[Senate Hearing 119-066]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 119-066
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026
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HEARINGS
BEFORE A
SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
on
H.R. 4213
AN ACT MAKING APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
__________
Department of Homeland Security
__________
Printed for the use of the Committee on Appropriations
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
Available via http://www.govinfo.gov
__________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
60-264 PDF WASHINGTON : 2026
=======================================================================
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
SUSAN M. COLLINS, Maine, Chair
MITCH McCONNELL, Kentucky PATTY MURRAY, Washington, Vice
LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska Chair
LINDSEY GRAHAM, South Carolina RICHARD J. DURBIN, Illinois
JERRY MORAN, Kansas JACK REED, Rhode Island
JOHN HOEVEN, North Dakota JEANNE SHAHEEN, New Hampshire
JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas JEFF MERKLEY, Oregon
SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia CHRISTOPHER A. COONS, Delaware
JOHN KENNEDY, Louisiana BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii
CINDY HYDE-SMITH, Mississippi TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin
BILL HAGERTY, Tennessee CHRISTOPHER MURPHY, Connecticut
KATIE BOYD BRITT, Alabama CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, Maryland
MARKWAYNE MULLIN, Oklahoma MARTIN HEINRICH, New Mexico
DEB FISCHER, Nebraska GARY C. PETERS, Michigan
MIKE ROUNDS, South Dakota KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND, New York
JON OSSOFF, Georgia
Elizabeth McDonnell, Staff Director
Evan Schatz, Minority Staff Director
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Subcommittee on the Department of Homeland Security
KATIE BRITT, Alabama, Chairman
LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska CHRISTOPHER MURPHY, Connecticut,
SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia Ranking
JOHN KENNEDY, Louisiana PATTY MURRAY, Washington, (ex
CINDY HYDE-SMITH, Mississippi officio)
BILL HAGERTY, Tennessee JEANNE SHAHEEN, New Hampshire
GARY PETERS, Michigan
CHRIS VAN HOLLEN, Maryland
Professional Staff
Daniel Mencher
Derek Gondek
Dave Roth
Kamela White (Minority)
Jim Daumit (Minority)
Katelyn Hamilton (Minority)
Elizabeth Lapham (Minority)
Administrative Support
Teddy Coes
Lloyd Belcher
Daniel Swaim (Minority)
C O N T E N T S
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Page
Thursday, May 8, 2025
Department of Homeland Security.................................. 1
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back matter
List of Witnesses, Communications, and Prepared Statements....... 69
Subject Index:
Department of Homeland Security.............................. 71
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026
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THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2025
U.S. Senate,
Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations,
Washington, DC.
The subcommittee met at 10:00 a.m. in Room 124, Dirksen
Senate Office Building, Hon. Katie Britt (chairwoman)
presiding.
Present: Senators Britt, Collins, Murkowski, Capito,
Kennedy, Hyde-Smith, Hagerty, Murphy, Murray, Shaheen, Peters,
and Van Hollen.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
STATEMENT OF HON. KRISTI NOEM, SECRETARY
opening statement of senator katie britt
Senator Britt. The Homeland Security Appropriations
Subcommittee will come to order. Secretary Noem, thank you so
much for being here today to testify to the President's fiscal
year 2026 budget request for the Department of Homeland
Security. I am pleased to be joined by Senator Murphy, the
Ranking Member of the subcommittee, as well as we have Vice
Chair Murray that will be coming shortly. And of course, I am
thrilled to have the Chair of our full appropriations
committee, Chair Senator Collins, with us today. Thank you,
Chair Collins for your leadership on this committee and your
tireless effort to get us back to regular order, moving these
bills not only through full committee, but making sure that
they're seen on the floor.
Senator Collins. Yes.
Senator Britt. Since January 20th, under President Trump's
leadership, the Department has actually become a priority.
Rather than turning U.S. Border Patrol agents and Immigration
and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers into paper pushers,
President Trump has empowered the men and women of the United
States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE). This has resulted in gaining more
control on the border and the enforcement of our immigration
laws.
In fact, President Trump has signed a new law, the Laken
Riley Act, which further empowers ICE to help protect
communities from criminal aliens. He has taken swift and
decisive actions in other areas, such as restoring the Victims
of Immigration Crime Engagement (VOICE) officers at ICE and
reduced bureaucratic red tape that was counterproductive to
achieving the mission.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has a vast,
important, and complex mission, and its 250,000 employees are
responsible for keeping Americans safe from coast to coast, on
the water, and in the air. As Chair of the Homeland Security
Appropriation Subcommittee, it is my responsibility to work
with you, Madam Secretary, and my fellow Senators, to
appropriate the resources DHS needs to carry out its mission.
One of the most important areas that we must dedicate
resources to is border security and immigration enforcement. I
want to say thank you to the brave men and women of CBP, and
ICE who show up every single day to keep our borders secure, to
keep our communities safe, and to enforce our immigration laws.
Since President Trump took back the White House, we have
seen historically low levels of encounters along the Southwest
Border. In March, 2024, Border Patrol encountered 337,473
people. Fast forward to March of 2025, under President Trump's
leadership, Border Patrol encountered only 7,181 people. That's
a 95 percent decrease. Thank you, Madam Secretary.
Under the Biden Administration, there were nearly two
million gotaways. And in 2023, the Chief of Border Patrol
testified that gotaways may have been under reported by as much
as 20 percent. The work that President Trump and this
Administration have done to curb the flow of illegal migration
is truly incredible. We've gone from record high encounters
under the previous administration to two consecutive months of
record lows.
Ultimately, that means safer communities and families
across our great country. But we cannot let up. We must
continue to empower Border Patrol. We want our agents on the
line to be equipped with the best tools available. We must also
continue the renewed focus on interior enforcement where we
have seen tremendous gain since President Trump took the oath
of office. In fact, since President Trump's inauguration, there
have been a 153 percent increase in removals stemming from ICE
apprehensions, a true testament to the work done by DHS law
enforcement officials that are working to safeguard our
communities.
As you know, Madam Secretary, the ultimate goal of
immigration enforcement lifecycle is to remove individuals that
are here unlawfully. And I commend your department in the
pursuit in the end of that goal, one of the results of our open
border policies supported by the previous administration with
significant growth in ICE's non-detained docket growing from
$3.7 million at the end of fiscal year 2021 to $7.6 million at
the end of 2024. That is a 105 percent increase.
Many will commit crimes while here waiting their turn to be
processed, which is unacceptable, and why I fought so hard for
the Laken Riley Act to pass Congress. And that is also why I
was proud to be there when President Trump signed that into
law. I am incredibly proud when you look at the work that
Alabama does to support the Department of Homeland Security and
the equities there in so many hardworking, dedicated public
servants who show up every single day to fulfill that mission.
From the incredible collaboration between DHS and our
college programs on research to the Homeland Security
Investigations (HSI) National Academy in Huntsville, to the
Coast Guards Aviation Training Center in Mobile, it's
gratifying to see that I represent a state that plays such an
important role in protecting our country.
Alabama is also home to some key institutions that fit
within the administration's priorities of empowering state and
local law enforcement to have a seat at the table when it comes
to disaster recovery and national security, both Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Center for Domestic
Preparedness and the National Computer Forensic Institute in
Hoover provide key resources to local officials across our
nation to ensure that they're equipped with the best knowledge,
skills, and tools needed to protect and serve the United States
of America.
It is unfortunate that trainings have been canceled,
especially at a time when cities across this country begin to
prepare for the World Cup and the Olympics. Madam Secretary, I
am certainly open to conversations about how all of this
evolves, but I want to make sure that we are looking at future
threats as well as existing threats, and I believe that we can
do both.
Another FEMA area that not only saves taxpayer dollars, but
saves taxpayer lives is the Building Resilient Infrastructure
and Communities (BRIC) program. Since President Trump signed
the Disaster Recovery Reform Act, which authorizes BRIC, nearly
$5 billion has gone to mitigation projects across 55 states and
territories, and 37 tribal nations that requested funding. This
is clearly a popular and important program.
The program, obviously, is not without its challenges.
Applying and implementing BRIC grants requires resources to
many cities, states, and tribes that they may not have. But
rather than ceasing to implement, we should work together to
identify ways that BRIC could be amended to be less complex and
more efficient.
Madam Secretary, the people up here look forward to working
with you and your team. We look forward to conversations about
the President's fiscal year 2026 budget for DHS. From what I've
seen, I am personally supportive of zeroing out the Shelter and
Services Program, and I look forward to conversations about
FEMA, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA),
and Transportation Security Administration (TSA). I hope that
we will see requests for base increases to CBP, ICE, and
elsewhere within DHS.
You have an incredibly difficult job, Madam Secretary, and
have stepped up to do it during one of the most challenging
times. I want to thank you for your service, and I look forward
to your testimony today, and to working with you and your team
to making sure that America's borders are safe and its people
are secure.
I now turn to Senator Murphy, and recognize him for his
opening remarks.
statement of senator christopher murphy
Senator Murphy. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam
Secretary, thank you for being here. I'm sorry that I missed
your call yesterday. I look forward to working closely with
you.
I say this with seriousness and respect, but your
department is out of control. You are spending like you don't
have a budget. You're on the verge of running out of money for
the fiscal year. You are illegally refusing to spend funds that
have been authorized by this Congress and appropriated by this
committee.
You are ignoring the immigration laws of this nation,
implementing a brand-new immigration system that you have
invented that has little relation to the statutes that you are
required, that you are commanded to follow as spelled out in
your oath of office. You are routinely violating the rights of
immigrants who may not be citizens, but whether you like it or
not, they have constitutional and statutory rights when they
reside in the United States.
Your agency acts as if laws don't matter, as if the
election gave you some mandate to violate the Constitution and
the laws passed by this Congress. It did not give you that
mandate. You act as if your disagreement with the law or even
the public's disagreement with the law is relevant and gives
you the ability to create your own law. It does not give you
that ability.
Let's start with your spending. You are on track to trigger
the Antideficiency Act. That means you are going to spend more
money than you have been allocated by Congress. This is a rare
occurrence and it is wildly illegal. Your agency will be broke
by July, over 2 months before the end of the fiscal year. You
may not think that Congress has provided enough money to ICE,
but the Constitution and the Federal law does not allow you to
spend more money than you have been given or to invent money.
And this obsession with spending at the border, as the
chairwoman mentioned, has left the country unprotected
elsewhere. The security threats to the United States are
higher, not lower before than when before Trump came to office
to fund the border. You have illegally gutted spending for
cybersecurity as we speak. Russian and Chinese hackers are
having a field day attacking our nation. You've withdrawn funds
for disaster prevention. Storms are going to kill more people
in this country because of your illegal withholding of these
funds. Your myopia about the border fueled by President Trump's
prejudice against people who speak a different language, has
shattered many of this country's most important defenses.
Now, let's talk about the impoundments. When Congress
appropriates funds for a specific purpose, the administration
has no discretion as to whether to spend or not spend that
money, unless you go through a very specific process with this
committee.
Let me give you two of many instances of this illegal
impoundment. The first is a Shelter and Services Program.
Senator Britt may want to zero that account out, but that
account is funded, and it was funded in a bipartisan way. You
don't like the program. Your policy is to treat migrants badly.
I think that's abhorrent. But it doesn't matter that you don't
like the program. You cannot cancel spending in this program,
and you cannot use the funds as you have to fund other things
like ICE.
You have also canceled citizenship and integration grants,
which help lawful permanent residents become citizens, helping
them take the citizenship test. I know your goal is to try to
make life as hard as possible for immigrants, but that goal is
not broadly shared by the American public. That's why Congress
in a bipartisan way, for decades, has funded this program to
help immigrants in this country become citizens.
Now, let's talk about why encounters at the Southern Border
are down so much. This is clearly going to be your primary
talking point. Today, you will tell us that it represents a
success, but the primary reason why encounters are down is
because you are brazenly violating the law.
Every hour of every day, you are refusing to allow people
showing up at the Southern Border to apply for asylum. I
acknowledge that you don't believe that people should be able
to apply for asylum, but you don't get to choose that. The
White House doesn't get to choose that.
The law requires you to process people who are showing up
at the border and who claim asylum. Why? Because our asylum law
is a bipartisan commitment, an effort to correct for our
nation's unconscionable decision to deny entry to Jews to this
country who were being hunted and killed by the Nazis. Our
nation's Republicans and Democrats decided, wrote it into law,
that we would not repeat that horror ever again. And thus, we
would allow for people who were fleeing terror and torture to
come here, arrive at the border, and make a case for asylum.
Finally, let's talk about these disappearances. In an
autocratic society, people who the regime does not like are
people who are protesting the regime. They are just often
picked up off the street, spirited away sometimes to open-ended
detention. Sometimes they're never seen again. What you are
doing, both the individuals who have legal rights to stay here,
like Kilmar Abrego Garcia, or students who are just protesting
Trump's policies, is immoral, and to follow the theme, it is
illegal. You have no right to deport a student visa holder with
no due process simply because they have spoken in a way that
offends the President. You can't remove migrants who a court
has given humanitarian protection from removal.
Now, reports suggest that you are planning to remove
immigrants with no due process and send them to prisons in
Libya. Libya is in the middle of a civil war. It is subject to
a Level 4 travel advisory. Meaning, we tell American citizens
never to travel to Libya. We don't have an Embassy there
because it is not safe for our diplomats. Sending migrants with
pending asylum claims into a war zone just because it's cruel,
is so deeply disturbing.
Listen, I understand that my Republican colleagues on this
committee don't view the policy the way that I do. My
Republican colleagues don't share my level of concern for the
way that this administration treats immigrants. That's fine.
But what I don't understand is why we don't have consensus in
the Senate and on this committee, on the decision by this
administration to impound the spending that we have decided
together to allocate in defense of this nation.
We as an appropriations committee, we work interminable
hours to write and pass a budget. This budget is really hard to
write and pass. And so, we make ourselves irrelevant when we
allow the Administration to ignore what we have decided. And
then when we look the other way, when the Administration rounds
up immigrants who are here illegally and have committed no
offense, no offenses worthy of detainment, we also do potential
irreversible damage to the Constitution. These should not be
partisan concerns, destroying the power of Congress eroding
individuals' constitutional rights. This should matter to both
parties.
Madam Secretary, thank you for being here and I look
forward to your testimony.
Senator Collins [presiding]. Madam Secretary, let me first
explain that Chair Britt is trying to cover two different
subcommittees. She will be returning, but in the meantime, has
asked that I take the gavel. And, fortunately, that means that
I get to welcome you, but also ask the first questions. But
first we want to hear your statement, so please proceed.
summary statement of hon. kristi noem
Secretary Noem. Yes. Well, thank you, Senator Collins. And
I do want to thank Senator Britt as well for bringing this
group of individuals together for this committee hearing so
that we could talk about the priorities of the United States of
America, and what we can do to work together to secure our
homeland. I do want to thank Senator Murphy as well, and look
forward to our conversations that we can have today and far
into the future.
In the first 100 days, the Trump administration has already
delivered for the American people, a drastic turnaround in
homeland security from the Southern Border, to investing in our
Coast Guard, to cybersecurity. And we are just getting started.
I'm very proud of the accomplishments that we have made so far,
and working with President Trump and his leadership since he
took office.
At the Southern Border, we have obtained near total control
with a 95 percent decrease in daily encounters since President
Trump took office. March, saw the lowest number of encounters
in this nation's history at less than 7,200. There were days in
there where we had less than 200 encounters a day, which is
absolutely remarkable. And again, that is the lowest number of
encounters at the border in this nation's history.
Under the previous Administration, when Joe Biden was the
President of the United States, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection was at times encountering over 15,000 people per
day. This astonishing turnaround is a testament to the resolve
and to the leadership of President Trump to make America safe,
and to the incredible work of the men and women of the
Department of Homeland Security.
The secure border has allowed Border Patrol to zero in on
the cartels and on illicit activities that are going on.
President Trump has designated six different cartels and
violent criminal gangs as foreign terrorist organizations. This
has allowed us to use a whole-of-government approach in how we
go after drug traffickers and human traffickers. And in March,
fentanyl traffic at the border fell by 54 percent compared to
the previous year.
We're enforcing immigration laws to identify, arrest,
detain, and remove dangerous illegals from our country. We're
prioritizing those who have committed crimes, aliens who are a
threat to our public safety and to our national security,
especially those who are affiliated with terrorist
organizations such as Tren de Aragua and MS-13. This includes
those who also have final orders of removal. We've worked to
enforce President Trump's America First trade agenda through
the U.S. Custom and Border Protections enforcement.
The Biden Administration's policies hollowed out our
economy and America's industrial base, and it shipped our jobs
overseas. President Trump is changing that. His historic
actions are proving that tariffs are an effective negotiating
tool to address trade imbalances. And, in fact, companies are
reshoring jobs here every single day.
The Department of Homeland Security is reforming and we're
rethinking Federal involvement in emergency management.
President Trump recently announced that there will be a FEMA
Review Council, which I will co-chair with the Department of
Defense Secretary. This council is charged with fixing a broken
system that's returning power to state emergency management
directors and making America safe.
We're also taking steps to defend the nation's
transportation systems, which are vulnerable to targets and to
attacks. The Transportation Security Administration is
responsible for ensuring the security of all those who travel.
In a single day, there are over 45,000 flights in this country
with nearly 2.9 million passengers in the United States. We're
fulfilling our obligation to launch REAL ID, which happened
yesterday, and we follow Federal law as it was passed 20 years
ago. Validated IDs will secure travel, safeguard our elections,
and make sure that we never open a door to an opportunity for
another tragedy like 9/11 again.
