[House Hearing, 117 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                      OVERSIGHT OF THE DEPARTMENT
                          OF HOMELAND SECURITY

=======================================================================

                                HEARING

                               BEFORE THE

                       COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

                     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                    ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

                             SECOND SESSION

                               __________

                        THURSDAY, APRIL 28, 2022

                               __________

                           Serial No. 117-65

                               __________

         Printed for the use of the Committee on the Judiciary
         
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               Available via: http://judiciary.house.gov
               
                              __________

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE                    
49-702                     WASHINGTON : 2022                     
          
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------                  
 
                      COMMITTEE ON THE JUDICIARY

                    JERROLD NADLER, New York, Chair
                MADELEINE DEAN, Pennsylvania, Vice-Chair

ZOE LOFGREN, California              JIM JORDAN, Ohio, Ranking Member
SHEILA JACKSON LEE, Texas            STEVE CHABOT, Ohio
STEVE COHEN, Tennessee               LOUIE GOHMERT, Texas
HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, Jr.,      DARRELL ISSA, California
    Georgia                          KEN BUCK, Colorado
THEODORE E. DEUTCH, Florida          MATT GAETZ, Florida
KAREN BASS, California               MIKE JOHNSON, Louisiana
HAKEEM S. JEFFRIES, New York         ANDY BIGGS, Arizona
DAVID N. CICILLINE, Rhode Island     TOM McCLINTOCK, California
ERIC SWALWELL, California            W. GREG STEUBE, Florida
TED LIEU, California                 TOM TIFFANY, Wisconsin
JAMIE RASKIN, Maryland               THOMAS MASSIE, Kentucky
PRAMILA JAYAPAL, Washington          CHIP ROY, Texas
VAL BUTLER DEMINGS, Florida          DAN BISHOP, North Carolina
J. LUIS CORREA, California           MICHELLE FISCHBACH, Minnesota
MARY GAY SCANLON, Pennsylvania       VICTORIA SPARTZ, Indiana
SYLVIA R. GARCIA, Texas              SCOTT FITZGERALD, Wisconsin
JOE NEGUSE, Colorado                 CLIFF BENTZ, Oregon
LUCY McBATH, Georgia                 BURGESS OWENS, Utah
GREG STANTON, Arizona
VERONICA ESCOBAR, Texas
MONDAIRE JONES, New York
DEBORAH ROSS, North Carolina
CORI BUSH, Missouri

         AMY RUTKIN, Majority Staff Director and Chief of Staff
               CHRISTOPHER HIXON, Minority Staff Director
                                 ------                                
                            
                            C O N T E N T S

                              ----------                              

                        Thursday, April 28, 2022

                                                                   Page

                           OPENING STATEMENTS

The Honorable Jerrold Nadler, Chair of the Committee on the 
  Judiciary from the State of New York...........................     2
The Honorable Jim Jordan, Ranking Member of the Committee on the 
  Judiciary from the State of Ohio...............................     4

                               WITNESSES

The Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary, Department of 
  Homeland Security
  Oral Testimony.................................................     6
  Prepared Testimony.............................................     8

          LETTERS, STATEMENTS, ETC. SUBMITTED FOR THE HEARING

A video submitted by the Honorable Jim Jordan, Ranking Member of 
  the Committee on the Judiciary from the State of Ohio, for the 
  record.........................................................     5
An article entitled, ``G.O.P. Memo Shows Road Map for Attacking 
  Democrats on Immigration,'' The New York Times, submitted by 
  the Honorable Zoe Lofgren, a Member of the Committee on the 
  Judiciary from the State of California, for the record.........    30
Materials submitted by the Honorable Andy Biggs, a Member of the 
  Committee on the Judiciary from the State of Arizona, for the 
  record
  A press release entitled, ``DHS Announces New Measures to 
    Better Serve Transgender, Non-Binary, and Gender Non-
    Conforming Travelers,'' U.S. Department of Homeland Security.    44
  An article entitled, ``ICE, CBP to stop using `illegal alien' 
    and `assimilation' under new Biden administration order,'' 
    The Washington Post..........................................    48
  An article entitled, ``Joe Biden's DHS Blocks Use of Terms 
    `Illegal Alien,' `Assimilation,' '' Breitbart................    51
  An article entitled, ``Biden Admin Orders ICE, CBP To Stop 
    Using the Terms `Illegal Alien,' `Assimilation,' '' Yahoo! 
    News.........................................................    53
Materials submitted by the Honorable Pramila Jayapal, a Member of 
  the Committee on the Judiciary from the State of Washington, 
  for the record
  An article entitled, ``48 hours of border chaos: Inside a CBP 
    crackdown on Iranian Americans,'' Politico...................    76
  A letter from public health experts regarding immigration 
    policy, May 18, 2020.........................................    86
A letter to the Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of 
  Homeland Security, and the Honorable Tae Johnson, Acting 
  Director, ICE, April 22, 2021, submitted by the Honorable Mike 
  Johnson, a Member of the Committee on the Judiciary from the 
  State of Louisiana, for the record.............................    96
A statement from Members of Congress and congressional staff 
  about migrant processing, submitted by the Honorable Darrell 
  Issa, a Member of the Committee on the Judiciary from the State 
  of California, for the record..................................   128
A letter from former defense, intelligence, homeland security, 
  and cyber officials calling for national security review of 
  congressional tech legislation, April 18, 2022, submitted by 
  the Honorable Lou Correa, a Member of the Committee on the 
  Judiciary from the State of California, for the record.........   132
A speech entitled, ``Declaration of Conscience,'' Margaret Chase 
  Smith, June 1, 1950, submitted by the Honorable Madeleine Dean, 
  Vice-Chair of the Committee on the Judiciary from the State of 
  Pennsylvania, for the record...................................   148
Materials submitted by the Honorable Veronica Escobar, a Member 
  of the Committee on the Judiciary from the State of Texas, for 
  the record
  An article entitled, ``House Republicans plot to impeach 
    Mayorkas,'' Axios............................................   156
  A letter to the Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of 
    Homeland Security, from Members of Congress, April 25, 2022..   159
Materials submitted by the Honorable Andy Biggs, a Member of the 
  Committee on the Judiciary from the State of Arizona, for the 
  record
  A letter to the Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of 
    Homeland Security, and Acting Director Tae Johnson, April 22, 
    2021.........................................................   176
  A letter to the Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of 
    Homeland Security, September 2, 2021.........................   178
  A letter to the Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of 
    Homeland Security, October 26, 2021..........................   183
  A letter to the Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of 
    Homeland Security, December 15, 2021.........................   186
  A letter to the Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of 
    Homeland Security, February 9, 2022..........................   189
  A letter to the Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of 
    Homeland Security, April 1, 2022.............................   191
  A letter to the Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas, Secretary of 
    Homeland Security, April 18, 2022............................   194
An article entitled, ``EXCLUSIVE: Secret ICE data shows drop in 
  arrests of criminals, surge in arrests of non-criminals,'' The 
  Washington Times, submitted by the Honorable Jim Jordan, 
  Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary from the State 
  of Ohio, for the record........................................   198
A document summarizing Department of Homeland Security component 
  budget requests for fiscal year 2017 through fiscal year 2023, 
  submitted by the Honorable Cliff Bentz, a Member of the 
  Committee on the Judiciary from the State of Oregon, for the 
  record.........................................................   214
Materials submitted by the Honorable Sheila Jackson Lee, a Member 
  of the Committee on the Judiciary from the State of Texas, for 
  the record
  An article entitled, ``DHS secretary defends border policies 
    under intense grilling from GOP lawmakers,'' CBS News........   218
  A press release entitled, ``TSA announces measures to implement 
    gender-neutral screening at its checkpoints,'' Transportation 
    Security Administration......................................   223
  An article entitled, ``School leaders say HBCUs are undeterred 
    after a series of bomb threats,'' NPR........................   225
  An article entitled, ``Bomb threats targeting US Black colleges 
    investigated as hate crimes,'' The Guardian..................   227
  An article entitled, ``NBA's Houston Rockets Face Cyber-Attack 
    by Ransomware Group,'' Bloomberg.............................   229

                                APPENDIX

Remarks submitted by the Honorable Sylvia R. Garcia, a Member of 
  the Committee on the Judiciary from the State of Texas, for the 
  record.........................................................   234

                 QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES FOR THE RECORD

Questions from the Honorable Jamie Raskin, a Member of the 
  Committee on the Judiciary from the State of Maryland, for the 
  record.........................................................   236
Questions from the Honorable Sylvia R. Garcia, a Member of the 
  Committee on the Judiciary from the State of Texas, for the 
  record.........................................................   240
Questions from the Honorable Greg Stanton, a Member of the 
  Committee on the Judiciary from the State of Arizona, for the 
  record.........................................................   242
Questions from the Honorable Mike Johnson, a Member of the 
  Committee on the Judiciary from the State of Louisiana, for the 
  record.........................................................   243
Questions from the Honorable Andy Biggs, a Member of the 
  Committee on the Judiciary from the State of Arizona, for the 
  record.........................................................   244
Questions from the Honorable Michelle Fischbach, a Member of the 
  Committee on the Judiciary from the State of Minnesota, for the 
  record.........................................................   245
Responses from the Department of Homeland Security...............   246

 
                      OVERSIGHT OF THE DEPARTMENT
                          OF HOMELAND SECURITY

                              ----------                              


                        Thursday, April 28, 2022

                        House of Representatives

                       Committee on the Judiciary

                             Washington, DC

    The Committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:02 a.m., in Room 
2141, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Jerrold Nadler [Chair 
of the Committee] presiding.
    Members present: Representatives Nadler, Lofgren, Jackson 
Lee, Cohen, Johnson of Georgia, Deutch, Bass, Cicilline, 
Swalwell, Lieu, Raskin, Jayapal, Demings, Correa, Scanlon, 
Garcia, Neguse, McBath, Stanton, Dean, Escobar, Ross, Bush, 
Jordan, Chabot, Gohmert, Issa, Buck, Gaetz, Johnson of 
Louisiana, Biggs, McClintock, Steube, Tiffany, Massie, Roy, 
Bishop, Fischbach, Spartz, Fitzgerald, Bentz, and Owens.
    Staff present: Aaron Hiller, Chief Counsel and Deputy Staff 
Director; John Doty, Senior Advisor and Deputy Staff Director; 
Arya Hariharan, Chief Oversight Counsel; David Greengrass, 
Senior Counsel; Moh Sharma, Director of Member Services and 
Outreach & Policy Advisor; Jacqui Kappler, Oversight Counsel; 
Roma Venkateswaran, Professional Staff Member/Legislative Aide; 
Brady Young, Parliamentarian; Cierra Fontenot, Chief Clerk; 
Daniel Rubin, Communications Director; Merrick Nelson, Digital 
Director; Joshua Breisblatt, Chief Counsel for Immigration; Ami 
Shah, Counsel for Immigration; Julie Rheinstrom, Counsel for 
Immigration; Yasser Killawi, Counsel for Immigration; Anthony 
Valdez, Professional Staff Member/Legislative Aide for 
Immigration; Christopher Hixon, Minority Staff Director; Tyler 
Grimm, Minority Chief Counsel for Policy and Strategy; Stephen 
Castor, Minority General Counsel; Ella Yates, Minority Member 
Services Director; Andrea Loving, Minority Chief Counsel for 
Immigration; Kyle Smithwick, Minority Counsel; Andrea Woodard, 
Minority Professional Staff Member; and Kiley Bidelman, 
Minority Clerk.
    Chair Nadler. The House Committee on the Judiciary will 
come to order. Without objection, the Chair is authorized to 
declare recesses of the Committee at any time.
    We welcome everyone to this morning's hearing on Oversight 
of the Department of Homeland Security.
    Before we begin, I would like to remind Members that we 
have established an email address and distribution list 
dedicated to circulating exhibits, motions, or other written 
materials that Members might want to offer as part of our 
hearing today. If you would like to submit materials, please 
send them to the email address that has been previously 
distributed to your offices and we will circulate the materials 
to Members and staff as quickly as we can.
    I will now recognize myself for an opening statement.
    The Department of Homeland Security was founded after the 
September 11 attacks and as the years passed, the department 
has taken on new threats and challenges unimagined by Congress 
in 2002.
    We are pleased to welcome you to the Committee today, 
Secretary Mayorkas. I will speak plainly. You inherited a mess 
when you took over the o and no one can solve overnight the 
problems left for you by the previous administration. Through 
neglect and often malice, your predecessors more or less 
dismantled our immigration system and ignored the grave and 
growing threat of domestic terrorism. You have made important 
progress in these and other areas, but there is still a lot of 
work to do ahead of you to address the many challenges that 
remain.
    You are responsible for guarding our national security from 
threats both old and new. As various cyber security attacks, 
natural disasters, foreign terrorists and homegrown violent 
terror extremists, America faces a multitude of challenges. One 
of the greatest modern threats to our homeland is the danger 
posed by violent far right extremists and White supremacists.
    In 2020, the highest number of domestic terror incidents 
and plots in over 30 years. Sixty-six percent of those were by 
White supremacists, extremist militia members, and other 
violent far right extremists. These groups recruit online, 
spread misinformation and conspiracy theories, scapegoat 
minority groups, fan COVID-19 fears, and undermine Americans' 
confidence in our institutions.
    Rather than act, the previous administration obstructed. 
They were so afraid of confronting this threat, they tried to 
prevent DHS from even using the term domestic terrorists 
internally. The Trump Administration demoted an agency leader 
who tried to sound the alarm. They shelved reports detailing 
the growing threat. They permitted conspiracy theories, 
disinformation, and calls for violence to flourish until the 
threat became too large to contain.
    The scourge of domestic terrorism and far right extremism 
is sadly now a part of our daily life and unlike your 
predecessors, Mr. Secretary, we do not have the luxury of 
hiding from the problem with our heads in the sand because the 
truth is domestic terrorists are killing not just Americans, 
but the values that define us as a country. They recruit by 
sowing distrust in our public institutions, spreading lies to 
divide Americans, and casting blame on minority groups.
    Domestic terrorism isolates us, not just by inflicting 
violence in our communities, but also by defining certain 
members of those communities as other. They target the spaces 
we should feel safest, our houses of worship, our community 
pillars, and our houses of learning.
    We also know that of the violent extremists, it is lone-
wolf actors who pose the most unpredictable threat. The 
violent, anti-Semitic, anti-Asian, racist, anti-immigrant 
discourse that has permeated our society encourages the 
creation of lone-wolf actors. While many of our brave 
constituents have stood against these unprecedented levels of 
hateful discourse, a dangerous radicalized few will take this 
discourse as gospel and consider it a blessing to act.
    To see the corrosive harm of this dangerous rhetoric, you 
don't have to look beyond our nation's diverse immigrant 
population, who are the backbones of our communities, and who, 
generation after generation, have borne the brunt of 
discrimination, fear-mongering, and inhumane immigration 
policies.
    A fair, humane, and functioning immigration system is vital 
to our national security interests. The department has 
jurisdiction over much of our immigration system, including our 
borders, adjudication of legal immigration benefits, and 
humanitarian protections for migrants.
    The previous administration did all it could to break our 
immigration system. We all know about the abhorrent family 
separation policy under which children were literally kidnapped 
from their mothers and fathers with no plans to reunite them 
and their attempts to end the Deferred Action for Childhood 
Arrivals, the DACA program.
    However, it is important to remember that the previous 
administration also did everything within its power to block 
legal pathways to our immigration system. The Trump 
Administration virtually shut down our nation's refugee 
program, implemented a Muslim ban, and brought immigration 
benefits processing to a crawl, nearly bankrupting U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services and implementing policies 
that resulted in historically high processing delays.
    Under your leadership, Secretary Mayorkas, the department 
has done a great deal to reverse many of these terrible 
policies, creating a separate, separation task force to reunite 
families, ending the Muslim ban, and rulemaking by DACA. The 
department has also worked to streamline and improve processing 
for all legal immigration applications. However, these changes 
will take time to bear fruit and other reforms have been 
stymied in the courts.
    Further, we continue to face Senate inaction on bipartisan 
immigration reform bills shepherded through the House by this 
Committee. Despite these challenges, there is much more to be 
done. We are at a pivotal moment in the struggle for our 
country's identity, for our safety, and for our dignity. 
History will judge us, and future generations will remember us, 
based on how we comport ourselves during this time of 
polarization, cruelty, and divisiveness.
    Your leadership, Mr. Secretary, can help guide our 
trajectory through the darkness and into a new day. I am 
looking forward to hearing how you intend to fight White 
supremacy and online radicalization of far-right extremists and 
restore our nation's reputation as one that is welcoming to 
immigrants and refugees.
    I thank you for appearing today and I look forward to your 
testimony.
    I now recognize the Ranking Member of the Judiciary 
Committee, the gentleman from Ohio, Mr. Jordan, for his opening 
statement.
    Mr. Jordan. Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is intentional. It is 
intentional, it has to be. The chaos on our southern border is 
not an accident. It is deliberate. It is on purpose. It is by 
design.
    President Biden on day one said there will be a moratorium 
on deportations. He ended Remain in Mexico. He terminated 
agreements with Northern Triangle countries, and he stopped 
building the wall. Those policies, done intentionally, have led 
to all kinds of bad outcomes. First, maybe most importantly, we 
get a record number of migrants coming to the border, 2.4 
million. that is the ones we know about. That doesn't count the 
so-called got-aways who get in that we don't have an accurate 
count, but we know it is a big number. Paying cartels, 
smugglers, all these people paying bad guys to get them into 
the United States, and those cartels aren't just moving people. 
They are moving drugs as well, drugs like fentanyl that is 
killing so many Americans, causing so much heartache for so 
many American families, and drugs get in because of the stress 
2.4 million migrants put on our agents. Stress like Bishop 
Evans faced when he tragically, heroically, gave his life 
trying to save two migrants drowning.
    Of course, there is the bad things that happen to the 
people who make the journey, particularly women and children. 
Americans want legal immigration. President Biden and Secretary 
Mayorkas want illegal immigration. They want illegal migrants 
to come, stay, and never go home.
    Now, the Secretary won't say that. In fact, he says 
everything is just fine. He said it yesterday in two 
Congressional Hearings. He said it last September, ``The border 
is secure,'' he told us. In the 15 months Joe Biden has been 
President, 2,498,224 illegal migrants have been apprehended at 
our border. Hundreds of thousands of others that we didn't 
catch, that got away, have also entered our country and the 
Secretary says the border is secure.
    Think about last year, March of last year was the highest 
month on record for illegal migrants encountered at our 
southern border, highest month in history until the month of 
April. April was the highest month on record for illegal 
migrants coming to our country until the month of May. May was 
the highest month on record until the month of June. June was 
the highest month on record until the month of July when 
213,593 illegal migrants were at our southwest border. Just two 
months after that, our Witness, the Secretary of Homeland 
Security, said the border is secure.
    Mr. Secretary, over 200,000 a month and all the 
ramifications that has with drugs coming in the country and 
other people coming in the country because our agents are so 
focused on that, if that is a secure border, then you are 
completely out of touch with the American people.
    That record last July, guess what, that record last July 
was just broken last month. Next month, they are going to make 
matters worse when they rescind title 42. A record last July 
that was just broken last month and next month they are going 
to make it worse.
    I want to go back to that statement the Secretary made on 
September 22nd of last year. That statement, there was a second 
part to the sentence, and this is critical. There was a second 
part to the statement. He said the border is secure, and the 
border is secure, and we are executing our plan. The first part 
of the sentence was false. We know that. We know the numbers. 
We know what is happening on the border. Everyone understands 
it. The second part, we are executing our plans. The second 
part, he was telling us the truth and that should frighten us 
all.
    We have a Secretary of Homeland Security who is 
intentionally, deliberately, in a premeditated fashion, 
executing a plan, his words, executing a plan to overwhelm our 
country with millions and millions of illegal migrants. 
Executing a plan that causes all kinds of harm to people who 
make the journey, executing a plan that results in record 
levels of fentanyl and other drugs entering our nation, 
executing a plan that stresses our border agents, stresses our 
education and healthcare systems, stresses our nation, all done 
intentionally.
    Mr. Chair, I hope we are going to have a lot of questions 
for the Secretary, but I hope one of the fundamental questions, 
maybe the fundamental question that he will answer is why is he 
doing it? Why is he doing this to our fellow citizens? Why is 
he doing this to our country? Why is he deliberately doing this 
to--he is the Secretary of Homeland Security. Why is he 
intentionally doing this to our nation?
    Mr. Chair, we have a video we would like to show as well.

[Video played. Video available at https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/
murlsnqbujkok
8pypuijr/Video.pptx?dl=0&rlkey=5d6vkii6pjnifudgn7v8tb685]

    Mr. Jordan. Mr. Chair, I yield back.
    Chair Nadler. The gentleman yields back. Without objection, 
all other opening statements will be included in the record.
    I will now introduce today's Witness.
    Alejandro, is that correct? Alejandro Mayorkas was sworn in 
as Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security by 
President Biden on February 2, 2021. Throughout his 
distinguished career in public service, he has served in 
several important roles in law enforcement, including as the 
Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security 
from 2013-2016, and as the Director of U.S. Citizenship and 
Immigration Services from 2009-2013.
    Secretary Mayorkas began his government service in the 
Department of Justice where he served as an Assistant United 
States Attorney in the Central District of California. After 
nearly nine years as a Federal Prosecutor, he became the 
youngest United States Attorney in the nation, overseeing 
numerous prosecutions of national significance.
    He received his bachelor's degree from the University of 
California at Berkeley and a law degree from Loyola Law School. 
We welcome our distinguished Witness, and we thank him for 
participating today.
    I will begin by swearing you in. I ask that you please rise 
and raise your right hand.
    Do you swear or affirm under penalty of perjury that the 
testimony you are about to give is true and correct to the best 
of your knowledge, information, and belief so help you God?
    Let the record show that the Witness has answered in the 
affirmative. Thank you, and please be seated.
    Please note that your written statement will be entered 
into the record in its entirety. Accordingly, I ask that you 
summarize your testimony in five minutes. To help you stay 
within that time limit, there is a timing light on your table. 
When the light switches from green to yellow, you have one 
minute to conclude your testimony. When the light turns red, it 
signals your five minutes have expired.
    Secretary Mayorkas, the floor is yours.

                STATEMENT OF ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS

    Secretary Mayorkas. Chair Nadler, Ranking Member Jordan, 
and distinguished Members of the Committee, thank you for the 
opportunity to join you.
    On behalf of all of us in the Department of Homeland 
Security, I share in the mourning of the loss of Guardsman 
Bishop Evans who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of 
our country.
    For nearly two decades, the personnel of the Department of 
Homeland Security have stood as a cornerstone of public safety. 
Every day, our workforce of 250,000 serves to protect our 
people and our values by combating terrorism and targeted 
violence, countering malicious cyber activity, securing our 
border, building a safe, orderly, and humane immigration system 
and more. We do this while always safeguarding Americans' 
privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties, and building trust 
between our Agency and the public we serve.
    We remain vigilant against all forms of terrorism and 
targeted violence. The nature of these threats has evolved, but 
our vigilance and resolve are constant. We play a leading role 
in implementing the first ever National Strategy for Countering 
Domestic Terrorism, namely, establishing a new domestic 
terrorism branch within our Office of Intelligence and 
Analysis; launching the Center for Prevention Programs and 
Partnerships to help communities prevent radicalization to 
violence; designating domestic violent extremism as a national 
priority area in FEMA grant programs; increasing our investment 
in the nonprofit security grant program; coordinating 
additional support to HBCUs in the face of recent bomb threats; 
and ramping up our efforts to collect and disseminate 
actionable intelligence.
    On cyber security, DHS is leading the Federal government's 
work to protect our critical infrastructure. We answered the 
Colonial Pipeline incident with security directives requiring 
pipeline companies to report intrusions, designated cyber 
security coordinator, conduct vulnerability assessments, and 
create contingency plans. We adopted similar measures for 
airports, air carriers, and rail operators.
    We work with the Department of Justice who launched 
www.stopransomware.gov, the first whole-of-government website 
with resources to help organizations combat ransomware.
    We are defending our democracy against foreign interference 
in our elections. We formed two bodies to join cyber defense 
collaborative in the Cyber Safety Review Board to bring private 
sector and government stakeholders to the table to help us 
fortify our cyber defenses, identify vulnerabilities, and 
ensure a unified response when incidents occur.
    Russia's invasion of Ukraine has only intensified the 
threat of cyber-attacks, so we initiated the fields up campaign 
to increase collective awareness, vigilance, and resilience to 
possible incidents. We are countering Russia's mis- and 
disinformation campaigns by helping stakeholders understand the 
scale of these activities and enabling them to mitigate 
associated risks.
    We are expanding humanitarian programs by TPS and 
developing new ones like Uniting for Ukraine initiative to 
provide Ukrainians temporary refuge in the United States. Under 
this administration, our department has been executing a 
comprehensive strategy to secure our borders and rebuild our 
immigration system. With the title 42 public health order set 
to be lifted, we expect migration levels to increase as 
smugglers seek to take advantage of and profit from vulnerable 
migrants.
    We will continue to enforce our immigration laws. After 
title 42 is lifted, noncitizens will be processed pursuant to 
title 8 which provides that individuals who cross the border 
without legal authorization are processed for removal and if 
unable to establish a legal basis to remain in the United 
States, promptly removed from the country.
    We began planning last September and we are leading the 
execution of a whole-of-government strategy which stands on six 
pillars to prepare for and manage any rise in noncitizen 
encounters. I issued a memorandum earlier this week that 
provides more details of those pillars.

    (1)  Surging resources including personnel, transportation, medical 
support and facilities.

    (2)  Increase efficiency without compromising the integrity of our 
screening processes to reduce strain on the border.

    (3)  Administer consequences for unlawful entry including expedited 
removal and criminal prosecution.

    (4)  Bolster the capacity of NGOs and coordinate with State, local, 
and community partners.

    (5)  Target and disrupt transnational criminal organizations and 
human smugglers.

    (6)  Deter irregular migration south of our border in partnership 
with other Federal agencies and nations.

