, for instance, are here doing short-term work as as uh non-legal citizens, taking away jobs from American workers in places like the trucking industry. We've also heard about the hundreds of thousands of children that the Biden administration lost track of during their administration.
▶ 3:09:33many of them were placed into forced labor uh and child labor situations in dangerous situations like meatacking. Uh so I would like to hear what the department is doing uh to crack down on these terrible behaviors and practices that went unchecked for many years during the Biden administration. Yeah, absolutely.
▶ 3:09:50Well, we're partnering with all of our other federal agencies in a way that's really unprecedented to go after um individuals that trafficked our children that were involved in those operations and then also to to gather up their affiliates as well. You know, the Department of Health and Human Services is responsible for our refugee program.
▶ 3:10:09So adding integrity to that is very important and make sure that when children come into our system, they may come in illegally or were trafficked in the past, that we're caring for them and returning them back to their families and to safe situations is very important. When you look at our visa programs, it's the Department of State that decides if a visa um should be allocated to someone. It's the Department of Homeland Security that enforces that um that takes action on that.
▶ 3:10:37And we will continue to make sure that these programs are on task to why they were created, that they're being utilized for individuals who truly do love our country and recognize the opportunities our country provides them. The gentleman's time is expired. I now recognize Mr. Thanodar for five minutes questioning. Thank you, chair and ranking member. The secretary gnome the constitution of the United States establishes a federal government divided into three branches.
▶ 3:11:07It is congress that makes the laws the president who takes care that the laws are faithfully executed and it is the judicial department that says what the is. The constitutional separation of powers and system of checks and balances is necessary for the protection of liberty and any violation undermines the rights and liberties of everyone in the United States.
▶ 3:11:37The Trump administration has repeatedly ignored the federal courts, including the Supreme Court. President Trump has even said that and I quote doesn't know end quote whether he has to uphold the constitution. He the president of the United States said know.
▶ 3:11:59Secretary Nome is it the policy of the department of homeland security to follow orders issued by federal courts? Yes, we are following all federal court orders. So the answer is yes. We are following all federal court orders. Yes.
▶ 3:12:17Well, as just one of the many examples, a federal judge required FEMA, and I quote, immediately sees end quote, efforts to withhold dispersement of federal grant funding appropriate by Congress. The court later found evidence that FEMA, an agency under your preview, was in direct violation of the court orders.
▶ 3:12:44So, court orders were not followed as you see. Yes or no? We we are following court orders. Um grants are being re-evaluated, but they are being obligated and appropriated according to how Congress has laid out. Well, Secretary, no. We all took an oath to uphold the laws and constitution of the United States. It is a sad day that I have to sit here and issue a reminder.
▶ 3:13:08You and the Department of Homeland Security must respect the Constitution and the codes. Uh Mr. Chairman, uh I want to yield my rest of my time to the gentleman from New York. Gentleman yields. Mr. Gman's recognized. Thank you, Mr. Tannidar. Um, Secretary Gnome, your opening statement includes a lot of data and and numbers, but it doesn't mention asylum.
▶ 3:13:33Uh, how many people have claimed asylum since January 21st of this year? Um, I don't have that number readily available to me right now, but I can get that for you. Do you have a sense? Is it I don't dozens, hundreds, thousands? I don't. Um, you are aware, are you not, that asylum is a lawful pathway into the country? I am. And are you aware of how and why the United States implemented our asylum laws?
▶ 3:14:03Uh we grant asylum to individuals who are feeling threatened specifically by their government uh through violent activities um that are perpetuated in their own home countries. Right? And it was originally uh implemented because Jews fleeing from the Holocaust were not allowed to seek refuge in this country even though they clearly uh had no country to go to and had nowhere else to go.
▶ 3:14:30And those Jews in the Holocaust were rounded up uh frequently by the Gestapo in Nazi Germany. Uh secret undercover police unit that uh we know rounded up the Jews and sent them to the gas chambers. One of the things that I want to address with you briefly is um I think you said your testimony was that agents who are wearing masks do so as part of their undercover disguise.