As technology advances, so do the threats to our nation,
and that's why cybersecurity is a crucial component of our
security measures we're taking seriously and investing in going
forward. Countries like communist China have built a capability
and the intent to infiltrate and potentially disrupt our
critical infrastructure. But despite these threats, the Biden
Administration instead used CISA to play politics and to police
speech.
Under President Trump, we've been working to get CISA back
on-mission, and make sure that they are securing our
infrastructure. The Coast Guard is the only branch of the U.S.
Armed Services that are under the Department of Homeland
Security. It has many missions with specialized needs, and as
we secure the southern border, the cartels have shifted their
activities out to the maritime borders.
The Coast Guard has already surpassed fiscal year 2024 drug
interdiction numbers, and search and rescue, and illegal
interdiction. Still, the Coast Guard is facing our greatest
readiness challenge since World War II. With Force Design 2028,
we will transform the Coast Guard to make it a more agile,
capable, and responsive force.
And since I took office, one of the responsibilities that I
have is reforming the Secret Service in the wake of the July
13th assassination attempt. We have needs there that I'm hoping
you will consider. We've reassessed the Secret Service's needs.
We've refocused recruitment away from Diversity, Equity, and
Inclusion (DEI) objectives, and instead focused people in on
investing in the agency's zero-fail mission.
These accomplishments are just a portion of what the
Department of Homeland Security has achieved with President
Trump's leadership in the last 100 days. And with the support
of this committee, I'm hopeful that we'll be able to make this
department more efficient and more effective in securing our
nation.
I'm so grateful to the men and women of the department, and
they are examples of bravery, patriotism, and dedication. It's
our responsibility to continue providing them with resources,
training, and equipment that they need to do their jobs.
Thank you so much for your support, for the opportunity to
be here, and I look forward to the discussion.
[The statement follows:]
Prepared Statement of Hon. Kristi Noem
introduction
Chair Britt, Ranking Member Murphy, and distinguished Members of
this Committee:
It is a privilege to present to you the Department of Homeland
Security's critical work to keep our Nation safe and share our
priorities for Fiscal Year 2026. In the first 100 days under President
Trump's leadership, the Department has established the most secure
border in our Nation's history, kept dangerous criminals out of
America, and deported illegal aliens who threaten our people. We will
not stop until there are none left.
The President's FY 2026 Budget request for DHS will establish a
firm foundation upon which to surge resources in support of the
Administration's border security and immigration enforcement
objectives. The Administration has requested over $175 billion for DHS
as part of the reconciliation bill currently under consideration in
Congress. Reconciliation would empower the DHS to implement the
President's mass removal campaign and secure the border.
As we work to implement President Trump's policies, I am determined
to lead the over 270,000 men and women of the Department in the most
efficient and effective way possible to safeguard our Nation. While the
Department can seem disparate--23 component offices with broad ranging
missions sets-we are united in our resolve to protect the homeland and
stand ready to defend these United States against threats by air, land,
sea or cyberspace. From clearing the streets of terrorists to deploying
to disaster-ridden communities to help after a natural disaster, the
brave men and women serving on our front lines must be fully equipped
to perform their duty to keep America safe and secure.
Under President Trump's leadership, I am committed to securing our
Nation's borders, enforcing immigration laws, securing cyberspace and
critical infrastructure, enabling transportation and trade, combating
exploitation, and ensuring American resilience and preparedness.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, for instance, is now focused on
critical border security front line operations instead of serving as a
pass-through agency processing illegal aliens into our country like
under the last administration. The message has gotten out worldwide
that America is now enforcing our laws and the border is closed. The
issuing of Notices to Appear, Withdrawals, and Expedited Removals
decreased by 99 percent from January 21 through April 15 of 2025,
compared to the same timeframe in Fiscal Year 2024. There has been a 93
percent decrease in inadmissibility encounters throughout the southwest
border since January 21, 2025. We have also seen a 94 percent decrease
in encounters of unaccompanied alien children.
America is witnessing a historic decrease in illicit drug traffic
due to the Trump Administration's policy changes, swift repatriation
efforts, aggressive prosecutorial initiatives, and significant
messaging campaigns. In March of 2025, illicit fentanyl traffic at the
southwest border fell by 54 percent compared to March of 2024. The U.S.
Coast Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have seized nearly
232,000 pounds of fentanyl and other illicit drugs-stopping them from
ever reaching American communities.
There has been a significant decline in the number of illegal
aliens coming over the border, as many are turning back before they
even get here. March of 2025 saw the lowest number of border encounters
in recorded history, at just under 7,200. On February 25, 2025, Border
Patrol encountered a record low daily total of less than 160 illegal
aliens at the southern border. Overall, border encounters have fallen
by 99 percent, and there has been a 95 percent decrease in the number
of estimated gotaways--the biggest threat to public safety.\1\
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\1\ A gotaway is an illegal entry that was detected and that all
efforts to continue tracking the entry have stopped.
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Following the Trump Administration's designation of six cartels and
two transnational gangs as Foreign Terrorist Organizations, we have
been able to use a whole-of-government approach to crack down on these
vicious groups, treating them like the terrorists they are. Under
President Trump, DHS is committed to complete construction of the
southern border wall, a commonsense solution to securing our border.
Currently, we have more than 85 miles of new border barrier, 17 miles
of which are waterborne barriers, in various stages of construction and
planning. We are also working with DoD and the Texas National Guard to
deploy temporary barriers to include concertina wire, razor wire, chain
link fencing, and additional barriers. This is in addition to the
Administration's request for billions of additional dollars for border
barrier like new primary and secondary border wall systems, waterborne
barrier systems, and technology where wall is currently installed but
lacks the completed systems needed.
We are committed to enforcing the United States' immigration laws.
Our priority is to identify, arrest, detain, and remove dangerous
criminal illegal aliens and those with final orders of removal. We are
giving illegal aliens the opportunity to voluntarily self-deport using
the CBP Home app, in response and contrast to the Biden
Administration's utilization of the CBP One app, which allowed more
than 1 million aliens to illegally enter the United States. Self-
deportation is the best option for illegal aliens, while preserving our
law enforcement resources. It saves our taxpayer dollars and allows us
to focus valuable resources on dangerous criminal illegal aliens.
Our enforcement efforts prioritize illegal aliens who have
committed crimes and are a threat to public safety and national
security, including aliens who are affiliated with Foreign Terrorist
Organizations like Tren de Aragua and MS-13. However, U.S. Immigration
and Customs Enforcement has the authority to deport anyone in the
country here illegally, which is a crime.
The number of suspected gang members U.S. Immigration and Customs
Enforcement has arrested since January 20, 2025, represents a 105
percent increase compared to the same period in Fiscal Year 2024. The
number of known or suspected terrorists we have arrested from January
20 to mid-April this year represents a 700 percent increase compared to
the same period in Fiscal Year 2024.\2\
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\2\ ICE arrest data is current through April 16, 2025.
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We have secured the border, decreased drug trafficking, and
arrested criminal illegal aliens, but we need Congress to secure
investments in staffing, infrastructure, technology, information
sharing, and public-private partnerships to ensure these successes
continue.
trade enforcement
Our Homeland Security mission includes safeguarding the American
worker. We are committed to enforcing President Trump's America First
Trade Agenda. On April 2, 2025, Liberation Day, President Trump
announced new tariffs on 185 countries to address the National
emergency posed by the large and persistent goods trade deficits that
is driven by the absence of reciprocity in our trade relationships.
That day, he hammered home that the days of unilateral American
disarmament in trade policy are over.
As U.S. Customs and Border Protection enforces tariffs on imports
and Homeland Security Investigations performs criminal investigations
on illicit trade, travel, and finance, the Department of Homeland
Security stands on the frontlines of America's economic defense. We
have been open and receptive to reasonable overtures made by our
trading partners, who have come to the negotiating table. This has
proven what we have known all along: tariffs work.
We've implemented automated systems, targeted inspections, and
field guidance in the hands of frontline officers to improve tariff
collections. In Antidumping and Countervailing Duty revenue collection,
we secured $1.1 billion in additional revenue as a result of targeted
reviews of 774 shipments that were detected as discrepant for
Antidumping and Countervailing Duty payment. Since January 20, 2025, we
have collected over $30 billion in tariffs. With a 99 percent
collection rate, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has consistently
shown to be an extremely reliable enforcement arm in collecting tariff
revenue.
We play a critical role in enforcing U.S. laws prohibiting imports
of goods made with forced labor, which is a form of human trafficking.
In enforcing these laws to include the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention
Act, we keep these illicit goods from entry into our markets,
preventing malign actors from profiting off human rights abuses and
undermining U.S. businesses and their workers with unfairly traded
goods. Eliminating goods made with forced labor from globalsupply
chains makes legitimate supply chains more resilient and allows
American made products to compete on a level playing field.
transportation security administration
Keeping American travelers safe requires that we safeguard our
inherently open and vulnerable transportation systems. The
Transportation Security Administration is directly responsible for
ensuring Americans can travel within the U.S. safely and securely. In a
single day, the U.S. sees over 45,000 flights and 2.9 million airline
passengers cross more than 29 million miles of air space.\3\ In
addition to mention maritime and land-based public transport.
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\3\ Air Traffic By The Numbers Federal Aviation Administration.
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We will do what other administrations failed to do--follow the law
and implement the REAL ID program to stop domestic air travel of
illegal aliens, criminals, and foreign nationals using fraudulent
identification. This law was passed over 20 years ago, and 81% percent
of American travelers are already REAL ID compliant. We will ensure
compliance and security. REAL ID was created to help ensure that no
horrific attack like the one on 9/11 will ever happen again. To prepare
for implementation which began on May 7, 2025, we have been working
closely with States to ensure compliance and urge every American to
obtain a REAL ID for smoother and more secure air travel.
The Transportation Security Administration continues to improve
efficiency while enhancing security through growth of the TSA PreCheck
program, accounting for over one-third of all travel volume. Over 21
million travelers have seen how easy it is to enroll in TSA PreCheck,
with reduced pricing for enrollments and renewals, making it more
affordable for all eligible U.S. travelers.
cybersecurity and combatting cyber crime
In the hyper-connected 21st century, securing the homeland now
includes protecting our cyber infrastructure. The threat environment to
our homeland through cyberspace now changes by the nanosecond, and we
must keep up. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency
proactively addresses a rapidly evolving cyber threat environment and
thwarts cyber-attacks from foreign adversaries and cyber criminals.
These attacks continue to grow in frequency, scope, and severity, as
demonstrated by the recent cyber espionage campaign by the threat actor
known as Salt Typhoon, which resulted in the compromise of private
communications of several high-profile individuals from adversaries and
criminals who seek to do us harm.
China has repeatedly demonstrated its capability and intent to
infiltrate and potentially disrupt critical systems within the United
States. Chinese-affiliated actors have compromised multiple
1communications, energy, transportation, and water critical
infrastructure organizations across the country. Every day, the
Department of Homeland Security works with government, industry, and
international partners to prevent, detect, and respond to cyber
intrusions to U.S. critical infrastructure.
We have dramatically increased our cyber operations to prevent
threats and address vulnerabilities within the Federal Government. This
effort goes hand-in-hand with our critical infrastructure efforts, as
China and other nation States are often leveraging the same tools and
tactics to weaken and spy on the U.S. Our unique authorities and
positioning between the Intelligence Community, law enforcement,
industry, and international partners is critical to understanding cyber
adversary intent and applying critical protections domestically.
u.s. secret service
Since the beginning of the Trump Administration, the men and women
of the U.S. Secret Service have ensured the safety of protectees during
more than 1,400 official visits and successfully secured the safety of
visiting world leaders at over 270 protective visits. At the same time,
Secret Service investigative operations have recovered hundreds of
millions of dollars and bolstered the law enforcement partnerships that
enable these types of operations. In the first 2 months of this
Administration, the agency's criminal and cyber investigations have
enabled the Secret Service to return over $226,000,000 in forfeited
assets to American people who were victims of crimes and incurred
financial loss.
Secret Service manpower needs have been reassessed in the wake of
the July 13, 2024, assassination attempt on President Trump. We have
since implemented targeted recruiting for experience and training that
is transferable to specialty teams. We also created a talent pipeline
with military organizations whose missions align with the Secret
Service's technical requirements and have advanced digital platforms to
enhance job candidate outreach and engagement.
Secret Service has executed two nationwide advertising campaigns to
increase recruitment, which are already yielding incredible recruiting
results. Under President Trump, the Secret Service has had a 194
percent increase in applications since this period last year and have
hired the most Special Agents in the agency's history. We are on track
to almost double last year's law enforcement hiring.
u.s. coast guard
The U.S. Coast Guard is a central pillar of American national
security and power projection. As a military service and law
enforcement organization, the Coast Guard faces a unique set of
operational challenges and opportunities, necessitating a unique
posture for rapid response to a variety of evolving missions with a
modernized fleet that supports these requirements. As the Arctic
increases in importance to American security, the Coast Guard is
uniquely positioned as the only military service possessing the fleet
necessary to break polar ice and maintain sea lanes.
The Coast Guard is facing the greatest readiness crisis since World
War II. We are acting now through Force Design 2028 to restore
capability and deter emerging threats. With Congress' help, we will
transform the Coast Guard and deliver a future-ready force. President
Trump and I are fully aligned in their directive: reinvigorate the
Coast Guard or risk strategic failure.
Focused on four campaigns--Force Design 2028 will reform the U.S.
Coast Guard's personnel, organization, contracting and acquisition, and
technology. Increased national demand for our Coast Guard requires a
larger, more capable military workforce. This campaign will improve
training systems, boost access to medical care, and modernize both the
Coast Guard Reserve and the civilian management system.
As global security threats, technological advancements, and
operational demands continue to evolve, the Coast Guard must adapt its
organizational construct and internal decision-making and governance
processes to remain relevant, effective, and responsive. We will
develop a high velocity acquisition and contracting system to rapidly
deliver the assets the Service needs to fulfill its commitment to the
American people. The Coast Guard will accelerate the adoption of
secure, state-of-the-market technologies to enhance data sharing,
situational awareness, and operational effectiveness.
The great men and women of our U.S. Coast Guard are excited to
support the efforts of the Administration to secure our border and
strengthen our economy. The Coast Guard continues to conduct search and
rescue missions, and to detect, deter, and interdict illegal migration,
drug smuggling, and other malign activity before it reaches our shores.
emergency management and disaster response
The Federal Government's role in emergency management and response
needs to be both reformed and reimagined. Under President Trump's
leadership, we are reorienting the Federal Emergency Management
agency's responsibilities and eliminate the dysfunction of the current
agency as it exists today. We need to enable preparedness against
global and dynamic threats and hazards, while providing expeditious,
effective, and impartial response to disasters. This alignment seeks to
empower State and local jurisdictions and individuals to engage more
actively in national resilience and preparedness.
Just four days after returning to office, President Trump directed
aggressive actions to expedite response and recovery in areas recently
devastated by hurricanes or wildfires. Within those first four days,
President Trump was on the ground meeting survivors in North Carolina
who endured Hurricane Helene and in California who endured preventable
wildfires around Los Angeles County. Within days of the President's
visit, we registered 2,600 families in North Carolina that desperately
needed help and reduced by nearly 80 percent the number of assistance
cases stuck in bureaucratic red tape. While taxpayer dollars continue
to subsidize the majority of disaster response and recovery costs, we
are identifying ways to preserve these tax dollars or use them more
responsibly.
The American people need action not red tape, and the President
continues to identify opportunities to enhance efficiency while
expediting response to ongoing natural disasters, including severe
weather, tornadoes, flooding, or wildfires across multiple States.
Thanks to President Trump's approval of Stafford Act declarations, we
provided over $58 million dollars in assistance directly to survivors
and enabled rapid deployment of Incident Management Assistance Teams,
emergency communication support, and Urban Search and Rescue teams,
bolstering State and local disaster response operations.
President Trump remains committed to saving American lives and
livelihoods, and we will institute commonsense approaches to achieve
national security and resilience while empowering State and local
governments and the strongest of all 4American citizens.
conclusion
As the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, I can
proudly say that with honor and integrity, we will safeguard the
American people, our homeland, and our values. The achievements I share
are just a few examples of what we have accomplished in just 100 days.
With a job as big as the one the men and women of this Department take
on every day, it is impossible to list all of the things that its 23
components are doing to protect the American people and improve
operations to deliver a more responsive and efficient government.
I am grateful to the men and women of the Department of Homeland
Security who exude bravery, dedication, and patriotism as they carry
out their sworn duties allowing the American people to sleep better at
night. We dutifully ask Congress to continue providing our men and
women with the resources that they need to do their jobs.
Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. I look
forward to your questions.
Senator Britt [presiding]. Thank you so much, Madam
Secretary. I'd like to first recognize Chair Collins for her
round of questioning.
DRUG TRAFFICKING IN MAINE
Senator Collins. Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Madam
Secretary, I want to bring to your attention an important issue
that may not yet be one that you've been briefed on. In August
of 2023, DHS issued a memo in which the department stated that
it had identified more than 270 Chinese-backed illegal
marijuana operations in the State of Maine alone, producing up
to an estimated $4.3 billion in illicit revenue. These grow
houses are primarily run by Chinese organized crime syndicates
with ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
Our sheriffs and local law enforcement have worked night
and day to shut down these grow houses that tend to be located
in very rural areas of the state. I hope that the President's
more detailed budget requests include funding that can be used
to help supplement the county, state, and local law enforcement
efforts. United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
has also been involved. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been
involved. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is starting
to get involved, but DHS obviously has an important role to
play. So I hope you will commit today to joining this all-of-
government effort to shut down these dangerous illegal grow
houses.
Undoubtedly, there's human trafficking going on as well.