    We inherited a broken and dismantled system that is already 
under strain. It is not built to manage the current levels and 
types of migratory flows. Only Congress can fix this. Yet, we 
have effectively managed an unprecedented number of noncitizens 
seeking to enter the United States and interdicted more drugs 
and disrupted more smuggling operations than ever before. A 
significant increase in migrant encounters will strain our 
system even further, and we will address this challenge 
successfully, but it will take time and we need the partnership 
of Congress, State and local officials, NGOs, and communities 
to do so. We cannot address our core issues alone.
    DHS is a department of partnerships. I look forward to 
working together with this Committee to confront our ever-
changing threat landscape and protect the American people.
    [The statement of Secretary Mayorkas follows:]
    [GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
    
    Chair Nadler. Thank you, Mr. Secretary, for your testimony. 
We will now proceed under the five-minute rule with questions, 
and I will recognize myself for five minutes.
    Secretary Mayorkas, in February of last year, President 
Biden made you the Chair of the President's Interagency Task 
Force on the Reunification of Families. The work of that task 
force is essential to reuniting those families, those children 
and families, who were maliciously separated from their parents 
during the Trump Administration, and to ensuring that this can 
never happen again.
    Secretary Mayorkas, can you discuss the progress that the 
task force has made thus far including how many children the 
department has identified and reunited?
    What challenges does the task force face when working to 
establish contact with some of these parents?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Mr. Chair, I am very proud to be the 
chair of that task force which under the President's direction 
brings the resources of the entire Federal government together 
to work with civil society to try to reunite the families that 
were so cruelly separated under the prior administration. Thus, 
we have reunited more than 200 separated children with their 
parents and there are estimates that there are approximately 
1,000 more children that remain separated. Of those 1,000 
children, the task force has made contact with more than 500 
parents and nearly 400 children are now in the reunification 
process.
    We continue to partner with nongovernmental organizations, 
such as Kids in Need of Defense and Justice in Motion, to 
contact families and direct them to our website. One of the 
greatest obstacles we have, Mr. Chair, is to overcome the 
distrust that was sown by the prior administration through its 
cruel policies. Many remain still fearful given what trauma 
they experienced and continue to experience.
    Chair Nadler. The President's Executive Order requires the 
task force to issue a report containing recommendations to 
ensure that a tragedy like this never happens again. How soon 
do you anticipate issuing that report? Can you preview some of 
its recommendations?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Mr. Chair, we have published interim 
reports along the way since we began our work. We are working 
on policies to make sure that no such cruelty ever occurs 
again.
    I had the occasion to speak with a number of parents who 
were reunited with their children, and it was extraordinary 
heartbreaking to hear a mother speak of the fact that despite 
the physical reunion, there remained a distance between her and 
her teenage daughter. The teenage daughter still continued to 
suffer trauma from the separation that they both suffered. This 
is going to take time to mend the people's broken hearts and 
the trauma that they suffered due to such a cruel policy.
    Chair Nadler. Thank you. I am pleased to see the Biden 
Administration has been preparing for months with the eventual 
end of title 42. As you know, title 42 is a public health 
measure, not an immigration control strategy. In fact, because 
title 42 has no immigration consequences for repeat border 
crosses, the border crossing recidivism rate has quadrupled 
since title 42 began.
    I am sure we will be hearing today about the record high 
numbers of encounters at our border. However, some 900,000 of 
those encounters are migrants who tried repeatedly cross 
unlawfully. Smugglers are even offering package deals to 
encourage recidivism.
    Fortunately, as you mentioned in your opening, the 
Department of Homeland Security has put in place a 
comprehensive whole-of-government strategy to manage any 
potential increases in the number of migrants encountered at 
our border when title 42 is ended. The department is increasing 
its capacity to process new arrivals, evaluate asylum requests, 
and quickly remove those who do not qualify.
    Mr. Secretary, can you go into more detail for the 
Committee about the department's plans? I am particularly 
interested in understanding what type of resources will be 
increased and where they will be deployed, as well as learning 
more about the Southwest Border Coordination Center's role.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Mr. Chair, the plan is very 
comprehensive and very detailed. We have developed it over 
many, many months. The end of title 42 which is a public health 
authority, as you correctly described, we knew it was not going 
to be forever and therefore, we began planning and preparing 
quite a long time ago.
    It is very detailed, but let me try to run through in the 
short time that I have. Pillar one is surging resources, 
personnel, transportation, medical support, increasing 
facilities for the processing of individuals whom we encounter.
    The second pillar, increasing CDP processing efficiency. 
That involves such things as enhanced central processing 
centers where we bring different parts of our department 
together to drive efficiency, where we process individuals en 
route to ICE facilities and decompress border patrol stations.
    The third pillar is a consequence regime, using title 8 of 
the United States Code to expedite the removal of individuals 
that the law provides: Bring criminal prosecutions where the 
facts so warrant; implementation of our historic asylum officer 
rule which brings tremendous efficiency to the asylum system; 
bolstering the capacity of non-governmental organizations and 
coordinating with State and local communities; targeting and 
disrupting the transnational criminal organizations and the 
smuggling organizations. We have intensified efforts at a 
historic level, working not only as an entire Department of 
Homeland Security, but across the Federal Government bringing 
the resources of the Department of Justice and the Department 
of Treasury to bear. We are working to deter irregular 
migration throughout the region.
    This is not a phenomenon, Mr. Chair, and Members of this 
Committee that the United States encounters alone. This is 
something that countries throughout the region, throughout the 
hemisphere, and we so powerfully have seen in recent months 
throughout the world, the number of individuals displaced from 
their home countries is greater now than it ever has been. We 
are working in response to a regional challenge with a regional 
solution, working with our partner countries throughout the 
region. I was in Panama last week to accomplish that end.
    Chair Nadler. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. My time has 
expired.
    Mr. McClintock.
    Mr. McClintock. Mr. Secretary, since the administration 
took office, you have deliberately released into the United 
States 836,000 illegal immigrants who crossed our borders in 
violation of our laws and sovereignty. Now, that is more than 
the entire population of the State of North Dakota. While the 
Border Patrol has been overwhelmed by this influx you have 
allowed about 600,000 got-aways to escape into the interior. 
This is more than the entire population of the State of 
Wyoming. That is with title 42 in place. When you remove that, 
it is estimated that we are going to see as many as 18,000 
illegal immigrants released into the interior every day. That 
is the same as admitting a new State of Alaska every 40 days. 
These numbers are simply staggering.
    I would like to know why you think this benefits Americans? 
Packing classrooms with non-English-speaking students, flooding 
emergency rooms with illegals demanding care, making it harder 
to deport criminal illegal aliens, flooding the labor market 
with cheap foreign labor. How does this benefit Americans?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, if I can explain how the 
legal system works when encountering individuals at our 
southern border.
    Mr. McClintock. I know that is the way--
    Secretary Mayorkas. Individuals--
    Mr. McClintock. First, that is not my question.
    Secretary Mayorkas. No. No, but--
    Mr. McClintock. My question is how does this benefit 
Americans?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, when an individual is 
encountered at the southern border, they are placed in 
immigration enforcement proceedings.
    Mr. McClintock. Okay.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Under the law--
    Mr. McClintock. So, you don't have an answer for how any of 
this benefits Americans, so let's talk about your enforcement 
proceedings. Let's define exactly what that means.
    An alien is given a Notice to Appear with a court date or 
simply a Notice to Report: Call in when you get wherever you 
want to go. Ninty percent of these asylum claims are turned 
down. When they are, less than 15 percent actually leave. Now, 
you have already instructed ICE that mere legal-illegal 
presence in the country is not grounds for deportation. So, 
they stay and await the next amnesty. That is what you mean by 
enforcement proceedings, because that is what you do.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, you've misstated the 
facts. So, individuals are placed in immigration enforcement 
proceedings. Those who present a public safety threat, a threat 
to national security, a threat to border security are held in 
detention during the pendency of those immigration proceedings. 
Those who do not are given a Notice to Appear. The appearance 
rate is over 86 percent. So, individuals--
    Mr. McClintock. On the initial proceeding, but 90 percent 
of them are rejected, and when they are rejected, only 15 
percent leave. You have told ICE don't go after the others 
unless there is an underlying criminal situation.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman--
    Mr. McClintock. You have assured us that ICE prioritizes 
criminal removals. I heard you say you deported more criminals 
in the Trump Administration, but according to data from the 
FOIA request from the Center for Immigration Studies in 2021 
deportations of aliens with serious criminal convictions 
declined by over 50 percent compared to 2020 and 65 percent 
compared to 2018. According to ICE's own website detainers for 
assault are down 57 percent under your leadership. Detainers 
for weapons offenses down 52 percent, dangerous drugs down 49 
percent, detainers for homicides are down 43 percent, sex 
crimes down 29 percent. How does this make our communities 
safer?
    Secretary Mayorkas. So, Congressman, allow me to share some 
facts with you. Twelve thousand twenty-five individuals 
convicted of aggravated felonies were removed in fiscal year 
2021.
    Mr. McClintock. That is down--
    Secretary Mayorkas. That's nearly--
    Mr. McClintock. That is down from 2020 or 2018.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Actually you're wrong. Twelve thousand 
twenty-five were individuals convicted of aggravated felonies, 
nearly double the 6,815 arrested--
    Mr. McClintock. Wait. Wait a second. You said aggregated--
    Secretary Mayorkas. --in fiscal year 2020. If I may--
    Mr. McClintock. Aggravated felonies. What does that mean?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Well, that's a definition--
    Mr. McClintock. I would call homicide an aggravated felony. 
Your detainers for homicides are down 42 percent of I believe--
43 percent I should say, weapons offenses down 52 percent. You 
are defining terms that don't actually exist.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Oh, actually--
    Mr. McClintock. Aggravated felony.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, the term aggravated felony 
is defined in statute. It is a United States law. The 
definition of an aggravated felon--
    Mr. McClintock. The--
    Secretary Mayorkas. --is a matter of statutory law.
    Mr. McClintock. Crimes like homicide are down.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman--
    Mr. McClintock. Your detainers.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman--
    Mr. McClintock. I mean those numbers are there on your 
website.
    Let me go on. You have repeatedly said there is a need for 
re-prioritizing ICE because of limited resources, yet in 2012, 
with fewer agents and judges than we have now, ICE arrested and 
deported 409,000 aliens. Under your administration with more 
agents and judges you have deported only 59,000. That is \1/
7\th as many. Overall deportations down in 2021 down 90 percent 
from 2019.
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentleman has expired. The 
Witness may answer the question.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Forty-six percent of ICE removals in 
fiscal year 2021 were for people convicted of felonies or 
aggravated felonies, compared to 18 percent during the previous 
four years and 17 percent of the year before that.
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentleman, as I said, has 
expired.
    Ms. Lofgren?
    Ms. Lofgren. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
    Thank you, Secretary Mayorkas.
    Before I ask my question, I would like to give you an 
opportunity--my fellow Californian reading from his talking 
points made several assertions that I think are incorrect, and 
you didn't get to fully explain what the facts are. Obviously, 
what is the benefit of applying the law? Well, it is standing 
up for the rule of law, which is what the country stands for. 
So, if you would take a minute on that before I get to my 
questions, that would be helpful, I think.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Thank you, Congresswoman. The law 
provides that individuals encountered at our border have a 
right to make a claim for humanitarian relief under the asylum 
laws that the United States Congress passed.
    If their claim for asylum relief prevails in an immigration 
court, then they have established a basis to remain in the 
United States. If their claim fails, then they are removed from 
the United States.
    We are a nation of laws, and this Department of Homeland 
Security is administering the laws that Congress passed.
    Ms. Lofgren. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. Watching what 
happened in the prior administration I am mindful that you 
inherited something of a mess in terms of the department. There 
were over 400 changes to the immigration system, policy changes 
that resulted in delays, no increase, and no benefits. For 
example, USCIS repeatedly interviewing the same people over and 
over again on the employment-based side leading to backlogs and 
questionable policy choices that nearly bankrupt USCIS.
    I remember in the summer of 2020, the agency was forced to 
send furlough notices to 15,000 employees, 70 percent of its 
workforce. It was only at the last minute working on a 
bipartisan basis, actually here in the House, that we did a 
stopgap measure. There was a hiring freeze and there were 
millions of backlogged applications.
    At the same time, we saw extreme vetting of the Special 
Immigrant Visa Program in Iraq and Afghanistan, which actually 
ended up being no vetting, so that there was no processing of 
over 17,000 SIV cases for Afghanistan. When the former 
President's timeline for removal was implemented, there was no 
plan in place to expedite the processing or to evacuate those 
allies, and those unprocessed SIV applications just continued 
to sit there.
    I am wondering, Mr. Secretary, what steps you are taking to 
try to clean up the mess in the Refugee Program where all--it 
was zeroed out and the agencies, the non-profits and the 
religious-based agencies that help were basically dismantled, 
USCIS was hollowed out, and the like. What is your plan to 
clean up the mess?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, one of the ways in which 
the prior administration decimated the legal immigration system 
is to really leave U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, 
the agency that administers our nation's legal immigration 
system, on the brink of bankruptcy. Employees were furloughed, 
the Asylum and Refugee Corps were decimated.
    That agency is funded primarily through the fees it 
collects from applications that people submit for immigration 
benefits. The law provides that every two years a fee rule is 
to issue to recalibrate fees according to the costs of the 
agency every two years. That agency has not had a fee rule for 
more than six years.
    Ms. Lofgren. So, we will look at that.
    Secretary Mayorkas. So, we are bringing it from the brink 
of bankruptcy to some level of financial stability. It will 
take time. We are promulgating a new fee rule as this Congress 
expects.
    Ms. Lofgren. Okay. I have got one more question I want to 
get in. The H2-A Program is an important one for agriculture in 
the United States. As you know, we had a bipartisan bill to 
streamline and improve that provision that is languishing in 
the Senate. There have been, and it has been brought to my 
attention the Operation Blooming Onion case where there was 
some abuses of people in the H2-A Program.
    I am wondering, do we have adequate tools to protect H2-A 
visa holders from exploitation, understanding that it is an 
important program; and I'm not saying all employers are 
exploitive; far from it, but we want to get the bad actors.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, we are focused--
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentlelady has expired. The 
Witness may answer the question.
    Secretary Mayorkas. We are focusing some of our enforcement 
resources on employers who exploit vulnerable employees and 
create a non-competitive labor market. That's one of our areas 
of tremendous focus.
    Ms. Lofgren. Thank you.
    Chair Nadler. Mr. Chabot?
    Mr. Chabot. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
    Mr. Secretary, the situation at our southern border is an 
unmitigated disaster and I fear it is about to get a whole lot 
worse. With this administration's bone-headed decision to end 
enforcement of title 42 you are essentially saying the COVID 
healthcare emergency is over; come on in, while at the same 
time saying nope, still got a COVID emergency, so we are going 
to force everybody to mask up on planes and buses and trains, 
whether you like it or not.
    Since he took office President Biden has been busy 
reversing just about every one of the Trump Administration's 
successful immigration policies, stopping construction of the 
border wall, ending catch and release, and practically 
abandoning border enforcement altogether, just to name a few of 
these misguided policies. The result, as I said, has been a 
complete and utter chaos at our southern
border.
    Unfortunately, again due to Biden Administration policies, 
the chaos doesn't stop at the border; it is intentionally being 
spread all across the country. The Biden Administration is 
putting illegal immigrants and asylum seekers on buses and 
planes at taxpayer expense, often in the middle of the night 
when it is not so obvious, and shipping them to communities all 
across the country. As a result, virtually every State in 
America is now directly impacted. Let's face it, we are all 
really border States now.
    Mr. Secretary, how many migrants have you shipped to Ohio, 
my State?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I would disagree with the 
phrasing of your question, but I would be pleased to provide 
you with data with respect to the number of individuals--
    Mr. Chabot. Well, the question is pretty simple. How many 
have you shipped to Ohio?
    Secretary Mayorkas. As I mentioned, Congressman--as I was 
stating, I'd be pleased to provide you with data specific to 
Ohio subsequent to this hearing.
    Mr. Chabot. I assume your answer is here today you don't 
know, is that right?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I don't have the data with me 
Congressman.
    Mr. Chabot. Okay. Because I certainly think the people 
would like to know that. In fact, I think it is their right to 
know how many migrants you are shipping to their State or my 
Congressional District or others. After all, they are footing 
the bill for all this, right, the American taxpayers?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I'd like to again--
    Mr. Chabot. Are the American taxpayers paying for this 
stuff?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I would respectfully disagree with the 
phrasing of your question, but I think it's something very 
important to remember, which is individuals who are placed in 
immigration proceedings--
    Mr. Chabot. That is not the question I asked. Please, we 
have only got five minutes each of us, so if you will just 
answers the questions I have asked. You said I can't tell you 
how many I shipped to Ohio; I will provide that down the road. 
Let's see if you actually do that.
    Now, the American taxpayers are footing the bill. The 
people that you are shipping across the country, they are being 
fed, right?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman--
    Mr. Chabot. They are having their healthcare needs met. 
They are being housed somewhere.
    Secretary Mayorkas. If I may?
    Mr. Chabot. Their children are attending school, I assume. 
Who is paying for all that?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, you are mistaken in 
asserting in your question--
    Mr. Chabot. That we are not feeding them?
    Secretary Mayorkas. --that individuals--
    Mr. Chabot. That we are not housing them?
    Secretary Mayorkas. If I may?
    Mr. Chabot. We are not providing healthcare?
    Secretary Mayorkas. May I?
    Mr. Chabot. It doesn't have to be paid for? I asked you, 
who is paying for this stuff?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Individuals in immigration proceedings 
are not entitled to the same benefits that United States 
citizens are.
    Mr. Chabot. I didn't say that. So, but they are not being 
fed? We are not feeing them?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, not to my knowledge do 
they receive--
    Mr. Chabot. Okay. Thank you.
    Secretary Mayorkas. --public benefits or food.
    Mr. Chabot. So, they are not being fed?
    Okay. Let me ask you this: How many bus loads have you sent 
to my State, Ohio? Do you know that?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, as I stated previously, I 
will provide you with the data that you are requesting.
    Mr. Chabot. Thank you. Okay.
    So, how many and how many bus loads? Okay. Let me ask you 
this: If you don't have the numbers here today, who has these 
numbers?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, we in the Department of 
Homeland Security have a wealth of data and I would be pleased 
to provide you with whatever data you request.
    Mr. Chabot. Excellent. Thank you very much.
    Secretary Mayorkas. One of the hallmarks of our department 
is our openness and transparency, and in fact--
    Mr. Chabot. Thank you.
    Secretary Mayorkas. --it is one of the priorities that I 
have established for this department for fiscal year 2022.
    Mr. Chabot. You have been extremely open, and we certainly 
appreciate that.
    Mr. Secretary, where does the buck really stop here? Who do 
we hold accountable for the chaos at our southern border? Is it 
you, the Secretary of Homeland Security? Is it the Vice 
President? Because President Biden we know supposedly put her 
in charge of the border. Is it the Big Guy himself? Is it 
President Biden? Where does the buck really stop?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I'm incredibly proud to 
work alongside the dedicated men and women of U.S. Customs and 
Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the 
entire Department of Homeland Security who tirelessly dedicate 
themselves to the service of our country including the security 
at the border.
    Mr. Chabot. Thank you. We are proud of the folks that work 
there, too. We wish you would support them though. We really 
wish you would support--they want to do their jobs, they want 
to secure the border, they want to uphold the law, and you took 
an oath to uphold the law and right now when you got three 
million people coming over here in a short period of time is 
not enforcing the law.
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentleman has expired.
    Mr. Chabot. Yield back.
    Ms. Lofgren. Mr. Chair?
    Chair Nadler. For the purpose of a UC request, Ms. Lofgren?
    Ms. Lofgren. Yes, I would ask unanimous consent that a New 
York Times article, ``GOP Memo Shows Road Map for Attacking 
Democrats on Immigration,'' be made part of the record.
    Chair Nadler. Without objection.
    [The information follows:]