▶ 3:15:00Is that right? Said if the need arises to where they have activities that require them to be undercover at times or to protect their identity to continue their work and their duties. So if if an agent is conducting an arrest and approaches an individual without their mask on and then when alerted to being videotaped puts their mask on, that's not to protect their identity from the individual who's being arrested. Right. It could be, Congressman.
▶ 3:15:28I'm not I don't know the specifics of the situation. Is it the policy of the Department of Homeland Security now that undercover ICE agents are permitted to wear face masks when executing their official duties? Sir, it is allowed that they can if it protecting their policies. Do you address face masks in the policies? I have to look and see if it's in our written policies.
▶ 3:15:51certain quite ironic and I agree with the administration that is trying to ban face masks from anti-semitic protests on campus and yet our own law enforcement are wearing face masks to hide their identities. We are implementing the exact same policies had in place for his that is not any policy that I was aware of when I worked with the department of homeland. Gentleman's time is expired. The gentleman's time is expired. I recognize Mr. for 5 minutes questioning. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
▶ 3:16:19Madam Secretary, thank you for your testimony today. And as someone who worked with law enforcement at every level, I know the dangers that they face and I know the reasons why they wear those masks. and equating ICE agents to anti-semitic u mobs is a disgusting analogy and um I'm I'm sorry this committee just asked you those questions but in regards to the threat that our country faces uh relating to the open border and the ill effects from it I I can't help but hear
▶ 3:16:49the silence when we hear uh the the the other side of the aisle there is no protest to the open border there's no protest to at minimum 10 million up to maybe 15 or 20 million people who came to the country. Uh I worry in some ways that we are becoming desensitized to all of the problems because there are so many you know surges in overdose deaths from fentanyl, surges in violence.
▶ 3:17:15Um we see compounding numbers of people who are terrorists coming into the country. Uh I've heard testimony from this very committee that there were dozens if not hundreds of miles of border that were ordered to not be enforced over the last administration. So we don't know who's here.
▶ 3:17:32And uh whether it's hostile actors from China, Cuba, Venezuela, other hostile countries, whether in the Middle East or all over the world, we know that they sent people to exploit the open border policies of the last administration. Yes, drug trafficking. Yes, human trafficking. Yes, violence is all part of that, but so are threats that go well beyond that. You know, terrorists, national security threats, etc.
▶ 3:17:57And if we made perfect border policy from this point forward, we would still have a huge problem because of what the Biden administration did uh in in your position, how can we as a committee help you get ahead of this problem and to make sure that the solutions continue to unfold years into the future, which is what will be Well, a couple of things. One of the things that I think was most tragic of the last administration is they even prevented us from having data to start with.
▶ 3:18:27Yeah. Uh, for instance, President Trump in his first administration opened the Voices office at ICE, um, which gave victims of illegal immigrant crime an opportunity to get information, to have support systems, to get case information, to know when that individual was in court, when they were going to be released. When President Biden became president, he shut that office down, which means that because it didn't exist, we don't truly know how many victims of illegal immigrant crime there are out there. We don't have the data.
▶ 3:18:55So, continuing to have um systems in place where you're bringing light to the fact that there are victims still out there and that people are still enduring criminal activity by illegal immigrants and that they shouldn't be prioritized over American citizens is very important. I would also say that making sure we have an opportunity to have the resources we need um in order to do due diligence on enforcement operations and secure our border into the future is important.
▶ 3:19:21And then continue to highlight sanctuary cities and the danger that they are to our country, what they do to their families that live in them that we aren't able to take enforcement actions that are efficient to really bring them justice. In terms of the the uh the task force officers, ma'am, that is obviously a program that I, as a federal prosecutor, used. It's a force multiplier in a very profound way. In terms of the numbers that are allocated to the department that you lead, uh do we need more task force officers? Is it is it is it fine where it is?
▶ 3:19:51Is is there is there room to grow? What would you say? No, we're always looking for more partnerships. We have over 600 agreements in place now with state and local law enforcement agencies. Uh which um goes into over 6,000 officers out there that have been added um to our ranks to help us out there with enforcement operations in states across the country. So now there is six states that that this kind of partnership is is not allowed. It's a it's banned by the state government.