The marijuana is destroying these houses with black mold
because it's grown inside to try to hide what is going on, and
it's being smuggled to other states. This isn't just a problem
in Maine. Some 22 states have similarly found these illegal
grow operations with ties to transnational criminal
organizations in China.
Secretary Noem. Well, thank you, Senator Collins. I
appreciate you bringing this to my attention and this important
discussion. Obviously, we're very concerned with securing our
border and knowing who's coming into our country illegally, but
also who's already here. And so, you pointing out the fact that
we have investments in this country, businesses, and marijuana
grow houses that have a presence of ties to the People's
Republic of China (PRC) is incredibly alarming.
So I agree that we should work together to see what we can
do. As you know, the Department of Homeland Security, our
mission is to secure the homeland. I tell people quite often
that my responsibility lies with everyone who's in this
country, comes into this country, or leaves every product
that's here that leaves or comes in. And then everything on the
Internet as well that's communicated or processed. This is
alarming that we have China. Not only are they stealing our IP,
manipulating their currency, but they're building a presence in
this country as well. And so, everything that we can do to make
sure that we're addressing that and not allowing them to get a
foothold within the center of our country and in our important
states like Maine, is incredibly important. So, thank you for
bringing it to the attention of everyone today, and I commit to
working with you.
H-2A AND H-2B VISAS
Senator Collins. Thank you, Madam Secretary. As you
undoubtedly know, Maine is a great destination for tourists.
Last year, we had 14.8 million tourism visits. We're a state of
only 1.3 million people. I imagine it's similar to some of what
you've experienced when you were governor. So, Maine is heavily
dependent, particularly our hospitality industry and our
agricultural employers, on seasonal temporary workers from
other countries who come here under the H-2A program for
agricultural workers and the H-2B programs for hospitality
workers.
There's no way that our state of 1.3 million has the
workforce to deal with the influx of tourists and to get our
crops out of the ground. Our small businesses, our inns, our
restaurants, and our hotels are perfect examples of where
foreign nationals who come to our country temporarily to
benefit from, but also contribute to the American economy in a
lawful way are absolutely critical.
I know that some of the visas have been released by the
department, and I would ask for your help in expediting the
release of the H-2B visas, in particular, given the upcoming
tourism season.
Secretary Noem. Thank you for that question, Senator. And
you know, as you know, the number of visas allowed is set in
statute by Congress, but there is some latitude given to the
Secretary, so I certainly take your request and know that many
others have asked us to go and give as much latitude as
possible, and we are certainly considering and willing to
consider that going forward.
Senator Collins. Thank you. My time has expired, so I'm
just going to put one quick item on your radar screen. And that
is, we're seeing some college students from Canada who go to
school in northern Maine at the University of Maine at Pascal,
having difficulty in crossing the border, which they used to be
able to do very easily.
They're totally legal, they have student visas, but they're
being subjected to extensive searches and questioning. I don't
want us to discourage Canadian students from studying at the
northern Maine institutions that we have for education. So
again, I just want to put that on your radar screen.
There are so many others who do deserve scrutiny, but these
are duly enrolled Canadian students, and they've been crossing
the border for years without trouble, and lately they're being
subjected to extensive searches and questioning despite having
their visas and other documents in order.
Secretary Noem. Okay. I will certainly look into that.
Senator Collins. Thank you.
Senator Britt. Thank you. Vice Chair Murphy.
DEPORTATIONS OF LEGAL RESIDENTS
Senator Murphy. Thank you very much. Madam Secretary, AI is
an enormous growing industry, critical to the future economic
health of the country. We have had the benefit over the years
of the top talent in Artificial Intelligence (AI); researchers,
and students, coming to the United States to help us grow that
industry. But for the first time in the last 15 years, there
are more top talented individuals and workers in AI leaving the
country than coming here.
And the reason is pretty simple. People who are coming here
to work from overseas through the visa program are very
uncertain about what their rights are. And that is because of
the actions this administration has taken. So I think it's
important to get on the record for those individuals who are
here currently and those thinking of coming to the United
States to work or to study to understand what their rights are.
So let me ask you a series of pretty simple questions.
Probably, the key of right amongst the five freedoms is the
right to free speech, the right to express your own personal
opinion about politics, culture, the economy. Do you believe
that you have the right to detain or deport a U.S. citizen for
simply expressing their political opinion, a U.S. citizen?
Secretary Noem. No.
Senator Murphy. No. Do you believe that you have the right
to detain or deport a legal permanent resident for expressing
their political opinion?
Secretary Noem. I don't make decisions on legal status here
in the United States. The Department of State does that, and I
would say that as they've gone through an evaluation of who
gets a visa, who gets legal status, green cards. They've been
evaluating and discussing how that applies.
Senator Murphy. I acknowledge you don't make--but if
someone is a legal permanent resident of the United States, I'm
not talking about an H-1B, or a student visa holder. I'm
talking about a legal permanent resident. If you are a legal
permanent resident, do you have the right to detain or deport
that person simply for expressing their political opinion?
Secretary Noem. The Department of State makes those
decisions and the Department of Homeland Security.
Senator Murphy. No, no, no, they don't. You make that
decision about who you have the right to detain or deport. So,
do you--you are involved in that. Do you believe the United
States, do you believe the law allows----
Secretary Noem. The Department of Homeland Security under
the Trump administration is enforcing the law, following the
constitutional rights of folks who are here as citizens, those
who are here legally, and those who are here illegally.
Senator Murphy. So, illegal permanent resident is by
definition here, legally. Do you believe--I think this is
really troubling if you can't answer this simple question. Do
you believe that the U.S. government can detain and deport a
legal permanent resident for expressing a political opinion
that the Administration disagrees with?
Secretary Noem. The determination you're asking for is
based on things that you are determining that the Secretary of
State has considered and evaluated. We don't evaluate that, the
administration, along with the partnership with the Department
of State on what is political speech and what's an affiliation
with the foreign terrorist group.
Senator Murphy. Do you believe?
Secretary Noem. That's the difference between what you're
asking.
Senator Murphy. Do you believe?
Secretary Noem. We follow the direction of Federal law.
Senator Murphy. That you can detain a legal resident for
expressing a political opinion?
Secretary Noem. We have not detained, or we have not
deported anybody who's a legal permanent resident or citizen of
the United States.
Senator Murphy. Okay. Then say you don't have the ability
to do that. Clarify that for the millions of----
Secretary Noem. That's exactly what I'm doing. Is that we
have followed exactly what the law is, and that we have not
detained or deported anybody who's a citizen or has legal
status in this country. We are focused on the worst of the
worst, dangerous criminals to get them out of the country.
Senator Murphy. You do not believe you have the ability to
do that.
Secretary Noem. We have not done that at all. And the Trump
Administration has no plans to.
Senator Murphy. Well, just because you haven't done it
doesn't mean you won't do in the future.
Secretary Noem. We're following Federal law to ensure that
we're doing that.
Senator Murphy. Do you believe you have the ability to do
that or not?
COMPLYING WITH SUPREME COURT DECISION ON ABREGO GARCIA
Secretary Noem. We are doing the exact appropriate thing in
partnership with the Department of State and in partnership
with the Trump Administration.
Senator Murphy. Have you read the--I assume you have read
the Supreme Court decision in the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia?
Secretary Noem. Yes.
Senator Murphy. That court decision requires the
Administration to facilitate Kilmar Abrego Garcia's release
from El Salvador. Can you describe the steps that you have
taken to facilitate this release? And specifically, can you
answer as to whether you have reached out to your counterpart
in El Salvador to facilitate Mr. Abrego Garcia's release?
Secretary Noem. Abrego Garcia is a citizen of El Salvador,
and should never have been in this country, and will not be
coming back to this country. There is no scenario where Abrego
Garcia will be in the United States. Again, if he were to come
back, we would immediately deport him again because he is a
terrorist. He's a human smuggler, and he is a wife beater.
Senator Murphy. You've read the Supreme Court decision.
Does the Supreme Court decision not require you to facilitate
the return of Mr. Abrego Garcia?
Secretary Noem. The Trump Administration is complying with
all court orders and judges' orders.
Senator Murphy. Does the Supreme Court order require you to
facilitate the return of Abrego Garcia?
Secretary Noem. Mr. Abrego Garcia is a citizen of El
Salvador.
Senator Murphy. Yes or no?
Secretary Noem. It is up to the President of the El
Salvador to make the decision whether he's coming back.
Senator Murphy. You're a defendant on the case.
Secretary Noem. It's been a big topic of conversation
between all of us, between the country when the President
visited the United States of America. It was discussed and
talked about there. The President has been very clear on this
issue as the Secretary of State. And I have as well. Abrego
Garcia is not a citizen of this country, and is a dangerous
individual who does not belong here.
Senator Murphy. I'll not ask another question, Madam Chair.
Secretary Noem. If he were to be back to this country, we
would immediately deport him.
Senator Murphy. But the discussion ends when the Supreme
Court rules 9-0 that you have to facilitate his release, and
the fact that you can't even acknowledge the wording of the
order, which commands you to facilitate his release, and you
advertise to this committee that you are going to willfully
ignore the ruling.
Secretary Noem. That is not true, Senator.
Senator Murphy. That is incredibly chilling for the balance
of powers in a democracy that relies on the executive branch to
honor decisions made by the highest court of the land.
COMMITMENT TO BORDER SECURITY
Senator Britt. Madam Secretary, I'd actually like to take a
little bit of my time real quick to turn to an actual Maryland
resident. And I believe if we're going to spend that much time
talking about Mr. Abrego Garcia, we need to talk about Rachel
Morin. And she was a citizen of Maryland who was brutally raped
and murdered in 2023 by another criminal illegal alien from El
Salvador who had no business being in the United States. May
her story and others like it serve as a reminder to the human
cost of unchecked illegal immigration policies, the need to
secure our border, and the need to swiftly remove criminal,
illegal aliens from the United States.
Speaking of, let's go back, take a look at what President
Trump inherited. We talked about this earlier, but when Joe
Biden took office, there were 3.3 million people on the non-
detained docket. When President Trump took office, that number
had risen to 7.6 million people on the non-detained docket.
When you look at the docket, President Biden and his
Administration spent their entire term simply allowing people
and aliens to cross the border into our communities. Of those
who had been given their final orders of removal, meaning they
had their due process. The Biden Administration simply sat on
their hands instead of actively working to remove those
individuals. Which created chaos, and unfortunately, criminal
opportunities on our interior.
Thankfully, we have new leadership at the White House and a
department who will no longer tolerate the subversion of our
immigration laws and activities. I think since we're here to
talk about the budget today, that's what I'd like to talk
about. What do you and your department need the brave men and
women who serve alongside you in order to secure our border, in
order to keep our interior safe from coast to coast, and to
continue to make America a safe, secure, and prosperous place
to be?
Secretary Noem. Well, the Department of Homeland Security
is tasked with overseeing 23 different components that are
pretty broad. And it was formed after 9/11 in response to the
terrorist attacks to help us secure our country and everything
that's in the interior of our country.
The President's budget request along with reconciliation
package, focus on what some of our greatest threats are that
face our future and our children and grandchildren's ability to
grow up here and to have a future. And that is continuing to
secure our border, to make sure we're addressing technology
needs that have been neglected for far too long, get our Coast
Guard to the standard to what the missions are requiring them
to be at to be successful.
Building more wall, more agents for CBP, more ICE agents
and beds so that we can remove illegal criminals out of this
country, and dangerous individuals that are threatening our
public safety. And then, also, going forward and looking at how
we conduct operations on training our law enforcement officers,
how we can put CISA back on-mission at focusing on
cybersecurity.
The requests going forward focus in those areas and TSA so
that we have the technology upgrades that we need to really
make sure that we are doing due diligence to secure our country
and the systems that help run our critical infrastructure.
BORDER WALL
Senator Britt. I really appreciate that, and I'd love
commitment from you to continue to work on what it's that you
need moving forward as this develops to make sure you have the
resources to keep this country safe.
Your predecessor actually refused to call what was going on
at the border a crisis. It is clear that's exactly what was
happening. You also have shown that coming in, we did not need
any new legislation to actually secure the border. You have
taken action, President Trump has taken action to secure it. I
mean, creating a space that we haven't seen in decades.
You've talked about a number of things. One of the things
you just mentioned was a border wall. Can you talk about the
construction of a border wall and what that would do for the
men and women of CBP, and overall, at DHS? I know that we are a
nation of immigrants. We're proud of that. We're also a nation
of law, and lawlessness has to stop. And I believe that anybody
on this dais that locks their door at night should understand
the need for a border wall. The American people should have
that level of security when they go to sleep at night. So, can
you talk about the importance of that and kind of how you see
that unfolding?
Secretary Noem. We have currently over 700 miles of border
wall on the Southern Border, and infrastructure that is there
operating today. Since President Trump has been in office,
we've constructed another 77 miles that is in place that is an
inclusion of steel bollard wall that has been built, but also
temporary walls that have been put forward with concertina wire
and panels. And then also, we have some waterborne buoys that
are being utilized as well.
We have 11 contracts that have been allocated to continue
building infrastructure, and then also five more that are
pending to be allocated to build more miles, to have that
infrastructure there to help secure vulnerable areas.
Now, the border wall will look different based on what the
topography is and the geography is of the area. So, there's
some areas on the Northern Border, and the Southern Border, and
out in our maritime infrastructure that we need that will have
technology. It'll utilize Aerostar systems, radio frequencies,
satellite systems. Those upgrades just simply haven't been made
or prioritized under the last Administration and need to be
done.
So, we will use a combination for what's appropriate out
there for the topography and working with the local, state, and
tribal areas to make sure that it's something that secures our
country, but also is something that they can help support and
secure as well.
Senator Britt. Thank you for that commitment. Vice Chair
Murray.
Senator Murray. Thank you very much, Chair Britt, and I
look forward to working with you and Ranking Member Murphy in
this Congress.
Madam Secretary, as Senator Murphy mentioned in his opening
statement. Secretary Noem, under your leadership, we have seen
you ignore our appropriation laws, our Constitution, common
sense, and even basic humanity. And like a lot of Americans, I
really have been horrified by the lawlessness, and
incompetence, and cruelty that we have all witnessed.
And for all the talk about going after criminals, you have
sidetracked DHS staff who are investigating drug dealers,
terrorists, human traffickers, and rather than photo ops, we
need more of your focus on providing basic diligence, because
your crackdown has roped in American citizens and people who
are here legally with no criminal record. Now, I'm not going to
ask you whether that was right or wrong. I know it's wrong. The
world knows it's wrong.
And I think the first thing the history is going to say
about your leadership is that you are responsible for many of
these travesties. So, I'm deeply concerned you've deported a 4-
year-old U.S. citizen with cancer. You've disappeared people to
a notorious prison in El Salvador, and you have spent $100
million dollars in taxpayer dollars to air TV ads thanking
President Trump. That is really reckless, it's unacceptable,
and in my opinion, can't continue. The American people are
paying for this with our taxpayer dollars and with their most
basic rights.
FREEZE OF GRANT FUNDS
Now, in the last 3 months, you have frozen or canceled over
$100 billion in funding that was approved by Congress,
bipartisan. We are talking about everything from disaster
relief, to grants that keep people safe. But when my staff has
requested information on the status of this unacceptable
holdup, the Department failed to provide any acceptable
justification.
This illegal freeze, and it is illegal, is taking a real
toll on communities who are waiting on the investments that
Congress has delivered. So, will you commit to immediately
unpausing these funds?
Secretary Noem. Well, Senator, thank you for covering a lot
of topics there. Let me touch on a few of those right away.
Secretary Noem. What the Trump Administration is doing is
enforcing the law for the first time. Under the Biden
Administration----
Senator Murray. I'm asking you about the funds.
Secretary Noem. Illegal aliens were prioritized over
American citizens. Now, the scales of justice have been leveled
and no one is treated better than anyone else.
Senator Murray. Madam Chair, I'm going to reclaim my time.
I asked you a specific----
Secretary Noem. Citizens are treated the same, and illegal
aliens and criminals are being deported.
Senator Murray. Madam Secretary, I'm asking you a specific
question.
Secretary Noem. The grants that you are referencing have
been paused and reevaluated to make sure that they are truly
being spent in the way to which they were appropriated.
Senator Murray. Correct.
Secretary Noem. Many of these grants were being diverted
and to things they were never intended.
Senator Murray. Madam Secretary, These funds were passed on
a bipartisan basis by members in this Congress.
Secretary Noem. Absolutely. And the Biden Administration
perverted them in how they used them, diverted them to
facilitate illegal immigration to house people in places like
the Roosevelt Hotel, who held illegal criminals that took the
life of Laken Riley.
Senator Murray. We're talking, Madam Chair about $100
billion.
Secretary Noem. I think we all recognize the victims have
died and lost their children because of the situation.
Senator Murray. It is not credible, Madam Chair. It is not
credible that $100 billion is used to break the law. That just
cannot be true.
OVERSPENDING OF ALLOCATED FUNDS
And let me change this a little bit. On the other hand, I
am very concerned that DHS is now dramatically overspending
funding that Congress has not provided. If you were a CEO doing
that, I don't think you'd be in your job long. We need
accountability and we need answers. And that includes
informative responses to oversight questions sent to the
Department over the last 3 months.
I am ranking member on this committee. I have worked with
every member of this committee. We take our responsibility
serious to fund your department and others. We need to have
answers. We need to have accountability, and we need to make
sure you're not overspending money that you were not allocated.
Secretary Noem. Well, thank you for that question.
Senator Murray. Not really--that's a statement.
Secretary Noem. Do you want me to respond?
Senator Murray. Well, you can.
Secretary Noem. Well, I've worked many, many jobs in my
life, but I also have been a CEO. I've run businesses, I've
been a governor.
Senator Murray. I'm not questioning credentials. I
questioning your spending.