                       MS. LOFGREN FOR THE RECORD

=======================================================================

[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    Chair Nadler. Ms. Jackson Lee?
    Ms. Jackson Lee. I thank the Chair very much. I thank you 
for your presence here today.
    As well let me try to remind my friends on the other side 
of the aisle of the historical record of this country. Mr. 
Secretary, I hope it is not a personal question, but you had a 
history outside of this country in terms of your family coming 
from somewhere else. Is that not correct, sir?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, I am an immigrant. My 
family came to this country as political refugees fleeing the 
Communist takeover of Cuba.
    Ms. Jackson Lee. Let me applaud you for your service to the 
nation. I think as I said in previous comments the Statue of 
Liberty still stands in the New York harbor. I assume you have 
seen it on one or two occasions?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I most certainly have. I should say 
that what this country gave to my family is what led me to 
public service, first as an Assistant United States Attorney, 
then the United States Attorney, then the Director of U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services, then the Deputy Secretary 
of Homeland Security, and now the Secretary of Homeland 
Security.
    Ms. Jackson Lee. I am glad I allowed you to provide that 
into the record because the antics of my friends on the other 
side of the aisle are so without reason it is difficult to even 
follow in questioning.
    To even suggest that the past administration had an 
immigration policy is absurd because I stood in the place that 
you stood watching the reunification of separated children. 
There was a glaze of disbelief in the child's eye as to who 
this person was. Was it their mother? Why did she abandon them? 
It was the most criminal aspect of that policy, and I don't 
know how anyone could cite that as reasoned and reasonable.
    Let me move to what we are here for, and the general 
sentence; my time is short, that I want you to enunciate is 
that, in fact, the administration does have a policy if the 
scientifically-based section article 42 is scientifically 
removed as it relates to the pandemic by CDC. You can just say 
yes, yes or no. You have a plan?
    Secretary Mayorkas. It is a public health authority that 
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--
    Ms. Jackson Lee. You have a plan if it is removed?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Oh, most certainly?
    Ms. Jackson Lee. That is the question I have.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Most certainly.
    Ms. Jackson Lee. So, it is yes?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes.
    Ms. Jackson Lee. So, let me go specifically to Pillar 5, 
which I think is the crux of what we are speaking about, and 
that is we are targeting and disrupting the transnational 
criminal organizations, TCOs, and smugglers to take advantage 
of and profit from vulnerable migrants who seek to traffic 
drugs into our country. Can you, because I have one or two 
other questions, briefly talk about the scourge of human 
smugglers, even though people may be coming for economic 
reasons, fleeing prosecution? That is something that the 
Federal government can put all fours on. Do you intend to 
deeply go to disrupt this--criminal organizations, if you will, 
that prey on the very people that are at the border?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, our intensified efforts 
to tackle the human smuggling organizations are historic.
    Ms. Jackson Lee. Give us some elements of that quickly, 
please.
    Secretary Mayorkas. We have a number of different 
operations both within the Department of Homeland Security and 
across the Federal enterprise: Using the Department of Treasury 
to seize bank accounts, Operational--Operation Sentinel that 
Homeland Security investigations runs to tackle and dismantle 
their infrastructure, working with our intelligence community 
partners, working with the Department of Justice in Operation 
Alpha. We have so many different multifaceted efforts underway. 
It's really unprecedented the level of intensity that we are 
bringing to tackling the transnational criminal organizations 
and the human smugglers.
    Ms. Jackson Lee. In the course of that work let me also say 
that there are organizations like CBP, Border Patrol, and ICE. 
I want to make sure that your administration also as they do 
their work; and I applaud them for their work--and I do want to 
as well acknowledge the individual, National Guard Specialist 
Bishop E. Evans. I want to express my deepest sympathy to his 
family and my respect for his service. We honor him.
    I want to make sure as we go forward you infuse into all 
that the idea of equity and justice in terms of those migrants 
and others who are treated under these particular agencies and 
subagencies. Is that correct?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes, it is, Congresswoman.
    Ms. Jackson Lee. So, let me quickly go to an issue that 
continues to be spoken about by Director Wray is that the 
largest threat to the United States is domestic terrorism and 
the increase in White supremacy. I don't think it has changed 
from a couple of months ago to today.
    Give me the deep dive that you have done on thwarting 
domestic terrorism, particularly the rise in violence against 
minority institutions and faith institutions and how we are 
protecting Americans through that effort, please.
    Secretary Mayorkas. So, our efforts are so expansive, I 
won't be able to cover them all, and I would be pleased to 
provide further information to you, Madam Congresswoman, 
subsequent to this hearing.
    Let me give you two important examples: We created a 
Domestic Terrorism Branch within our Office of Intelligence and 
Analysis and it has been disseminating and unprecedented level 
of information and intelligence throughout the nation to our 
State, local, tribal, and territorial partners so that they are 
equipped with our latest intelligence and data so that they can 
counter the threat.
    We created the Centers for Prevention Programs and 
Partnership, we term it CP3, to equip and resource local 
communities with information and funds so that they can tackle 
the radicalization to violence. It's the connectivity to 
violence that we are focused upon, so that they can ably do it. 
Our front-line personnel, our brave personnel in uniform 
throughout this country are the first line of defense.
    Chair Nadler. The gentlelady's time has expired.
    Ms. Jackson Lee. Thank you, the gentleman. Thank you, 
Secretary.
    Thank you, Mr. Chair.
    Chair Nadler. Mr. Gohmert?
    Mr. Gohmert. Thank you. Secretary Mayorkas, in a meeting 
some of us had with you April 5 you agreed to find out who gave 
the order to prevent Members of Congress like me from going 
undeterred to the border to see for ourselves what is 
happening. Did you find out where that came from? Because the 
region said--the regional director said it came from 
Washington.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I have inquired, and I'm 
not aware of any such order. I was not able to identify any 
such order. In fact, of course, quite a number of CODELs have 
occurred since you and I met in April.
    Mr. Gohmert. Right, but those, normally, they are escorted 
where they're allowed to see, instead of like those of us that 
have oversight of the Border Patrol, we like to go down and 
just see for ourselves--no dog and pony tour--but see for 
ourselves what's happening. You agree that is appropriate, 
correct?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes.
    Mr. Gohmert. Okay.
    Secretary Mayorkas. There are certain parameters, quite 
frankly, for the safety and well-being of those who wish to 
tour the border. So, for example--
    Mr. Gohmert. For a Member of Congress that wants to go 
down, as I've done for the last 17\1/2\ years, we have to 
understand we assume the risk when we get there. So, I'll make 
sure I have a recording of you indicating that it's okay for 
whomever has been given that kind of order.
    Now, we heard the Chair say the prior administration 
dismantled the immigration system. He said the prior 
administration did all they could to destroy the immigration 
system. He said they implemented a Muslim ban.
    So, we can set the record straight--and I know it is not 
intentional misleading - but, even the courts have made clear 
there was no Muslim ban. Muslims were allowed in. There were 
specific countries that had extraordinary numbers of 
terrorists. Those were the countries where there was a ban. 
There was no Muslim ban.
    So, I do know want to know, though, you say immigrants are 
placed in immigration proceedings, but you didn't say where 
they go during those proceedings. They remain in the United 
States. When you say somebody's placed in immigration 
proceedings, and then, you further clarified that some are 
detained, if they are not detained, the vast majority go 
released around the country, correct?
    Secretary Mayorkas. No. Quite a significant number are 
placed on alternatives to detention. We use the acronym ATD. 
There are different levels of alternatives to detention, 
depending on the risk profile that--
    Mr. Gohmert. You ship many of those people that are not 
detained and are these other categories around the country, 
correct?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes, on alternatives to detention, 
which can--
    Mr. Gohmert. That's one of the things you're looking to 
increase the money for, is to pay NGOs and have your own folks 
who can help get those people shipped around the country, 
correct?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, if I can explain--
    Mr. Gohmert. You have asked for an increase in that amount 
of money, correct?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes. Yes, we have because--
    Mr. Gohmert. So, I'm wanting to know, though, who makes the 
decision where these different busloads, planeloads, 
trainloads, who makes the decision where they are going to go 
in the country?
    Secretary Mayorkas. So, Congressman, there are different 
tiers of disposition, depending on the risk profile that--
    Mr. Gohmert. I'm wanting to know who makes those 
determinations. I just want to know who makes the 
determination. I don't have time for filibustering.
    Secretary Mayorkas. No, Congressman, I'm trying to answer 
your question about it.
    Mr. Gohmert. Yes, who makes that determination in those 
categories?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Your Honor--oh, Your Honor? --that's my 
days as a prosecutor. Congressman, Immigration and Customs 
Enforcement makes a determination, subject to the Immigration 
Court judge, as to who is placed in detention. Then, the 
alternative--
    Mr. Gohmert. Who makes that decision in ICE?
    Secretary Mayorkas. The ICE personnel with expertise make a 
decision with respect to who should be detained.
    Mr. Gohmert. Wow, it sounds like a court chamber; we don't 
get to know who is making the decision to send people to these 
neighborhoods.
    Well, I've only got 27 seconds. Let me just say, as you 
know, article 4, section 4, says the Federal government is 
going to keep the States free from invasion. That hasn't 
happened. There was Poncho Villa's guys in 1916. They came in 
and killed 19, 18-19 people in New Mexico. That was considered 
an invasion. We're losing 100,000 a year. What will be your 
response when Texas repels the invasion?
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentleman, the time of the 
gentleman has expired. The time of the gentleman has expired.
    Mr. Gohmert. Sir, you allowed two minutes beyond your time 
to let the Witness answer the question.
    Chair Nadler. My policy--excuse me.
    Let me explain exactly what I'm doing, so everybody knows.
    Mr. Gohmert. Okay.
    Chair Nadler. Okay? If someone has asked a question before 
the clock expires, I let the Witness answer.
    Mr. Gohmert. The majority of the question was asked.
    Chair Nadler. If the Witness is in the process of answering 
a question, I let him finish. You've heard me say the time of 
the gentleman or gentlelady has expired; the Witness may answer 
the question.
    Mr. Gohmert. Correct.
    Chair Nadler. You weren't asking a question.
    Mr. Gohmert. Yes, I was.
    Chair Nadler. You were stating a fact. There was no 
question. What is the question in front of--so, that's why I 
cut it off at that point.
    Mr. Cohen?
    Mr. Cohen. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
    Mr. Tiffany. Point of order, Mr. Chair.
    Chair Nadler. Yes, the gentleman will State his point of 
order.
    Mr. Tiffany. The gentlelady from California, her question 
ended at 21 seconds in the red, and then, he was allowed to 
answer, the Witness was allowed to answer. Mr. Gohmert is 
correct, you allowed someone to ask a question into the red, 21 
seconds, by the gentlelady in California.
    Chair Nadler. The gentlelady was in the course of asking a 
question and I permit that, as I permitted on both sides of the 
aisle.
    The gentleman, Mr. Cohen--
    Mr. Gohmert. Except here.
    Chair Nadler. Mr. Cohen?
    Mr. Cohen. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
    Mr. Secretary, thank you for coming before us. I appreciate 
it. We've had other Cabinet Secretaries in the previous 
administration who refused to come before us. So, I appreciate 
your being here.
    I'm very concerned with the situation in the Ukraine and 
with the refugees. You may have answered this question. I've 
been doing three Committees at once. So, I've been in the back 
sometimes. What is being done to accommodate the Ukrainian 
refugees who might want to come to the United States? I've seen 
stories on TV where they've gotten to the border in Mexico and 
they've maybe eventually gotten in, but they spent a long time 
there, sir.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, there are three avenues to 
bring humanitarian relief to the Ukrainians under the direction 
of our President.
    First, of course, the traditional refugee system, the 
refugee program. We immediately deploy Refugee Affairs Officers 
to the region to administer a request for refugee relief.
    Secondly, in addition, the State Department, the State 
Department issued new guidance with respect to the application 
for visas for temporary stays here in the United States, in 
accordance with our legal immigration system.
    Third, we were very proud, under the President's direction, 
to launch, this past Monday, Uniting for Ukraine, which is a 
program to provide humanitarian parole to Ukrainians seeking 
temporary relief here in the United States who have sponsors 
here.
    Mr. Cohen. I don't know if you had anything to do with 
this, but there were about eight, I think eight children and 
their parents who were brought to St. Jude Children's Research 
Hospital in Memphis for treatment. If you did have something to 
do with it, thank you. If you didn't, thanks to whoever did it.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Well, thank you very much for 
recognizing the extraordinary work of the people in the 
Department of Homeland Security who made that possible, in 
collaboration with our great colleagues in the Department of 
State.
    Mr. Cohen. Thank you, sir.
    I visited with First Lady Biden when she came to Memphis, 
and she visited with the families; we didn't, but we were 
there. St. Jude is very special to us, and it's free and serves 
those children, and thank you for getting them there.
    Afghan interpreters, I've got quite a few people in my 
district who went to Afghanistan, and they had interpreters. 
They praised their work. Some of them have not gotten back over 
to this country, and they have sent me messages suggesting that 
there are many Afghans, and interpreters, in particular, who 
are still in the queue to get here. Is there a big backlog? 
What are we doing to get our friends who helped us there back 
to--
    Secretary Mayorkas. So, Congressman, as you well recognize, 
the work, the heroic work of Operation Allies Welcome, which 
brought more than 73,000 Afghan nationals here to the United 
States in a matter of weeks. There remain individuals in 
Afghanistan who are seeking humanitarian relief, and there are 
those outside of Afghanistan doing the very same. U.S. 
Citizenship and Immigration Services, with the Department of 
State, is working through those applications as swiftly as it 
can.
    We ask you to understand that we are doing so with the 
greatest urgency, in light of the urgent need for relief. We 
are addressing an agency that was so incredibly underresourced. 
We're building up those resources to be able to provide 
emergent relief, as you so correctly identified the need.
    Mr. Cohen. I believe one of my colleagues might have asked 
you about children being separated and maybe the lawsuit, or 
what's gone on with the previous administration who separated 
children from their parents at the border. What's going on with 
children and parents who have come together, and are there many 
children coming on their own today?
    Secretary Mayorkas. So, we are, through the Family 
Reunification Task Force that the President directed, reuniting 
separated children with their parents. We are enabling them to 
reunite here in the United States. What we do is we grant them 
humanitarian parole, so that they have some level of stability 
for a three-year period. Of course, that is renewable, 
depending on the facts of the particular case.
    We have already reunited more than 200 separated families. 
We have 400 more in process, and our work will not be done 
until we reunite them all.
    Mr. Cohen. Thank you, sir.
    I just want to--I looked at your biography a little bit, 
and I saw you have Sephardic, as well as Ashkenazi, roots, as 
do I. My Sephardic roots came from Turkey. So, we both probably 
had our families get benefits from HAIS, and the HAIS is a 
great group that helps immigrants. Because of that, and knowing 
that history, I feel an obligation--and I suspect you do, too, 
as well--to help others who need to immigrate and leave 
oppressive regimes or danger.
    So, thank you for what you're doing. I know you, coming 
from Cuba, it was important that you were allowed in the United 
States.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Thank you. Thank you, sir.
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentleman has expired.
    Mr. Issa?
    Mr. Issa. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
    Mr. Secretary, I want to join with others in thanking you 
for the expedited work being done at the U.S.-Mexico border 
near San Diego, where 700-1,200 Ukrainians a day are being 
processed, and the coordination that your staff has done. 
There's no question at all, they've risen to the task, and I 
appreciate that.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Thank you, Congressman.
    Mr. Issa. I also want to thank you for the service that I 
know you have given as a U.S. Attorney in California.
    I am disappointed--and we're going to go over it, at no 
surprise today--in your current performance. In your opening 
statement, you said, ``We inherited a broken system.'' I just 
want, if possible, a yes or no. When you said you inherited a 
broken system, was the system you say that was broken, did it 
represent less people coming over the border illegally and 
being admitted than today?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes, sir. Yes, yes.
    Mr. Issa. So, there were a lot less coming over?
    Secretary Mayorkas. The number of encounters has increased.
    Mr. Issa. Okay. So, the system that you called broken was 
working relative to the Border Patrol not being swamped?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Oh, I wouldn't say that at all. If I 
may, Congressman, when I refer to a ``broken system,'' a broken 
immigration system, I'm speaking of a broken system before the 
prior administration.
    Mr. Issa. Okay. I'd be the first to say that, since the 
1990s, the system for legal immigration has needed reform, and 
it's overdue, but--
    Secretary Mayorkas. That's correct, which is why I--
    Mr. Issa. Right, but there were no laws changed in 2004-
2007, the many years leading up to the Biden Administration, 
and yet, we clearly have a huge influx of people. Your Border 
Patrol, to be specific, they said, ``Eighteen months ago, we 
were on the border; today, we're on our back.'' That is from 
the Border Patrol.
    I think it's extremely important. You said that the border 
is secure previously. I'm hoping you someday recant that. When 
you look at behind me, that was taken four or five days ago on 
a CODEL, and that is the current border with the opening that 
your administration continues to leave and a fence where you've 
sold off the fence. Now, is that a secure border by any stretch 
of the imagination?
    Secretary Mayorkas. So, Congressman, if I can go back to an 
initial point that you made with respect to the broken 
immigration system, fundamentally, what we need is legislation 
to fix it which is why I added--
    Mr. Issa. Mr. Secretary--
    Secretary Mayorkas. No, I'm going to--
    Mr. Issa. --I have very limited time, and I want to hear 
your answers--
    Secretary Mayorkas. Which is why I added the word 
``dismantled,'' which is what the prior administration did.
    Mr. Issa. Yes.
    Secretary Mayorkas. With respect to the security of the 
border--
    Mr. Issa. Mr. Secretary, I appreciate that you want us to 
legislate, as I do. Your job is to enforce the law as it is. 
Your Border Patrol's job is to deter and deny people's entrance 
unless they have a bona fide ability, and you're not doing 
that.
    So, let me just go through a couple of quick questions. 
Your own Border Patrol Chief Ortiz had said, ``They've got a 
muzzle on me.'' That is a quote I got from multiple Border 
Patrol Agents of what he's saying. That muzzle appears to be 
telling us on CODELs just how bad it is. Having said that, we 
saw it for ourselves.
    Mr. Secretary, I'm going to cut right to the chase. Title 
42 is something that is being talked about a lot right now. 
When is title 42 going to end?
    Secretary Mayorkas. The Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention--
    Mr. Issa. No, no, no. Just a date.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Oh--
    Mr. Issa. May 23rd?
    Secretary Mayorkas. The CDC said May 23rd.
    Mr. Issa. When we were at the border a week ago, we saw 
that, on your orders--orders from Washington, but I have to 
presume they were yours--title 42 has already ended. Your 
Border Patrol--your Customs people were ordered to, and they 
were bringing in every day as many as they could get from down 
in Mexico, title 42 people that had been refused and bringing 
them back in. When I asked the Agent in Charge, she told me 
that they were trying to clear the backlog completely by May 
23rd; they didn't know if they were going to be able to. That 
is a clandestine ending of title 42. Why did you do it?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I am not familiar with that, and that 
is factually incorrect.
    Mr. Issa. Well, that is, that is--
    Secretary Mayorkas. That is not--
    Mr. Issa. That is a statement that multiple members here on 
the dais saw. The question is, will you come back and give us 
the details of who gave that order and when it began? We have 
been told, and we have witnessed, that going on at the U.S.-
Mexico border. It is going on as we speak today. So, would you 
agree to come back and give us the details of who gave that 
order, and whether that order was lawful?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman--
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentleman has expired. The 
Witness may answer the question.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I don't know to what order 
you are referring. There is no clearing of the backlog, as you 
have framed it. What we did begin to do is begin to expand the 
use of expedited removal under title 8 of the United States 
Code, which is an enforcement mechanism to expedite the removal 
of individuals who do not have a valid basis to remain in the 
United States.
    Mr. Issa. Mr. Chair, for the record--I'll be brief--
multiple members here on dais were told by the Agent in Charge 
the time and place that they were bringing in these individuals 
who were in Mexico, were remaining in Mexico. They had been 
refused under title 42. NGOs were coming, bringing them there. 
We were told--
    Mr. Cicilline. Point of order, Mr. Chair.
    Mr. Issa. We were told that--
    Mr. Cicilline. This is the same side of the aisle that's 
complained. You've now had an extra minute, Mr. Issa, to make 
your point.
    Chair Nadler. That's not a point of order.
    Finish quickly, please.
    Mr. Issa. Very quickly. I just want to make sure the 
record--I understand that the Secretary may not know about it, 
but there are multiple Members who were told this by a 
uniformed agent. I just want to make sure that was in the 
record.
    I thank the gentleman.
    Chair Nadler. Thank you.
    Mr. Johnson of Georgia?
    Mr. Johnson of Georgia. Thank you, Mr. Chair, for holding 
this hearing.
    Welcome to the Judiciary Committee, Secretary Mayorkas.
    I find it ironic that my colleagues on the other side of 
the aisle want to concentrate on the southern border while 
completely mischaracterizing and ignoring what's happening in 
the interior of our country by right-wing extremists propelled 
by the false rhetoric of the ex-President Donald Trump.
    Secretary Mayorkas, a June 2021 Brennan Center report 
detailed the onslaught of threats against election workers 
continuing to this day. According to the survey described in 
the report, one in three local election officials are concerned 
about facing harassment or pressure while on the job, and one 
in six local election officials have been threatened because of 
their job.
    In my own Congressional District, election workers from 
local volunteers to senior administrators endured threats of 
violence after the 2020 election, threats of hanging, firing 
squads, torture, and bomb blasts.
    Mr. Secretary, the department issued a February 2022 
bulletin warning that, in upcoming elections, we should expect 
to call for violence to be directed by democratic institutions, 
political candidates, party offices, election events, and 
elections workers, isn't that correct?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes, it is, Congressman, and the 
security--
    Mr. Johnson of Georgia. Do you stand by that bulletin?
    Secretary Mayorkas. The security of the election system is 
a core responsibility of the United States Government. We are 
extraordinarily proud in the department to play a leading role 
in advancing the security of the elections.
    Mr. Johnson of Georgia. Well, let me ask you this, Mr. 
Secretary: As we speak, it's accurate to say that Americans are 
being radicalized in preparation for the upcoming 2022 
elections, isn't that correct?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, we are seeing a rise--
    Mr. Johnson of Georgia. My time is quite limited.
    Secretary Mayorkas. We are seeing a rise in misinformation 
and disinformation that is attempting to strike at the 
integrity of the election system and people's right to vote.
    Mr. Johnson of Georgia. We're seeing on social media posts 
calling election officials corrupt and calling for violence 
against candidates and election officials, isn't that correct?
    Secretary Mayorkas. That is, Congressman, which is exactly 
why I addressed the Secretaries of State throughout this 
country a few weeks ago to speak with them about the efforts 
that we are making them with physical security; the resources 
and information they need to ensure the safety of the electoral 
system over which they preside.
    Mr. Johnson of Georgia. Mr. Secretary, mimicking false 
claims of ex-President Trump, we continue to see social media 
posts claiming, quote, ``If our election systems continue to be 
rigged and continue to be stolen, then it's going to lead to 
one place, and it's bloodshed,'' correct?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, we're very well (sic) of 
the spread of false narratives that have as one of their goals 
an effort to radicalize individuals to violence.
    Mr. Johnson of Georgia. As I understand online 
radicalization and how it works, Mr. Secretary, is it fair to 
say that believers of such disinformation could become lone 
wolves and take it upon themselves to Act on these calls for 
violence against election workers?
    Secretary Mayorkas. That is a potential that we are 
guarding against materializing, Congressman. That is why we 
have so many different efforts underway to equip local 
communities to identify individuals who very well could be 
descending into violence by reason of ideologies of hate, false 
narratives, or other disinformation and misinformation 
propagated on social media and other platforms.
    Mr. Johnson of Georgia. Well, I'm glad to know that the 
department is in touch with election officials to provide them 
with information about security, personal security as well as 
election apparatus security, so as to protect the integrity of 
our upcoming elections.
    Thank you so much for your work.
    With that, I yield back.
    Chair Nadler. The gentleman yields back.
    Mr. Biggs?
    Mr. Biggs. Thank you.
    Mr. Secretary and Mr. Chair, my constituents aren't worried 
so much about mean tweets as they're worried and concerned 
about the impacts of the crisis on the border.
    So, under your leadership, DHS issued guidance that 
included for CBP agents and officers to use gender-neutral 
language and politically correct pronouns, is that true?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Did I issue a memorandum to that 
effect? Is that what you're asking?
    Mr. Biggs. Guidance. Did you, DHS issue guidance?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I'm not sure what piece of guidance--
    Mr. Biggs. Dhs.gov--
    Secretary Mayorkas. --if I may, to what guidance you're 
referencing, but that does reflect the principles that we are 
proud to advance.
    Mr. Biggs. Okay. So, you don't recall issuing the guidance. 
I'll send that into the record, without objection.
    Chair Nadler. Without objection.
    [The information follows:]

                        MR. BIGGS FOR THE RECORD

=======================================================================

[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    Mr. Biggs. So, you also ordered CBP and ICE to stop using 
the term ``alien,'' including scrubbing websites, guidance 
documents, and other materials, is that true?
    Secretary Mayorkas. So, to be precise, unless the 
individuals are referencing the statutory language itself, we 
are using the term ``non-citizen'' to reflect the dignity of 
each individual.
    Mr. Biggs. All right. So, I'll introduce three articles 
that support that statement as well.
    [The information follows:]