▶ 3:20:20So, it would be helpful to to have those addressed in those states so that we could form a partnership like this to compound our resources to really make sure we're bringing safety. It might be worth reaching out to individual counties at some point because I know within those states there are numerous counties who are furious about those prohibitions from the governor's mansions. Yes, that would be something that we would love to talk to you about. Uh, and I'll close with this, ma'am. Thank you for the work you're doing. I worked under the Biden administration. It was overwhelming. And again, we have a serious problem for years to come just because of that one four-year term.
▶ 3:20:51And if we can be of service in this committee, please reach out to us. And again, thank you for the work that you and President Trump are doing. Appreciate I yield back. Thank you. Gentleman yields. I now I think recognize our last member making comments today. Uh Mr. Garcia, you're recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh thank you for being here, Madam Secretary. Um and you said that you are committed to complying with Constitution, which you of course all appreciate and think is important.
▶ 3:21:14Now we all know that the fifth amendment states and I just want to be very clear that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty or property without due process of law. The fifth amendment just to be clear in a simple yes or no. This actually says person. Is that correct madam secretary? Correct. Thank you. And you are aware that person have been defined by the Supreme Court repeatedly multiple times means citizens and non-citizens. Simple yes or no. Is that correct? Uh correct I believe. Thank you.
▶ 3:21:43an April 7th ruling just recently, the Supreme Court has reaffirmed, and I'll quote, "It is well established the fifth amendment entitles aliens to due process under the law in the context of removal proceedings." But the children we've illegally arrested students and we know that just one of these students was released just last week and you were mandated to do so.
▶ 3:22:13Now the fifth amendment is clear. Madam Secretary, you committed to uphold the constitution. Is that correct? Yes. Thank you. And you now of course commit to following the fifth amendment. Is that correct? Yes. Thank you. Now, Madam Secretary, you are violating that amendment as we speak and you are breaking your oath. You are deporting people and the department is deporting people without due process. We cannot deport US citizens without due process. There is nothing that Donald Trump could could essentially be stopped in grabbing people off the street.
▶ 3:22:43That's happening today. Now, maybe someone in government might not like your tattoos. Maybe they don't like how somebody votes. Maybe they don't want to see how someone represents your constituents in Congress. But if you can't see a judge, no one can protect you. And I hope that you and I and everyone here can agree with that. And apparently not even the Supreme Court actually matters when it comes to the case of course of Kilmar Garcia. But let's remember that we're not just deporting people. We're sending some of them to be locked up in one of the most dangerous prisons in the world.
▶ 3:23:09Now, Madam Secretary, I want you've heard this case today, but I have to I have to speak about it one more time. I think it's really important. This is Andrew Romero. He had an appointment to come to this country to claim asylum. We gave him that appointment. The United States government gave him his asylum appointment. He comes for his appointment. He passes a credible fear interview. He's a gentle person as described by his family. He's openly gay. He was leaving his country for persecution of being gay. He did everything right. Claimed asylum. That was legal.
▶ 3:23:40And then we sent him to a dangerous prison at the border with no due process. There are claims about his tattoos. He has his parents' names on his tattoos and two crowns that relate to a festival back in his hometown. We are paying to lock this young gentleman up forever. What I would ask is the ambassador in El Salvador, we have asked for proof of life of Andrew. He has had no access to lawyers or family since he has been taken over a month now.
▶ 3:24:08No one knows if he's even alive. His mother just wants to know if he is alive. So my ask to you is madam secretary is the same that I asked the ambassador. Can we do a proofof life check on Andrew just to see if he is alive. Congressman we are utilizing the tools that Congress has given us to apply due process to individuals. We are doing that um for every person and we are making sure that we're following what you have given us as far as things should be implemented.
▶ 3:24:37Would you commit to just letting his mother know as a mother to mother if Andre is alive? He was given an asylum appointment by the United States government. We gave him an appointment. We said, "Andre, come to the border at this time to claim asylum." He was taken to a foreign prison in El Salvador. His mother just wants to know if he is alive. Can we check and do a wellness check on him? Our asylum applications are different than the granting of asylum. And I don't know the specifics of this individual case.