Secretary Noem. We are prioritizing where our security
needs are in this country, and we are hoping that this body
will agree that reconciliation is necessary to address the
things that have been neglected in this country for too long.
That we have the technology upgrades, the manpower upgrades
that are necessary. So, the $170 billion request for the
Department of Homeland Security to make sure we have tools.
CONCERNS ABOUT FEMA AND DISASTER RELIEF
Senator Murray. My time is running out and I have a couple
of additional questions. The fact is that you've not been given
this funding. Saying that it's going to come in reconciliation
that has not passed is not an acceptable answer.
I did want to ask about FEMA and disaster relief. This is
really important. A lot of disaster relief has been
politicized. You've endorsed eliminating FEMA outright. We have
seen an upheaval at FEMA that is going to put lives in
jeopardy. 1 in 5 FEMA employees have been pushed out taking
this Administration's so-called ``buyout offer''.
We are losing indispensable staff just weeks away from fire
and hurricane season, and over $100 billion dollars in disaster
relief and FEMA grants are still being held up. DHS is making
it a lot harder to qualify for relief, something people in my
home State of Washington are experiencing firsthand.
Multiple requests from governors have been rejected in
recent weeks, including a request from our state, and we
haven't been given any response about this. And I'm watching
this and I'm thinking, has President Trump directed you to
prioritize funding for Republican states?
Secretary Noem. Absolutely not.
Senator Murray. Have you directed your staff to prioritize
funding to Republican-led states over Democratic states?
Secretary Noem. Absolutely not. There is--under this
administration, there will not be any politicization of support
relief, FEMA assistance, or grants given based on politics.
Senator Murray. There's a clear trend.
Secretary Noem. Every single person will be treated the
same. It will be very different than the Biden Administration.
Senator Murray. Madam Secretary, there's a clear trend of
Republican-led states getting very fast responses and funding.
Democrat-led states are being forced to wait. We have never
treated FEMA as a partisan issue in this country. Thank you,
Madam Chair.
Senator Britt. Thank you. Senator Capito.
DECREASE IN BORDER CROSSINGS
Senator Capito. Thank you, Madam Chair, and Ranking Member.
And it's great to see you, Secretary Noem. And it was a
pleasure to serve with you in the House for so many years.
I just want to make a statement in the beginning because
this chart, which you can't see, but many of us have seen, the
blue lines being the number of people that were coming across
the border during the Biden Administration. And then the red is
what you and the President have done over the last 3 months. I
say, congratulations. Results speak loudly. Not only are
migrant encounters down 95 percent, but the gotaways are down
99 percent.
To put it simply, migrants are just not slipping through.
They're not evading our border patrol. I boil it down to two
basic strategies that the administration has done that the
previous administration could have done, but totally ignored.
One is deterrent. When possible illegals look to the United
States and see that we are following through on deportation
orders in larger numbers. I think that's a huge deterrence
along with other things that are occurring.
The other one is enforcement. Enforcement of the law. You
already just said that. So, is there anything else you would
add, specifically, very shortly, that you can attribute this
dramatic drop? You're being accused of breaking the law, and
that's the reason the numbers are down. I personally don't
believe that.
Secretary Noem. Well, I think having a strong leader in the
White House that says we will enforce our laws in this country
has worldwide effects. In fact, in where I have traveled to
countries in El Salvador, Mexico, and Columbia, their leaders
and their government said, when you talk about the fact that
you are now enforcing the laws in America, when your President
talks about it, when we see these ads that are running in our
country saying, if you want to come to the country and America
illegally don't come. Come the legal way, do the right way.
We are now enforcing our laws. They say it has an
overwhelming effect. In fact, in Mexico, some government
officials, when I was there visiting with them, and the
President said that they believe 500' to 600,000 people just in
Mexico turned around before they ever got to our border in the
last 3 months because they got the message clearly when they
were on their way. They heard that, and they went back home.
Also, I would say Border Patrol is thrilled. They get to
finally do their jobs right. They get to finally--the morale
has never been better. Recruitment is fantastic. ICE is
recruiting, CBP is up 54 percent. I'd say the Coast Guard is up
over 100 percent in recruitment, and the Secret Service is up
over 200 percent. So, the fact that they have an Administration
that's letting them do their jobs again and actually following
the law, is something they're very proud of. And so, I think
those two things are really what's making them proud.
NON-INTRUSIVE DRUG INSPECTION
Senator Capito. Okay. You and I talked about this on the
phone because of the drug scourge, the non-intrusive
inspection, which is a lot of the technologies that can detect
in large when semis are coming through. There's a whole lot
coming through the border, and we want to continue that free
flow of goods. Where are you on that in this budget? Certainly,
you need more dollars to be able to--I think the numbers are
low; how many you actually inspect or have been inspected. You
need the technology to move forward.
Secretary Noem. Well, yes. Our ports of entry need new
technology and scanners that we just simply aren't scanning
many shipping containers right now adequately. A lot of our air
freight isn't scanned. Some of these scanners that we have in
place need infrastructure around them so that they work in the
heat and in the rain. Sometimes they're dysfunctional and shut
down. We have railroad cars coming in that aren't getting
inspected, and then small packages small packages every day
that are being shipped in by the millions that we are not
inspecting at all.
So, the kind of technology needs that we have to invest in
are costly, but they secure our country. And when we have a
foreign enemy country like China and the PRC that's trying to
kill off our next generation of Americans, which is what
they're doing to weaken our economy and our society, those
upgrades and that technology advancement will incredibly help
us make sure that we know what's coming into this country and
it's not a poison that will be killing our kids and our next
generation.
Senator Capito. You certainly have my support with that. I
did chair this subcommittee at one point with the ranking
member. We were--he was chairing and I was ranking. So, we're
getting to know each other very well. You have my support
there.
I do want to say I am concerned about the FEMA issue coming
from a small state that is subject to a lot of natural
disasters, flooding in most cases. My experience with FEMA, has
it been flawless? Has it been, you know, a smooth road? No. But
I think it's a vital function, and I'm concerned if we turn it
all over to the state's capacity for the state to really
handle. This is something that--so I would ask you to tread
lightly.
I don't really need a response there, but I do want to put
on the record here that I am concerned. I do think we need a
national response to disasters. Does it look just like FEMA? I
hope the changes that are made will be able to have them to be
able to react quickly, and to help our state and local
resources.
I did invite you to the Advanced Training Center where we
do training for Border Patrol. Look forward to seeing you
there, and thank you very much.
Senator Britt. Thank you so much, Senator Capito. And
thrilled to hear about the morale at DHS. That's exciting,
Madam Secretary. Next up, Senator Shaheen.
IMMIGRATION AT THE NORTHERN BORDER
Senator Shaheen. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Secretary, for
being here this morning, and for your testimony. I just want
to--I'm not going to ask you to respond to this, but just to be
clear, I think everybody on this committee agrees that we need
to secure our Southern Border. We may disagree on exactly how
to do that, but I think that is a value that most American
share. I do think we can do it in a way that still provides due
process to people who are here as green card holders.
And I'm particularly concerned when I get calls from New
Hampshire citizens who are stopped at our border and
interrogated without any process, without being told why
they're being stopped. So, I just want to put that on your
radar so that you understand that that is a concern that we are
seeing and hearing from American citizens about.
I have been concerned for a long time through a number of
administrations about the lack of technology on our northern
border in New Hampshire. We have video cameras that are
supposed to pick up people coming across the border, and
there's no service to those video cameras because we don't have
cell service on our Northern Border.
Our Border Patrol station in Pittsburgh gets its power from
Canada. And in 2018, Congress passed the MOBILE NOW Act to
speed up deployment of communications, equipment infrastructure
on Federal property. It's not just a public safety issue. It's
a national security imperative, as I'm sure you would agree.
So, understaffing, however, and red tape means that getting
folks connected still takes way too long. And we've had some
issues with the Department in trying to get some of this
equipment that we need on our Northern Border. So, will you
commit to ensuring that DHS will move expeditiously to improve
communications infrastructure along New Hampshire's northern
border?
Secretary Noem. Yeah, Senator, I will work with you on
this. This is something that's come up several times with many
of our Senators and Congressmen and women that represent the
northern border. And I think that's a concern I hear quite
often from people is with all the focus on the Southern Border,
you know, are you neglecting the Northern Border? And we are
not. We have not pulled resources from the Northern Border, but
we also recognize that we've got deficiencies there, too. We do
have some predator drones that are up there.
Senator Shaheen. I'm sorry to interrupt, but the reality is
that the Stonegarden funds that used to have a percentage
dedicated to the Northern Border have been taken for the
southern border so that our local law enforcement officials
don't have the ability to access those funds and to get those
grants in a way that's really important to help. So, I hope you
will look into that.
Secretary Noem. Yes. Those funds have been very important
for our law enforcement. And so, those are being reevaluated as
well and assessed. And so, I've had several people indicate to
me that those are important to their local areas and local
communities.
The cameras you talked about, yes, do need to be fixed. The
cell phone service and their reliance on that is not
dependable. And we need the new technology upgrades in order to
make sure that we can keep those operating. And we need more
Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and counter-UAS technology at the
northern border as well.
STAFFING SHORTAGES IN ICE-PARTNERED PRISONS
Senator Shaheen. I understand that ICE has entered into an
interagency agreement with the Bureau of Prisons to hold ICE
detainees in our Federal prison in Berlin, FCI, Berlin, New
Hampshire. I'm sure that you're aware that the Bureau of
Prisons has faced chronic shortages in staffing for a number of
years. This is particularly evident in Berlin where it's being
staffed at just over 60 percent for its corrections officers,
and now it's hosting more than 230 detainees.
So, can you talk about how you're working to ensure that
our Federal prisons who are under contract with ICE are
adequately staffed? And will you commit to ensuring that the
Bureau of Prisons under contract with ICE is given the support
that they need in order to hold those detainees?
Secretary Noem. Absolutely. That's all part of the
evaluation that happens before that contract goes into place is
making sure they have the staffing and the requirements that
meet the level that ICE detention requires.
Many times, the request we hear from local, or state law
enforcement, or prison systems that want to help facilitate the
detention of illegal criminals such as we're addressing right
now, are asking us to relax our Federal standards so that they
qualify or asking us for more latitudes. So, our standards have
been----
Senator Shaheen. I was just there. I can tell you, they
were not asking that in Berlin.
Secretary Noem. They may not have been up at your facility.
But what I would say is that all of those boxes have to be
checked, and staffing requirements have to be met in order for
that contract to be facilitated and utilized.
Senator Shaheen. Well, what I heard is that we have trouble
attracting people; corrections officers, other staff that we
need, psychologists and medical staff. And so, I think it's
absolutely critical that we ensure that if ICE is going to use
those facilities, that the funding is there to provide adequate
staffing.
Secretary Noem. Yes. Absolutely.
IMPROVEMENTS TO COAST GUARD FACILITIES
Senator Shaheen. Thank you. I have another issue, and I'm
out of time, but I just want to put on your radar screen that
we appropriated $200 million to recapitalize facilities for the
Coast Guard. One of those facilities that was damaged in storms
is at Newcastle, New Hampshire. It's a facility that serves the
Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. It's critical to national security.
I hope you'll work with us to ensure that the funding goes to
help rebuild those facilities that need it.
Secretary Noem. Yeah, we'll certainly take a look at that.
As you know, we've proposed a new investment and future for the
Coast Guard called Force Design 2028. And so, we're excited
about that because it recognizes the deficiencies that the
Coast Guard has had to live with for far too long. It adds
15,000 Coasties to the force. It also addresses not just
cutters and not just airframe, but also infrastructure, what we
need for buildings and for docks and for abilities to ports and
infrastructure to really facilitate what they really provide
for us.
They are also a key part of not just search and rescue, but
also our interdiction efforts right now as well. And we're not
keeping up with the cartels out on the water.
Senator Shaheen. I'm a big fan. I just don't want us to
divert that funding. Thank you.
Secretary Noem. Right.
Senator Britt. Senator Hyde-Smith.
Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you, Madam Chairman. And I
certainly want to thank Madam Secretary for being here today,
and so impressed with the way you have just taken off so
quickly and leading this agency. You know, as a member of this
body, as an American, but as the mother of a 26-year-old
daughter, I certainly appreciate what you're doing to secure
our homeland. And your commitment has just been unsurpassed by
anybody.
Secretary Noem. Thank you.
Senator Hyde-Smith. And I've watched you closely, and it's
a tall drink of water heading this agency. Is no small task,
but I am certainly supporting you.
REDUCTIONS TO FEMA FUNDING
I would like to briefly mention the proposed reductions to
the FEMA budget. You know, in Mississippi, we have hurricanes,
we have tornadoes, and FEMA has been a part of my life ever
since I have been in public office, because of the situations.
Even Senator Shaheen was part of our tornado one time last year
in Mississippi, and we had some recently that hasn't been
approved yet.
Little town in Walthall County, Mississippi, called
Tylertown, Mississippi had a tornado. I was there the day after
the storm, and we are really seeking some relief there. But how
will DHS make sure that states like Mississippi, which like I
said, are feeling the impact of so many, will continue to
receive the support they need to prepare for and recover from
what we have now and future emergencies?
Secretary Noem. Yes. President Trump has been very clear
that he believes that the way that FEMA exists today should not
continue. It needs to be reformed. It needs to empower states
to build in the structure that they need to best respond to
disasters. He's seen the failures over the years of FEMA, how
it didn't show up for individuals. It targeted people based on
political party. Claims that haven't been paid for 15 to 20
years, and recognizes the best responders are those locally and
that the Federal government should be there to support.
So, his goal is to redo this agency in a way that empowers
our states, recognizing that every state's not at the same
level of response today. That it's going to take some effort to
get them all ready to really, truly take over the emergency
management processes of their state. And so, what we can do to
equip, and to train them, and then give control back locally is
critically important.
Also, the grants that have come through FEMA, making sure
they're not being abused to facilitate illegal immigration, to
focus on true resiliency, on true helping building dams and
infrastructure, culverts that are the right size, instead of
using them for bike paths and shade trees like the Biden
Administration did.
So, making sure that the dollars that we have in this
agency, which consistently is spending in the red and not able
to be budgeted for because of what happens. He wants to make
sure that those reforms are happening where states are
empowered to do the response, and trained and equipped, and
then the Federal government would come in and support them, and
financially be there when they need them on their worst day.
Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you. Because there's many days we
really need them. And Mississippi also has a proud legacy of
supporting DHS missions across multiple domains from
helicopters flown by the Coast Guard and the CBP, to the
National Security Cutters and future Polar Security Cutters
built in Pascagoula, Mississippi. So, our state plays a central
role in helping secure the homeland.
JUSTICE NEXT GEN PROGRAM
But what I would like to highlight today is a wonderful
program at Mississippi State University that supports DHS. And
as you may be aware, DHS, Justice Next Gen Program at
Mississippi State serves an incredibly valuable resource. And
the primary mission of this is to serve the operational
entities within DHS through research development, testing,
integration, and the evaluation of the Unmanned Aerial Systems
(UAS), and related technologies to that.
But the Justice program has credited MU with a number of
developments that have enhanced the technology and the
efficiency for the operational components. So, we're real proud
of that. But as we look ahead, I hope that you will view
Justice as an important effort. And do you have any thoughts on
these programs or similar programs?
Secretary Noem. Yeah, the Justice program is very important
and is being continued going forward. And we recognize the
partnership that we've had with so many states in these
projects. So, that is something that Department of Homeland
Security is very willing and able in the future to partner with
you.
Senator Hyde-Smith. Well, it takes so much to make these
things successful, but we're really proud of that. And again,
thank you for everything you're doing. You are doing an
incredible job, and I am thrilled that you are there.
Secretary Noem. Thank you.
Senator Britt. Senator Van Hollen.
Senator Van Hollen. Thank you, Madam Chairman. Madam
Secretary, it's good to see you.
Secretary Noem. Good to see you, too.
DHS ACTIONS TO COMPLY WITH SUPREME COURT ORDERS
Senator Van Hollen. And I was glad to see in your recent
testimony that you reaffirmed your obligations to uphold the
Constitution of the United States. And I understand you had an
exchange with Senator Murphy on the Abrego Garcia case. And so,
I'm just going to put the question directly to you. Are you or
DHS doing anything to comply with the 9-0 Supreme Court order
to facilitate his return to the United States? Just yes or no.
Secretary Noem. This Administration is following all
Federal court orders.
Senator Van Hollen. Madam Secretary, this is a simple
question.
Secretary Noem. It's the President's prerogative on
conversations that happen with the President of El Salvador.
Senator Van Hollen. Madam Chair, I asked a simple question.
You know, we have a limited amount of time. I just asked you,
Madam Secretary, whether or not you or the Department of
Homeland Security are taking any action to facilitate the 9-0
Supreme Court decision to facilitate his return. This is a very
simple question. Are you taking any action to facilitate his
return or are you not?
Secretary Noem. This Administration is following and
complying with all Federal court orders to make sure that we
are.
Senator Van Hollen. So, you are--because the court ordered
that you facilitate is return. So, you are facilitating this
return.
Secretary Noem. Senator, thank you for the question. But
what I would tell you is that we are following court orders and
that your advocacy for a known terrorist is alarming to me.
Senator Van Hollen. Madam Secretary----
Secretary Noem. It's alarming to me because he's a human
smuggler and a terrorist, and he's not a U.S. citizen.
Senator Van Hollen. Madam Secretary, I'm going to have to
reclaim my time.
Secretary Noem. He's a citizen of El Salvador and he's
home. If he were to come back here, we would take him
immediately back.