                       MR. BIGGS FOR THE RECORD

=======================================================================

[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    Mr. Biggs. Did you tell the Conference of Mayors that 
unlawful presence in the United States will alone not be a 
basis for immigration enforcement actions?
    Secretary Mayorkas. The September 30th enforcement 
guidelines that I promulgated, Congressman, make a number of 
different statements with respect to two very core principles. 
No. 1 is the safe and effective use of limited resources--
    Mr. Biggs. Could we please--
    Secretary Mayorkas. --and the fact that many individuals 
who are unlawfully present in the United States have been 
contributing members to this country, and our resources should 
not be dedicated to removing them.
    Mr. Biggs. So, are you denying that, on January 20, 2022, 
you told the U.S. Conference of Mayors the following: That 
unlawful, quote, ``Unlawful presence in the United States will 
alone not be a basis for an immigration enforcement action.''?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I'm not denying that, but I am--
    Mr. Biggs. Okay, great. Thank you.
    Secretary Mayorkas. What I'm sharing with you, Congressman, 
is that is drawn--
    Mr. Biggs. The rationale for it. I appreciate that.
    Secretary Mayorkas. --that is drawn from my memorandum.
    Mr. Biggs. Right. So, is it true that DHS has spent 
resources and time creating a Strategic Framework for 
Addressing Climate Change, including the establishment of the 
Climate Change Professionals Program?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes, that is true, and we are 
addressing one of the most significant threats to the homeland.
    Mr. Biggs. You have, also--
    Secretary Mayorkas. We see that in the increasing frequency 
and gravity--
    Mr. Biggs. Yes. You just have a couple of seconds. Right.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes. We see that in the--
    Mr. Biggs. So, the question was a yes or no. I appreciate 
you answering the question. You said, yes, you did.
    The next question--
    Secretary Mayorkas. We see that in the gravity--
    Mr. Biggs. --did you issue--
    Secretary Mayorkas. --and frequency of--
    Mr. Biggs. Right. I understand that. That's your rationale. 
You and I have had this discussion, Okay?
    So, did you also release the first-ever Equity Action Plan?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes, and very proudly so.
    Mr. Biggs. Great. So, here's the deal, Mr. Secretary--well, 
let me just ask you another question. I think this is an 
interesting question, too.
    Will you commit to oppose any form of amnesty or 
modification of legal status of those who are in this country 
illegally who have entered during your tenure?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Only Congress can provide legal status 
through the laws. We administer the laws that Congress passes.
    Mr. Biggs. Would you oppose the--we're not talking about 
who passes laws or not. We're just talking about your 
philosophy, as the DHS Secretary. Would you support amnesty or 
modification of legal status?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I fully support, and have 
for many years, legislative reform that, once and for all, 
fixes--
    Mr. Biggs. Okay.
    Secretary Mayorkas. --our broken immigration system--
    Mr. Biggs. So, I'll take it that you won't make that 
statement now.
    Secretary Mayorkas. No, no, I actually will, if you would 
allow me.
    Mr. Biggs. Please. We've got just a few seconds. So, speed 
it up, please.
    Secretary Mayorkas. That involves a path to citizenship for 
those who have been in this country for many years--
    Mr. Biggs. Okay.
    Secretary Mayorkas. --who've been contributing to the well-
being of our country.
    Mr. Biggs. Very good. So, the answer is you would support 
amnesty of some kind.
    So, you said that you would--that the border is closed and 
secure. You've said today you're following every law. You 
understand, don't you, that the law, the Secure Fence Act of 
2006, you're in total violation of that? Operational control. 
You don't have the border under operational control, do you? 
Section 2, what does it say? It says, ``In this section, 
operational control means the prevention of all unlawful 
entries into the U.S., including entries by terrorists, . . . 
.''
    You're not preventing entries. You're fomenting entries. 
You're encouraging it. You're either accepting the Biden 
Administration--and if that's the case, then you should be 
impeached. If you disagree with the Biden Administration's 
program, you should resign. That's where we are.
    Ms. Jackson Lee. Would the gentleman yield? Would the 
gentleman yield?
    Chair Nadler. Mr. Deutch?
    Mr. Deutch. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
    Mr. Secretary, good morning. Thank you for being with us. 
Thank you for your thoughtful testimony.
    As you know, I wrote to the President last May, 
Representative Meng and I did, at a time of then-rising 
antisemitism in our country amidst a series of violent attacks 
last spring against the Jewish community and Jewish 
institutions. When I wrote it, I urged the administration to 
swiftly implement the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act to help 
prosecute antisemitic hate crimes and also develop an 
interagency strategy to combat antisemitism and protect 
American Jews from those rising attacks.
    In the response that I received from you, I was glad to see 
that there are steps that have been taken over the last several 
months within existing DHS programs to counter domestic violent 
extremism, including anti-Jewish extremism. I was encouraged by 
the prioritization of Nonprofit Security Grant Program 
investments.
    Mr. Secretary, the Security Grant Program, as you know, can 
only go so far. Programs with a secondary or partial focus on 
antisemitism can only go so far. These attacks are occurring 
not only against institutions that fall under the Security 
Grant Program purview, but against members of the Jewish 
community, against Jewish grocery stores, against Jewish homes 
and neighborhoods, and literally, out in the general public.
    We already knew from the FBI that more than half of all 
religion-based hate crimes occur against Jews. This week, the 
ADL published its audit, which showed us that, in 2021, the 
year I wrote that letter, that it was the worst year for 
antisemitism ever recorded. Incidents were up over a third 
above 2020, with a total of 2,717 incidents, an average of 
seven attacks per day. Jewish institutions covered by the 
Security Grant Program saw a 60 percent increase in attacks. 
Perhaps most chilling is that there was a 167 percent increase 
in assaults against members of the Jewish community. Known 
White natural extremists accounted for only 18 percent of that 
total.
    So, while I am grateful, I appreciate the inclusion of 
antisemitism in your other domestic violence extremism 
programs, and your strong support for the Nonprofit Security 
Grant Program, we know that we need to do more.
    I would just like to take the opportunity while you are 
here to ask you about what your department can do to prioritize 
combating antisemitism, prosecuting antisemitic hate crimes, 
and how you might lead an interagency strategy to tackle this 
issue specifically.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, tragically, we are seeing 
a rise in hate crimes of all types against minority communities 
throughout this country, not only antisemitism. I spoke with 
the Presidents of Historically Black Colleges and Universities 
a few weeks ago in response to a series of bomb threats against 
them.
    We are, indeed, assisting in the investigation of hate 
crimes and working very closely with the Department of Justice 
to bring the perpetrators of that heinous crime to justice.
    We are also through, our Centers for Prevention programs 
and partnership resourcing local communities with funding to 
the best of our abilities as our grant programs permit and, 
critically, with information and advice with respect to how 
they can harden their facilities without making them less 
welcoming--schools, places of worship, and different types of 
places of congregation.
    We would be proud to enhance our efforts in this regard and 
I very much look forward to speaking with you and learning your 
ideas. Of course, I have been in touch with the President of 
the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt, to discuss 
strategies.
    Mr. Deutch. Mr. Secretary, I would welcome the opportunity 
to work with the administration to help formulate a whole of 
government approach. When a community represents less than two 
percent of the American population but is a significant 
majority of all the religious-based hate crimes and when people 
are being attacked on the street, being pulled out of their 
chairs in restaurants and pummeled, having fireworks shot at 
them as they walk down the street because they are identifiable 
as members of the Jewish community, then the protection of 
institutions is important.
    It is the protection of lives that deserves, I would 
respectfully suggest, even greater attention and I do look 
forward to working closely with you to help accomplish that.
    Thank you, sir.
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentleman has expired.
    Mr. Gaetz?
    Mr. Gaetz. One point two million people are undetained, 
free, roaming about the country. They've gone before a judge. A 
judge has issued a final order of removal. How many ICE agents 
do you need to deport them?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I think what we need is 
legislation to fix the broken immigration system because let 
me, if I can--
    Mr. Gaetz. We don't need legislation to overcome a final 
order of removal. Right? Look, I get it. You want comprehensive 
immigration reform and a big amnesty thing. Very unlikely 
that's going to happen. So, we have to operate under the laws 
that exist now.
    So, under the laws that exist now, a judge has told 1.2 
million people that they have no right to be here. Do you plan 
to remove those 1.2 million people?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, with the resources we 
have--and I would appreciate the opportunity to answer your 
question fully--with the resources we have, we have to allocate 
those resources to address the greatest--
    Mr. Gaetz. How much money do you need to deport all them? 
How much money? How many agents?
    Secretary Mayorkas. To--
    Mr. Gaetz. To deport the 1.2 million who a judge has said 
has no right to be here.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, there are a number of 
questions that your question raises with respect to whether all 
those individuals actually have been given due process just 
because--
    Mr. Gaetz. No. No. No. They have. These are the people 
who've had the due process. Okay. Here's the point. You have no 
plan to remove them.
    You don't know how many ICE agents it would take, and you 
don't know how much money it would take because you actually 
don't want to remove them. That's why you issued this September 
30 guidance that says, well, if you haven't committed a crime 
and you just came to our country illegally we're not going to 
remove you. Isn't that your position?
    Secretary Mayorkas. No, it isn't, Congressman. Not at all. 
You just stated--
    Mr. Gaetz. Then what is your plan to remove the 1.2 
million?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Let me--if I may--
    Mr. Gaetz. Do you have one?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes, we do. If I may, Congressman.
    As a former prosecutor, let me ask you a question. If one 
has a finite amount of resources and one has a finite number of 
hours, and one has a choice of removing 20 shoplifters or three 
fugitive armed bank robbers, how would you spend your time?
    Mr. Gaetz. I know how you've spent yours. I know how you've 
spent yours.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman--
    Mr. Gaetz. By decreasing by 48 percent, the number of 
criminals you arrest, deporting 63 percent fewer convicted 
criminals. You have the lowest deportation rate in the history 
of the department, right?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Your data that you cite is misleading.
    Mr. Gaetz. No, it's your data. This is actually what your 
own agency is reporting.
    So, do you think that it just might be the case that one 
reason that we will encounter the highest number of illegal 
immigrations in our nation's history this month and next month 
because everybody knows that even if they come here, even if 
they go through the removal procedures, even if a judge issues 
a final order, you still think there might be more due process 
and you have no plan to remove them, and then when I ask you 
what the plan is, you say, oh, well, resources--I got to make 
finite decisions.
    I go back to my first question. How many ICE agents to 
remove the 1.2 million?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I'd be pleased to provide 
you with a resourcing data subsequent to this hearing, if I 
may.
    Mr. Gaetz. I think it's telling that you got plans for 
pronouns and you got plans for misinformation. When it comes to 
the plan to remove the people that have had due process you 
don't have one at all.
    Now, 800,000 people have encountered your CBP agents and 
those folks have been released into the country. Like, some of 
those people are going to commit crimes, aren't they?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, may I have a moment to 
answer your questions?
    Mr. Gaetz. Will some of the 800,000 commit crimes, yes or 
no?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Undoubtedly.
    Mr. Gaetz. Undoubtedly. So, the Americans who are the 
victims of the crimes for the people that you released in the 
country are collateral damage that you are willing to accept to 
have our border function as a turnstile and you're willing to 
accept that collateral damage?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I couldn't disagree with 
you more. Let me give you, if I can, some data that will 
actually--
    Mr. Gaetz. More than the data, how about this? How did it 
feel to you when you went to the border and the Border Patrol 
agents turned their back on you?
    Secretary Mayorkas. One Border Patrol agent turned his back 
on me, and I addressed that, as the leader--
    Mr. Gaetz. There was only one?
    Secretary Mayorkas. --the leader of the Department of 
Homeland Security. So, if I can return to data because I want 
to--
    Mr. Gaetz. We see the data.
    Secretary Mayorkas. --make sure that you have accurate 
information--
    Mr. Gaetz. Everyone knows that you have more people coming 
in than ever and you're removing fewer people than ever and 
it's because you have no plan and because it's on purpose.
    See, I don't buy the theory that you don't know how to do 
this. I think you're actually a highly competent dude. The 
reality is your plan is to bring these people in and to send 
the message to the smugglers and the criminals that they will 
never have to leave.
    That's why your workforce turns their back on you. You have 
tools that you could use to deport these people. You have 
facial recognition. You have flights going all over the country 
dropping people off, and I think we ought to use the best tools 
in the country to find these folks, round them up like they 
were at the Capitol on January 6th and deport every last one of 
them.
    I yield back.
    Chair Nadler. The gentleman yields back.
    Ms. Bass?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, may I have a moment to 
answer a question?
    Chair Nadler. No. No. He didn't ask a question.
    Ms. Bass?
    Ms. Bass. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you, Mr. 
Secretary. I want to especially point out your patience for 
putting up with all the theatrics.
    I want to echo what Chair Nadler has already stated about 
your efforts to reunify children with their families. The last 
administration's policy of State-sponsored abuse of children, I 
believe, will go down as one of the worst moments in our 
history, and the trauma inflicted on those who have been torn 
apart from their families will be lifelong.
    On that note, could you speak a little more about those 
children detained by DHS? I want to know, in particular, where 
some of the children were found, whether they were with family 
members. Do you know if any of them--the children--were 
recovered from traffickers?
    I'd also like to know about the relationship with the 
domestic foster care system. How many of these children ended 
up in foster care?
    For those children who are in the process of being reunited 
with their family, I believe you said that there are about 500 
more. I wanted to know what is the process? What do you think? 
Are you concerned that some of these children will not be able 
to be reunited with their families?
    I know with the last administration the families had to pay 
to have their children returned. I want to know if we are 
providing any assistance, especially to the families to help 
them recover from the trauma of being separated.
    Then, finally, in the past the administration administered 
or issued contracts so quickly and we know that many of the 
facilities were subpar. We know that many of the children were 
abused, and I want to know if the Department of Homeland 
Security is pursuing any of this.
    Please take the rest of the time to answer all those 
questions.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, thank you so much for 
speaking of an effort that we're very proud to lead under the 
leadership of President Biden.
    I'm the Chair of the Family Reunification Task Force. We 
already have reunified approximately 200--more than 200 
children who were cruelly separated from their parents under 
the prior administration's family separation policy.
    We have approximately 400 more children in process so that 
we can reunify them with their parents. We anticipate or we 
estimate, I should say, a total of a thousand families that 
remain to be reunited.
    We are, to the extent of our capabilities, providing 
resources to the families who are reunified here in the United 
States under our grant of humanitarian parole.
    I look forward to following up with you, Congresswoman, to 
identify how many of the children here in the United States 
were placed into foster care and we are, certainly, very 
focused on the facilities in which children are sheltered.
    That is something within the province of the Department of 
Health and Human Services, and we have contributed resources to 
the department to advance the wellbeing of those children.
    This is an all government effort under President Biden's 
direction and each and every agency involved in this effort is 
extraordinarily proud to bring relief to these traumatized 
families.
    Chair Nadler. Karen, your mic's off.
    Ms. Bass. I'm sorry. For the families--for the children 
that have been reunited, do those families have to pay for 
their children? Then feel free to take the rest of the time 
responding to the attacks from my colleague, Representative 
Gaetz.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, we do not impose 
financial fee to reunify families. We're trying to restore 
families that have suffered so very much.
    I want to just give--and thank you for the opportunity--to 
give a few statistics. In fiscal year 2021, 12,025 individuals 
were arrested and were convicted of aggravated felonies, nearly 
double the number, 6,815 arrested in fiscal year 2020.
    Again, in fiscal year 2021, of the individuals removed 46 
percent of the removals were for people convicted of felonies 
or aggravated felonies, compared to 18 percent during the 
previous four years and 17 percent the year before that.
    This is what we call smart and effective law enforcement to 
focus on those individuals who pose the greatest threat to 
public safety, national security, or border security. Thank 
you.
    Ms. Bass. Thank you for your service. I yield back.
    Chair Nadler. The gentlelady yields back, I assume.
    Ms. Bass. Yeah, I yield back. My time is up.
    Chair Nadler. The gentlelady yields back.
    Mr. Bishop?
    Mr. Bishop. Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's useful to have a 
follow-up opportunity when seeking answers from you, Mr. 
Secretary. We were together yesterday when I was in Homeland 
Security, and Mr. Gaetz's questions sort of put a fine point on 
something for me.
    I asked you yesterday about Americans who may be subject to 
crimes committed by the 836,000 that are released into the 
country and what you'd have to say to them.
    We went back and forth because I was having a hard time 
getting a straight answer and, ultimately, you went back to 
what I hear you say a lot, that they've got the right to assert 
an asylum claim.
    When you hear the real numbers and what Mr. Gaetz just 
asked you about, let's get the real numbers. There's 836,000 
people released. There's 600,000, give or take, got aways that 
Border Patrol knows they weren't able to capture because 
they're distracted by changing diapers and processing people.
    Then you've got 1.2 million people subject to an order of 
deportation who you're not removing. As you said, undoubtedly, 
some of those 2.6 million people in the country by your 
discretionary choice will commit crimes.
    So, I want to go back to the question I asked. Do you have 
anything to say to the American people, the victims of the 
crimes those people will commit who are here by your 
discretion?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, we do not tolerate the 
commission of crimes in the United States. We have laws to 
address those crimes. It is not--
    Mr. Bishop. Is that what you intend to tell the people 
who've been subjected to the victim--who are the victims of the 
crimes?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I have worked with victims of crime for 
more than 12 of my 20 years in government service, and so we do 
not tolerate the commission of crimes here in the United States 
against individuals present in the United States.
    It is not my discretionary choice. It is by operation of 
law, of the laws that the United States Congress has passed, 
that individuals who make a claim for asylum have a right--
    Mr. Bishop. How about the individuals--
    Secretary Mayorkas. --have a right to vindicate their 
asylum claims--
    Mr. Bishop. You're not suggesting to this Committee, are 
you, sir, that the people who are subject to an order of 
detention cannot be removed by law? You're not suggesting that 
to this Committee?
    Secretary Mayorkas. That is not what I said at all.
    Mr. Bishop. All right. The people that--the rest of the 
people, the people who you released, not all those people are 
required to be released, are they? You could detain them.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, we are funded for a 
certain number of immigration--
    Mr. Bishop. Your budget request reduces the amount of bed 
space you request to detain people. Isn't that right?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes. Our fiscal year 2023 budget 
requests 25,000 detention beds and the numbers, as you have 
readily identified--the number of detention beds over the last 
many years has not met the number of individuals who are in 
asylum proceedings, and detention--
    Mr. Bishop. So, you're reducing the ones you're requesting.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Detention is used--Congressman, 
detention is used to address the greatest public safety 
threats. In the criminal justice system, there is, also, 
detention is used.
    Before a trial reaches a final adjudication, detention is 
used for two purposes:

        (1)  To protect the public safety if there is no condition or 
        combination of conditions that can secure the public safety 
        during the pendency of the criminal proceedings, and

        (2)  to ensure the individual's continued appearance in 
        proceedings.

    Mr. Bishop. The rest of the people who are committing 
crimes, the people who suffer are the victims of the crimes are 
just left on their own. You have no answer for them.
    Secretary Mayorkas. That is--and that is--
    Mr. Bishop. Let me ask you a question about security. I've 
given you a lot of time, Mr. Secretary, to go on. Let me ask 
you about security. You've said that DHS assesses that domestic 
violent extremists present the greatest risk to the homeland, 
and that struck me.
    I want to ask you this question. Are you including as 
domestic risks--domestic violent extremist risk--those 2.6 
million people who are here by your discretion?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, my statement is that 
domestic violent extremism represents the greatest terrorism-
related threat to the homeland. That is--
    Mr. Bishop. How do you know that none of the 2.6 million, 
including the 600,000 got aways you don't even know who they 
are, and you know 41 on the terror watch list have been 
encountered, how do you know those people aren't a source of 
risk of terrorism?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, the individuals that we 
have encountered on the terrorism screening database, the TSDV 
is--
    Mr. Bishop. You're not answering my question. I've got 22 
seconds. I'm going to pose one more question.
    Do you know Ramzi Yousef, a claimed asylum, right, and you 
know that he has to go and be released into the country on an 
assertion of credible fear. He was released and six months 
later he bombed the World Trade Center.
    Among the 600,000 got aways, just that small portion, Mr. 
Secretary, how do you know that we're--are you waiting for a 
mushroom cloud?
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentleman has expired. The 
Witness may answer the question.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Mr. Chair, I won't dignify that last 
question with a response.
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentleman has expired.
    Mr. Cicilline?
    Mr. Cicilline. Mr. Secretary, thank you so much for being 
here. Just in case there's any mystery about why you're not 
being allowed to answer questions by my colleagues on the other 
side of the aisle or why they're not interested in your 
reference to data or misleading statements or making statements 
which are inaccurate that you've corrected for them, well, it's 
actually--there's a plan about this.
    They're not actually interested in that because they have a 
60-page memo prepared by the Ranking Member of this Committee, 
as reported in the newspaper, that's a memo that includes 
misleading and provocative talking points that seek to portray 
migrants and refugees as perpetrators of gruesome crimes.
    It's a confidential for internal use only document and it's 
prepared so that the Republicans can argue that Democrats are 
seeking to--listen to this--abolish all immigration enforcement 
and even encourage illegal immigration.
    So, don't be confused. With all due respect, Mr. Secretary, 
of your ongoing efforts to actually put data and information 
before the Committee.
    There's a whole plan about what this hearing is about and 
it's about creating Fox News spots that they can use for 
politics, and I regret that you have to be part of it.
    I'm grateful for your presence here today, and so I have 
three very specific questions, in addition to wanting to 
express my gratitude for all that you're doing.
    That video that was, again, designed to be scary showed you 
are preventing dangerous individuals from coming into the 
United States, arresting drug kingpins, seizing caches of 
drugs, and disrupting human trafficking. Sounds like you're 
doing exactly what we expect you and your department to do and 
for that, we're grateful.
    First question is there been a number of very anti-LGBT 
laws passed around the country that have put families and, 
particularly, parents at risk--in Texas, for example, an 
Executive Order that demanded the investigation of parents who 
were providing their trans children with healthcare, a position 
supported by every medical association.
    In response, the United States Air Force has announced it 
will provide legal, medical, and other resources to employees 
whose families are impacted by these anti-LGBTQ laws, including 
reassignments to other States if necessary.
    My question, Mr. Secretary, is will you commit to providing 
similar resources to DHS employees whose families are impacted 
by these anti-LGBTQ laws?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, let me, if I can, make a 
very important statement.
    Diversity, equity, inclusion, opportunity is one of our 
core principles. It is one of our priorities for fiscal year 
2022 and beyond. We're investing in employee wellbeing and 
employee morale.
    Mr. Cicilline. Thank you, and I hope you will look at the 
practices that the United States Air Force has adopted and 
consider doing exactly the same thing.
    Mr. Secretary, last week, you announced a new streamlined 
process for Ukrainians to enter United States for humanitarian 
parole in the refugee program and, of course, this is very much 
needed.
    Can you discuss the actions you're taking to ensure that we 
reach these 100,000 numbers? Also, what can Congress do to 
support it?
    If you could do it quickly, I have one last question.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Very quickly, as I mentioned 
previously, we have the Uniting for Ukraine program, which is a 
humanitarian parole program. We've already received, I believe, 
more than 4,000 applications and we launched the program on 
Monday. We also deployed our refugee affairs officers to the 
region to accept refugee applications.
    So, we are going full throttle to realize the President's 
commitment to provide refugee relief for 100,000 Ukrainians.
    Mr. Cicilline. Thank you, Mr. Secretary.
    Finally, our nation's refugee and asylum programs were once 
called by the evangelical leadership of this country as the 
crown jewel of America's humanitarian work.
    As you know, Mr. Secretary, the prior administration--the 
Trump Administration--dismantled our refugee admissions program 
and set historically low refugee admission goals. They 
decimated the capacity of refugee resettlement organizations 
and delayed the pipeline of refugees ready for processing in 
the United States.
    Fortunately, President Biden has begun to reverse that 
process. Can you discuss what your department is doing to 
increase our nation's ability to accept and resettle refugees?
    Why have the refugee admission numbers been so low even 
this year? What can Congress do to support our refugee program 
to ensure that America continues to be the crown jewel of the 
refugee and asylum program that other people around the world 
look to as an example of what a great humanitarian effort is?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, thank you so much for your 
interest in these critical programs, and we were and are so 
proud to, once again, lead the world in doing so.
    We are hiring personnel so that our personnel can 
administer applications for refugee status and can administer 
applications for asylum, and one of the requests in the 
President's fiscal year 2023 budget is to appropriate funds to 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services so that we can 
advance the recruitment and hiring efforts.
    We will, of course, promulgate a fee rule that will equip 
USCIS with additional resources to hire those personnel which 
are so vital. The work they do is so incredibly noble.
    Mr. Cicilline. Thank you so much, Mr. Secretary, and thank 
you for your service to our country.
    With that, Mr. Chair, I yield back.
    Chair Nadler. The gentleman yields back.
    Mr. Buck?
    Mr. Buck. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
    Secretary Mayorkas, Americans are mad, and they are 
particularly mad at you. In fact, even President Biden had to 
appoint the Vice President to help you do your job.
    When I listen to the constituents in my district, they 
believe you have intentionally made our border less secure. 
When I listen to my colleagues, they believe you have acted 
intentionally to make the border less secure.
    My constituents distinguish between your actions and the 
actions of other Biden Administration officials. Americans are 
mad at Secretary Austin, for example, because he removed 
military personnel for not taking the COVID vaccine.
    Americans are mad that the Biden Administration reduced oil 
and gas production and we see the result at the pump. There are 
a number of bad policies from the Biden White House, but 
Americans believe what you've done is intentional.
    You've stopped the building of the wall that deterred 
illegal immigrants from coming to this country. You've 
terminated asylum cooperative agreements with Guatemala, El 
Salvador, and Nicaragua.
    You're trying to revoke title 42. You are funding 
organizations that work in foreign countries to encourage 
illegal immigrants to come to America.
    The result is the largest increase in illegal immigration 
in the history of the United States. You've allowed thousands 
of pounds of fentanyl to come into this country.
    Fentanyl overdose is now the leading cause of death for 
adults between the ages of 18-45. You're responsible for 
thousands of young girls being forced into prostitution in this 
country.
    The Americans I speak to believe you have intentionally 
undermined the mission of the Department of Homeland Security, 
that mission being to ensure a safe, secure, and prosperous 
homeland.
    Secretary Mayorkas. To safeguard our people, our homeland, 
and our values.
    Mr. Buck. There you go. American parents are frustrated 
that their kids can't get an education because half of the 
students in the elementary schools where their kids go are 
monolingual Spanish-speaking kids that require additional care, 
and that care is coming from their kids' classrooms.
    Americans are mad that their relatives with serious medical 
conditions are waiting in line at the emergency room being used 
by illegal immigrants to treat common ailments.
    American workers are mad that their wages are being 
suppressed by the mass influx of laborers. Many of my 
constituents have asked me whether you will be impeached when 
Republicans gained control next year.
    They don't believe that you've committed a high crime and 
they don't believe that you've committed a misdemeanor. My 
constituents want you impeached because they believe you've 
committed treason. They believe you're a traitor. They compare 
you to Benedict Arnold. No parent with the last name Arnold 
names their kid Benedict. They wonder, what would the Mayorkas 
family do down the road?
    Secretary Mayorkas, I was at an event this past weekend and 
a lady approached me and asked me if you felt any shame for 
what you've done to this country.
    My question for you, Secretary Mayorkas, is very simple. 
Would you please answer that lady's question? Are you ashamed 
for what you've done to this country?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I have so much to say in 
response to what you have just said.
    Mr. Buck. You got a minute and 17 seconds to say it.
    Secretary Mayorkas. It is so profoundly offensive on so 
many different levels, in so many different regards. I won't 
ask you for an apology.
    Mr. Buck. Don't.
    Secretary Mayorkas. I won't. Let me share with you just 
quite succinctly, I am incredibly proud of my service to this 
country. It is more than 20 years of service in the civilian 
corps, as a Federal prosecutor, and as a member of the 
Department of Homeland Security.
    I am immensely proud to work alongside the selfless, 
dedicated, and talented 250,000 personnel of the Department of 
Homeland Security in the service of the American people to 
secure our homeland, to secure them, and to secure our values. 
That is my response.
    Mr. Buck. What do you say to the mothers of the children 
who have died from the fentanyl overdoses? What do you say to 
all the people out there who can't get an education because of 
what you've done with immigration in this country?
    You've secured the homeland? It's a farce. It's an absolute 
farce.
    I yield back.
    Chair Nadler. The gentleman yields back.
    Mr. Lieu?
    Mr. Lieu. Thank you, Chair Nadler. Thank you, Secretary 
Mayorkas, for your distinguished public service.
    An American President told the American people that all 
their problems were because of the southern border. Sounds just 
like my colleague from Colorado, that all your problems are 
because of the southern border. He railed against the border. 
He tried to close it. He talked about the drugs at the border.
    That American President was Richard Nixon in 1969 and he 
launched Operation Intercept to shut down, virtually, the 
southern border and after three weeks, he gave up. He failed.
    His policies failed to stop the migrants coming to the 
United States, and so did the policies of every other 
President--President Ford, Carter, Reagan, George W. Bush, 
Clinton, George H.W. Bush, Obama, and Trump.
    In fact, under the Trump Administration, migrant 
apprehensions increased to 851,000 in May of 2019, more than 
double the year before. A 140,000 migrant encounters occurred 
in May of 2019.
    So, my question to you is: It's true, isn't it, that the 
issues of the southern border have been there for more than 
half a century?
    Secretary Mayorkas. That is true, Congressman.
    Mr. Lieu. My Republican colleagues somehow say this is a 
new problem that's just hogwash. So, let's talk about one of 
the more ineffective solutions, which is the wall.
    The former President said Mexico would pay for the wall. 
Did Mexico pay for the wall?
    Secretary Mayorkas. No, it did not.
    Mr. Lieu. Okay. The southern border is approximately 1,933 
miles long, is that correct?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Approximately, yes.
    Mr. Lieu. In four years, all the former President managed 
to do was built approximately 455 miles, of which only 49 were 
in places where there weren't already physical barriers, is 
that correct?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I'm not familiar, Congressman, with the 
precise amount of mileage that was built, but it certainly 
didn't expand the entire territory of the southern border. Nor 
is it the most effective means of securing--
    Mr. Lieu. In fact, the public reporting is that there has 
been over 3,000 times this wall was sawed by people trying to 
cross, isn't that right?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I have read a report that estimates 
that number of attempted incursions.
    Mr. Lieu. An overwhelming majority of this wall was built 
in places where there already was a previous physical barrier, 
isn't that right?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I believe so, Congressman.
    Mr. Lieu. Thank you. By my calculation, the former 
President in four years only built new barriers in 2.5 percent 
of our entire southern border. So, let me just tell you a story 
about why I think every administration has had problems with 
migrant flow.
    A few weeks ago, I met with a Colombian refugee. She left 
Colombia, and I asked why she left. She said narco traffickers 
had killed her father. The line I kept remembering was she just 
wanted the body back. They just wanted her father's body so 
they could give him a proper burial.
    So, her brother negotiated with these bad people to get the 
body. When the brother showed up, they killed him. Then they 
went after her husband and killed her husband. Then she fled 
with her three children. If any of us were in that situation, 
we would flee too.
    Migrant flow is a very complicated issue. To really solve 
this you would need comprehensive immigration reform. So, let 
me ask you, do you agree that if we really want to solve the 
problems at the southern border, we would need comprehensive 
immigration reform?
    Secretary Mayorkas. We would, Congressman, need legislation 
indeed to fix what has long been a broken immigration system. 
Not just with respect to the southern border, but in many, many 
regards.
    Mr. Lieu. I'm pleased the Bloomberg has reported that there 
is a bipartisan group of Senators meeting, including Senator 
Thom Tillis and Democrats, talking about bipartisan legislation 
to try to address the real issues facing the southern border.
    So, let me ask you, what would some of those pieces of 
legislation look like that you would like to see?
    Secretary Mayorkas. So, there are many pieces that have 
been discussed and that I support. One, of course, a 
fundamental, is a path to citizenship.
    We have approximately 11-12 million undocumented 
individuals here in the United States. Programs that recognize 
immigrants' contributions to the prosperity of our nation, to 
fix the path for farm workers to citizenship and provide 
citizenship for the DREAMers, the young children who really 
have known no other country but America.
    Who've been on our front lines and contributed to our 
communities in so many different regards, whether it's in 
response to the COVID-19 pandemic, or have taught our children, 
or worked in our faith-based institutions, to recognize the 
contributions of individuals who have made this country 
everything that it can and should be.
    Mr. Lieu. Thank you, and I yield back.
    Chair Nadler. The gentleman yields back. Mr. Jordan.
    Mr. Jordan. Mr. Secretary, have you done anything right? 
When it comes to our border, have you done anything right? 
Record number last July, record number of illegal migrants 
coming into our country last July. That record was just broken 
last month, and next month you're going to make it worse.
    Agents turning their back on you when you speak. Agents on 
video on horseback patrol doing their job, Democrats call them 
racist. You guys throw them under the bus.
    Fentanyl coming across our border like we've never seen 
before. Are you doing anything right when it comes to the 
border?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Well, Congressman, so you mention I've 
done a tremendous number of things correct and which I am very 
proud. Let me just pick up on one element of your question, and 
that's the element of fentanyl.
    Because the effort to smuggle fentanyl into our country 
actually comes through the ports of entry, and we have 
increased the interdiction of fentanyl by quite a significant 
amount through the technological resources.
    Mr. Jordan. We appreciate that. I think there are lots of 
families that have been impacted by this drug that would have a 
different take on that, but we appreciate what you are doing at 
the ports of entry. That doesn't take into account what's 
happening outside the ports of entry.
    Let me just ask you this question, because this gets to the 
numbers and the records that you have broken month after month 
after month after month. Five months in a row, and then of 
course, that record was just broken last month.
    Do you think that maybe, just maybe, your actions and your 
policies are encouraging migrants to come to the border? A 
moratorium on deportations was announced on day one by 
President Biden. You've ended remain in Mexico. You've ended 
agreements with Northern Triangle countries.
    You've stopped building the wall, and in 25 days title 42 
goes away. Do you think that's encouraging people to come to 
the border?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, the increase at the border 
is the result of a number of factors, and it's a regional 
phenomenon.
    Mr. Jordan. Maybe a number of factors, I'm asking about 
those specific factors, your actions and policies.
    Secretary Mayorkas. I do not. I think that--
    Mr. Jordan. You don't?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I think that individuals--
    Mr. Jordan. Come on, come on. You went to Berkeley, you 
went to Loyola, you're no dummy. You understand--the folks I 
represent, good people, they understand that when you put those 
kinds of policies in place, that encourages, incentivizes 
people to come.
    I haven't even talked about the biggest incentive, Mr. 
Secretary. The biggest incentive for people to come is they 
know they're going to get released. You're going to let them 
go. Come to America illegally. There's no wall to stop you. We 
won't deport you. You won't have to stay in Mexico while we 
check you out.
    You'll get released to wherever you want to go. We'll put 
you on a bus or we'll put you on a plane. Now, you may have to 
fly in the middle of the night, because we don't want the 
American taxpayers who are paying for this, we don't want you 
to know where you're going and that we're doing this.
    Of course, when they get there, this is just so common 
sense. Again, the folks I get the privilege of representing 
understand that when they get there, you know what they're 
going to do? They're going to get on their phone. It may not be 
the phone you gave them, but they're going to get on their 
phone and they're going to call back home.
    They'll say hey, come to America. Mayorkas is letting you 
in. They won't even call, they'll probably FaceTime. Hey, look, 
I made it. Show it around. That's what they're going to do. 
That's what your policies have incentivized.
    The part that bugs me is that is so unfair to the American 
taxpayer and the American citizen. Maybe, most importantly, Mr. 
Secretary, I think that's unfair to the people who came here 
legally, the immigrants who did it the right way. I think it's 
unfair to them. I think it's spitting in their face.
    Your policies are driving this influx. We have seen the 
record after record.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Ranking Member Jordan, can I answer 
your question?
    Mr. Jordan. I just paused.
    Secretary Mayorkas. I want to speak of one success. First, 
I'll return very quickly to the issue of fentanyl.
    Mr. Jordan. Oh, yeah.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Opioid overdose deaths. In 2020, there 
were approximately 50 percnet more opioid deaths in this 
country than over 2019, 2020 versus 2019. The scourge of 
illegal drugs in this country--
    Mr. Jordan. Let me ask you this. Look, I want you to answer 
the question of your actions and your policies are driving and 
incentivizing people to come--
    Secretary Mayorkas. Let me give you--let me give you--
    Mr. Jordan. People of common sense know that they are. Let 
me ask you this: Do you think when you release 836,225 illegal 
immigrants into our country, do you think that is actually 
accomplishing the objective of the cartels?
    These people pay the cartels money to get here, pay them 
lots of money, for them lots of money, to get here. Then you're 
actually releasing them. Isn't that sort of accomplishing the 
objective of the cartels?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, those are individuals who 
have claimed asylum under our laws.
    Let me speak of one success since I didn't have that 
opportunity to answer your question. In 2010, when I was in the 
Department of Homeland Security, I was told that one of the 
infirmities in our system is it takes six to eight years 
between the time of encounter at the border and the time of a 
final adjudication of an asylum claim. That was in 2010.
    Nothing was done to address that until this administration. 
We promulgated--
    Mr. Jordan. As Mr. Gaetz pointed out, Mr. Secretary, 1.2 
million of them went through that process. They're supposed to 
be removed, and you're not doing it.
    Secretary Mayorkas. We promulgated an asylum--
    Mr. Jordan. You're not doing it.
    Secretary Mayorkas. We promulgated an asylum officer rule 
that is taking effect at the end of May.
    Mr. Jordan. Let me ask you one last thing.
    Secretary Mayorkas. (Inaudible)
    Mr. Jordan. Forty-two illegal--42 illegal immigrants were 
encountered at our border, are on the terrorist and no-fly 
list. Are any of them still in our country?
    Ms. Scanlon. The gentleman's time has expired.
    Mr. Jordan. This is the important question for this 
Committee. Are any of them still in our country?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I will deliver to you a 
response with respect to--
    Mr. Jordan. No, no, no, that's a simple question. Are 
terrorist--people on the terrorist watch list or no-fly list, 
are they still in the United States that you've encountered on 
the border?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, some of them may be still 
in detention. So, I will--
    Mr. Jordan. Have any of them been released? Have any of 
them been released?
    Ms. Scanlon. The gentleman's time has expired.
    Mr. Jordan. This is critical for the--
    Ms. Scanlon. The Chair recognizes--
    Mr. Jordan. You got 42--have they been released?
    Ms. Scanlon. The gentlewoman, Ms. Jayapal.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I will provide you with--
    Ms. Jayapal. Thank you, Madam Chair.
    Mr. Jordan. They may have been released.
    Ms. Jayapal. Thank you, Madam Chair, thank you, Madam 
Chair. Ranking Member, I believe it is my time.
    Mr. Jordan. Madam Chair, if I could just one second.
    Ms. Scanlon. No, the gentleman's time has expired. Ms. 
Jayapal.
    Mr. Jordan. We went to know if terrorist, people on the 
terrorist watch list, have any of them been released and he 
won't answer that question.
    Ms. Jayapal. Mr. Secretary it is--Mr. Jordan, it is my 
time.
    Mr. Jordan. This is about people.
    Ms. Jayapal. It is my time.
    Mr. Jordan. It's a pretty important question, it's a pretty 
important question.
    Ms. Jayapal. Secretary Mayorkas--
    Mr. Jordan. I can't believe the majority doesn't want to 
know the answer to that.
    Ms. Jayapal. Secretary Mayorkas. Ranking Member Jordan.
    Ms. Escobar. Madam Chair, point of order.
    Ms. Scanlon. Ms. Jayapal is recognized.
    Ms. Jayapal. Thank you, Madam Chair.
    Secretary Mayorkas, thank you for your service to this 
country, and thank you for tolerating with such grace the 
outrageous attacks, including personal attacks on your 
character.
    I want to make three points before I get to my questions 
for you. Number one, you were handed a broken system further 
decimated by the Trump Administration. A Trump strategy was 
systematically to eliminate all legal pathways to come to the 
United States. The misguided implementation of the title 42 
public health law to circumvent existing immigration law was 
part of that strategy.
    So, was the horrific Trump separation of at least 5,500 
children, five thousand, five hundred children from their 
parents, a trauma which they will likely never recover from.
    You are absolutely right, this is my second point, that 
what we need is a humane and just immigration system with legal 
ways for people to come, including upholding our obligations 
under international and domestic law for people to seek asylum.
    Our colleagues have no interest in getting such a system 
because it is actually too useful for Republicans to not have a 
functioning system, because it allows them to attack and 
scapegoat immigrants, even as they and all of America benefit 
from the labor and contributions of documented and undocumented 
immigrants to our country.
    I am a legal immigrant, and I have no problem with the fact 
that we need to reform our immigration laws. So, let me get to 
my questions.
    Secretary Mayorkas, how does the previous administration's 
harm to the refugee system and attacks on legal immigration 
affect the people who are coming to the border?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, what we have done is 
shut down lawful pathways in a prior administration. It drives 
people to seek the dangerous journey to arrive at our southern 
border and make a claim of asylum.
    That is why this administration is so focused on rebuilding 
safe, orderly, and humane pathways as our laws provide so 
people do not have to take that perilous journey when they fear 
persecution by reason of their membership in a particular 
social group, which is how our refugee and asylum laws are 
built.
    Ms. Jayapal. Can you just briefly talk about the 
administration's work to rebuild the refugee system and any 
other specific quick measures you want to mention that mitigate 
the numbers of people seeking protection at the border?
    Secretary Mayorkas. So, there have been a number of efforts 
to dismantle our refugee system in the prior administration. 
Number one, of course, decimate the agency that administers it 
with the Department of State, that's the U.S. Citizenship and 
Immigration Services.
    Also, to take down our international operations, which 
provide incredible services in furtherance of our refugee 
system. So, we have plans to rebuild our international 
operations. As I have stated earlier in this hearing, 
Congresswoman, to hire our personnel that adjudicate refugee 
claims, screen people appropriately for their eligibility.
    Ms. Jayapal. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. One part of the 
problem is the capacity of our immigration agencies, as you 
said, to timely process benefits. Another is the law itself, 
which doesn't allow us to have immigration that meets our 
needs. Moreover, the only punishment for breaching immigration 
law is deportation.
    There is no middle ground, no matter your family ties, no 
matter the decades you've lived and worked in the United 
States.
    I have a resolution, Roadmap to Freedom resolution, that 
calls for us to adopt a compliance-based approach similar to 
what we do in the tax law system, by implementing scalable 
immigration consequences that provide a way for people to come 
into compliance with the law.
    Do you think that such an approach warrants further 
investigation to encourage and facilitate compliance with 
immigration law?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, I would be pleased to 
review your proposal and discuss it with you. We have to fix 
our broken immigration system. As I have stated previously this 
morning and for many years, it is broken in so many different 
regards.
    Ms. Jayapal. Let me move to the detention system. If we had 
immigration laws to meet our needs and scalable consequences to 
give people opportunities to secure status, we wouldn't need 
enforcement and detention to the level we need them now.
    Right now, the immigration incarceration system allows 
private, for-profit prison companies to pad their bottom line 
while subjecting people to horrific conditions that have led us 
to preventable deaths. Do you agree that immigration detention 
should not be driven by profit?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, I know that one of the 
President's commitments is to end the for-profit prison system 
in the immigration system.
    What I have done in the Department of Homeland Security is 
adhere to our standards of detention to focus on those 
facilities that house people in substandard conditions or do 
not otherwise comply with the standards that have been in 
existence in the Department of Homeland Security for many years 
from administration to administration.
    So, we will hold facilities accountable and those who 
operate them to make sure that they comply with the laws that 
we have imposed.
    Ms. Scanlon. The gentlewoman's time has expired.
    Ms. Jayapal. Madam Chair, I seek unanimous consent to enter 
into the record a 2021 article, ``40-Eight Hours of Border 
Chaos, Inside a CBP Crackdown on Iranian Americans,'' 
describing how the previous administration wrongfully detained 
hundreds of Iranian Americans at the northern border in 
Washington State for over six hours, including U.S. citizens 
and legal permanent residents.
    I also seek unanimous consent to enter into the record a 
public health letter that was sent in May of 2020 from public 
health officials, dozens and dozens, opposing title 42 and 
saying that the CDC at that time had based that order on 
specious justifications and failure to protect public health.
    Ms. Scanlon. Without objection.
    [The information follows:]