▶ 3:25:03Um, this individual is in El Salvador and the appeal would be best made to the president and to the government of El Salvador on this. We we we've we've made that not under my jurisdiction. Madam Secretary, you have you have said that you that that she caught in El Salvador is one of the tools in the toolbox that you have. You have said that and has been quoted as saying that you you and the president have the ability to check if Andrew is alive and he's not being harmed. Would you commit at least into looking and asking El Salvador if he is alive?
▶ 3:25:29This is a question that's best asked to the president and the government of El Salvador as and I think it's I think you know very well that you could ask that question. What you are choosing to do, Madam Secretary, is disregard this young man's life, this young man's family who was given an appointment by the United States. I think it is shameful that you won't even request to see if this young man is alive. His family has no idea, has no access to lawyers. I would hope that we would have the humanity, the humanity to just check if this young man is okay. With that, I yield back. It's shameful.
▶ 3:26:00Gentleman yields. And I think we've covered everyone. Uh, Mr. Ranking member, you're recognized for a closing statement. Thank you very much, uh, Mr. Chairman, and I'd like to associate my myself with uh, Mr. Garcia's statement.
▶ 3:26:17I can't believe that we would send somebody uh or anyone uh from our country somewhere else and say, "Well, we cut off all communication." Uh we're a better country than that. Not I I just thank Mr. Garcia for for raising that question.
▶ 3:26:39Secretary Gnome, at the start of this hearing, you stood here and took an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. So help you God. Then you sat down and dodged the truth over and over and over for little more than three hours. So help you God.
▶ 3:27:02You repeatedly testified that you and the Department of Homeland Security will follow the Constitution, the laws, and the order of the Supreme Court. Well, the Fifth Amendment of the United States Constitution says that no person shall be deprived of life, liberty, or property without due process of law.
▶ 3:27:27And yet a federal court found that the Department of Homeland Security under your watch believes that it it has a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process. So you did not tell the truth to this committee today when you said you would follow the Constitution and comply with due process.
▶ 3:27:57You also testified that you follow orders of the Supreme Court of the United States and all courts. But the Supreme Court unanimously directed the government to facilitate the return of Kilar Garcia to the United States. But you just testified before this committee that Kilar Garcia will never return to the United States.
▶ 3:28:25So you didn't tell the truth to this committee again when you said that you comply with court orders and decisions. You've overseen the deportion deportation of US citizen children and have claimed that their parents chose to take their children with them.
▶ 3:28:47But you produce no evidence that the mother, let alone both parents of those children freely gave consent to have their children deported from the United States. In fact, everyone involved in those cases say that the mothers in fact did not want their children, especially their sick American children deported.
▶ 3:29:12In fact, your agency lured families to ICE appointments under false pretenses, lied to them, refused to let them speak with an attorney or children's father, and deport deported them before court had time to even hear the case. You've given yourself the unilateral right to deport anyone you deem a threat. You refuse to comply with court orders that try to stop you.
▶ 3:29:41that puts all of us at risk. Beyond your false testimony about the administration's deportation policies, you falsely stage stated that the administration is focused on a full range of DSH's missions.
▶ 3:29:59Instead, your budget request appears to reflect a view that DHS's sole purpose is to be a border wall construction agency that deports US citizen children with cancer. Your budget proposed cuts to cyber security, emergency preparedness, and aviation security.
▶ 3:30:22Even before asking Congress for these budget cuts, you've overseen mass reductions in the workforce at CISA and FEMA. Despite repeated requests from this committee on how many people have been fired or have been bullied into quitting before their tenure, DHS has refused to share that So it should worry every every American that we do not know how many
▶ 3:30:52people are left at FEMA to respond to disasters and how many cyber defenders still work at CISA as China and other adversaries attack our systems every day. And you've made clear in response to my questioning you have no plan written plans for FEMA.