Senator Van Hollen. Madam Secretary, you should know a
couple facts then, which is, number one, in 2019, the
immigration court said that he should not be returned to El
Salvador because it would put his life in danger. The Trump
Administration at the time did not appeal that decision. After
that, he got a work permit and was working legally in the
United States of America. This is also why the District Court
and the Appellate Court and the Supreme Court have ruled as
they have.
I suggest that rather than make these statements here, that
you and the Trump Administration make them in court under oath,
because despite what you just said, the Federal District Court
whose judge is hearing this case right now, said, and I'm
quoting, ``The administration has provided no evidence linking
Abrego Garcia to MS-13 or any other terrorist activity.'' I'm
not vouching for the man. I'm vouching for his due process.
Secretary Noem. Well, yes you are, sir. You've been
vouching for----
Senator Van Hollen. No, no, no, Madam Secretary, with
respect----
Secretary Noem. I would suggest that you defend and stand
alongside the victims of the illegal crime on citizens who live
here, the United States Americans.
Senator Van Hollen. This is political rhetoric.
Secretary Noem. I would suggest you advocate for them as
hard as you doing for a foreign terrorist.
Senator Van Hollen. Madam Secretary, I know you're doing a
political speech here. No, I get it.
Secretary Noem. No, I'm not, sir.
Senator Van Hollen. I'm asking questions of law. No, you're
just spewing rhetoric.
Secretary Noem. I truly believe this. I truly believe this
an American----
Senator Van Hollen. Well, let me ask you this. Do you agree
with Justice Scalia in the Supreme Court opinion in Reno v.
Flores that I'm quoting, ``It is well established that the
Fifth Amendment entitles aliens to due process of law in
deportation proceedings.''
Secretary Noem. Sir, we are utilizing every due process
tool that this Congress has afforded us.
Senator Van Hollen. This is----
Secretary Noem. The Congress decides what's appropriate for
every situation. Expedited removal is a due process that you
have afforded us that we are utilizing.
Senator Van Hollen. Madam Secretary, I'm going to reclaim
my time.
Secretary Noem. The Alien Enemies Act is another tool that
we're utilizing.
Senator Van Hollen. Madam Secretary----
Secretary Noem. So, we're giving due process and giving--
using the tools that this Congress has given us.
Senator Van Hollen. This is really--you know, I'm asking
sort of simple questions of law and simple questions like I
would--are you compliant with a 9-0 Supreme Court decision? And
you seem to think that's some kind of trick question.
Let me ask you this. You were down at Center for the
Confinement of Terrorism (CECOT) in El Salvador, and you said,
and that I'm quoting, ``it is one of the tools in the toolkit
that we will use.'' And it's well known that the Trump
Administration is paying the government of El Salvador to keep
these individuals, including those who the U.S. courts have
determined were illegally taken out of the country in violation
of their due process rights. Have you seen the grant document
between the United States and the government of El Salvador
with respect to the CECOT?
Secretary Noem. It's important that everybody knows the
consequences of what happens for their actions in this country.
When you break the law and you're a member of a foreign
terrorist organization.
Senator Van Hollen. Madam Secretary--I asked you a
question. Have you seen the document? This is not hard.
Secretary Noem. Yes, I have.
Senator Van Hollen. Okay. And what are the provisions of
the doc? So, do you know who, what entities in El Salvador are
receiving the funds?
Secretary Noem. Sir, I'm sure you can see this document as
well and have looked at it for evaluations as well.
Senator Van Hollen. I'm glad you raised that, Madam
Secretary, because I sent you a letter along with many of my
colleagues here on April 8th asking for, among other things,
that document. Will you respond to the letter that we sent?
Secretary Noem. I will respond to your letter.
[The information follows:]
Senator Van Hollen. Thank you. Can I get some sense of
when?
Secretary Noem. We will take a look at it? I don't remember
seeing your letter yet, but I will certainly take a look.
Senator Van Hollen. Well, it's been there over a month.
Senator Britt. The Senator's time has expired.
Senator Van Hollen. No, Madam Chair.
Senator Britt. Senator Kennedy.
Senator Van Hollen. Madam Chair.
Senator Kennedy. Madam Secretary----
Senator Van Hollen. I have some additional questions
related----
Senator Britt. No, sir. That's up to you to manage that
time. Senator Kennedy.
Senator Van Hollen. Well, I need a little help from a chair
that respects the members of the committee. I'm sorry, Chair,
this is----
Senator Kennedy. Madam Secretary--You pretty much secured
the Southern border, haven't you?
Secretary Noem. Yes, sir. The CBP, they certainly have.
Senator Kennedy. And that upsets some of my colleagues,
doesn't it?
Secretary Noem. Yes.
Senator Kennedy. They say you've done it the wrong way,
haven't they?
Secretary Noem. Yes.
Senator Kennedy. Could you answer that?
Secretary Noem. Yes, sir. They do say that.
Senator Kennedy. Do you think they're upset because you
supposedly did it the wrong way or you think they're upset that
you did it at all?
Secretary Noem. I think they're upset that by President
Trump enforcing the law. It happened so quickly and
successfully.
Senator Kennedy. Yeah. Now, when President Biden came into
office, the first thing he did was get rid of all of the things
we were doing to stop people from coming into our country
illegally, didn't he?
Secretary Noem. Yes.
Senator Kennedy. I mean, he--it was like, ``The price is
right. Come on down.'' Except he said, ``Come on in.'' And most
of my Democrat colleagues went along with that, didn't they?
Secretary Noem. Yes, they did.
Senator Kennedy. In fact, they cheered him on, didn't they?
Secretary Noem. Yes.
Senator Kennedy. Is that a yes?
Secretary Noem. Yes, sir.
Senator Kennedy. How many people do you think President
Biden let into our country illegally? Just give me a ballpark
figure.
Secretary Noem. Sir, we don't know for certain, but we
believe it could be upwards to 20 million people that are
illegally in this country.
Senator Kennedy. So, that's like adding 10 Nebraska's to
our country, isn't it?
Secretary Noem. That's correct.
Senator Kennedy. Why do you think President Biden and my
Democratic colleagues did that? Do you think they believe in
open borders?
SENATOR KENNEDY'S REMARKS ON ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION
Secretary Noem. I think they believed in open borders and
letting people come into this country that would affect our
society and criminals. Those other countries emptying out the
worst of the worst, their mental institutions, their prisons
came in here and jeopardized--and known terrorists.
Senator Kennedy. Well, one or two circumstances are
possible. It seems to me either President Biden and the
Democrats who supported him believe in open borders, or the
people that President Biden put in charge of securing the
border you wouldn't trust to run a snowball stand, right?
Secretary Noem. That is correct.
Senator Kennedy. So, nobody is that incompetent. So, it has
to be open--they just believe in open borders, do they not?
Secretary Noem. Yes, because I know the people who were
securing the border and they weren't allowed to do their job.
Senator Kennedy. Do you think they believe that vetting
people at the border is racist?
Secretary Noem. Yes, I do. I think by the way they allowed
people in and granted them immediate parole status.
Senator Kennedy. Do you think that President Biden and some
of my Democratic colleagues, I don't want to paint with too
broad a brush, Madam Secretary, thought of these foreign
nationals in our country illegally as potential new voters.
Secretary Noem. I do, sir.
Senator Kennedy. Okay. If you're an ordinary American and
you oppose illegal immigration, but you support legal
immigration, does that make you a racist?
Secretary Noem. No, sir. Not at all. It just means that you
believe there should be a rule of law, and that's what America
was built on.
Senator Kennedy. And that's what you've been enforcing.
Right?
Secretary Noem. Exactly. We have been following the
Constitution and the rule of law in this country.
Senator Kennedy. And I want to be sure I understand,
because there's been a lot of confusing testimony here. You've
secured the border, have you not?
Secretary Noem. This administration has, yes, sir.
Senator Kennedy. And some of my colleagues are upset with
you.
Secretary Noem. Yes, sir.
Senator Kennedy. And they say you did it wrong?
Secretary Noem. Yes, sir.
Senator Kennedy. And do you agree with me that what they're
really upset about is that you did it at all?
Secretary Noem. Yes, sir.
FEDERAL JUDICIARY
Senator Kennedy. Okay. I want to ask you a last question
about our Federal judiciary. I've said repeatedly that all of
us have a moral and a civic obligation to follow Federal
orders. And I stand by that. But there have been a lot of
national injunctions, universal injunctions, issued to try to
try to stop you from doing your job. Where were these judges
when people were breaking law, and coming into our country and
illegally? Were any of them speaking up and issuing national
injunctions against the Democrats?
Secretary Noem. I don't believe I can be specific about
every single judge. But these judges that now are trying to
stop us from enforcing our laws, I don't believe or recall them
being vocal then.
Senator Kennedy. Can you think being vocal then, Madam
Secretary, of one single solitary Federal judge who when
President Biden and my Democratic colleagues, not all of them,
but many of them.
Senator Murphy. Chair, his time expired.
Senator Kennedy. Senator Murray went on over about two
minutes. So, I'm going to take a minute.
Senator Murphy. Well, Senator Van Hollen just got shut down
right under his----
Senator Britt. Yes, if you can finish your question.
Senator Kennedy. Can you recall one single solitary Federal
judge when President Biden and my Democratic colleagues were
letting 20 million people come into the country illegally?
Secretary Noem. I don't recall.
Senator Kennedy. Can you think of one single solitary judge
issued national injunction.
Senator Murphy. That is more than one question. Stop them.
Secretary Noem. No, I can't recall.
Senator Kennedy. I can't either. If there weren't for
double standards there wouldn't be----
Senator Murphy. Madam Chair.
Senator Britt. Thank you, Senator Kennedy. Senator Peters.
Senator Murphy. Madam Chair, let me just say, let's apply
the rules fairly. Senator Van Hollen was asking tough
questions, but was shut down pretty immediately when his time
was expired. Can we at least have a commitment, Madam Chair,
that Senators on this committee will be allowed to submit
questions for the record?
Senator Britt. Absolutely.
Senator Murphy. And that you'll ask the secretary to answer
those questions?
Senator Britt. Yes, absolutely.
Senator Britt. Absolutely, yes. Senator Peters.
Senator Peters. Thank you, Madam Chair. Secretary Noem,
good to see you again.
Secretary Noem. Good to see you, too.
NORTHERN BORDER MISSION CENTER
Senator Peters. Secretary, I certainly appreciated your
commitment during your confirmation hearing before my committee
on fully staffing the Gordy Howie International Bridge between
Detroit and Canada. As you know, one of the busiest border
crossings in all of North America. It's scheduled to open this
fall. It's going to be a big deal. But my question for you is,
how are preparations going for the opening of that bridge?
Obviously, your department will play a big role in in that
opening.
Secretary Noem. Yes. We're excited about it. We're thankful
that the construction has been completed and that it's working
well. And we're excited to coming up there and having the
celebration with you.
Senator Peters. Do you have the resources and personnel in
place now?
Secretary Noem. Yes, we do.
Senator Peters. Good. I also appreciated your commitment to
fully building out the Northern Border Mission Center, which
will be located at Ridge International Guard Base to coordinate
all that goes along the northern border. How is the build out
of that center progressing place?
Secretary Noem. It's going well. It's on track. I haven't
heard of anything that has been delayed. And I can get you a
more detailed update though, if you would like one.
Senator Peters. I would if we could follow-up that'd be
great after this hearing, I would appreciate that.
As ranking member of the Homeland Security and Government
Affairs Committee (HSGAC), I have sent you nine letters since
you have been sworn in as Secretary of Homeland Security. So
far, I've received only two replies. And quite frankly, one of
those was completely unsatisfactory. And while I understand
you've had a busy start, you have a lot on your plate,
including travel, responses to Congressional oversight requests
are a priority. And I think you hold that view, but we're not
seeing it being demonstrated, unfortunately.
So, my question for you is, when can I expect responses to
these letters, and can you commit to getting me responses,
certainly, before our budget hearing, before HSGAC coming up?
Secretary Noem. Yes, absolutely, sir. I was unaware that
you had that many letters out yet. I know some of the letters
you requested had a lot of data to gather and information.
Senator Peters. Yes.
Secretary Noem. And so, that may be the delay on a couple
of them. But we will get those gathered and get them to you. As
you know, when I came into this role, we had a backlog of
letters from Senators and Congressmen up to 4 years, where the
previous Administration did not respond to any of you. That was
a universal complaint I had from Republicans and Democrats.
Senator Peters. Well, we want to see that change. So--yes,
if we could get these letters back as quickly as possible, I'd
appreciate that.
Secretary Noem. I bet.
CISA'S MISSION
Senator Peters. As you know, Madam Secretary, Congress
spent years creating CISA clarifying its mission and ensuring
that the agency can employ the most skilled Federal employees
to protect our Federal cyber networks and critical
infrastructure from attacks.
During your confirmation process, you stated that you
wanted to get CISA back on-mission, but quite frankly, you were
very light on specifics of what that actually meant. Now that
you've been in your position for several months, could you
explain to us in detail what getting CISA back on its mission
means? And I mean, with some specificity, which offices and
programs at CISA do you consider to be off-mission, and which
ones do you consider to be on-mission?
Secretary Noem. Well, as you know, CISA under the last
Administration got involved in being somewhat of the role of
the Ministry of Truth. They were defining what was
misinformation, disinformation. They were out doing election
security missions, what were censorship, and deciding what was
truth and what wasn't truth.
And we have eliminated those functions within CISA. CISA
was created to be an entity that supported small and medium
businesses, and also critical infrastructure.
Senator Peters. Yes.
Secretary Noem. Our electrical grid, our water systems in
that are vulnerable to hacking attempts and influence from
foreign countries, but enemies of the United States of America.
So we are building out to those.
Senator Peters. And I agree with all those. I just got
limited time here. I agree with all that. And that is the
central focus that it has to continue. But I want to clarify
because you talked about misinformation. I've heard this a lot.
Secretary Noem. Yes.
Senator Peters. Certainly, I don't want to have any agency
putting out misinformation, but CISA had 15 full-time employees
assigned to countering misinformation. That's 15 employees out
of 3,000 employees that work at CISA. And my understanding, and
I think you mentioned it, those 15 people are not doing that
anymore. So, is CISA still not on-mission? Is it still----
Secretary Noem. It's getting there. We don't have our
Senate-confirmed leader of CISA yet. We're looking forward to
that and the President's cybersecurity----
Senator Peters. But that doesn't have to do with mission. I
mean, we--why is it not performing a mission? Because my
frustration is that----
Secretary Noem. Why is what?
Senator Peters. Why do you say it's off-mission if the unit
that was doing that is gone?
Secretary Noem. Yes, it's back on-mission. But we still
have silos to break down between our intelligence agencies. We
still have communication systems that have to be built so we
can share information.
I shared during my confirmation hearing that one of the
most alarming things to me that I happened to learn, was that
when Salt Typhoon and Volt Typhoon happened, that we knew we'd
been hacked. We knew who we'd been hacked by, but we had no
idea how to stop it. And so, building those relationships with
the private sector to help us go out there, and really get the
information that we need to get the technology and expertise to
get in front of those bad actors that would infiltrate our
systems, I think is incredibly important.
So making sure that we have those partnerships with us.
Sharing information, and advice, and wisdom on how to stop
these hackers before they steal our critical information is
very, very important. You know better than anybody, better than
I do even, that we have 10 of the 16 critical infrastructure
components under the Department of Homeland Security. So this
is a top priority of President Trump.
Senator Peters. So it is on-mission now? CISA is on-
mission?
Secretary Noem. It is.
Senator Peters. Great. Thank you.
Senator Britt. Thank you, Senator Peters. Senator
Murkowski.
INCREASES TO COAST GUARD'S TOPLINE
Senator Murkowski. Thank you, Madam Chair, and welcome
Secretary. I know you had an opportunity to take a quick trip
up to Kodiak to see our Coast Guard men and women there. Thank
you for that. I'm pleased to see the focus from the
administration with regards to the Coast Guard within the
reconciliation package. It is significant, it is meaningful.
As I'm looking though at the skinny budget that we have
here, I'm wondering whether or not the administration's budget
request increases the Coast Guard's top line, because as
important as it is to do, what we're doing in reconciliation.
We want to make sure that the service has the sustained funding
and support that it deserves in annual appropriation. So, I
don't know, if you want to speak quickly to that.
Secretary Noem. Well, yes, Senator, it is. We're building
out the Coast Guard into the future. We have a request in for
15,000 more individuals that would come in and be a part of the
organization. So it's not just the investment in the cutters,
which we discussed as well as, you know, airframe that's been
grounded because it needs to be replaced and we can no longer
repair it. It is also building out the amount of support that
we have as far as individuals and components.
Senator Murkowski. I want to ask about not just the ships,
the cutters, the airframes, but the people, and where those
people live. It was several commandants ago. It was Commandant
Zukunft, who promised that Kodiak Seward Sitka Ketchikan, they
were going to get these fast response cutters. Well, the FRCs
are out there, but what hasn't come through is the shoreside
infrastructure upgrades. Sitka and Seward continue to be left
hanging. And so, the ships that were due to come to them are
being parked in in other communities.
I mean, we are not only 1 year off, 2 years off, multiple
years off. So this is something that I have raised with you,
and I'm hopeful that we're finally going to be able to make
that commitment to make sure that when you've got the ships,
you've got the home port.
Secretary Noem. Right.
BENEFITS FOR COAST GUARD
Senator Murkowski. And when it comes to the home port, I
think you saw in Kodiak, it's not just the housing, it is the
childcare, it's the medical options. And so, I'm hoping that as
we're looking at this revitalization of the Coast Guard, that
is so overdue, and I so appreciate the focus that the
administration is placing on this, that it really is this whole
package.
Secretary Noem. Right.