                      MS. JAYAPAL FOR THE RECORD

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    Ms. Jayapal. Thank you, Madam Chair, I yield back.
    Ms. Scanlon. Thank you. The gentleman from Louisiana is 
recognized.
    Mr. Johnson of Louisiana. Thank you. I yield to Mr. Jordan.
    Mr. Jordan. Secretary, have any of the 42 illegal migrants 
on the terrorist watch list, a no-fly list, encountered on our 
southwest border been released into the United States?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Ranking Member Jordan, as I mentioned 
before, I will provide that data to you with respect to the 
disposition of each one. I do not know the answer to your 
question.
    Mr. Jordan. The Secretary of Homeland Security does not 
know the answer to the status of 42 individuals who came to our 
southern border illegally, are on the no-fly list and the 
terrorist watch list. You do not know whether they have been 
released or not into the country. That's your testimony.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Ranking Member Jordan, as I've said 
before, I will provide you the data. I do not want to--
    Mr. Jordan. Yield back to the gentleman. That's amazing.
    Mr. Johnson of Louisiana. Mr. Secretary, this is 
outrageous. At your oath-of-office ceremony on February 2, 
2021, you said, quote, ``The mission of the Department of 
Homeland Security is to safeguard the American people, our 
homeland, and our values.''
    On the website of DHS, it describes the mission. It says, 
``The Department of Homeland secures the nation's air, land, 
and sea borders to prevent illegal activity and is focused on 
securing our borders and keeping our community safe.''
    Sir, you're the seventh Secretary of Homeland Security, in 
charge of the third largest Federal department in the United 
States and the largest immigration system in the world. You are 
given immense power and an absolutely critical responsibility.
    Of all our Federal agencies, sir, I think yours is the one 
that has the smallest margin of error. Because if the Secretary 
of Homeland Security is unable or unwilling to give these 
answers, to perform his duties and accomplish his mission, 
crime surges, chaos ensues, and innocent people die.
    Mr. Mayorkas, that is exactly what is happening on your 
watch. All of us have been down to the border. We've seen this 
with our own eyes, and we are outraged. So, are our 
constituents and all law-abiding citizens in this country. They 
outraged because of your deliberate and defiant policies.
    These are the documented facts. We have a literal invasion 
of lawless masses flooding over our border from more than 160 
countries. The safety and security of the American people are 
being directly threatened, and innocent children, sir, are 
being abducted, assaulted, raped, and murdered by human 
traffickers.
    Countless numbers of known terrorists and vicious gang 
members are clearly coming across our border and making their 
way into our communities all over the country.
    The precious treasure of American taxpayers is being used 
to incentivize and reward all this because illegals are given 
food, clothing, healthcare, cellphones, welfare benefits, and 
we also, the taxpayers pay for ghost flights and bus tickets so 
they can send them around and secretly transfer these folks 
into all our communities across the country.
    It is your policies and because of them that our entire 
country is becoming a crime scene and we are dealing with a 
humanitarian disaster that would have been unimaginable just 
three or four years ago.
    Because of your policies, the drug cartels are making 
billions of dollars and building their empires, and they are 
drowning our streets in fentanyl and other deadly substances. 
That has made drug overdoses, as you know, now the number one 
cause of death for Americans ages 18-45.
    Our brave border patrol and law enforcement agencies and 
officers are completely overwhelmed, and they are personally 
endangered. The rule of law is being trampled underfoot. The 
stability and the very sovereignty of our nation is being 
threatened like never before.
    I have a long list of questions I was anxious to ask you 
today, but I've been watching you. You've been on Capitol Hill 
for three days now, you've been in three committees. You've 
very--you have an extraordinary talent I think for evading 
questions. You've provided answers that are not accurate, and 
that's documented.
    You're insulting the intelligence of the American people 
and you're subjecting them to extraordinary danger. This is not 
a game. It's been detailed over and over this week and here 
again today, you have presided over the greatest immigration 
catastrophe in American history.
    It's an objective truth that you have helped design and 
implement this system. You took your oath of office in February 
of last year, and by the end of the first year, ICE recorded 
the highest number of border crossings and the lowest number of 
deportations in history. Fact.
    You have stated and publicly in direct defiance of our laws 
that, quote, ``Being here illegally by itself is not enough to 
be removed,'' unquote. If DHS does not deport illegals, that is 
apprehend and quickly remove people who cross into our country 
illegally, then we have no border security at all.
    We all know that after title 42 is repealed, 18,000 
immigrants a day are going to result coming over that border. 
It's going to be a total collapse of our operational control. 
If people are allowed to simply walk in here and live and work 
and collect taxpayer-funded benefits and assistance for years 
upon years and maybe permanently, then in a very short period 
of time, we'll be totally overwhelmed.
    We'll be crushed by the sheer numbers and the weight of 
illegal immigration. There will no longer be any border or any 
security here or any sovereignty at all. We won't have a 
country.
    I called for your resignation in July of last year and 
explained then that it had already become crystal clear that 
you are either unable or unwilling to do your job. As has been 
said here today now, based upon the facts and the evidence, 
we've concluded you're doing this intentionally.
    It is despicable. I believe these are impeachable offences. 
Mr. Secretary, my advice to you is to begin your search for a 
different career field very soon, because there will be an 
election and the American people will let their voices be heard 
on this. We will be retaking the majority.
    I ask unanimous consent to enter in the record a letter 
from 133 Members of Congress to the Secretary expressing our 
concern that his actions in opening our border and inaction in 
enforcing our laws are endangering American lives.
    Chair Nadler. Without objection, and the time of the 
gentleman has expired.
    [The information follows:]