▶ 3:31:13It is very apparent that also is no plan for CISA where you are trying to gut the AY's funding and falsely claiming that CISA is a censorship agency since CISA never censored anyone. But now we are all paying a price for you buying into a baseless conspiracy theory.
▶ 3:31:38Secretary Gnome, I'm glad that you finally came to testify before this committee, but I'm disappointed along with a lot of my Democratic colleagues that you stood here and took an oath to tell the truth, then repeatedly failed to do so to this committee. Let me just say, if you dance with the devil long enough, he's liable to follow you home.
▶ 3:32:04I hope that you will stop dancing around the truth and start telling the truth so this committee can do its work helping to defend DHS from the attacks you've launched against it. Mr. Chair, I yield back. Gentleman yields. I want to make a clarification here because there's been so many incredibly false and misleading things said today.
▶ 3:32:32Uh once a deportation order has been issued, the due process is over. The due process occurs prior to that where the judge makes a decision with the information often times the help of NOS's sometimes in the past funded by the federal government. But the judge makes issues an order and there's well over a million people in this situation that are being deported appropriately. No lawyer is offered at that point.
▶ 3:33:02think the judge has made a decision. The due process has already occurred. It's really important to make that point. People are not inhuman or violating the law. They're following the law. They're executing an order that's been presented by a judge. I saw a meme somewhere this week that said, "A society that makes war on its law enforcement better learn how to make friends with its criminals." I've said this before.
▶ 3:33:30the the left has this incredible uh heart for the criminal. They they defend the criminal. Uh a fullthroated defense of criminals over the safety of Americans and the following of the rule of law.
▶ 3:33:51We've even seen the defense of a congressman, congresswoman who threw a punch at a police officer. I mean, that's that's unconscionable. You know, if I was a 100% politician, and I'm not, but if I was 100% politician, I'd be happy with that. Why? because that's exactly the reason they lost every single swing state in the recent election.
▶ 3:34:19The this fullthroated defense of criminals and the punching of law enforcement in the face. It's why they lost every single swing state and Republicans gained in almost every state more votes than we'd ever gotten before because the American people recognize who the good guy really is.
▶ 3:34:41And it ain't Tren de Aagua or a guy who was driving eight women, young women through my state and the Biden administration said, "Do not him." As I've said before, the left doesn't know a good guy from a bad guy. They street violent criminals and they want to defund ICE. That's been their mantra since I've been in this position. ridiculous.
▶ 3:35:12It's heinous. And yes, if I were pure politician, I'd say keep going, guys. But what it does is it breaks my heart. I am a combat veteran and I have a kindred connection to those law enforcement agencies agencies and agents who put their ass on the line, their lives on the line for our safety.
▶ 3:35:37And we're fussing about whether or not the guy has a mask on to protect his identity when he's an unc undercover agent. I don't know how many people made an issue out of that. Give me a break. Want to cut a deal with Iran, destabilize the Middle East, punch Saudi Arabia in the face. We get an imbalance in what happens? An invasion of Israel.
▶ 3:36:03They don't know a good person from a bad person. That's why the American people said, "We don't want them in charge." Again, if I were pure politician, I'd say, "Keep going, guys." But it's a spit in the face to the men who wear that uniform. It's a charade. That's what that that's what it is.
▶ 3:36:26It's charade to say something about law enforcement, then turn around and be okay with a US congresswoman punching a police officer in the back. It's infuriating. Madam Secretary, you have done a remarkable job. And what's happening now is the criminals and the cartels have stopped making billions of dollars trafficking human beings into our country. Thank you for that.
▶ 3:36:56and the texts and tweets that I've gotten from Border Patrol and the texts and tweets I've gotten from law enforcement all across this country during this hearing support everything saying. Thank you. And I I charge you to keep going. Keep doing it. That judge executes that removal order, get them out of here. They've had their due process. Um, and you will have our fullthroated support as you continue to do so.
▶ 3:37:27And we will work very hard to get reconciliation passed so you have the resources and we can codify the common sense policies that this president has enacted with your leadership. Thank you for being here. Thank the staff for all the work they do to put these on. We stand Let me know if there's