Senator Murkowski. Yes, absolutely. And when on Force
Design 2028, I'll get you the details on that, so you can see
that that infrastructure is being addressed. And that was one
of the things that was discussed quite extensively when I was
up there with the Coasties and folks that we're serving, was
how challenging it was----
Secretary Noem. Yes.
Senator Murkowski [continuing]. to be in a remote area, not
have the access to basic needs that they have for their family
as well, especially medical care and specialized medical care.
So, it is big. So, I'm glad you, you had an opportunity to see
that.
WORK AUTHORIZATIONS FOR IMMIGRANTS
I want to shift here with regards to parole and temporary
protected status. We have a relatively significant population
of immigrants in Alaska that are under parole, or TPS, or both.
They're small, but for us, they're meaningful in our
communities. It's the Ukrainians. We have Afghanis,
Venezuelans, we have some Haitians. The majority of these folks
are just truly valued members of their new community. They're
helping us meet workforce needs and really contributing to the
tax base here.
They've expressed great concern about their status and work
authorizations that may be revoked or allowed to expire. So
USCIS hasn't processed re-parole TPS renewals or work
authorizations for the Ukrainians, at least for almost 5
months. And the concern is they have paid the fees to USCIS to
process their applications, and yet they're not seeing any
action on this.
Can you share with me, share with the committee, any
information on when this pause might end? There are so many
that are concerned that the work authorizations will expire
while they're waiting for this process.
Secretary Noem. Yes. We do have several countries that have
been evaluated by the Administration on their participation in
TPS. And the program, as it was established, was meant to be
utilized on a temporary basis. So, some of these TPS programs
have been in place for many, many years. But the evaluation on
why TPS should be utilized and when it can be utilized by a
country is the process that the Administration's going through.
So if it's a conflict, environmental, economic concern,
something that's going on, and you talked specifically about
the Ukrainians as well. I will say that that program is still
there and being evaluated. But those folks may have gotten an
email or something that was not correct and was rectified. So I
know some folks were alarmed by that, that they received, but
we did rectify that. And that was sent out if their legal
status had changed, you know, it certainly did not apply to
them. And we communicated that with them as well.
The one thing I will say is that anyone who is on a program
like this, or on parole that has been revoked, always has the
opportunity to apply for asylum as well. And so, that is the
application that we are forwarding in many of these instances
across the country from different countries that interact with
us through these different programs.
Senator Murkowski. And again, just the timing of an
expiration, of the work authorization while they're waiting. So
as much information as you can share, and I'm sure other states
as well. Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair.
Senator Britt. Thank you very much. Senator Van Hollen.
FIREFIGHTER GRANTS
Senator Van Hollen. Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam
Secretary, I'm going to ask you about something I hope we can
agree on. Are you familiar with the U.S. Fire Academy? It
trains about 100,000 firefighters from around the country.
Secretary Noem. Yes.
Senator Van Hollen. So right now, as you may know, it's not
being funded. All the in-person classes have been canceled. So
I, together with some of my colleagues, including Congresswoman
April McClain Delaney, who represents that district in
Congress, wrote to you back on March 14th about the situation
there. I would just ask, could you commit today to responding
to our letter?
Secretary Noem. I believe we did respond even if it may
have just been recently to you. But those grants and programs
are being facilitated, and those dollars will be forwarded. So
that is something that if I didn't get that back to you, we
will get it to you within 24 hours.
Senator Van Hollen. Well, that would be some good news to
come out of the hearing, because we really have not heard a
thing I'm reading from a headline, ``Trump Officials Silent as
Firefighters Lobby to Reopen Training Academy in Maryland.''
This is an article from yesterday. So you're bringing good news
today that we're going to renew funding for the National Fire
Academy?
Secretary Noem. That is the direction that we are taking,
and we will get that information to you.
Senator Van Hollen. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Thank you,
Madam Chair.
Senator Britt. Thank you, Senator Van Hollen. Senator
Hagerty.
Senator Hagerty. Thank you, Madam Chair. And Secretary,
it's great to see you again.
Secretary Noem. Good to see you, too.
SENATOR HAGERTY'S REMARKS ON THE BORDER
Senator Hagerty. I really want to thank you and President
Trump, and all the men of the Border Patrol and ICE, for the
incredible amount of work that has gone on in a very short
period of time to secure the border. It's made a huge
difference in my home state. It's going to continue to make a
difference, I'm certain.
And I very much appreciate your efforts to bring these
illegal aliens to justice as well. President Trump promised to
deliver the most secure border in American history, and the two
of you have delivered on that promise. Encounters at the
Southwest Border are down 95 percent, and under the Trump
Administration gotaways are down 99 percent. Congratulations on
that.
The Trump Administration has ended the crisis that the
previous administration created at the Southwest Border, and
you've done it, frankly, in a matter of weeks. My colleagues,
and certainly, President Biden, argued that we needed new
legislation to address the situation at the Southern Border. I
think what you've demonstrated is that was absolutely not the
case.
I'd like for you, if you would, Secretary Noem, to paint a
picture for us. How was it your first day when you arrived at
the agency? What sort of state of affairs did you walk into? I
want the public to understand how poorly managed the situation
was that you've taken on.
Secretary Noem. Well, Senator, thank you for the question.
I would say that, overwhelmingly, it was a night and day
difference as soon as President Trump was sworn into office,
because immediately the message was sent out to everyone who
worked in the Department of Homeland Security that we were now
going to enforce the law in the United States of America, that
we were going to be able to let people do their jobs, which had
been so frustrating for so many of our CBP and ICE officers.
And those who partnered with them they felt as though they
had been facilitating an invasion of our country. And the fact
they grew up in these communities. Many of these officers were
raised in Del Rio, and El Paso, and Tucson, and they were, you
know, just devastated by what the change they had seen.
So, the fact that they got to do their jobs again was
overwhelmingly, I believe, why this was a success in securing
our border, knowing who comes into this country and stopping
those who shouldn't.
President Trump, what I'm proud of is that he has removed
252 known terrorists from our country just since he's been in
office. Thousands of criminals and illegal aliens that have
perpetuated violence on our communities. And I think the
employees and the officers that are a part of the Department of
Homeland Security are proud to be a part of the solution that's
making America very safe again.
INVASION OF THE UNITED STATES
Senator Hagerty. Can I stay with a comment that you made or
a term that you used, ``invasion''?
Secretary Noem. Yes.
Senator Hagerty. Because what we saw over the prior 4 years
was the largest invasion of our country that we've ever seen. I
don't think the American public understands this because it was
obfuscated in the media. But could you just break down for us
and explain to us how the Biden Administration facilitated the
invasion of over 10 million people illegally entering this
country in 4 years?
Secretary Noem. Yeah, absolutely. Their lack of enforcement
of our laws and their policies facilitated people being
welcomed into our country, telegraphed around the world that
come to America. The borders are open when you get there.
Someone will give you asylum, you'll be protected. We'll give
you housing, and food, and free medical care. Billions of
dollars spent by taxpayers to give them more advantages than
what the average United States American citizen gets. That was
very clearly telegraphed by their policies. And it devastated
so many of our communities.
I think most people also recognize that when you welcome
people from around the world, you're going to get bad actors,
too. You're going to get cartel members taking advantage of the
situation. Terrorist organizations that are going to infiltrate
our country. People who have been kicked out of their own
countries for reasons that their country would not tolerate.
They came here to find a safe haven, and Joe Biden gave them
that opportunity.
So, you know, it is going to be a big job to clean up the
mess that they created. But President Trump is determined to do
so, and overwhelmingly, the American people support him in
that. They are so thrilled to get these dangerous people off of
their streets.
When I've been out working with the frontline individuals
in the Department of Homeland Security, with our officers with
those that are emergency responders, you can be in New York
City, you can be in San Diego, you can be anywhere, and people
that are walking their kids to school in the morning are
walking by the operations, going, ``Thank you. Thank you for
being here.''
RESOURCES NEEDED FOR BORDER SECURITY
Senator Hagerty. One last point. The situation in my home
state, we are losing about 3,000 kids a year to fentanyl, to
overdoses. We've got human trafficking happening from Memphis,
to Nashville, and beyond. And I really want to know, I think
the American people expect that this border will be secured,
that we can get this stopped. But what resources do you need to
make that happen that you don't have today?
Secretary Noem. Well, you've seen the request from
President Trump in reconciliation and in his fiscal year
budget. You know, he is doing due diligence to make sure we
have the resources that we need to really secure our border,
but also to make sure that we are stopping this poison in our
communities.
It's giving us enforcement tools, more officers out there,
more agreements. You've seen us implement 287(g) with local law
enforcement officers and state law enforcement officers that
will compound our efforts out on the ground, give us more
individuals to clean up the mess.
But we also need the technology at our ports to scan
packages that come into this country. We've collected, I think,
over $36 billion worth of tariffs against other countries
because of what President Trump is doing to make sure that
we're putting jobs back in the United States of America. But
CBP is the ones that are collecting those tariffs, but they
also need at our ports of entry scanning technology so we know
what's coming in, in packages, what's coming in by air freight,
that we just haven't been doing due diligence under the Joe
Biden Administration to really know what the threats are, and
how those dangerous chemicals and poisons are coming in.
Senator Britt. Thank you, Senator Hagerty. For the last
round of questions. Senator Murphy.
SPENDING MONEY UNDER SSP
Senator Murphy. Thank you. Madam Secretary, one of the
accounts that right now is being impounded, I mentioned it in
my opening statement, is the Shelter and Services Program. I
certainly understand that as a program, that Republicans
unfortunately have not supported, but it was a major element of
the budget that we passed. And thus far there are, you know,
somewhere in the neighborhood of $600 million that you have not
expended.
Can you commit to this committee, understanding that you
have the ability to decide how that money is spent and who gets
that money within the parameters dictated by Congress, but can
you commit to this committee that you are going to spend the
money in the Shelter and Services account according to the
authorization provided to you by Congress?
Secretary Noem. Sir, we have followed authorizations and
the law on how these dollars are being spent. We are not
conducting any impoundment. And as you know, under the previous
administration, the Shelter and Services Program was being used
to facilitate illegal immigration and shelter for criminals in
many areas. And so, we are using those dollars to how they were
intended by Congress when those dollars were put into that
program.
Senator Murphy. But you haven't spent really any of those
dollars other than those that you've reprogrammed. So, you and
I certainly understand that you do have a right to spend a
little bit of time on review, but you do have to spend those
dollars. And so, can you commit to us that you are going to
spend the dollars in the Shelter and Services Program on the
functionalities and programmatic parameters authorized by
Congress?
Secretary Noem. We're going to follow the authorities that
we have under the Department of Homeland Security and the
Administration for how Congress appropriates funds. Absolutely,
we will follow what is authorized and what is the process for
how those are traditionally spent.
Senator Murphy. Madam Chair, my guess is that the
Administration is not going to spend any of the SSP dollars.
That by the end of the year, those dollars will not be spent.
And I raised this issue because I admit that this was a
priority for Democrats, and that money was included in the
budget in exchange for other funds that were priorities for
Republicans. If we now live in a world in which the
Administration spends down the accounts that were priorities
for Republicans and does not spend down the priorities that
were priorities for Democrats, I don't know how we do a budget.
I don't actually know how we come to an agreement if we
live in a world in which the Administration doesn't spend the
accounts that it doesn't believe in. That would be precedent-
breaking for this Congress. And so, I raised this issue because
I think it's very relevant to our work, and I think it will
make it virtually impossible for us to do a bipartisan budget
if by the end of this fiscal year, the $600 million that are
sitting in this account that are supposed to be used to treat
migrants to this country, humanely are not used. Thank you,
Madam Chair.
Senator Britt. Thank you, Senator Murphy. And we have about
six minutes left on the vote. So, I'm going to make my last
round quick.
CENTER FOR DOMESTIC PREPAREDNESS
I want to talk to you a little bit about the Center for
Domestic Preparedness. It's the preeminent institution when it
comes to training and equipping emergency managers and first
responders. I certainly appreciate the Department's efforts to
increase the capacity of our state, local, territorial, and
tribal partners to better handle disasters, to respond to civil
unrest, and to keep cities safe and secure with impending
events like the World Cup, Olympics future Super Bowl, et
cetera.
I want to make sure that we get this training back up and
going. My question to you is, when can we expect these classes
to be turned back on, and will there be any remedy for classes
that were canceled?
Secretary Noem. Yes. We'll work with you, Senator to see
what we can do for rescheduling classes, and that funding will
be continued, and it'll be a priority of the Department of
Homeland Security into the future.
Senator Britt. Excellent. Thank you so much. Madam
Secretary, we will go ahead and wrap this up. Thank you so much
for being here today. I know that we can obviously disagree on
policy across this dais, but we certainly agree that we want to
make sure that we get timely responses.
ADDITIONAL COMMITTEE QUESTIONS
And on that note, for closing, we will have questions for
the record, will be submitted and then due on May 15th, so
seven days from now.
Questions Submitted to Hon. Kristi Noem
Questions Submitted by Senator Lisa Murkowski
Question. USCIS has not processed re-paroles, TPS renewals, work
authorizations, or any other immigration status-change applications for
Ukrainians for almost 5 months. Unless they received a waiver,
individuals in Alaska paid fees to USCIS to process their applications,
and yet, no action is being taken. Can you tell me when this pause will
end?
Answer. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is
committed to keeping America safe by strengthening the integrity of the
immigration system, including improving the detection and prevention of
fraud and abuse across our programs and identifying threats to national
security and public safety. Due to vetting concerns that arose in the
previous Administration, USCIS placed an administrative hold on
benefits requests filed by aliens who are or were paroled into the
United States under Uniting for Ukraine. Pursuant to court order in Doe
v. Noem, Case No. 1:25-cv-10495-IT (D. Mass.), that hold has now been
lifted. All benefit requests are reviewed with the appropriate
screening and vetting standards and procedures as set out in Executive
Order 14161. Between May 28, 2025 when the court order was issued, and
June 30, 2025, USCIS adjudicated 8,855 benefit requests filed by aliens
who are or were paroled into the United States under Uniting for
Ukraine; the parole programs for Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and
Venezuelans; and the Family Reunification Parole processes.
Question. Particularly for individuals in Alaska under parole only,
with pending applications for re-parole, I am concerned their parole
will expire and thus, so will their authorization to work, through no
fault of their own. What is the Department doing to ensure these
individuals can continue to work while they wait for their re-parole
applications to be processed?
Answer. Pursuant to Executive Order 14159 and Executive Order
14165, ``Securing Our Borders,'' DHS will ensure that its parole
authority under section 212(d)(5)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality
Act is exercised in accordance with the plain language of the statute
and that all future parole determinations fully comply with applicable
law. This parole authority will only be exercised on a case-by-case
basis, and in all circumstances, only when an alien demonstrates urgent
humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit derived from his or
her individual circumstances and demonstrates that he or she warrants a
favorable exercise of discretion. Regardless of whether an alien has
submitted an application for re-parole, aliens whose period of parole
is expiring must comply with United States laws and plan to depart the
United States by the time their parole period expires unless they have
a separate basis to lawfully remain in the United States.
Question. USCIS has long been backlogged-as evidenced by the recent
rule increasing the time period for automatic extension of work
authorizations when TPS renewals are pending from 180 days to 540 days.
What is being done to ensure that individuals who entered the U.S.
legally and are attempting to remain here legally-either under a
temporary program or more permanently through asylum, which you
specifically mentioned at the hearing-will be allowed to live and work
in the U.S. while the backlog is processed?
Answer. DHS is committed to ensuring that only those aliens who
qualify for immigration benefits receive them. Benefits like Temporary
Protected Status and asylum, along with their corresponding Employment
Authorization Document application, will no longer be abused by those
with no legal basis to be in the United States. Regarding existing
backlogs, DHS seeks to ensure that applications and petitions are
processed as efficiently and expeditiously as possible consistent with
applicable statutes, regulations and current policy.
Question. H-2B workers are vital to fill United States workforce
needs when domestic workers do not want the jobs. For example, the
seafood industry in Alaska and in States across the country has long-
depended on H-2B workers to process fish and other seafood. The COVID-
19 pandemic resulted in workforce problems across industries and the H-
2B program is now completely oversubscribed. For Fiscal Year 2025, the
cap for the first half of the year was reached before the fiscal year
even started (on September 18, 2024). Recognizing the importance of
this program to the United States economy, Homeland Security
Appropriations legislation has long-carried language giving the
Secretary discretionary authority to issue supplemental H-2B visas in
an amount that essentially doubles cap. Do you support the H-2B visa
program, and do you commit to issue the maximum allowable number of
supplemental visas if demand continues to require it?
Answer. If Congress again grants authority to issue supplemental H-
2B visas, the Department of Homeland Security will commit to consulting
with the Department of Labor to determine whether there is a labor
market need and if so, the appropriate number of supplemental visas to
ensure that American businesses are equipped with the resources they
need, while protecting against adverse impacts on the wages and working
conditions of United States workers. DHS believes that Congress has the
best understanding of the needs of local constituents and can make
changes to the statutory H-2B cap prescribed in the Immigration and
Nationality Act accordingly.
Question. I am continuing to lead a bipartisan effort to exempt
seafood processors from the H-2B visa caps. These are traditional users
of the program and they are being shut out because they have no control
over when fish need to be processed. For example, this year, seafood
processors in Alaska were entirely dependent on supplemental visas for
pollock A season, which starts in January, because the regular cap was
reached before they could even apply for workers. Do you support my
legislation?
Answer. The Department of Homeland Security believes that Congress
is best placed to determine the needs of local constituents and to make
informed decisions to adjust the H-2B program accordingly.