                MR. JOHNSON OF LOUISIANA FOR THE RECORD

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    Chair Nadler. Mr. Swalwell.
    Mr. Swalwell. Thank you, Chair, and welcome, Secretary. 
Welcome back, you were here on the Hill testifying yesterday. I 
think you have seen over the past few days that my Republican 
colleagues have zero interest in border security. They have 
high, high interest in border theater and politics.
    These guys, if you want a dog to bark at cars that drive by 
in front of your house, they would be great at that. You should 
hire them to do that. I would never hire them to solve a 
problem. They're not interested in solving problems.
    In 2014, the United States Senate was very interested. 
Republicans and Democrats, Republicans like Lindsey Graham and 
Marco Rubio came together, 68 of them, to pass a bipartisan 
comprehensive immigration plan that would put 20,000 new border 
agents on the border.
    These guys, Kevin McCarthy's crew, they blocked it from a 
getting a vote in Congress. What would it mean to you today, 
Secretary, if you had 20,000 additional border agents on the 
border, rather than a border plan that was defunded?
    Secretary Mayorkas. It would, Congressman, help us advance 
our mission.
    Mr. Swalwell. How would it help you advance your mission?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, there are two elements 
that fundamentally help us advance our mission with respect to 
security at the border.
    Of course, is our dedicated personnel. First, our 
dedicated, talented, selfless personnel who sacrifice so much 
each and every day. Second, is technology, innovation. That is 
the greatest force multiplier. Not just for us on the border, 
the Department of Homeland Security. I've heard that from law 
enforcement officers in communities across the country. I think 
those are two very important elements that advance the security 
mission.
    Mr. Swalwell. Can you tell us about your respect for the 
border agents? I'm sure many of them are watching right now. 
What would you want to tell them?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I'm extraordinarily proud to support 
them, extraordinarily proud to be in the Department of Homeland 
Security with them.
    These are individuals that every single day don a uniform, 
and I say this to law enforcement across this country, don a 
uniform, pin a badge on that uniform, and holster a firearm to 
protect others. They're willing to make the greatest sacrifices 
in the service of other people.
    Mr. Swalwell. Shifting gears to cyber threats, would you 
agree that China is probably the greatest cyber actor and 
threat as far as economic espionage, cyber espionage, and just 
stealing, cheating, and manipulating?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I think, Congressman, that China is one 
of the leading adversaries in this space.
    I think that Dmitri Alperovitch, a thought leader in cyber 
security and other domains, said it very aptly. We don't 
necessarily have a cyber security problem, we have a China, 
Russia, and Iran problem. We cannot divorce the cyber security 
problem from the geopolitical challenges that we in this 
country face.
    Mr. Swalwell. Would you have any concerns about legislation 
that would require U.S. software and device makers to put on 
their platforms, require them to sideload or include through 
interoperability requirements Chinese apps?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I'm familiar with some 
legislative action is this area, and I am reviewing it. I know 
that it rests in other parts of the Federal government. I look 
forward to discussing that with you.
    Mr. Swalwell. Secretary, I have a number of smaller 
civilian airports or noncommercial airports in my district. We 
have a tech and biotech industry that continues to create jobs 
in my district. A number of those companies are flying overseas 
to conduct business and then returning to my district.
    They are not able to land at the airports in my district 
because there's no Customs presence. Those airports have 
offered to pay to have Customs officers there through a program 
that CBP has, but have been told that they cannot do that.
    I was just hoping that we could continue to work with you, 
and we have worked with your staff to try and make sure that is 
possible. Because that is jobs and investment. If those flights 
have to go to San Francisco or Oakland Airport, it just reduces 
the likelihood that they would invest because of inconvenience.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I'm aware of the 
challenge. It's not restricted to your jurisdiction in 
California. I know that there are other small jurisdictions 
that have airports similarly situated. I'd be very pleased to 
address that with you.
    Mr. Swalwell. Thank you so much, Secretary. You should be 
very proud of your last name, and I know everyone in your 
family will, too.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Thank you.
    Mr. Swalwell. I yield back.
    Chair Nadler. The gentleman yields back. Mr. Steube.
    Mr. Steube. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
    In May of last year at a Senate Committee hearing, you 
stated that White supremacy was, and I quote, ``the greatest 
threat to the homeland.'' m over here.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Thank you, Congressman.
    Mr. Steube. Earlier this month you doubled down and again 
claimed that, and I quote, ``Domestic violent extremism was the 
biggest threat.'' When you say that term, do you include in 
that term Black Lives Matter and Antifa?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, let me be precise, because 
you're not quoting me accurately, and precision is--
    Mr. Steube. I watched the video, I am.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Domestic violent extremism is the 
greatest terrorism-related threat to this country.
    Mr. Steube. Okay, so the greatest terrorism threat. Do you 
include Black Lives Matter and Antifa in that definition?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I do not consider Black 
Lives Matter to be a--
    Mr. Steube. So, the riots that we saw all over the summer 
of 2020 and the killing of David Dorn by an Antifa member, that 
wasn't domestic terror?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, it is not in my province 
to address a particular case--
    Mr. Steube. Okay, well, what about the riots--
    Secretary Mayorkas. Let me--
    Mr. Steube. The riots at the Department of the Interior 
right here in Washington, DC, by a leftist environmental group, 
would you term that domestic terrorism?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I leave it to the 
Department of Justice to define domestic terrorism with respect 
to particular incidents.
    Mr. Steube. Well, you're the Department of Homeland 
Security, and you're saying that this is the number one threat 
to the homeland, so I'm trying to get an understanding of 
obviously now based on your testimony you don't include leftist 
radicalized groups, only White nationalist and right 
radicalized groups.
    Meanwhile, Customs and Border Protection have had over 2.4 
million interactions with illegal immigrants at the border 
since the Biden Administration took office, with an estimated 
600,000 more illegal immigrants making their way into our 
country undetected.
    So, using your definition that we just flushed out here, 
how many cases involving White supremacists and domestic 
terrorists have you referred to DOJ for prosecution?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, let me--
    Mr. Steube. It's a simple, do you not have the number? It's 
a simple number.
    Secretary Mayorkas. You've made some profoundly inaccurate 
statements, that I would like the opportunity to correct.
    Mr. Steube. I'm specifically asking you a question. You 
just clarified domestic terrorism is a threat to the homeland, 
number one threat. I'm asking you how many referrals from 
Homeland Security have you made to DOJ for White supremacy or 
domestic terrorism?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I will provide you with 
that information--
    Mr. Steube. So, you don't know.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Subsequent to this hearing. I do not 
have--
    Mr. Steube. Can you name one case?
    Secretary Mayorkas. That statistic--
    Mr. Steube. Can you name one case of a referral from DHS to 
DOJ for domestic terrorism?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I will provide the data to 
you. Let me--
    Mr. Steube. I'm asking you, you can't name one case.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Let me just say--
    Mr. Steube. Okay, so you can't name one case, yet, 
according to a new report from the U.S. Department of Justice, 
almost half of all the criminals prosecuted in Federal courts 
in 2018 were aliens, charged with crimes ranging from drug 
trafficking to murder, and to kidnapping.
    The vast majority, 38,000, were illegal immigrants, illegal 
aliens. It's still domestic terrorism that is the number one 
cause of your concerns.
    Texas is one of the only border States that keeps detailed 
statistics on crimes committed by aliens specifically. The 
latest report from the State of Texas reports that between June 
1, 2011 and November 30, 2021, the 356,000 criminal aliens were 
booked into Texas jails, of which 243,000 were identified as 
being in the country illegally.
    Those illegal aliens were charged with more than 401,000 
criminal offenses, including 742 murders, 47,000 assaults, 
7,500 burglaries, over 11,000 sexual assaults, and other sex 
crimes. That is just in the State of Texas. You can't name one 
referral that DHS had made on a domestic terrorism charge to 
the DOJ with all those numbers.
    Just in April, in a 24-hour period of time, CBP arrested at 
least five gang members who illegally crossed the border. It's 
been touched on in this Committee about fentanyl. I come from 
Florida, I hail from Florida, I represent Florida, and fentanyl 
is a large problem in the State of Florida.
    Now, we are at the point where fentanyl is the number one 
cause of death of Americans between the ages of 18-45. Do you 
agree with that statement, that fentanyl is the number one 
cause of death between the ages of 18-45 for Americans?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I'm aware of that statistic, and it's a 
tremendous threat to the wellbeing of our--
    Mr. Steube. So, that's a yes, and therefore, since it's the 
leading cause of death, you have, this is just what you've 
captured at the border, more fentanyl to kill every American 
has been seized at the border. You say it just comes in through 
ports of entry.
    So, if we're only seizing that at ports of entry or other 
places you guys are capturing it, just like there's 600,000 
got-away illegal immigrants, there's got to be a tremendous 
amount of fentanyl that's coming in through the southern border 
than you guys are not stopping that--
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentleman--
    Mr. Steube. Has now beaten the cause of death.
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentleman--
    Mr. Steube. In America.
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentleman has expired. Ms. 
Demings.
    Mr. Steube. Mr. Chair, may I--
    Ms. Demings. Thank you so much, Mr. Chair.
    Mr. Secretary, thank you. Thank you for your service, thank 
you for your endurance, thank you for your tolerance.
    Increase in domestic terrorism, attacks against religious 
institutions, bomb threats, and other threats against America's 
children at historically Black colleges and universities, 
victims of severe storms still waiting for assistance, the need 
for more resources at the border.
    Mr. Secretary, unlike my colleagues on the other side of 
the aisle, I'm actually concerned about all of it. I'm upset 
about all of it. I don't just pick and choose winners and loser 
based on the politics of the day. All the things on the list 
that I just mentioned, we all need to be concerned and need to 
come together to address them.
    When there's a lot of talk about the border, I was looking 
at something in 1970 where it was determined that the nation's 
immigration policy was in disarray. That is the word that they 
used. So, today's problem is not new, but the political games 
that I think that we are experiencing have taken a new low.
    It took 60 pages, 60, to basically give instructions to 
that we don't really want to do anything. Mr. Secretary, I know 
you know as a former police chief, I do want to hold people 
accountable who break the law. I want to hold them accountable 
at the border, I want to hold them accountable on our streets. 
I want to hold them accountable if they exist in this body.
    There's been a lot of talk about protecting the American 
people. That is our primary responsibility. In this document, I 
only see the American people addressed one time.
    Mr. Secretary, the sky would be the limit. We could do 
great things on behalf of protecting the American people if 
this body would take one minute to get its Act together. That 
is my prayer for the time that I am here, is that this body 
will live up to its oath and its responsibility and get its Act 
together. Because one day of theater has not protected, not 
one, not one American citizen.
    Mr. Secretary, I want to talk about an issue that is very 
important, in addition to a lot of others, to my constituents, 
and that involves USCIS and the processing of applications. I 
get calls from constituents, from people in my district daily 
about how long it takes for them to receive their employment 
authorization documents.
    Just for the sake of the people on the other side of the 
aisle, let me just make this clear, that these are people who 
are here legally, have followed all the rules, and still suffer 
because of a failure to process their applications in a timely 
manner.
    So, Mr. Secretary, could you please let us know what the 
department is doing to address these significant delays and 
processing these employment applications.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, thank you very much. 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, as I had mentioned 
earlier, was on the brink of bankruptcy. The personnel of that 
agency are actually doing heroic work despite a significant 
backlog created by what occurred in the prior administration.
    What we are focused on is resourcing that agency with 
personnel so that we can work through the backlog and address 
the benefits for which people have applied, and if eligible, to 
which they are entitled.
    Funding is a critical component of our ability to resource 
the agency, which is why we are working as quickly as possible 
to issue a new fee rule that will recalibrate the fee 
applications according to the costs associated with them.
    That is the way we will fund that agency primarily. The 
President's budget for Fiscal Year 2023 also requests 
appropriated funds for certain positions so that we can address 
certain responsibilities in the jurisdiction of that agency.
    Ms. Demings. Could you talk a little bit about staffing for 
processing those applications? How are your staff increase--
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentlelady has expired, the 
Witness can answer the question.
    Secretary Mayorkas. So, we need to increase that staffing 
significantly, Congresswoman, and I can provide you with 
specific data. Depending on the particular immigration benefit 
category, we've calibrated the needs.
    Ms. Demings. I would like that. Thank you so much, Mr. 
Secretary.
    Chair Nadler. The gentlelady yields back. Mr. Roy.
    Mr. Roy. I thank the Chair.
    Mr. Secretary, there have been over one million-plus 
individuals put into proceedings or released into the United 
States on your watch. I've asked multiple border patrol 
personnel, not the union mind you, if we double, triple, 
quadruple the CBP budget, would that one million released go 
down. They categorically said no, it would go up.
    Do you agree, yes or no?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I'm not sure I understand your 
question, Congressman. Would the addition--
    Mr. Roy. Would the number of people being released in the 
United States under current law, would it go down no matter how 
much you increased your budget? It would not, as they said. Do 
you agree, yes, or no?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, if I understand your 
question correctly, when individuals are in the United States, 
and they make a claim for asylum--
    Mr. Roy. Right, the number would not go down is the answer, 
right? Yes or no? That's what they said, and I think you've 
just answered it would not go down.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman--
    Mr. Roy. The only plan that you offer, the plan you just 
offered, is to process aliens faster and encourage more to 
come. We know that be true. I know it's true, you know it's 
true, cartels know it's true, and people around the world know 
it's true, and that's why people are coming.
    Secretary Mayorkas. That is false.
    Mr. Roy. The secure--it's not false.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes, it is.
    Mr. Roy. The entirety of plan says that. The Secure Fence 
Act of 2006 says what? That the Security of Homeland Security 
shall take all actions the Secretary determines necessary to 
achieve and maintain operational control over the entire 
international land and maritime borders.
    Will you testify under oath right now, do we have 
operational control, yes or no?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes, we do, and we--
    Mr. Roy. We have operational control of the borders?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes, we do, and Congressman, we are 
working to--
    Mr. Roy. Assume operational control defined. In this 
section the term operational control means the prevention of 
all unlawful entries into the United States, including entries 
by terrorists, other unlawful aliens, instruments of terrorism, 
narcotics, and other contraband.
    Do you stand behind your testimony that we have operational 
control in light of this definition?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I think the Secretary of 
Homeland Security would have said the same thing in 2020 and 
2019.
    Mr. Roy. No, well, the Secretary would have at least had a 
basis for saying that we have some sort of control of the 
border. The fact is we currently have people flowing across the 
border including dangerous narcotics and dangerous numbers of 
terrorists, which your own agency sent a letter to my office.
    After eight months, we sent a letter saying there were 42 
people on the terrorist watch list that are in the United 
States. You just said to Mr. Jordan you don't even know where 
the hell they are. That's what you're saying is operational 
control?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman--
    Mr. Roy. Including entry by terrorists and unlawful aliens? 
It's not, it's not operational control.
    Mr. Secretary, let me ask you a question. We're looking 
ahead and we're talking about asylum, okay. Here, if the 
officer determines at the time of the interview that an alien 
has a credible fear of persecution, the alien shall be detained 
for further consideration.
    Mandatory detention, any alien subject to procedure under 
this clause shall be detained, pending a final determination of 
credible fear of persecution. Is everyone being detained, yes 
or no?
    Secretary Mayorkas. No one is, as a matter of fact, 
Congressman. That is an issue that is before the United States 
Supreme Court.
    Mr. Roy. The fact of the matter is our law says they should 
be detained, and your agency is releasing people on purpose to 
flood the zone and make sure that more people can come to the 
United States.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman--
    Mr. Roy. You use parole to do it.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman--
    Mr. Roy. Parole of aliens within the following groups have 
been retained, coming in on a case-by-case basis for urgent 
humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. Yet, your 
office is using parole. When you use parole, the fact is 
they're not showing back up to ICE.
    Your own letter to Senator Johnson, to this Committee, have 
acknowledged they're not showing back up to ICE.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman--
    Mr. Roy. How can you be saying that you have operational 
control or that we're securing the United States when they're 
not showing back up?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, are you actually 
interested in the facts and the law? Because--
    Mr. Roy. Yeah, I'm actually, I'm reading you the law and 
I'm actually talking to you about the facts about who's in this 
country.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Actually, you're--
    Mr. Roy. Now, let's actually go to something that's--
    Ms. Jackson Lee. Chair, can the Witness be allowed to 
answer the question?
    Mr. Roy. Well, there wasn't a question there to be 
answered.
    Chair Nadler. The gentleman's time.
    Mr. Roy. Now, let's talk about the damage being done to the 
United States of America. Mr. Secretary, do you know what this 
is? This is a mobile morgue, a body trailer, needed by counties 
in south Texas overwhelmed by dead migrants.
    That particular trailer is filled with these bodies, 27 
bodies that were stored in this mobile morgue in south Texas 
with dead bodies of migrants. Dead bodies like this one found 
on a ranch just three weeks ago in south Texas. A dead migrant. 
Somehow that's compassion.
    How about the dead bodies found by migrants? Compassion. 
How about the ranchers who had to walk out of their door, and 
this is what they face? Gentlemen with rocks threatening a 
rancher in south Texas, only able to be saved when they are 
able to bring their dogs out to scare the people away to save 
themselves.
    Or the fact that you've got houses being attacked. You've 
got livestock dead on the side because we've got ranches wide 
open. How about the little girl here with a brand on her arm. A 
little girl with a brand on her arm because of your policies. A 
little girl here in the desert found by ranchers trying to save 
their life.
    How about the lost voices from people dying from fentanyl? 
The hundreds of--tens of thousands of Americans dying from 
fentanyl. Faces, faces of Americans, faces of Americans across 
this country dying because of fentanyl pouring into our 
country--
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentleman has expired.
    Mr. Roy. You know full well--
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentleman has expired.
    Mr. Roy. Encouraging people to come here, harming Texas and 
harming this country.
    Chair Nadler. The time of the--
    Mr. Roy. You know it, and you're ignoring the truth.
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentleman has expired. He no 
longer has time to slander the Secretary.
    Mr. Roy. It's not slander. You know what slander is--
    Ms. Scanlon. Thank you, Secretary Mayorkas.
    Chair Nadler. Ms. Scanlon, Ms. Scanlon.
    Ms. Scanlon. Thank you, Secretary Mayorkas. Over here. 
Thank you for being here today to address the many issues under 
your jurisdiction, including the important task of how we can 
ensure our national security while honoring our legal and 
humanitarian obligations.
    I appreciate you coming here prepared with facts and plans 
to help us do that job. I'm sorry that so much of this hearing 
has been wasted with political grandstanding and 
disinformation.
    As others have remarked, from its earliest days, ours has 
been a nation of immigrants, home to those fleeing poverty, 
persecution, and war. I'm incredibly proud of the diversity of 
my district in Pennsylvania and the generations of Americans 
who welcomed immigrants into our country.
    Our nation also has a history of political opportunists who 
attack the latest wave of immigrants and seek to stoke fear and 
chaos to gain or cling to power. Whether those attacks were 
made against my ancestors, the Irish; yours, Secretary, from 
Cuba; those coming to our southern border today; or so many 
other groups in between, we've heard the same language and 
scare tactics.
    Then and now, those attacks are a sham, vile, attention-
seeking, to divide and distract us from their proponents' lack 
of seriousness, their lack of solutions, and even at times 
their own misconduct.
    I do want to echo several of my colleagues in thanking you 
for your efforts to reunite children who were separated from 
their families at the border under the last administration. 
Like you, I've met with children who were separated from their 
parents and seen the lasting trauma that caused. As a mother, 
it made me weep. It still makes me weep.
    As a patriot, it makes me sick to think that our country 
played any role in the immoral and heartless decision to rip 
children from their mothers' arms for purely political purposes 
with no interest in how that action would traumatize those 
children and no plan to ever reunite them with their families, 
so I appreciate your efforts in that behalf.
    I also would like to turn to an issue of immediate concern 
in my district. The city of Philadelphia was the primary point 
of entry to welcome thousands of our Afghan allies who fled 
their homeland after the fall of that government last summer. 
Hundreds are attempting to settle in our region.
    The fact that we anticipate a wave of Ukrainian refugees 
coming to our region as well adds some urgency to the need to 
address issues in the resettlement process.
    One of the greatest danger points for our Afghan allies is 
that family members who remain in Afghanistan are targets for 
the Taliban. Many family members of Afghans living in the U.S. 
have filed for immigration parole so their family members could 
join them here.
    Unfortunately, we've seen the backlogs in that process. I 
understand there are nearly 40,000 parole applications awaiting 
adjudication.
    So, what can DHS do to reduce the backlog for those 
applications, and how can it manage that backlog while also 
addressing the needs of the Ukrainian refugees we anticipate?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, thank you very much for 
your statements that precede your question and for your 
question which focuses on a very vulnerable population of 
individuals.
    So, we have sought to prioritize to the best of our 
abilities the applications of individuals who are in 
Afghanistan who seek humanitarian parole. We have dedicated 
personnel to that effort.
    We're very aware of what the delays are, and we're trying 
to work as best we can with the limited resources that we have 
to work through that group of people and that critical body of 
applications, understanding the urgency.
    I must say that the personnel of USCIS are just doing 
extraordinary work meeting the moment in a number of different 
regards, given the situation in different parts of the world.
    Ms. Scanlon. Thank you for that. We have worked with USCIS 
people in our region, and we know that they are working really 
hard.
    I am concerned about reports that Afghans are nervous about 
affirmatively applying for asylum. According to immigration 
advocacy groups, there's not sufficient legal assistance to 
help them.
    We know how complicated immigration law is. Many of our 
colleagues have trouble understanding it. It's particularly 
difficult if you're coming from another culture and speaking 
another language.
    So, what can DHS do to ensure that our Afghan allies are 
able to navigate our system?
    Secretary Mayorkas. So, we've done of number of regards, 
Congresswoman, in that regard. First, we have worked with 
organizations to make sure that we are matching the individuals 
who might not otherwise know how to seek relief to be able to 
educate them on how they can.
    Afghan individuals already present here in the United 
States who have become naturalized who have the cultural 
sensitivity and the understanding and the language capacity to 
match them with the individuals seeking relief.
    We've also worked with law firms to be able to provide pro 
bono assistance, so individuals can access the humanitarian 
pathways that our laws provide. We're trying a number of 
different ways in which to match individuals' needs with the 
resources that are already resident here in the United States.
    Ms. Scanlon. Thank you. I see my time has expired, and I 
yield back.
    Chair Nadler. The gentlelady yields back. Mr. Owens.
    Mr. Owens. Thank you, Chair Nadler and Ranking Member 
Jordan.
    Mr. Secretary, about a year ago I visited the border town 
of McAllen, Texas, and what I saw was devastating. There was 
overcrowded facilities, families and unaccompanied children 
gathering under a bridge to be processed. Within hours, these 
illegal immigrants, with taxpayer dollars, were put on a bus or 
a plane to travel to the interior of our country.
    It was unlike any humanitarian crisis I've ever seen in my 
lifetime. My Republican colleagues and I spoke with border 
patrol agents who were overworked and overwhelmed.
    Days before our arrival, there was a surge of unaccompanied 
children, alone, confused, and helpless. They were sitting on 
the floor in the facility looking up at these adult strangers 
with no idea what to expect next.
    There were about 250 children packed in rooms designed to 
accommodate 40. I'll never forget a little seven-year-old 
child, little girl, that was by herself without her siblings, 
mother, or father. She was autistic, alone and afraid, and 
could not communicate anything about her family with 
authorities.
    She represents the 40,000 unaccompanied children that have 
been trafficked through our borders under your watch since last 
November. I noticed her because every time I looked over in her 
direction, she had tears in her eyes. The agents told me that 
she had been crying for days and could not stop. We'll never 
know if she was stolen from her parents or abused cartel 
perpetrators.
    It has become obvious to me that DHS doesn't know and 
doesn't care. In another Committee meeting yesterday it was 
pointed out that some of these children were used over and over 
again by the cartel, taken back and forth like cattle. By the 
way, the reported cost of these children, each child was 
$5,000. If that's not slavery today, I don't know what is.
    You visited the border a few weeks after we had and had a 
polar opposite experience. As a camera crew followed you 
through an orderly and empty facility, you explained to the 
American people that you had successfully closed the border. 
You didn't see the little seven-year-old child because these 
children had been moved to another facility, out of sight, out 
of mind, on the same property.
    I love our country because of the good people who live 
here. Our American culture is one of compassion and empathy. We 
serve, protect, and provide for our most vulnerable. It is 
within our DNA if we see human suffering that we act, 
especially when it comes to our children.
    Mr. Secretary, over the last year, you have failed to act. 
Over the last year, you have overseen the dismantling of our 
border, the villainization of our border agents, and have 
purposefully refused to enforce U.S. immigration laws. You did 
not inherit this, you created this.
    Under your watch, the Mexican cartel is now earning about 
six billion dollars a year. Six billion dollars a year is your 
profit from human traffic child exploitation as they rape women 
and girls on their trek to our southern border. As they smuggle 
Chinese-sourced fentanyl to our country.
    Last year we lost over 100,000 Americans to fentanyl. After 
20 years in Vietnam, our American body count was 60,000.
    I'd like to share some quick feedback from my constituents 
from Utah's 4th District, and I quote,

        The Mexican cartels seem to be in charge of our border and who 
        crosses it. Removing title 42 is wrong, reckless, and plain 
        stupid. The Biden Administration has shirked their 
        responsibilities to control the illegal immigrants on our 
        southern border.

    Mr. Secretary, we look back on our history and we see the 
stain of human labor and sex trafficking. We called it slavery, 
which survived as long as it did only because the government 
bureaucrats chose to close their eyes to this evil. Profit and 
power were prioritized over compassion and empathy. We're 
living Groundhog Day 2022 today.
    I encourage you to change courses to end your empathy-free 
open border policies. If not, I promise you American history 
will not treat you kindly.
    Thank you, and I'd like to yield the remainder of my time 
to Ranking Member Jordan.
    Mr. Jordan. Thank you. Mr. Secretary, yesterday you 
announced the formation of a Disinformation Governance Board at 
DHS. So, you put out a bulletin two months ago, a big, fancy 
bulletin here, red, white, and blue. You said that misleading 
narratives, mis-, dis-, and mal-information, MDM as you call 
it, misleading narratives undermine the trust in government.
    I was just wondering, when the head of the CDC, Ms. 
Wollensky, said that the vaccinated can't get the virus, did 
that undermine trust in government? When the highest paid 
official in our government, the smartest man on the planet, Dr. 
Fauci, when he said the virus didn't come from a lab, did that 
undermine trust in government, and will that be something that 
this governing board will look at?
    How about this one: When 51 former intel officials told us 
that the Hunter Biden story had all the earmarks of Russian 
misinformation. Will that be something that this governance 
board that you just formed, will you be looking into that?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, the Disinformation Board 
addresses disinformation that imperils the safety and security 
of our homeland. One of the primary areas that we are focused 
on is the dissemination of disinformation and its potential 
connection--
    Mr. Jordan. That's not what your bulletin talked about, it 
talked about COVID.
    Chair Nadler. The gentleman's time--
    Mr. Jordan. It talked about COVID.
    Chair Nadler. The gentleman's time has expired. I am 
permitting the Witness to answer the question. The gentleman 
can say nothing now.
    Mr. Jordan. Let me know when--
    Chair Nadler. Privileged to answer the gentleman's 
question.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yeah, and it's connectivity to 
violence. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
    Chair Nadler. The gentleman's time has expired. Mr. Correa.
    Mr. Correa. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Secretary, welcome 
again. You are a refugee from Cuba. My grandparents are 
essentially immigrants from Mexico. As I look around this room, 
I would say probably everybody here is the descendant of a 
refugee, an immigrant, economic or otherwise.
    There's a lot of violence around the world right now, Mr. 
Secretary, a lot of wars. I also recently had the opportunity 
to travel to the border, this time to San Ysidro. This time to 
look and observe what's going on with the Ukrainian refugees, 
refugees from the Russian-Ukrainian war. There are about 1,000 
refugees from the Ukraine, from Ukraine, reaching Tijuana on a 
daily basis, 1,000.
    We've allocated 100,000 temporary protective status 
tickets, those golden tickets to get into the U.S. under TPS. 
The UN Report, yesterday the UN reported an estimated 8.3 
million, and eight million Ukrainian refugees expected to leave 
Ukraine this year alone. I bet that 100,000 cap TPS, it is 
going to be hit pretty quickly.
    Mr. Secretary, what do we do when 100,000 Ukrainian 
refugees are admitted into this country? Are we going to blow 
through that top or can we give the more admissions to the 
U.S.?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, let me first, if I can, 
make sure that the language that we use is precise. Temporary 
protected status, or TPS, applies to those Ukrainians who are 
already a resident of the United States.
    What we are speaking of when we are speaking of bringing 
100,000 Ukrainians who have fled their brutally attacked 
nation, we're speaking of the refugee program. We are speaking 
of the grant of humanitarian parole. We are also speaking of 
the visa programs that the Department of State administers.
    The President has committed to bringing 100,000 Ukrainians 
to relief here in the United States. There will be others, in 
addition, who could be eligible for relief under the grant of 
humanitarian parole, which is judged on an individualized case-
by-case basis.
    Mr. Correa. Mr. Secretary, you proposed that the prior 
administration effectively dismantled the refugee program. Is 
that essentially what happened?
    Secretary Mayorkas. That is true. If I had 20 seconds--
    Mr. Correa. Please.
    Secretary Mayorkas. --I would actually say the following to 
the Congressman who did not give me an opportunity to say 
anything.

        (1)  We have intensified efforts to dismantle the transnational 
        criminal organizations in human smuggling networks at an 
        unprecedented level.

        (2)  We've brought greater efficiency to the process of 
        unaccompanied children and uniting them with a parent, legal 
        sponsor, or other qualified family member here in the United 
        States.

        (3)  The prior administration took accompanied children and 
        deliberately made them unaccompanied.

    Mr. Correa. Mr. Secretary, my concern is with what is going 
to happen this year, an unprecedented number of refugees coming 
to the United States. We should open our arms to those 
individuals who are fleeing war and devastation around the 
world. Again, from Ukraine, I would imagine you're going to, we 
are going to probably get more than a million at our doorstep 
here this year. As soon as the Russian economy collapses, you 
will have a whole lot more Russians here as well.
    This is nothing new. For the last two years at the southern 
border, we've had Russian and Ukrainian undocumented 
individuals crossing the border. Your agents have told me that. 
So, my question to you, sir, how do we put together a program 
that's humane, looks at the refugees, admits them to the U.S., 
and also not forget about the Central Americans, the Syrians, 
other refugees that are also there waiting to be admitted to 
the United States?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, very briefly in the few 
seconds that I have.

        (1)  It is our view that the majority of Ukrainians that have 
        fled their country, their sovereign nation, want to return 
        there.

        (2)  That is precisely why this administration is focused on 
        safe, orderly, and humane pathways to obtain relief under the 
        laws of the United States.

    Mr. Correa. Sir, I'm running out of time. I just want to 
call your attention to these two photos I took at the border 
three weeks ago. This is the face of refugees coming to 
America.
    Chair Nadler. The time, gentleman, has expired. Mr. 
Tiffany.
    Mr. Tiffany. Mr. Mayorkas, in 2021 last year, at a Senate 
hearing, you said everyone that came out of Afghanistan, the 
disastrous pull out of Afghanistan, that they were fully 
vetted. Do you stand by that comment?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes. We conducted comprehensive 
security screening and vetting for those Afghanis.
    Mr. Tiffany. Okay. Thank you. Here is a headline from last 
year. Second major felon found on Afghani evacuation flight, 
aggravated robbery by one, the other one, a rapist. They had 
been deported. They came back in on those flights.
    Here's a CNN document that says some Afghans fleeing their 
home country have arrived in the United States without 
paperwork. It goes on to say the approach from the 
administration has been get as many people on the plane as you 
can, and we'll sort out the immigration stuff later.
    Some people land with no documents whatsoever, creating a 
very challenging work environment for the officers the source 
said. Did you fully vet everyone?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, as I have stated before, 
we conducted comprehensive security and vetting screening of 
the individuals who arrived here under Operation Allies 
Welcome. We're extraordinarily proud of that program.
    Mr. Tiffany. So, you did not vet them before they left the 
Kabul Airport?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, what we did--
    Mr. Tiffany. Did you vet them before they left the Kabul 
Airport?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, we did not. What we did is 
we vetted them at third countries.
    Mr. Tiffany. Okay. Thank you very much.
    That's not what DHS and the camp commander said in Fort 
McCoy. They said they were still vetting people after they 
arrived, already had parole, when they were in Fort McCoy in my 
State, Wisconsin. I want to continue with my questioning here.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Let me share with you how the vetting 
program works.
    Mr. Tiffany. Last month, the Department of Defense 
Inspector General confirmed at least 50 cases of Afghans with 
potential significant security concerns. The IG report also 
concluded the administration has absolutely no idea where most 
of them are. Did you fully vet those 50 that have potential 
significant security concerns?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, two quick points if I may.
    Mr. Tiffany. Did you vet them?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, may I answer your--
    Mr. Tiffany. You said you vetted all them.
    Secretary Mayorkas. We screened and vetted. I am familiar.
    Mr. Tiffany. Screening and vetting are different. How many 
people completed the SIV process, the Special Immigrant Visa 
process, which is very detailed, especially when you're dealing 
with a country that is very high on the terror list? How many 
of them completed? Of the 77,000, how many completed the SIV 
process?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I can get that precise figure to you.
    Mr. Tiffany. I look forward to hearing that from you.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Can I explain something?
    Mr. Tiffany. That will be a really interesting thing to 
hear.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Can I explain something?
    Mr. Tiffany. You are very familiar with title 8. You know 
title 8, right? Section 5(a), it shall be used only on a case-
by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant 
public benefit.
    In 1989, in a floor speech, a Democrat, Representative 
Morrison from Connecticut, Congress intended that the parole 
authority would be used for temporary admission of aliens.
    Parole status is an unacceptable alternative to a more 
permanent and defined immigration status. Senator Simpson 
repeated the same thing in 1994.
    In 2008, your Agency, USCIS, ICE, CBP Memorandum of 
Agreement, parole is not to be used to circumvent normal visa 
processes and timelines. Are you complying with title 8 in the 
INA?
    Secretary Mayorkas. We believe we are.
    Mr. Tiffany. You believe you are?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes.
    Mr. Tiffany. Even though, even though this is meant to be 
done on a case-by-case basis. Did you interview all 77,000?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Of the Afghani evacuees?
    Mr. Tiffany. Of the Afghani evacuees, did you interview 
every one of them?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Did I personally or did the Department 
of Homeland Security personnel?
    Mr. Tiffany. Yes. Did you do it on a case-by-case basis and 
interview every one of them?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, those individuals are 
screened in third countries, not at Kabul Airport for reasons 
that, of course, you well understand. They are screened and 
vetted in third countries. They are then manifested on the 
plane--
    Mr. Tiffany. They weren't because many of them were 
screened in the United States at Fort McCoy in Wisconsin.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman--
    Mr. Tiffany. Did you fully vet everyone you paroled from 
Afghanistan? I believe the answer is no. So, think about it.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, if you would let me--
    Mr. Tiffany. Think about it for a second. Here's a document 
you gave us this week. This is the grand plan. Biden 
Administration DHS executing a comprehensive and deliberate 
strategy to secure our borders, build a safe, orderly and 
humane immigration system.
    What is humane about people being sexually abused by these 
parolees? How about the woman at Fort Bliss, a soldier, a 
female soldier, beat to a pulp by five evacuees, is that 
humane?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, of course that isn't. That 
is addressed with the full force--
    Mr. Tiffany. You have erased our borders.
    Chair Nadler. The time, gentleman, has expired. Mr. Neguse.
    Mr. Issa. Mr. Chair?
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentleman has expired. Mr. 
Neguse.
    Secretary Mayorkas. May I complete my answer, Mr. Chair?
    Mr. Issa. Mr. Chair, I'll be brief.
    Mr. Tiffany. Mr. Chair, may the Witness be permitted to 
answer the question?
    Chair Nadler. The time is Mr. Neguse's.
    Mr. Neguse. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Secretary Mayorkas, would 
you care to respond to that last question?
    Secretary Mayorkas. That incident was met with the full 
force of law enforcement response. I should say that the 
Congressman misunderstands the screening and vetting process 
and the fact that it is a recurrent process. Even while the 
individual is in the United States, we conduct recurrent 
screening and vetting as a further layer of security. Thank 
you, Congressman, for giving me that chance.
    Mr. Neguse. Thank you. Mr. Secretary, first let me say 
thank you for coming before our Committee today, and I want to 
express my gratitude and appreciation for your assistance 
during and after the Marshall Fire.
    As you know on December 30, 2021, a fire tore through my 
community in Northern Colorado, the Second Congressional 
District of Louisville and Superior. We lost 1,000 homes, and 
tragically, two members of our community perished during the 
fire.
    The very next day, you were the first Cabinet Secretary to 
reach out to me personally and to convey your grief over the 
events in my community and to convey your commitment on behalf 
of the Department of Homeland Security and FEMA to step up for 
our community when we needed the department.
    I just want to say thank you for extending me and my 
community that courtesy. We have been working with 
Administrator Criswell, who, of course, as you know, is a proud 
Coloradan, on the recovery from the Marshall fire. As you well 
know in Colorado and in the Rocky Mountain West, we no longer 
have fire seasons but fire years. We are likely to be besieged 
by wildfires for years to come so the partnership between FEMA 
and our local communities and the State government couldn't be 
more important. Again, I want to thank you and Administrator 
Criswell for your cooperation in that regard.
    Switching gears, I'd like to talk about the threat of 
cyber-attacks. Now, you touched on this in your written 
testimony and some of your oral testimony as well. During our 
hearing with FEI Assistant Director Vorndran, which is last 
month, I mentioned that in Colorado local government entities 
have been hit by ransomware attacks as have large organizations 
like the University of Colorado. I'd like to talk a little bit, 
Mr. Secretary, about how DHS is responding to those same 
threats.
    As part of the omnibus spending package, Congress passed 
the Cyber Incident Reporting for Critical Infrastructure Act. 
As you are aware, I'm sure, the legislation requires critical 
infrastructure companies that experience a hack to notify CISA 
in certain cases, including within 72 hours of discovery a 
cyber intrusion and within 24 hours of paying ransomware 
attackers.
    I'm wondering how DHS is working. First, to ensure that 
this breadth of ownership doesn't result in security risks, 
particularly to our electric grid and water infrastructure. 
Second, the law does leave some details to be hashed out by 
CISA via the rulemaking process. I'm wondering how DHS is 
working with companies to ensure that the most essential 
information is captured.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, thank you so much. So very 
quickly, the threat of ransomware has only grown. We developed 
in collaboration with the Department of Justice the first ever 
one-stop-shop online to really provide information to the 
potentially affected and the affected community, 
stopransomware.gov. It's really a resource for individuals and 
organizations of whatever size and of whatever resource to be 
able to address the threat of ransom-
ware. We, of course, have our advisors in Colorado and in every 
State throughout the country.
    The mandatory reporting legislation is really a game-
changer for us. We're incredibly indebted to Congress for 
passing that piece of legislation. What we are going to 
implement is the notice of proposed rulemaking. Then through 
that vehicle, through that regulatory vehicle, receive input 
from industry so that we can fashion the implementing 
regulations that address the cybersecurity challenge as well as 
the sensitivities of the business community because they're 
going to have to report an incident very well while they are 
tackling the incident itself. We want to be mindful of that and 
also not create a responsibility to report false alarms, which 
neither they should nor we should be burdened with.
    Mr. Neguse. Well, thank you, Mr. Secretary. I see my time 
will soon expire. I will just simply say, I couldn't agree with 
you more about the legislation and, in particular, it being a 
game-changer.
    There isn't a business or a local government in our 
country, that in every one of our districts represented on this 
Committee that is not at risk from the threat of ransomware and 
cyber-attacks.
    So, again, the partnership, I think between the department, 
local governments, and small businesses couldn't be more 
important and timelier. I appreciate your work and the 
department's work in that regard.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Thank you, Congressman.
    Mr. Issa. Mr. Chair.
    Chair Nadler. The gentleman's time has expired. I now 
recognize Mr. Issa for purposes of UC.
    Mr. Issa. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I ask unanimous consent 
that a signed statement signed by 10 Members of Congress and 
staff entitled, ``We the Undersigned Members of Congress and 
Congressional Staff Were Informed by Custom and Border 
Protection Leadership That They Were under Orders to Begin 
Processing at That Time Aliens Who Otherwise Would Have Been 
Ineligible for Entry under title 42.'' It's signed by all that 
were present. I thank the gentleman.
    Chair Nadler. Without objection.
    [The information follows:]