Question. In the Department's announcement of the FEMA Review
Council, you stated that the Council's goal is to advise ``on the
existing ability of FEMA to capably and impartially address disasters
occurring within the United States and shall advise the President on
all recommended changes related to FEMA to best serve the National
interest.'' Recently in Alaska, we have experienced declared major
disasters including typhoons, landslides, and glacial outburst
flooding. Right now, we have the Mount Spurr Volcano near Anchorage
threatening to erupt. Yet, when I saw the list of the people appointed
to this council, I noticed that not only is there no one from Alaska,
but there is very limited representation from the Western States. Will
you commit to appointing new members to this board to address all of
our States, especially considering Alaska has one of the highest rates
of disaster per capita, with 55 federally declared disasters since
1953, 19 of those since 2015?
Answer. The President has said that Americans deserve an immediate,
effective, and impartial response to and recovery from disasters. I
wholeheartedly agree. To achieve this goal, on January 24, 2025, the
President established the Federal Emergency Management Agency Review
Council through Executive Order 14180. The Council is composed of
individuals highly experienced at effective disaster response and
recovery, including expertise in disaster relief and assistance,
emergency preparedness, natural disasters, Federal-State relationships,
and budget management.
Upon its establishment, the Council requested feedback from
emergency management subject matter experts and from the public during
a public comment period. Further, the Secretary also sent a letter to
the Council of Governors, to include the State of Alaska, requesting
their input and recommendations. I look forward to receiving and
reviewing the State of Alaska's feedback and recommendations on how the
Federal Emergency Management Agency's operations can be improved for
effectiveness while also providing taxpayers a cost savings. I am proud
to co-lead this Council with Secretary of Defense Hegseth. I assure you
that the Council will meet the President's intent and produce a robust
report with actionable recommendations.
Question. The termination of the FEMA BRIC program has put many
communities across the Nation in difficult positions. Many of these
projects are not political and are a part of FEMA's core mission, which
prioritizes preparing for potential catastrophe before, during, and
after disasters. For example, the City of Skagway, Alaska was awarded a
$20 million BRIC grant to mitigate impending rockslides above its
busiest dock in the port. I do not believe preventing dangerous
rockslides from falling onto a port is wasteful, and projects like
Skagway's in fact save Federal funds by investing in communities before
a disaster strikes. Do you believe disaster mitigation is an important
part of FEMA's mission, and do you think rescinding already awarded
funds to reduce disasters-which has been shown to save the taxpayer
money-is an effective way to restore the Nation's trust in FEMA?
Answer. The Department and the Federal Emergency Management Agency
are evaluating ways to improve the delivery of hazard mitigation
assistance to ensure it is more responsive, timely, and aligned with
the needs of States and communities.
Question. The National Fire Academy's mission is to provide
training courses and advanced management programs for middle- and top-
level fire officers, fire service instructors, technical professionals,
and representatives from allied professions. These students are drawn
from all 50 States and represent the wide breadth of the American fire
service, including both volunteer and career firefighters. Critically,
the training offered by NFA is specialized training, similar to the
leadership training offered by the military war colleges for current
and future military officers. Just as these military institutions
prepare leaders to handle complex, high-stakes situations, the NFA
equips fire and emergency services personnel with the advanced
knowledge and leadership capabilities necessary to effectively manage
critical incidents and organizational challenges. Training provided by
the academy is not otherwise available in my state, and many of
Alaska's firefighting personnel utilize the Academy every year. Given
the importance of NFA to training fire service personnel from all
around the country and helping to ensure nation-wide readiness, when do
you anticipate the NFA campus will be reopened?
Answer. In-person training has resumed at three national
schoolhouses in June 2025-the Center for Domestic Preparedness in
Anniston, Alabama and the National Fire Academy and the National
Disaster and Emergency Management University in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
Following a comprehensive review by FEMA and the U.S. Fire
Administration, it was determined certain courses provide effective
training to enhance national readiness for State, local, Tribal, and
territorial emergency managers, first responders and local leaders.
FEMA's principles for emergency management assert that disasters are
best managed when they are federally supported, state managed, and
locally executed.
______
Questions Submitted by Senator Susan M. Collins
Question. The most recent Disaster Relief Fund monthly report
indicates a projected shortfall for fiscal year 2025 of nearly $13
billion. And this does not account for storms that will occur during
the upcoming hurricane season. Even if you move around funding from
various programs to boost the balance in the fund, the issue will not
be resolved. If the Disaster Relief Fund does not receive supplemental
funds, when do you anticipate the need to implement Immediate Needs
Funding?
Answer. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Disaster
Relief Fund Majors, which is projecting a $6.9 billion shortfall,
expects to run out of money in August. This calculation is based on
Fiscal Year 2024 actual and Fiscal Year 2025 projected obligations,
plus a $3 billion reserve for an unanticipated catastrophic event.
FEMA's top priorities are: meeting disaster survivors' immediate
needs and ensuring that States, Tribes, and territories have the
necessary resources to respond to disasters. For Fiscal Year 2025, FEMA
is projecting a $6.9 billion shortfall in the Disaster Relief Fund
Majors, excluding reserve funding for a future catastrophic event,
which brings the total need to $10.0 billion. There are multiple
factors driving the estimated shortfall, including continued recovery
for Hurricanes Helene, Milton, Maria, and the California Wildfires;
COVID-19 reimbursements, which include reimbursements to state, Tribal,
territorial, or local governments for emergency protective measures for
the COVID-19 disaster (i.e. COVID testing, alternative care sites, and
medical support), and reimbursements to individuals and families for
eligible COVID-19 funeral expenses; and recent disaster response and
recovery efforts. To mitigate this risk, FEMA has prioritized
identifying and recovering excess or unused funds from previously
obligated contracts, grants, and mission assignments, recovering more
than $4.8 billion as of May 2025.
Current Disaster Relief Fund funding levels are adequate to enable
immediate response and recovery to any incidents that may occur and
continue ongoing disaster activities; however, if the Disaster Relief
Fund approaches a critical threshold, FEMA will work with the
Department and the Administration and take necessary steps to ensure
funding is available to support both critical ongoing disaster
operations and provide a reserve for initial response and recovery
activities for a future significant event.
______
Questions Submitted by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith
Question. From the night of March 14 through March 15, 2025, at
least 20 Mississippi counties endured extreme weather conditions,
including hurricane-force winds, baseball-sized hail, 18 tornadoes, and
flash flooding. A magnitude 3.0 earthquake also struck near Magee,
Mississippi, during the storms. Tragically, seven Mississippians lost
their lives, and the storms caused extensive damage to homes,
businesses, and infrastructure. FEMA-validated reports indicate at
least $18.2 million in damages, including 233 homes destroyed and 208
homes with major damage. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves has requested
a Federal disaster declaration, including Individual Assistance for the
following 14 counties: Carroll, Covington, Grenada, Holmes, Issaquena,
Itawamba, Jasper, Jefferson Davis, Leflore, Marion, Montgomery, Pike,
Smith, and Walthall. The request also includes Public Assistance for
the following 17 counties: Calhoun, Carroll, Covington, Grenada,
Humphreys, Issaquena, Itawamba, Jefferson Davis, Lee, Leflore, Marion,
Pike, Prentiss, Sharkey, Smith, Walthall, and Washington.
On April 2, 2025, the Mississippi congressional delegation sent a
letter of support endorsing Governor Reeves's request for an expedited
major disaster declaration and Individual Assistance. Could you provide
an update on the status of this request and the anticipated timeline
for a decision on a Federal Disaster Declaration for Mississippi?
Answer. Governor Tate Reeve's request for a major disaster
declaration for the State of Mississippi was approved on Friday, May
23, 2025.
Question. Under the Biden Administration, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection issued two ruling letters permitting foreign vessels to
transport U.S.-sourced natural gas based on what appears to be a flawed
understanding of the science of gas liquefaction. This decision
undercut American shipyards-particularly those in my state-and runs
counter to the Trump Administration's goal of restoring American
maritime dominance and strengthening the U.S. maritime industrial base.
Is the Department revisiting these rulings to ensure CBP makes the
correct determination moving forward?
Answer. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has authority to
issue rulings on prospective transactions (19 United States Code
Sec. 1625; see also 19 Code of Federal Regulations Part 177). All
rulings issued by CBP are made publicly available on the Customs
Rulings Online Search System, available at https://rulings.cbp.gov/
home. The person or entity to whom a ruling is issued may appeal an
adverse interpretive ruling (19 United States Code Sec. 1625(b)). Such
an appeal is entitled to de novo review before a higher-level official
within CBP. In addition, the agency may modify or revoke a ruling. 19
United States Code Sec. 1625(c).
For these two rulings, the determinations were based on specific
factual findings supported by input from CBP's Laboratory and
Scientific Services. Even after issuing the rulings, CBP reviewed each
to ensure compliance and determined that the holdings are consistent
with statute, regulation, and case law and concluded that there were no
legal or factual errors contained within the rulings. Finally, CBP
reviewed the rulings to determine whether modification or revocation
was legally appropriate based on new Administration policies. After
completing a thorough review, CBP determined the two rulings at issue
do not require modification or revocation and are consistent with
Administration policies.
national domestic preparedness consortium
Question. To date, the National Domestic Preparedness Consortium
(NDPC) has trained more than 60,000 first responders in preparation for
the World Cup and is already working on training plans in support of
the 2028 Olympics. If the NDPC is eliminated, how will the Department
ensure that jurisdictions are prepared to address the security and
emergency management needs associated with hosting such large-scale
events?
Answer. The National Domestic Preparedness Consortium is
duplicative of other training opportunities offered by the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). In-person training continues at
three national academies: the Center for Domestic Preparedness in
Anniston, Alabama and the National Fire Academy and the National
Disaster and Emergency Management University in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
Question. The updated 2025 Emergency Management Annual Planning
Guidance, released on January 31, calls for expanded collaboration with
stakeholders like the NDPC to ensure ``expanded training and capacity
building for emergency managers and first responders in the U.S.''
However, the FY25 budget request proposes eliminating the NDPC-directly
contradicting this guidance. Why was this reversal made, and how does
the Department reconcile this decision with its stated goals for
emergency preparedness?
Answer. The Fiscal Year 2025 budget was superseded by the full year
continuing resolution, which extended Fiscal Year 2024 funding levels.
This Administration supports emergency managers and is focused on a
sustainable approach to emergency management. This realignment in the
Fiscal Year 2026 President's Budget will allow the Department to focus
available resources on implementing higher priority, core mission
areas. The National Domestic Preparedness Consortium is duplicative of
other training opportunities offered by FEMA. Additionally, State,
local, Tribal, and territorial jurisdictions may use existing grant
funding to pay for training activities for first responders.
Question. With TSA implementing the Aviation Worker Screening
Requirement (TSA-NA-23-02), a costly unfunded mandate has been passed
on to airports to screen aviation workers. The FY24 Department of
Homeland Security Appropriations Act directed TSA to provide a detailed
analysis of the cost-benefit and risk implications of this proposal.
How does the Department plan to ensure that smaller regional
airports can afford to comply with the new screening requirements
without compromising operations?
Answer. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) developed
the Transportation Security Administration National Amendment 23-02,
Aviation Worker Screening to improve insider threat mitigation and
complement existing aviation worker inspection requirements. In
developing National Amendment 23-02, Aviation Worker Screening, TSA
considered the cost and burden across the sector for airports of
specific categories and worked with industry and associations to
minimize the impact of these new aviation worker screening
requirements. TSA conducted an analysis on the cost of these
requirements, first in 2020 and then updated throughout the development
of the final requirements to reflect any changes. The results of this
analysis, combined with significant feedback from industry, led to
significant changes from the proposed requirements and contributed to a
strategy promoting consistent maturation and enhanced aviation worker
screening.
TSA was, and continues to be, sensitive to the needs of industry
regarding screening costs, including the complexities of hiring,
procuring, and sustaining security resources and equipment. During the
policy development process, TSA received extensive industry feedback on
the proposed requirements, some of which discussed the burden on
smaller airports. In response, TSA modified the final requirements to
limit the applicability to larger airports (Category-X, I, and II) and
removed smaller airports (Category-III and IV) from the applicability.
Additionally, consistent with TSA's commitment to outcome-focused
policies, airports have many options as to how screening requirements
are accomplished, and airports can reduce the number of screening hours
they must complete by decreasing entry points and/or individuals with
access. To create space for developing solutions, TSA implemented an
informed compliance period and delayed the implementation of explosives
detection screening equipment requirements.
Question. The final requirements set aviation worker screening
baselines while providing airport operators flexibility to implement
tailored solutions which fit their legal, regional, and local
priorities. There are a wide range of screening options airports can
use within their operational environment, recognizing that smaller
airports may have different needs and resources than a larger airport.
Larger airports are more likely to exceed the standards required by
National Amendment 23-02, Aviation Worker Screening. Therefore, each
airport has meaningful control over how many individuals and what type
of equipment or screening processes to implement. It is TSA's intent to
ensure security outcomes are met while encouraging and facilitating
innovation.
Has TSA considered a tiered implementation approach, based on
airport size and risk profile, to avoid placing disproportionate
burdens on low-traffic facilities?
Answer. The requirements in the Transportation Security
Administration National Amendment 23-02, Aviation Worker Screening are
tiered based on airport size and risk:
--Primarily, National Amendment 23-02, Aviation Worker Screening,
is limited to larger airports (Category-X, I, and II), and
the requirements do not apply to smaller airports
(Category-III and IV).
--Each covered airport must conduct a baseline of screening- this
baseline is determined as a function of the number of
employees with unescorted access to the secured area and
the number of access points to secured and sterile areas.
Airports with fewer employees (with access to secured
areas) and/or fewer access points are generally not
required to screen for as many hours as those with more.
--The category of each airport is further used to modify the
baseline function. Category II airports are required to
screen less than Category X or I airports even if all other
factors are equal.
--TSA's goal with this design was to minimize a proportional impact
to our Category II and I stakeholders while still ensuring
necessary security value.
olympics & paralympics
Question. The President's recently released budget framework for
FY26 includes funding to ensure DHS can ``bolster State and local
capacity to enhance security around key events and facilities'' at the
2028 Games, among other major international events. What steps is DHS
taking to ensure DHS resources are deployed effectively and coordinated
not only at the Federal level, but with State and local law enforcement
as well to make the 2028 Olympics & Paralympics safe and secure?
Answer. On January 30, 2024, the Secretary of Homeland Security
designated the 2028 Olympic Games and 2028 Paralympic Games as National
Special Security Events. Following these designations, the U.S. Secret
Service acted upon its mandated role to lead the planning, design,
development, and implementation of a comprehensive security plan. The
Secret Service formed an Executive Steering Committee comprised of
State, local, and Federal law enforcement, public safety, and emergency
management partners. Planning efforts are underway with our State,
local, and Federal partners to ensure a coordinated and comprehensive
security plan is developed in support of the Olympic and Paralympic
Games.
On March 7, 2025, the President issued an Executive Order,
Establishing the White House Task Force on the FIFA World Cup 2026.1
The Task Force, which is administratively housed at the Department of
Homeland Security, brings together expertise and support from across
the Federal Government to ensure smooth coordination of this worldwide
event hosted by the United States. The Task Force engagement team is
working closely with State and local law enforcement, as well as with
the Federal Coordinator in each city, to identify the needs and
appropriately resource each location for the upcoming 2025 Club World
Cup games and 2026 World Cup Matches. Furthermore, the Office for State
and Local Law Enforcement is working closely with the Task Force to
assist in the coordination and collaboration with major law enforcement
associations, like the Major Cities Chiefs Association, National Fusion
Center Association, Major County Sheriffs of America, and the
International Association of Chiefs of Police, who collectively
represent the 18,000 law enforcement across the country, to identify
opportunities to better share information and intelligence, identify
concerns and resources needed (i.e. funding, CUAS support, training),
and establish implementable solutions to support the upcoming events.
The National Special Security Event Executive Steering Committee
meets on a quarterly basis to provide direction for safety and security
planning. Several of the National Special Security Event subcommittees
are conducting regular planning and coordination to support the
integration of safety and security in their respective functional areas
at the Federal, State, and local levels. FEMA co-chairs four sub-
committees on training and exercises, housing, external affairs and
consequence management with Federal, State, and local representatives
from law enforcement, public safety, emergency management, and public
health, all of which will fully support the events.
Question. While the $1 billion funding included in the House
Homeland Security Committee's reconciliation guidance takes step to
address critical security priorities related to the Games, it does not
provide funds to address the significant additional cost related to
Federal reimbursement of State and local law enforcement entities for
overtime costs incurred by providing Games-time security services. In
coordination with the Department of Justice and congressional
appropriators, what steps will DHS take to ensure that funds required
by the Federal Government to provide reimbursement to State and local
law enforcement entities are included in the appropriations process?
Answer. FEMA understands the $1 billion included in the House
Homeland Security Committee's reconciliation guidance is to address
these significant costs. The $1 billion is for reimbursement of State
and local requiremtnes. If new requirements are identified, FEMA will
collaborate with Congress through the regular approprations process to
address funding needs for any new requirements.
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\1\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/
establishing-the-white-house-task-force-on-the-fifa-world-cup-2026/
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______
Questions Submitted by Senator Christopher Murphy
Question. Concerning the case of Mr. Kilmar Abrego Garcia, I have
the following questions (a yes or no response is acceptable for
questions 2a., 2c., and 2d.):
Have you personally read, or been briefed on, the contents of the
Supreme Court Opinion dated April 10, 2025 concerning the case of Mr.
Abrego Garcia?
Answer. Due to pending litigation, the Department of Homeland
Security is unable to provide a response at this time.
Question. Can you describe the steps you have personally taken to
facilitate Mr. Abrego Garcia's return to the United States?
Answer. Mr. Abrego Garcia was returned to the United States on
approximately June 6, 2025.