                        MR. ISSA FOR THE RECORD

=======================================================================

[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    Chair Nadler. I recognize Mr. Correa for UC requests.
    Mr. Correa. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to request 
unanimous consent to submit an open letter for the record from 
former defense intelligence, Homeland Security and cyber 
officials calling for a national security review of 
congressional tech legislation.
    Chair Nadler. Without objection.
    [The information follows:]

                       MR. CORREA FOR THE RECORD

=======================================================================

[GRAPHICS NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]

    Chair Nadler. I now recognize Ms. Fischbach.
    Ms. Fischbach. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Secretary, I just 
don't know where to start. So many of my colleagues have asked 
questions that you either can't or won't answer.
    I have a lot of questions from my constituents. Over 500 
questions came in directly from my constituents because I don't 
think--they don't see you do anything. They don't see your 
department doing anything to stop the flow over the southern 
border. I would love to ask you all those questions, but I only 
have five minutes.
    So, I will start with one that you probably won't have an 
answer for. Similar, to Mr. Chabot, I would love to know how 
many immigrants have been relocated to Minnesota.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, I will provide data with 
respect to relocation to the best of my ability.
    Ms. Fischbach. Well, and since you don't have it here, I am 
formally requesting it now that you send that to my office. I 
would appreciate--and, you know what? On behalf of Mr. Chabot, 
I would ask for you to send that to his office or to anyone 
else who would request that because I think that's important 
for our constituents to know.
    One of my colleagues also asked about your plan to stop the 
flow of illegal crossings at the southern border. Do you have a 
real plan? Do you have a plan where there's action where you 
are going to be doing something to actually stop that flow?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Oh, most certainly, Congresswoman, and 
I published details about that plan two days ago. Those 
preparations have been in the works for months and months.
    In fact, I set up a southern border coordinating center to 
bring together the resources of the Department of Homeland 
Security and not only the resources of our department, but the 
resources of the Federal government in the interagency.
    Ms. Fischbach. When do you expect that to--
    Secretary Mayorkas. That consecrated effort--
    Ms. Fischbach. --and when do you expect that to take 
effect, so that we can see something happening at the southern 
border?
    Secretary Mayorkas. The implementation is well underway, 
Congresswoman.
    Ms. Fischbach. So, it's in effect? It's working? Are you 
seeing actual results of that plan?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, we are. We are 
continuing to build on the plan. It is an advancing and 
increasing effort on the part of not only the Department of 
Homeland Security, but the entire relevant Federal government 
agencies.
    Ms. Fischbach. Mr. Secretary, I would love, love for you to 
put together a little something to the effect that we could see 
and you could tell us what's actually happening, if there's 
actual results. I would love to have that to my office.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, I am very eager to--
    Ms. Fischbach. So, thank you so much for that, and I will 
be looking forward to seeing that. Can you tell me what do you 
think securing the border really means? I mean, what does that 
mean to you, securing the borders? Stopping the flow, slowing 
it, what does that really mean?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, that means effectively 
applying the laws of our country and making sure that we are 
maximizing the impact of the resources that we have to secure 
the border.
    I very much look forward to providing you with information 
about the results of our plan. I'll give you a shining example 
of the results from our targeting--
    Ms. Fischbach. No. I look forward to getting that in 
writing. We are very short on time, and I only have a few 
minutes. I have a--but, I do want to know how does releasing 
illegal aliens into the U.S. secure the border? How does that 
fit in with the definition of security?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, under our laws, 
individuals who make a claim for asylum have a right to 
vindicate their claims in immigration court proceedings.
    Ms. Fischbach. Okay. All right. Well, I understand that 
you're not going to address what I'm asking because you're 
releasing them. I'm not talking about those necessarily asking 
for asylum. It is my time so I'm going to continue.
    I just want you to know that some of those questions that 
I'm getting were asked here today about how much are we 
spending on this? You couldn't answer that one. Why are there 
no COVID protocols, and what are you really doing to secure the 
borders?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, there are COVID--
    Ms. Fischbach. Well, that was a question I had. I'm not 
asking it. I'm just telling you that was one of the questions I 
got. I will follow-up actually with your office because I do 
want--there's a lot of questions that we have.
    Really quick, I do want to change. I want to change courses 
right here because I got the following this morning. Recently, 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection made the decision to reduce 
hours at the port of entry in Lancaster, which is in my 
district.
    My office was told that the management engaged with 
stakeholders at the local, State, and Federal level. The listed 
stakeholders were two local officials, the Democrat Chair of 
the Homeland Security Committee, who doesn't live in my State, 
and one Democrat Senator from my State.
    As the Congresswoman who represents the communities that 
this port is around the communities, that port, why was not I 
considered a stakeholder? Why were we not included at all? I 
mean, is there some reason why we weren't included in that 
discussion?
    Chair Nadler. The gentlelady's time has expired. Ms. 
Fischbach. I asked the question.
    Chair Nadler. The Witness may answer the question.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, I'm not familiar with 
the engagement that was held, the invitations that were 
distributed, but I will look into it. We will get back to your 
office with that information.
    Ms. Fischbach. I would absolutely appreciate that. So, I 
will be expecting a few letters. Thank you.
    Chair Nadler. The gentlelady's time--the gentlelady yields 
back. Ms. McBath.
    Ms. McBath. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Secretary 
Mayorkas for joining us today. I know that you've had a very 
busy week up here on the hill. I really appreciate your time 
with us today and for patiently and, also, incredibly answering 
all our questions.
    It has been mentioned already immigration is one of the 
most important issues that DHS oversees. Immigration affects 
almost all sectors of American life, our family life, our 
economy and education. It's imperative that we have a highly 
functioning fair and efficient immigration system.
    Like many of my colleagues here today, my district, which 
is Georgia's 6th Congressional District, is made up of very 
large and vibrant immigrant community. They are my neighbors. 
They are my friends. They are my coworkers. As I mentioned at a 
previous markup in our towns of John's Creek and Chamblee, 
about a third of the population there, they are made up of 
immigrants.
    Our district office caseworkers, they work tirelessly to 
help our immigrant populations get their visa applications 
processed. Something that we face time and time again like many 
other offices there are very, very heavy backlogs.
    So, I'd like to ask what, if anything, is being done to fix 
the backlog of employment authorization documents? We know that 
there have been attempts to really help alleviate these 
backlogs for certain nonimmigrant visas, but we're still seeing 
very large numbers of constituents that are reaching out about 
DACA and TPS, EADs that are just taking so many months to be 
processed.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, three quick things.

        (1)  I must champion, as I have previously in this hearing and 
        otherwise, of course, the personnel of U.S. Citizenship and 
        Immigration Services for doing herculean work while being 
        under-resourced.
        (2)  We are delivering processing efficiencies so that we can 
        work through the backlog more expeditiously.
        (3)  We are seeking funding from Congress, and we are also 
        promulgating a fee rule as we seek to and continue to hire more 
        personnel to be able to work through the backlog and administer 
        immigration benefits in a timely manner as is our goal.

    Ms. McBath. Thank you for that. Also, as a graduate of an 
HBCU, Virginia State University, and as an American concerned 
about the threat of White supremacy, I want to now turn to how 
DHS is responding to the bomb threats against HBCUs earlier 
this year.
    Now, during our hearing a little bit earlier, it was 
called, the Rise in Violence Against Minority Institutions, we 
heard from experts on whether the government has done enough to 
combat violent right-wing extremism and White supremacy.
    Our witness, Dr. Jones, said, and I quote, ``I will say 
that there has been uptick in my conversations with some of the 
joint terrorism task forces and the FBI and the Department of 
Homeland Security to pay more attention to this.''
    So, have arrests still not been made in the investigations 
into bomb threats against many of our HBCUs? Can you please 
describe for us what efforts the DHS is doing to prevent 
further threats or potential attacks on our historically Black 
colleges and universities?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, thank you. I engage with 
the Presidents of the HBCUs to understand the impacts of the 
threats on their respective institutions and to better 
understand their needs to meet the challenge of increasing 
threats.
    We are disseminating information to the HBCUs, and other 
institutions similarly situated, both with respect to the 
threat landscape and what they could confront and also 
providing information to them about how they can best secure 
their institutions.
    We've, also, looked into the availability of the Nonprofit 
Security Grant Program and whether some of those funds could 
indeed be allocated to HBCUs and similarly situated 
institutions. Indeed some of the HBCUs as nonprofit 
organizations do qualify for the grant programs. We are working 
to make sure that information about the grant programs is 
widespread and easily accessible. The grant funding itself is 
equally accessible as well. Those are some of the measures that 
we are taking.
    Ms. McBath. Well, thank you so very much for patiently 
answering my questions. I know it's been very difficult today. 
You've been a wealth of grace under fire. So, thank you so 
much. I give back the balance of my time.
    Chair Nadler. The gentlelady yields back. Mr. Massie.
    Mr. Massie. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Secretary Mayorkas, there 
has been some debate today about the numbers for 2021. How many 
ICE arrests, detentions, removals have there been for 
aggravated felonies committed by noncitizens? I want to give 
you a chance to tell us what that number is.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Thank you very much, Congressman. Let 
me pull, if I can, the data sheet. In fiscal year 2021, 
enforcement and removal operations, the part of Immigration and 
Customs Enforcement, arrested 12,025 individuals convicted of 
aggravated felonies, nearly double the 6,815 arrested in fiscal 
year 2020.
    With respect to removals, in fiscal year 2021, Immigration 
and Customs Enforcement removed an average of 937 aggravated 
felons per month, the highest level ever recorded. Forty-six 
percent of ICE removals were for people convicted of felonies 
or aggravated felonies compared to 18 percent during the 
previous four years and 17 percent the year before that.
    Mr. Massie. Can I ask you, for the people who are watching 
this back home, aggravated felony is a term of art, a legal 
term.
    Secretary Mayorkas. A legal term.
    Mr. Massie. Can you tell us what is included in aggravated 
felonies? Does it include homicides? What kind of crimes does 
it include?
    Secretary Mayorkas. It includes a series of serious crimes 
that Congress has identified as qualifying as aggravated 
felonies.
    Mr. Massie. So, that would be homicide, sexual assault, 
robbery, kidnapping, those would be included?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I would have to take a look at the 
precise statutory language. There are also--
    Mr. Massie. Homicides and sexual assaults.
    Secretary Mayorkas. --Congressman, if I may. There are also 
certain serious crimes--I would qualify them and describe them 
as serious crimes--that are actually not defined as aggravated 
felonies which is why we are actually dedicating our 
enforcement resources to those cases as well.
    Mr. Massie. Okay. Thank you. So, it does include murderers, 
rapists, armed robbers, and child molesters according to the 
data. I've got your report here that you presented.
    You gave us the numbers for this year, 836,000 migrants 
have been released into the United States who don't have 
citizenship here or a legal basis for being here since January 
21, 2021.
    Matt Gaetz, my colleague, asked you, will some of the 
800,000 migrants that DHS has released into the United States, 
since you've been in this position, commit a crime? Do you 
remember what your answer was?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I believe I said to Congressman Gaetz 
that some very well might.
    Mr. Massie. You said undoubtedly. How many of those are 
going to commit a rape?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, there are individuals--
    Mr. Massie. How many of those are going to commit a murder?
    Secretary Mayorkas. There are individuals--you are speaking 
of individuals who are making a claim for humanitarian relief.
    Mr. Massie. How many got-aways made it across the border 
according from your estimates from DHS, there are people--
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, can I answer your 
question?
    Mr. Massie. No, no. We have got to--I asked you a question. 
How many of those are going to commit rape, murder, armed 
robbery, or molest a child? How many of the 800,000 that you 
have released in here that you told my colleague will 
undoubtedly commit a crime, and you've just characterized the 
types of crimes they're going to commit. You're bragging on how 
many you've arrested. How many have you not arrested?
    By the way, I want a very specific answer to this. Were 
those crimes committed in another country or were those crimes 
committed in the United States?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, you are--
    Mr. Massie. Were those committed in the United States or 
another country?
    Secretary Mayorkas. You are describing individuals who are 
seeking asylum in our country with a broad brush for now.
    Mr. Massie. Who were you describing? Let me give you a 
chance. Who were you describing when you mentioned that you 
have arrested murderers, rapists, armed robbers, and child 
molesters? Were they seeking asylum?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, those individuals are 
arrested, detained and removed from the United States.
    Mr. Massie. How did they get here?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, they were encountered at--
    Mr. Massie. Do you have operational control of the border?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I've answered those questions a number 
of times.
    Mr. Massie. Do you?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes, we do.
    Mr. Massie. How many people are coming across every day 
that you can't control?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, I can give you that number 
if you would like.
    Mr. Massie. Wouldn't it be better for the United States if 
we didn't allow these felons to come into the country? If we 
didn't give them a chance to commit murders, rapes, child 
molestation, and armed robbery?
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentleman has expired.
    Mr. Massie. You just told us today. Did you arrest these 
very people for these crimes?
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentleman has expired. The 
Witness may answer the question.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Thank you. The Congressman has asked me 
to disobey the laws of the United States of America because the 
laws of the United States of America provide for asylum, 
provide for humanitarian relief, provide for the protection of 
individuals who need it under our laws because they fear 
persecution by reason of their membership in--
    Mr. Massie. You have discretion to remove them from this 
country. You did not.
    Chair Nadler. The gentleman--
    Mr. Massie. They commit crimes, violent crimes.
    Chair Nadler. --the gentleman's time has expired. The 
Witness is permitted to answer the gentleman's last question. 
He's in the process of doing so.
    Secretary Mayorkas. By reason of their fear of persecution, 
by reason of their membership in a particular social group. 
That body of people that the United States law permits to make 
a claim for relief under laws Congress passed should not be 
painted with a broad brush of criminality.
    In fact, my family, and I included, are beneficiaries of 
those laws because a standard of fear of persecution applies 
for refugees as well. We fled the Communist takeover of Cuba to 
enjoy the freedoms and liberties and the democracy that makes 
this country shine.
    We are intensely proud and immensely proud of our 
humanitarian relief programs. I will not disobey the laws of 
humanitarian relief that Congress has passed.
    Chair Nadler. The gentleman's time has expired. Mr. 
Stanton.
    Mr. Stanton. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, Secretary 
Mayorkas. I represent the border State of Arizona. As a former 
State Deputy Attorney General and a long-time elected official 
in the State of Arizona, I understand the border and its 
complexities very well as do Arizonans.
    We know that being a border State is helpful to our 
economy. We understand that immigrants make us stronger, which 
is why most Arizonans support modernizing our nation's 
immigration system, including a pathway to citizenship.
    We also know that our border must be secure. If it isn't 
secure, there are real consequences that Arizonans pay the 
price for. Opioids and other drugs come across and wreak 
activities on our communities, cartels and traffickers can 
extort and smuggle migrants in abhorrent conditions across our 
dangerous deserts, sometimes killing them.
    When the Federal government is overwhelmed, it too often 
passes the buck. It places an incredible burden on local law 
enforcement, on local communities, on our local nonprofits.
    I paid careful to your testimony yesterday, Mr. Secretary, 
as well as your commentary earlier today. I agree with you that 
the Trump Administration got border policy wrong. Their 
approach was inhumane, ineffective, and harmed the Federal 
government's long-term ability to process migrants through the 
system.
    You are also right that migration issues are not unique to 
the United States. Increased migration is a worldwide crisis in 
which human tragedy in the developing world is putting pressure 
on countries like the United States.
    This administration did not create the problem. Managing it 
effectively is your responsibility. What was outlined in the 
memo you released on Tuesday, just a couple days before today's 
hearing, is not at all sufficient to handle what will come our 
way once title 42 restrictions are lifted.
    Those on the ground in Arizona know that the entire chain, 
starting with the Border Patrol and ICE to local law 
enforcement, nonprofit refugee centers, even our International 
Airport in Phoenix is already overwhelmed.
    Just yesterday, I met with a local Arizona mayor who has 
been seeking assistance from DHS for months so that his 
community can be prepared to deliver necessary services.
    He told me that today they're processing about 300 migrants 
per day through a local nonprofit, but they have been told by 
the Federal law enforcement to expect that the number jump to 
1,000 per day by this summer. They have been telling your 
department that at this time they are not ready.
    When migrants can't get help at a nonprofit, where will 
they go, Mr. Secretary? Putting more pressure on a system that 
can't handle it carries a significant risk of creating a full-
scale humanitarian crisis on American soil for which the White 
House and your department will be solely responsible. No person 
who cares about migrants should want that. It is clear to me 
that the Federal government is not prepared, not even close.
    One example, your memo acknowledges that even with title 42 
restrictions in place, Customs and Border Patrol was so 
overwhelmed just two months ago that it had to increase in its 
number of agents deployed along the southwest border by more 
than 600. You proposed adding a few hundred more.
    Mr. Secretary, no thinking person believes that modest 
staffing improvements will put the Federal government in a 
position to handle triple the number of crossings, not a 
chance.
    So, I have a long list of questions for you. I know that we 
won't get through all them here today. I will be following up 
in writing. Let me get through as many as I can in the short 
time left.
    Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport is one of the busiest in 
America. Since January airport staff has been even busier 
taking on duties that they shouldn't be asked to, assisting 
migrants in making travel plans.
    Leaders at the airport have told me that up to 600 migrants 
who have been released by CBP and ICE custody are dropped at 
the airport every day, at the busiest times of the day. Most 
are not ready to travel. Many are at high risk with health 
concerns and few resources.
    Airport staff has sprung into action. They're setting up 
phone banks, providing translation services, and many are even 
donating clothing and food. They're making trips to the store 
to purchase belts and shoes and shoe laces with their personal 
funds. They're delivering diapers and formula to mothers and 
infants. Airport staff is maxed out.
    Even with the expected surge this summer, there will come a 
breaking point. DHS needs to provide additional support to its 
nonprofit partners to ensure that all migrants arriving at 
transportation hubs like Sky Harbor Airport are better prepared 
to travel. Mr. Secretary, will you commit to getting your 
partners the resources that they desperately need?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congressman, one of the six pillars of 
our plan is to bolster the capacity of nonprofit organizations 
and to coordinate with local and State officials. So that is 
directly responsive.
    Another part of our plan is to work with our countries to 
the south, our partners throughout the region to address their 
order management opportunities and responsibilities, which is 
why I was in Panama last week with Secretary of State Anthony 
Blinken.
    We will be prepared. Our plan is comprehensive. I look 
forward to sharing with you some of the details of that plan to 
address some of the concerns that you have expressed because 
we're aware of those concerns. We've been planning against 
those concerns for months.
    Chair Nadler. The gentleman's time has expired. Ms. Spartz.
    Ms. Spartz. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. 
In your six-point plan, how many migrants that once you process 
you plan to remove this year? Do you have a number that you 
plan for removals? Do you have a number?
    Secretary Mayorkas. We don't have a predictive number.
    Ms. Spartz. In your plan, you don't set a number, right? 
You don't plan. This is so many minimum people? So, you don't 
have a number for that?
    Secretary Mayorkas. No. Because it's a function, 
Congresswoman, of a number of different variables.
    Ms. Spartz. Okay. Do you believe--
    Secretary Mayorkas. What we will do, and as our plan 
indicates, is we will maximize the effectiveness--
    Ms. Spartz. Well, maximize does not work. I would like to 
hear the number at some point. Let's just go to the next one. 
Do you believe in the light of everything that's happening 
right now in Europe and the war, big war, do you think there 
are some significant national security concerns at our border 
also? Just tell me yes or no.
    Secretary Mayorkas. I believe that, ma'am, the situation, 
Congresswoman, that any individual who seeks to do us harm is 
encountered--
    Ms. Spartz. I'm talking about there is increased risk at 
the border due to war in Europe. Do you believe there is an 
increased national security risk at the border due to war in 
Europe? Yes or no?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I want to make sure I understand your 
question. Does the number of individuals--
    Ms. Spartz. No, no, no. I'm not talking about an 
individual. Do you assess as a Chief Executive of agencies that 
provide border security, there is increased risk of security, 
national security risk, at our southern border due to war, 
major war, happening in Europe? Do we believe the risk is 
escalated, is increased?
    Secretary Mayorkas. By reason of what has occurred in 
Europe?
    Ms. Spartz. The war, yes. The war in Ukraine.
    Secretary Mayorkas. What we are seeing is--
    Ms. Spartz. Yes or no, like just answer. Do you have an 
increased risk or not?
    Secretary Mayorkas. What we are seeing, Congresswoman, if 
you would allow me, what we are seeing is an increased number 
of individuals seeking humanitarian relief.
    Ms. Spartz. So, you don't think there is a national 
security risk. Okay. How many people do you think believe the 
Border Patrol is actually overwhelmed and right now and have a 
really low morale? What do you think?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, the morale in U.S. 
Customs and Border Protection and the Border Patrol is low. 
There is no question.
    Ms. Spartz. You believe they are overwhelmed.
    Secretary Mayorkas. They are under strain, which is why we 
are taking--
    Ms. Spartz. They are overwhelmed. Okay. So, the question 
has been--
    Secretary Mayorkas. --which is why we are taking--
    Ms. Spartz. How many people--do you have a number, how many 
people were released by Border Patrol under prosecutorial 
authority without even notice to appear, just get them in the 
country because they don't have even capacity to handle? Do you 
have that number?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, yes, I do.
    Ms. Spartz. So, what is that number?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Because it's not--
    Ms. Spartz. Just a number, just a number. How many people 
were released without that?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, would you allow me to 
answer your question because--
    Ms. Spartz. Yes. Please do. Because I need to ask more 
questions, so I need to ask.
    Secretary Mayorkas. I understand, but your question is 
imprecise.
    Ms. Spartz. Yes. Mm-hmm.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Because right now those individuals are 
being released on either notice to appear or parole with 
alternatives to detention. We no longer use the notice to 
report that we used in fiscal year--
    Ms. Spartz. So, how many were used? How many were used 
without just anything? How many? Do you have that number when 
you did that?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Yes. Yes, I do. Your question is how 
many individuals were released on a notice to appear for 
example?
    Ms. Spartz. No, without, without it.
    Secretary Mayorkas. In fiscal year 2021 because right now 
we are not using the notice to report.
    Ms. Spartz. Yes, just give me the number. I don't need the 
full-blown statements.
    Secretary Mayorkas. In fiscal year 2021, 144,383 were 
transferred to ICE enforcement for the removal--
    Ms. Spartz. No, not ICE. Actually, given to them, go 
directly from the border into the country without any 
documentation under prosecutorial authority. I've been at the 
border four times and that happened. You're not aware that it's 
happening--
    Secretary Mayorkas. They're--
    Ms. Spartz. --in the Texas border? You're not aware about 
that?
    Secretary Mayorkas. You're asking your question--
    Ms. Spartz. My question is when the Border Patrol has no 
ability to do processing, so they just send them without 
documentation inside the country. Get on the bus, and they go 
there. So, you're not aware that it's happening under 
prosecutorial authority?
    Secretary Mayorkas. No. What we--
    Ms. Spartz. Okay. If you're not aware, let's talk about. 
Are you aware how many people--I just was at one section of the 
border. I talked to Border Patrol. They had predicted about in 
a small section about 300 people per day going not caught, but 
they see on camera. Only 25 percent of their sector has camera.
    Do you know how many people cross this border, do you have 
a number, estimate that were not detected by any cameras and 
couldn't be stopped by Border Patrol because they have a 
limited capacity? Do you have an estimate?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Are you asking me how many got-aways?
    Ms. Spartz. Yes. No, they got away.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Got-aways?
    Ms. Spartz. Yes. They pretty much crossed the border. Do 
you have that number? What is your estimate? How many people?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I just want to make sure I understand 
your question.
    Ms. Spartz. You understand that there are some people that 
cross border you see on camera, no resources to catch and some 
border sections do not have camera. What is your estimate? How 
many people can cross the border and be completely undetected? 
What is your estimate?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Completely undetected?
    Ms. Spartz. Yes.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Or--
    Ms. Spartz. What is your estimate?
    Secretary Mayorkas. --observed and not apprehended as well?
    Ms. Spartz. Not detected because we've got to observe some 
of them. Let's say how many undetected, not observed.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, your question is quite 
imprecise. In fiscal year of 2021--
    Ms. Spartz. I just don't understand if you don't have 
answers on this question.
    Chair Nadler. The gentlelady's time has expired. The 
Witness may answer the question.
    Secretary Mayorkas. In fiscal year 2021, there were 389,155 
got-aways.
    Ms. Spartz. It's not got-aways.
    Chair Nadler. The gentlelady's time has expired. The 
Witness--
    Ms. Spartz. Mr. Chair, I think you're not--but I think 
you're not answering my question. I will ask it in writing 
because this is very incompetent.
    Chair Nadler. The gentlelady time has expired. The 
gentlelady no longer has the floor. The Witness is in the 
process of answering her last question and may proceed.
    Secretary Mayorkas. I answered it, Mr. Chair. I gave the 
figure of got-aways.
    Ms. Spartz. Not.
    Chair Nadler. Very well. The time of the gentlelady has 
expired.
    Ms. Spartz. You did not.
    Chair Nadler. Ms. Dean.
    Ms. Dean. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you to you, Secretary 
Mayorkas, for being here, for your service to our country in 
trying to solve serious problems. So, I thank you and your team 
for that work.
    The indecency with which you have been treated by many 
people on this dais is staggering to me. It reveals the lack of 
seriousness to solve problems, the lack of interest to solve 
problems.
    It reminds me of a different time of disinformation, of 
bigotry, of political theater. It reminds me of a beautiful 
speech given by Senator Margaret Chase Smith, speaking up 
against Senator McCarthy and his bigotry and disinformation 
campaign.
    Part of what she said is freedom of speech is not what it 
used to be in America. She complained it has been so abused by 
some, and it is not exercised by others. She asked her fellow 
Republicans not to ride to political victory on the four 
horseman of calumny, fear, ignorance, bigotry, and smear.
    Sadly, I see those four horseman riding today. We need to 
put an end to it and be serious about the problems that we 
face.
    So, rather than ask you the questions I was going to ask 
you, I will list the issues I am interested in and will submit 
them for the record and submit them to you, and I look forward 
to having a further conversation with you. I'm going to give 
you a chance to speak.
    Some of the three or four issues I'm interested in. We have 
a detention center in my area, Berks Detention Center, I would 
like to see it closed. It has a recent history of sexual 
assault of one of the detained.
    I'm very interested in the process around the 100,000 
number and how the department will ensure that Ukrainians can 
navigate that system.
    I'm hoping that you are considering TPS for Ethiopians who 
really are suffering tremendously. I think our country should 
be offering that as we have to other people fleeing and, of 
course, Afghan resettlement. Those are my areas of interest.
    I would rather give the rest of my time to let you speak 
because so often you were misquoted, you were misrepresented, 
and most importantly, you were not allowed to speak. The floor 
is yours.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, thank you very much. I 
have so much to say in response to the misstatements that have 
been made and directed at me that actually I'm going to use the 
time most productively to address very quickly the four areas 
that you have identified.
    We have focused our efforts on detention centers and 
ensuring that our standards for detention centers are abided 
by. Detention centers that do not abide by those standards will 
be addressed. We've addressed a number of them by closing them 
because of their repeat offenses.
    I've outlined the paths to deliver on the President's 
commitment of providing humanitarian relief for 100,000 
Ukrainians who need that relief here in the United States. I 
welcome the opportunity to speak with you about the efforts to 
resettle Afghan individuals, individuals from Afghanistan.
    We have Operation Allies Welcome, which we have been 
working with civil society in that regard, the business 
community,
welcome.us, and other organizations. I will look at the 
situation in Ethiopia with my partners in the Department of 
State. That is an issue that already we are looking into, but I 
will check on its status. I very much appreciate the question.
    Obviously, we are very proud in this country to be a nation 
of immigrants and a nation of laws. We abide by our identity in 
both. It is quite regrettable that individuals who seek 
humanitarian relief in this country, who qualify for 
humanitarian relief, are being painted with a brush of 
criminality and in terms of being a nation of laws, when 
individuals who do not qualify for relief, they are removed.
    Individuals are placed in immigration proceedings where 
they make their claims. An immigration judge rules on their 
claims. Those who qualify are provided the relief to which they 
are entitled under our laws. Those who don't are removed.
    Ms. Dean. I thank you for your seriousness and your 
decency. I seek unanimous consent to enter into the record the 
beautiful speech by Margaret Chase Smith of June 1, 1950, 
Declaration of Conscience.
    Chair Nadler. Without objection.
    [The information follows:]

                        MS. DEAN FOR THE RECORD

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    Chair Nadler. The gentlelady's time has expired. Mr. 
Fitzgerald.
    Mr. Fitzgerald. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Secretary, I 
think some of the level of frustration I think you're hearing 
from Members here today is because many of the Members on the 
Judiciary Committee have done, as you're well aware, multiple 
border visits.
    I think oftentimes the way it's characterized or the way 
it's been presented by yourself and sometimes members of your 
team doesn't necessarily match up with what we see on the 
grounds on these visits.
    So, let me ask you this. Mr. Secretary, on one of those 
visits last week, there were Members of this Committee that 
were down at the border in San Diego at the site that's 
oftentimes referred to, I guess, as Welldraw.
    On this visit, as well as other Members that were with me, 
this issue of human trafficking continues to come up. I feel 
strong about it because I think it's a driving force in just 
about everything that you could characterize it as or what it 
kind of touches. It's all encompassing.
    So, the high likelihood of release is what's motivating 
more and more people around the globe to put themselves in the 
hands of criminals, which is the big part of I think what's 
creating the issue at our southern border.
    I'll just say, easy access to the United States, it's just 
irresistible that you're going to continue to have individuals, 
especially from the southern hemisphere continue to want to 
come to America. If we don't get control of what happens to 
those individuals once they hit that southern border, I don't 
think this issue is going away anytime soon.
    So, I think we can agree that human trafficking, it's 
clearly illegal. I think you would agree with that, right?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Of course.
    Mr. Fitzgerald. We can agree that human trafficking is 
real. It is really happening out there. We hear about it all 
the time when we're at the border.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Most certainly.
    Mr. Fitzgerald. Or even on the backside, law enforcement 
back in our districts. I'm from the Fifth Congressional in 
Wisconsin, and we hear about it all the time. It might take the 
form of a local truck driver who somehow comes in contact with 
it. Law enforcement finds out about it later. So, it is a 
terrible thing, I think we can agree.
    I think we can agree that many of the aliens, illegal 
aliens who are coming across right now are being smuggled or 
are being ushered through by coyotes as we just heard about, 
and it was somewhat demonstrated to us again and again every 
time you're at the border.
    So, since we agree on those kind of small sets of facts, 
let me just go back to the big question. Why aren't we 
finishing the wall? I mean, what we saw in San Diego were gaps. 
Then stories of materials that had been there on the ground and 
then suddenly the Border Patrol agents noticing that someone 
had come and picked up those materials, and where did they go? 
There was kind of a mystery that was in place for some time. 
Then they found out later that those materials were shipped to 
Texas.
    So, I know it's kind of the big question. Why aren't we 
finishing the wall?
    Then, I can't believe that it wouldn't help funnel so that 
agents would know who is coming and going on the border, which 
is probably half the battle. Not necessarily sealing off 
America on the southern border but getting control of it.
    Then just based on human trafficking, which I said earlier 
is what I consider more of a motivator, there's got to be a 
reason for people to try and usher individuals who clearly 
don't have the wherewithal on their own back and forth.
    Then the other thing, not to mention even the illegal 
drugs, which is probably another great motivator in this whole 
thing.
    So, can you answer that for me? Answer the simple stuff. 
Why aren't we finishing the wall and why aren't we making an 
attempt to clearly control and close the border right now?
    Secretary Mayorkas. A number of points, Congressman.

        (1)  The funds used to build the wall are not the most 
        effective use of those funds in achieving border security, 
        number one.

        (2)  I have approved approximately 68 projects to complete gaps 
        and gates.

        (3)  We've intensified our efforts against the smuggling 
        organizations for precisely the reason you articulate.

        (4)  The smuggling organizations spread misinformation.

    It's why we counter that misinformation.
    Mr. Fitzgerald. I'm going to cut you off right there. Just 
I got one more question. Let me just--
    Chair Nadler. The gentleman's time has expired. Ms. 
Escobar.
    Mr. Fitzgerald. Mr. Chair, I--
    Ms. Escobar. Thank you, Mr. Chair--
    Mr. Fitzgerald. --there was one second left when I tried to 
ask the question.
    Chair Nadler. Ms. Escobar.
    Ms. Escobar. Can I get my time back?
    Mr. Fitzgerald. Mr. Chair?
    Chair Nadler. Ms. Escobar.
    Ms. Escobar. Mr. Chair--
    Mr. Fitzgerald. There was a second left.
    Chair Nadler. Please restart the clock.
    Ms. Escobar. Thank you so much.
    Mr. Fitzgerald. I cut him off with a second left.
    Ms. Escobar. Secretary Mayorkas, thank you so much for 
being here. Let me from the onset apologize to you, your family 
and your staff for the sickening, breathtakingly xenophobic 
political theater that has occurred at this hearing, which has 
included attacking your family. I know that your family is 
profoundly proud of you and your service to our nation.
    Mr. Roy. Mr. Chair? Mr. Chair? I move to strike those 
words.
    Ms. Escobar. Unfortunately, for some of my colleagues.
    Mr. Roy. She's accused us generally of making xenophobic 
remarks.
    Chair Nadler. The gentlelady
    Ms. Escobar. Mr. Chair?
    Chair Nadler. There's nothing wrong with that.
    Mr. Roy. There's nothing wrong with that?
    Ms. Escobar. Mr. Roy, can you stop eating into my time, 
please? I did not do that to you. Have some respect for me.
    Mr. Roy. I'm not eating into your time. I'm just making a 
point of order.
    Chair Nadler. You're eating into her time. The gentlelady 
will continue.
    Ms. Escobar. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Secretary Mayorkas, 
unfortunately, for some of my colleagues, there is no bottom. 
These are the same people who praised Donald Trump's 
immigration strategy, which included separating small children 
from the arms of their mother.
    I'd like to enter into the record the article from Axios, 
``House Republicans plot to impeach Mayorkas,'' and the April 
25, 2022, letter addressed to Mr. Mayorkas outlining that plot.
    I ask unanimous consent to enter into the record. Mr. 
Chair?
    Chair Nadler. Without objection.
    [The information follows:]

                      MS. ESCOBAR FOR THE RECORD

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    Ms. Escobar. Thank you. I hope the American people are 
watching this. To those who are, let it be absolutely clear 
that the majority of my Republican colleagues are showing you 
the American people that they are not interested in addressing 
our country's challenges. Their goal is instead to feed our 
nation a regular diet of hate and rage because that is what 
they believe will win them elections. I hope Americans are as 
sickened by this as I am. I hope Members of their party with 
integrity and decency will rebuke their colleagues for the way 
they have degraded this body and themselves today.
    I am the only Member of this Committee who represents a 
border district, the only one born and raised in a border 
district, the only one who has chosen to stay and live and 
raise my children in a beautiful vibrant border district.
    What we are seeing at the border today is a challenge that 
began decades ago, but has been neglected by Congress after 
Congress. It should be no surprise that the situation has grown 
only more challenging as a result of inaction. Much of what has 
suddenly outraged my Republican colleagues has been going on 
for years, including during the Trump era.
    We talk about root causes of migration. There is one we 
don't talk about enough, and that is Congress' inaction. 
Immigration reform, which hasn't happened in decades, won't 
eliminate migration, but it sure would help alleviate the 
pressure.
    So, why won't my Republican colleagues work with us on it? 
To quote the Ranking Member of this Committee, Jim Jordan, from 
his opening remarks, quote, ``It's intentional. It's by 
design.'' They don't want things to change.
    Secretary Mayorkas, I am going to ask you just a few 
questions. If could, just please yes or no.
    Secretary Mayorkas, in your time as the Secretary of 
Homeland Security have any of my Republican colleagues on this 
Committee asked you for your thoughts on how we can best 
address the challenges at the border?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Not my recollection, congresswoman.
    Ms. Escobar. Secretary Mayorkas, my Republican colleagues 
believe that dealing with migration should happen at the border 
with walls and rapid expulsion. Have hundreds of miles of 
border wall or2\1/2\ years of title 42 slowed, deterred, or 
eliminated migration?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, it's very difficult with 
respect to the wall. Of course, we've seen an increase 
[inaudible]--
    Ms. Escobar. Well, let me ask you this: Has it eliminated 
migration?
    Secretary Mayorkas. It has not.
    Ms. Escobar. Did Donald Trump end migration?
    Secretary Mayorkas. He did not, Congresswoman.
    Ms. Escobar. So, their strategy hasn't worked. We have 
tried their strategy. In fact, we have focused fundamentally 
singularly on their strategy for decades. Their strategy is 
don't reform outdated immigration laws and only deter at the 
border. Hasn't worked. They have called it a failure. If 
Congress did its job and legislated, Mr. Secretary, do you 
think that would help the situation at the border?
    Secretary Mayorkas. That is our best chance for an enduring 
solution, Congresswoman.
    Ms. Escobar. Thank you, Secretary Mayorkas. I would tell 
again the American public that Congress is not doing its job, 
loves to point the finger, loves to shirk from its 
responsibility. House Democrats have delivered bill after bill 
only to see our Republican colleagues vote against them.
    One last thing, Secretary Mayorkas: Governor Abbot has 
engaged in all sorts of antics that have shut down the border 
and that have led to four deaths by suicide of service members 
who are at Operation Lone Star. Has that stopped migration or 
made our border more secure?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, it has not.
    Ms. Escobar. One final thing actually. Would love to work 
with you on reforming the personnel staffing model.
    Chair Nadler. The gentlelady's time is expired.
    Ms. Escobar. Thank you.
    Chair Nadler. For the purpose of a UC request, Mr. Biggs?
    Mr. Biggs. Thank you, Mr. Chair. As a person who was born 
and raised in a border district I have here a stack of letters 
requesting Mr. Secretary Mayorkas to respond to, at least six 
letters. I would like to have those put into the record.
    Chair Nadler. Without objection.
    [The information follows:]

                       MR. BIGGS FOR THE RECORD

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    Mr. Jordan. I have a UC, too. Mr. Chair?
    Chair Nadler. Mr. Bentz?
    Mr. Jordan. I have a UC. Mr. Chair?
    Chair Nadler. I am sorry. Mr. Jordan for a UC request.
    Mr. Jordan. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I would like to ask 
unanimous consent to enter into the record a Washington Times 
article from March of this year quoting ICE Sources saying that 
ICE data an aggravated felons is, quote, ``a shell game with 
numbers that are not reliable.''
    Chair Nadler. Without objection.
    [The information follows:]

                       MR. JORDAN FOR THE RECORD

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    Chair Nadler. Mr. Bentz?
    Mr. Bentz. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
    Thank you, Mr. Secretary, for your patience. I am from 
Oregon, and we have a situation with our southern four counties 
involving cartels growing massive amounts of marijuana and 
utilizing folks without the benefit of documentation in those 
operations.
    We have asked Attorney General Merrick Garland for help. I 
specifically wrote letters to him twice asking for 80 people to 
help. You have asked actually for a number of people to help 
you in your district, or in your department, but you have 
encountered the problems with direct hire or--as opposed to 
standard hire. You have asked actually for direct hire be 
given--the authority be given back to you.
    Would you please reassert your request to the folks that 
are in charge of this, the Director of Office Personnel, and 
get us some help in Southern Oregon so we can begin to head off 
some of the incredible damage the cartels are doing utilizing I 
am going to say undocumented immigrants in that space?
    I was one of the people that went to the border just a few 
days ago. Went down to San Diego. I saw of course that the 
detention facilities are dramatically inadequate and that folks 
are being released into the United States when they don't fit 
in the detention facility, which is right now. We found out 
that there was no means of finding folks once they are 
released, no way of tracking them. We found out that there is 
not the full and complete background analysis on these folks as 
they come in that could be done being done. Just as Congressman 
Issa said, title 42 is currently being ignored. We are not sure 
who gave that order, but that is what is happening. The Border 
Patrol is overwhelmed and they need help.
    I was somewhat surprised when you indicated that you 
would--I think you didn't really use the word ``welcome,'' but 
you could certainly put to work the 20,000 folks that it was 
suggested we prevented from being hired, but I have here, which 
I would ask be offered into the record--it is your budgets, 
actually fiscal year 2017-2022 budgets for your department, the 
CBP, the ICE, EOIR, and CIS.
    Chair Nadler. Without objection.
    [The information follows:]

                       MR. BENTZ FOR THE RECORD

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    Mr. Bentz. I think the budget tells a story of what you 
really want to do because it shows how much money you are 
asking for or not asking for in each of these spaces. For 
example, for the Border Patrol this year it is $18 billion, 
fiscal year--I am sorry, last year it was 18 billion. This year 
it is 16 billion. For some reason the amount that you asked for 
is less by $2 billion for Border Patrol. Next year it goes back 
to 17 billion, but it is still far less than the 20 billion 
that they had available in 2020. In ICE--this goes right to the 
heart of whether you are really truly asking for--planning on 
picking up people across the United States--your budget drops 
from $9 billion in 2020 down to $8 billion 2023. So, I would 
suggest that shows better than anything what you are real plans 
are, which is not to take people out of the United States that 
are here illegally.
    Finally, I think it is incredibly important that people 
actually look at the fact sheet that President Biden has sent 
out a commitment to modernize our immigration system. Almost 
every element in this so-called fact sheet has nothing to do 
with securing the border. There is one bullet point at the end 
that talks about it. The rest of them talk about how to 
facilitate those who immigrate, how to help those who 
immigrate.
    Now, needs to be important, one thing that gets lost in 
this that we Republicans support legal immigration. We want 
legal immigration. What you are doing, your administration, is 
failing to protect the border and making it almost impossible 
to correctly address issues on immigration. So, when people 
become upset and angry, as the folks that I represent are back 
in the little State of Oregon, they wonder why in the world--by 
throwing the border open you are making it so hard to get help 
up on our farms and our ranches and using H2-A, H2-B, and H2-C 
programs.
    So, what I am trying to say to you is your failures to do 
what you should be doing are making it almost impossible to get 
valid and needed and absolutely necessary immigration reform.
    With that I yield to the Ranking Member, Mr. Jordan.
    Mr. Jordan. I thank the gentleman.
    Mr. Secretary, who is Nina Jankowicz?
    Secretary Mayorkas. She is the newly-appointed individual 
in our Office of Policy in the Department of Homeland Security 
and she will be the--
    Mr. Jordan. Is she the new Executive Director for 
Disinforma-
tion Governments Board?
    Secretary Mayorkas. She is the Executive Director of the 
Disin-
formation Governance.
    Mr. Jordan. Is this the same individual who said the 
dossier was real and the Hunter Biden laptop story was false? 
Is that the individual who is now running the Disinformation 
Governance Board?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I'm not familiar with those statements.
    Mr. Jordan. Been reported widely.
    Secretary Mayorkas. I'm not familiar with those statements.
    Mr. Jordan. I am just asking--
    Chair Nadler. The gentleman's time is expired.
    For the purpose of a unanimous consent, Ms. Jackson Lee?
    Ms. Jackson Lee. Thank you very much. Thank you, Mr. Chair. 
Unanimous consent to submit into the record ``DHS secretary 
defends border policies under intense grilling from GOP 
lawmakers,'' where a member from Louisiana again cites an 
impeachment of Mayorkas talking points.
    As an unanimous consent, ``TSA announces measures to 
implement gender-neutral screening at its checkpoints'' 
regarding transgender. I thank the Secretary for that.
    As an unanimous consent, ``School leaders say HBCUs are 
undeterred after a series of bomb threats,'' NPR.
    As an unanimous consent, ``Bomb threats targeting U.S. 
Black colleges investigated as hate crimes,'' The Gardian.
    Finally, ``NBA's Houston Rockets Face Cyber Attack by 
Ransomware Group.'' Ask unanimous consent to submit into the 
record.
    Chair Nadler. Without objection.
    [The information follows:]

                    MS. JACKSON LEE FOR THE RECORD

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    Chair Nadler. Ms. Ross?
    Ms. Ross. Thank you, Mr. Chair.
    Secretary Mayorkas, thank you for all the work that you and 
the Biden Administration have done to preserve the Deferred 
Action for Childhood Arrivals Program, or DACA.
    I was pleased to see that the administration engaged in 
notice and comment rulemaking to strengthen and protect this 
vital program, however the proposed rulemaking fails to address 
the needs of a group often referred to as the documented 
DREAMers. These are young people who have grown up in the 
United States as dependents of nonimmigrant visa holders that 
age out of their visas at age 21 due to the decades-long 
backlog in the immigration system.
    Around the country over 200,000 of these documented 
DREAMers live in limbo struggling to find a pathway to 
permanent residency and ineligible for many of the 
opportunities that their peers who were born in the United 
States can access.
    I have heard from countless young people in my district who 
dream of getting back to the country in which they spent nearly 
all their lives. However, backlogs along with other hurdles in 
the legal immigration system have made this dream an 
impossibility for many documented DREAMers. As you may know, I 
have introduced bipartisan, bicameral legislation to address 
this problem, however there may be an administrative solution 
through you.
    Former Secretary Napolitano's original June 15, 2021, DACA 
memorandum only requires one to be present in the U.S. on June 
15, 2012, in addition to meeting other requirements under the 
program, however under the DHS-implemented DACA the agency 
stated that the applicants must have been physically present on 
June 15, 2012 and have no lawful status on that date. That 
means documented DREAMers who were here legally on June 15, 
2021, but have subsequent lost status because they have aged 
out are not eligible for DACA. Such individuals were not 
considered ineligible under the initial Napolitano memo.
    Is the department considering expanding DACA to include 
these documented DREAMers? If not, is there a reason they are 
not being included given the original memo? I have written two 
letters to your office in support of the documented DREAMers, 
and have yet to get a response.
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, first, I will follow up 
to make sure that you do receive a response to the letters that 
you've transmitted to us.
    The 2012 program was implemented to address those with most 
acute vulnerabilities. The point you make with respect to 
individuals who should have access to relief because they've 
known the United States as their home and have contributed to 
this country speaks of the imperative to pass immigration 
reform, to pass legislation to provide a path for those 
individuals whom you identify.
    We currently do not have a plan. The focus is on the 
regulation to fortify the existing DACA Program and I'd welcome 
the opportunity to speak with you about the concerns that you 
rightly express for documented DREAMers, as you've identified 
them.
    Ms. Ross. As a follow-up question, the House has passed the 
American Dream and Promise Act, which includes both the current 
DACA recipients; and make no mistake they absolutely have to 
keep their status, and documented DREAMers. Then of course 
extends protection for folks with temporary protected status.
    What is your office doing to encourage our friends in the 
Senate to see the need to pass this bill as well?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, I'd be pleased to follow 
up with your question to address the legislative activity that 
is underway. We remain hopeful for legislative reform. I note 
very powerfully that our President sent to Congress a 
legislative package on his very first day in office.
    Chair Nadler. The gentlelady's time is expired.
    Ms. Bush?
    Ms. Ross. I yield back.
    Chair Nadler. The gentlelady yields back.
    Ms. Bush?
    Ms. Bush. Thank you. St. Louis and I thank you, Secretary 
Mayorkas, for being here with us today.
    As a country we have been unified in our response to the 
crisis in Ukraine. Your department, Secretary Mayorkas, 
recently unveiled a plan to accelerate initiatives from Ukraine 
with a goal of admitting up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees. We 
know that we have a legal and a moral obligation to welcome 
those fleeing persecution, wars, and famine.
    Does the department consider the conditions in the home 
country of the individual who crosses when assessing for the 
use of title 42? For example, is this why Ukrainian nationals 
coming through our southern border that they are currently 
exempt from title 42?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, we have built pathways, 
safe, orderly, and humane pathways for the Ukrainian 
individuals seeking relief to access the United States, the 
Humanitarian Parole Program that we have termed ``Uniting for 
Ukraine,'' the refugee process for which we have deployed our 
personnel overseas, and of course the visa programs that the 
Department of State traditionally and historically has 
administered.
    As a category of individuals Ukrainians are not necessarily 
exempt from title 42. We provide individualized exemptions 
depending on acute vulnerabilities, claims under the Convention 
Against Torture. What we are really doing is implementing safe 
and orderly pathways so that individuals do not travel to 
Mexico with the intent of crossing through a port of entry and 
into the United States. That is not the safest way to proceed 
and that is precisely one of the reasons, just one of the 
reasons why we implemented the measures that I have described 
to build an orderly and safe way to provide humanitarian relief 
in the proudest traditions of this country.
    Ms. Bush. Okay. Well, thank you. Thank you, Secretary. Last 
year DHS designated Haiti for temporary protective status to 
Haiti. In making that decision DHS noted that Haiti is 
grappling with a deteriorating political crisis, violence, and 
a staggering increase in human rights abuses. Haiti faces the 
challenges of rising food insecurity and malnutrition, 
waterborne disease epidemics. Similar conditions exist for 
Cameroon, which was finally granted TPS status last week.
    Given this can you explain why Haitian, Cameroonian, and 
others fleeing poverty, violence, and war not exempt from title 
42?
    Secretary Mayorkas. Congresswoman, our experts, not only in 
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, but also in the 
Department of State, review country conditions to determine 
which countries are eligible for temporary protected status 
based on the statutory criteria that are set forth. You 
correctly note that we reviewed the country conditions last 
year in Haiti and granted temporary protected status for 
individuals already resident in the United States from Haiti.
    We actually in light of the tragic assassination of the 
Haitian President last year extended the period. We have not 
made a determination that in fact a further designation of 
Haiti is warranted under the statutory criteria, and therefore 
we have not extended temporary protected status beyond that 
which we granted last year.
    You correctly note as well that our review of the country 
conditions in Cameroon led us to grant temporary protected 
status to Cameroonians. Our experts review country conditions 
against the statutory criteria, the Statutory Program, and we 
exercise our discretion accordingly.
    Ms. Bush. Thank you. Reclaiming my time.
    Earlier this year I led 100 Members of Congress in sending 
a letter to the administration requesting the departmental 
review of our immigration system and the disparate treatment of 
Black migrants. Yes or no, Secretary, are you aware of the 
disparate treatment of Black migrants at the border?
    Secretary Mayorkas. I would respectfully disagree with that 
assertion. One of our core principles is equal application of 
the law in a non-discriminatory manner. I think our designation 
of temporary protected status for Haitian nationals' resident 
in the United States last year, our recent our declaration of--
    Ms. Bush. Well, reclaiming my time. I have another 
question. Has the department ever conducted a review of 
disparate treatment of Black migrants?
    Chair Nadler. The gentlelady's time is expired.
    The Witness may answer the question.
    Secretary Mayorkas. I'm sorry, if the question could be 
repeated? I didn't quite catch it. I apologize, Mr. Chair.
    Ms. Bush. That is fine. Has the department ever conducted a 
review of disparate treatment of Black migrants?
    Secretary Mayorkas. We have, Congresswoman, a statutorily-
created Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. I will 
consult with that office to see whether our department has ever 
conducted such a review and be back in--or we will be back in 
touch with your office.
    Ms. Bush. Thank you.
    Chair Nadler. The time of the gentlelady has expired.
    This concludes today's hearing. We thank Secretary Mayorkas 
for participating.
    Without objection, all Members will have five legislative 
days to submit additional written questions for the Witness or 
additional materials for the record.
    I will note that there are two votes on the floor right 
now.
    Without objection, the hearing is adjourned.
    [Whereupon, at 2:14 p.m., the Committee was adjourned.]

                               APPENDIX

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                 QUESTIONS AND RESPONSES FOR THE RECORD

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