Question. Have you reached out to your counterpart in El Salvador
about Mr. Abrego Garcia's case?
Answer. Due to pending litigation, the Department of Homeland
Security is unable to provide a response at this time.
Question. When you visited the Center for Terrorism Confinement
(CECOT) on March 26 for your photo opportunity, Mr. Abrego Garcia had
been at CECOT for approximately 10 days. Did you check on his welfare
during your visit to CECOT?
Answer. Due to pending litigation, the Department of Homeland
Security is unable to provide a response at this time.
Question. It appears President Trump attempted to invoke the Alien
Enemies Act (AEA) on March 14, but published the proclamation a day
later, on March 15th. As we know, flights departed the United States on
March 15th.
When did you personally become aware the President attempted to
invoke the AEA?
Answer. On March 14, 2025, the President signed a proclamation,
which was published on March 15, invoking his authorities under the
Alien Enemies Act (AEA), 50 U.S.C. 21 et seq., against members of TdA.
See Invocation of the Alien Enemies Act Regarding the Invasion of the
United States by Tren de Aragua Sec. 1 (Mar. 14, 2025), 90 Fed. Reg.
13,033 (Mar. 20, 2025) (Proclamation). This proclamation invoked the
Alien Enemies Act against the Tren de Aragua terrorist organization,
such that all Venezuelan citizens 14 years of age or older who are
members of that organization and are not naturalized or lawful
permanent residents of the United States are liable to be apprehended,
restrained, secured, and removed as Alien Enemies. Due to ongoing
litigation, the Department is unable to provide any additional
information at this time.
Question. When did you personally become aware that Venezuelans
removed under the authority of the AEA would be transported to CECOT?
Answer. Due to ongoing litigation, the Department is unable to
provide any additional information at this time.
Question. The President of El Salvador is reported to have said
that he is being paid at least $6 million by the U.S. government to
hold noncitizens from the United States in El Salvador's physical
custody at CECOT.
Is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) paying for some or all
of the reported $6 million? If DHS is not paying, who is (other than
the American taxpayers)?
Answer. The Department of Homeland Security respectfully defers to
the Department of State.
Question. Does the contract state how long detainees will be in
prison at CECOT? If it does, please provide the length of time included
in the contract.
Answer. The Department of Homeland Security respectfully defers to
the Department of State.
Question. Concerning the detention of noncitizens at Guantanamo
Bay, Cuba, I have the following questions:
Is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) paying for some or all
of the Guantanamo operations in the Department of Defense (DOD)
portions of the base?
Answer. The Department of Homeland Security respectfully defers to
the Department of Defense.
Question. Does DHS plan to continue the detention of immigrants at
Guantanamo Bay? If not, when does the government expect to wind down
operations at Guantanamo Bay?
Answer. The Department of Homeland Security will continue detention
operations at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay as long as the Department of
Defense is able to support doing so as directed by President Trump. The
Department and specifically U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) currently uses the Migrant Operations Center and Joint Task Force
Camp 6 as holding sites to arrange flights and removals, much like it
does in numerous detention sites within the continental United States.
ICE continues to detain illegal aliens at Guantanamo Bay. There are
currently no plans to draw down operations.
Question. How much has DHS obligated or expended on detention and
flights of non-citizens at Guantanamo Bay?
Answer. Please refer to the following tables.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
January 21, 2025
Activity through May 7,
2025 Actuals
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Migrant Operations Center Detention Facility Costs.. $9,577,433
Travel.............................................. 720,335
Supplies............................................ 226,053
-------------------
Total......................................... 10,523,821
------------------------------------------------------------------------
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flights January 21, 2025 through May, 10, 2025
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mission Number Total Flight Cost
------------------------------------------------------------------------
25-000633........................... $150,001.24
25-001116........................... 169,368.08
25-001115........................... 162,124.19
25-000815........................... 92,786.85
25-001027........................... 124,887.63
25-001324........................... 116,312.86
-----------------------------------
TOTAL:........................ 815,480.85
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question. Is DHS reimbursing the Department of Defense (DOD) for
any costs related to detention or transportation to or at Guantanamo?
If yes, please provide the total actual and projected amounts of
reimbursement.
Answer. The March 7, 2025, Memorandum of Understanding between the
Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense does not
provide for the exchange of funds or manpower between agencies.
Question. On April 28, President Trump issued an Executive Order
requesting DHS and DOD examine whether it would be appropriate to
invoke the Insurrection Act.
Did you examine whether the administration should invoke the
Insurrection Act?
Question. As required under President Trump's Proclamation 10886,
Declaring a National Emergency at the Southern Border of the United
States issued on January 20, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security
and the Department of Defense conducted a joint assessment of
conditions at the southern border in the first 90 days of the
Administration. This assessment included a recommendation regarding
whether the Administration should invoke the Insurrection Act as
required by the Proclamation.
Did you submit your recommendations to the President? If so, when
did you submit them?
Answer. The Department of Homeland Security and the Department of
Defense jointly submitted our report to President Trump. The Department
of Homeland Security the Department of Defense jointly submitted our
report to President Trump on April 24, 2025.
Question. What did you recommend the President do?
Answer. The Department of Homeland Security is unable to share this
information as the recommendations in the report remain deliberative
within the Executive Branch.
Question. Secretary Noem, you've been outspoken in calling for the
Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to return to
its core responsibilities and missions. These three congressionally
mandated missions are cybersecurity, infrastructure security, and
emergency communications. I have questions for you about CISA's
emergency communications mission--which, as laid out on the CISA
website, is to uphold ``vital, two-way connection, communication, and
collaboration between the public and private sectors.'' I need you to
help me understand how President Trump's politically motivated
persecution of his own former CISA Director Chris Krebs--simply for
modeling courageous, honest emergency communications under tremendous
political pressure and threats of violence--is consistent with your
commitment to upholding the agency's core mission, and basic American
rights and values.
Are you aware of the emergency communications component of CISA's
congressionally mandated, core mission, Secretary Noem?
Answer. Yes, I am aware of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure
Security Agency's (CISA) core, statutory mission, which remains
unchanged.
Question. Are you committed to supporting this mission--and
upholding the First Amendment rights it depends upon--in your role as
DHS Secretary?
Answer. Yes, I and the Department of Homeland Security are
committed to following the law.
Question. Are you aware that over the past month President Trump
has revoked former CISA Director Chris Krebs' security clearance,
coerced his resignation from a private-sector job, and even canceled
his membership in the Global Entry program--explicitly in response to
Krebs offering his professional judgment that the 2020 election was
safe and secure, and for rejecting debunked QAnon conspiracy theories
about rigged voting machines?
Answer. Yes, I am aware of President Trump's Executive Order on
Chris Krebs.
Question. Do you personally believe the 2020 Election was stolen?
Answer. This is a non-germane political question.
Question. Do you, in your professional capacity as Secretary of
Homeland Security, believe the 2020 Election was stolen?
Answer. This is a non-germane political question.
Question. I'm deeply concerned that the example of Krebs will chill
free speech and undermine CISA's effectiveness in its overarching
mission. Can you explain how this outrageous act of political
retribution--and the ongoing open-ended investigation your department
and the DOJ are leading into Krebs--furthers CISA's mission of
encouraging non-politicized, accurate emergency communications and
keeping Americans and small businesses safe from critical
infrastructure attacks?
Answer. CISA's statutory mission continues without interruption.
Information sharing with our partners is an essential part of
fulfilling that mission.
Question. The FY26 President's Budget proposes a nearly 17 percent
cut to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA),
slashing $491 million from its $3 billion budget. This proposed cut
would certainly inhibit CISA's ability to conduct its cybersecurity
mission and support critical infrastructure entities and small
businesses in need of support.
Can you specify how the department is identifying the
``duplicative'' programs and others it plans to cut under this budget?
Answer. CISA's statutory mission continues without interruption.
The agency is performing line-by-line reviews of every requirement in
the agency's spend plan, to include all discretionary spending.
Contracts and interagency agreements have been examined to ensure
full compliance with Presidential guidance and CISA's statutory
authorities. The agency is working closely with Department of Homeland
Security leadership to identify opportunities for greater
accountability, transparency, and cost-savings.
Question. How is the department verifying that these cuts will not
curtail or negatively impact key programs for critical infrastructure,
small businesses, and international collaboration to counter foreign
cyber-attacks with allies?
Answer. CISA was designed to work across public and private sectors
to improve the Nation's cyber and physical infrastructure security.
CISA's authorities and mission allow for agility, flexibility, and
innovation critical to its success.
The budget supports CISA's efforts to prioritize high-risk areas,
streamline operations, and adopt a risk-informed approach to focus on
the most critical vulnerabilities and threats. CISA will continue to
leverage strong partnerships with private sector entities; State,
local, Tribal, and territorial governments; and international allies to
pool resources, share intelligence, and coordinate responses to
emerging threats.
Question. How does the department justify dialing back CISA's
funding and personnel at a time when foreign adversaries' cyber
capabilities and presence within U.S. systems is only increasing and
threatening Americans' security?
Answer. Though staff has been reduced due to the voluntary
Workforce Transition Program, CISA's ability to carry out its statutory
mission continues without interruption. CISA has conducted an extensive
review of its authorities to both refocus the agency on its core
mission and eliminate duplicative functions. The agency will continue
to address the most critical vulnerabilities and threats using a risk-
based approach to ensure the most vital infrastructure is protected.
Question. I have heard much from cadets, faculty, and leaders at
the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, about the
serious need to upgrade the Academy's living quarters--specifically,
the Chase Hall Barracks and its oldest section, Annex A. Built in the
1930s, this facility requires significant abatement to address asbestos
and lead in the berthing rooms--which should be unacceptable in any
space but certainly cannot be tolerated where cadets sleep. I have also
heard about non-functioning heating, ventilation, and air conditioning,
which can lead to serious health issues in a temperate place like New
London. Even with these glaring deficiencies in Chase Hall impacting
cadets' mental and physical well being--not to mention recruiting and
retention--the project somehow did make it into the FY25 Budget
Request. However, $29 million for Annex A rehabilitation did make the
Unfunded Priorities List and was funded in the FY25 Senate Homeland
Security Appropriations bill, before failing to pass into law with
March's continuing resolution.
Can you outline the Department's plan for prioritizing and swiftly
rectifying the serious shortcomings in Coast Guard Academy living
facilities like Chase Hall Annex A?
Answer. The U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) has invested significant
resources to modernize Annexes C and D of Chase Hall to ensure it can
house the USCG's future officer corps for decades to come. Currently,
Chase Hall houses over 1,100 cadets and officer candidates, but
habitability challenges have plagued the aging building. As we grow the
U.S. Coast Guard, Chase Hall is key to training and building the
officer corps. The Department of Homeland Security and USCG will
continue to invest in the modernization of Chase Hall and other
infrastructure projects at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
Question. What about other living facilities at the Coast Guard
Academy?
Answer. The U.S. Coast Guard continues to invest in living
facilities within the USCG Academy campus. In Fiscal Year 2022, USCG
was appropriated $25 million to recapitalize the Academy's steam
distribution system to improve habitability throughout the campus.
Additionally, in 2024, the USCG Academy completed soil remediation
around the senior officer housing units, removing hazardous lead paint
from the surrounding area. The Service will continue to evaluate and
prioritize infrastructure needs at all USCG Academy living facilities
to provide cadets, officer candidates, and staff with a safe, healthy
living environment.
Question. What is the overall vision for the Department and Coast
Guard for investing in upgrades to the Academy's campus facilities more
broadly, with an eye towards improving quality of life, training,
retention, and readiness?
Answer. I appreciate this Committee's support in modernizing the
aging infrastructure at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, which is home to
all Coast Guard officer accession programs. A key Force Design 2028
initiative is to invest in the Coast Guard's future officer leaders,
including the facilities where cadets and officer candidates live,
learn, and train. The Department of Homeland Security and the U.S.
Coast Guard will continue to evaluate infrastructure needs at the U.S.
Coast Guard Academy and prioritize these critical investments in future
budget requests.
Question. I have seen the U.S. Coast Guard's announcement of Force
Design 2028, and I would like more specifics on this proposed
reorganization.
Please outline in detail every step the Coast Guard has taken to
date, especially since the initial announcement on April 3, 2025.
Answer. Leveraging the knowledge of hundreds of subject matter
experts throughout the service, the USCG identified several initiatives
necessary to become a stronger, more ready, and more capable military
service through improvements in four areas: Contracting & Acquisition,
Technology, People, and Organization. The United States Coast Guard
delivered recommendations to my office and is establishing an
implementation team.
Question. Please outline in detail additional steps planned for the
months and years ahead, as part of FD28.
Answer. The United States Coast Guard is developing an
implementation plan to be delivered to my office and is establishing an
Implementation Team.
Question. My understanding is that Force Design 2028 is being
carried out at the direction of an unconfirmed ``Senior Advisor to the
Secretary of the Coast Guard'' a position that does not exist. Can you
explain under what authority this individual is empowered to take on
these duties?
Answer. In Force Design 2028, I provided the U.S. Coast Guard with
a bold blueprint needed to drive decisive and transformational change.
The acting Commandant is carrying out my direction through the Force
Design 2028 implementation.
Question. Please provide the department and service's authorities
for undertaking actions under Force Design 2028?
Answer. The Department and USCG are taking actions within the scope
of the authorities provided under Title 14, United States Code, and
other statutes. As Force Design 2028 implementation proceeds, the
Service and the Department may request legislative changes if a need
for additional authority is identified.
Question. I was troubled to see the Coast Guard suspend its
``Harassing Behavior Prevention, Response, and Accountability'' policy
on January 27, 2025--especially after decades of failure to protect
Coast Guard personnel, and Coast Guard Academy cadets in particular,
from harassment and assault and to ensure accountability for these
failures.
Please describe the rationale for suspending this policy. How has
the department and service taken steps to ensure that USCG personnel
were not put at increased risk of harassing behavior since the
suspension?
Answer. Although the U.S. Coast Guard paused the majority of the
policies and procedures outlined in the Harassing Behavior Prevention,
Response, and Accountability, Commandant Instruction 5350.6, the
requirements related to complaints of sexual harassment remained
active. Furthermore, the lawful general order prohibiting other
harassment remained in place. The other portions of the policy were
paused to enable a comprehensive review of policy and procedures.
During this review, USCG members and employees were still able to
report harassing behavior or any other misconduct to their chain of
command. All commands and supervisors are required to address reports
in a timely manner and conduct inquiries in accordance with existing
policy and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. Additionally, civilian
and military members may still report discriminatory harassment to the
Civil Rights Division through the Equal Employment Opportunity or
Military Equal Opportunity programs.
Question. Please provide an update on the Coast Guard's 90-day
policy review that began with the policy's suspension on January 27,
2025. If not yet complete, despite the late April due date, please
share all available information, findings, and recommendations.
Answer. The U.S. Coast Guard extended the comprehensive review of
harassing behavior policy and procedures and it is ongoing.
Question. How does the Coast Guard and the department plan to
ensure adequate resources, protections, policies, and accountability
measures are put into place to address the service's past failures,
including Operation Fouled Anchor, and to create a safer environment
for all USCG personnel going forward?
Answer. USCG continues to dedicate resources to enhance prevention
efforts, improve safety, expand victim support services, and promote
accountability at every level. All allegations of sexual assault and
harassment are taken seriously, including thorough and impartial
investigations, and perpetrators are held accountable. USCG is fully
committed to fostering a culture of professionalism and respect where
every member of our workforce, including our most junior personnel,
feel safe, supported, and empowered to succeed.
Question. DHS has encouraged noncitizens to leave the U.S. by
distributing flyers at immigration court hearings and offering to
provide financial assistance for individuals who seek to self-deport. I
have several questions about the accuracy of the information DHS is
providing to immigrants as they make a decision to leave the U.S.
Can you explain why you believe it is accurate to state that
participation in CBP Home self-deportation may help preserve the option
for someone to re-enter the U.S. legally in the future?
Answer. Participation in CBP Home does not prevent an illegal alien
from legally returning to the United States in the future if they meet
all eligibility requirements, follow lawful processes, and are eligible
for admission. Any future reentry into the United States is subject to
U.S. immigration laws and regulations and will depend on the alien's
specific circumstances at the time they seek lawful entry.
Question. Is it true that if someone with pending immigration
proceedings departs the U.S. without first receiving a final decision
from an Immigration Judge, they subject themselves to a potential 10-
year bar on legally returning to the U.S.? Why or why not?
Answer. Whether an alien is subject to the 10-year bar depends on
the individual alien's circumstances. Project Homecoming participants
may consult with an immigration attorney or legal counsel prior to
indicating the intent to self-depart through the CBP Home App.
Question. FEMA's Non-Profit Security Grant Program (NSGP) is a
critical resource that helps fund physical security upgrades, training,
and other tools for eligible 501(c)(3) organizations. Across
Connecticut, synagogues, mosques, and churches regularly apply for the
funding through NSGP so that members of their community feel safe in
their houses of worship. Funding for the program has been a
longstanding, bipartisan commitment, but unfortunately the available
resources continue to fall short of national demand. For example, in
the FY2024 grant cycle, DHS only had available funding for 57 percent
of all grant applications. Additional work must also be done to
simplify the application process and speed up the time it takes for
approved organizations to receive the funding.
How much additional funding does the Department anticipate it would
need to satisfy national demand for NSGP in Fiscal Year 2026?
Answer. The Federal Emergency Management Agency thoroughly reviews
all grant applications for national security and terrorism threats. The
Fiscal Year 2026 President's Budget accurately captures the necessary
funding levels ($274.5 million) for the Non-Profit Security Grant
Program.
Question. How is the administration preparing for the potential
increase in NSGP applications associated with the 2026 World Cup,
particular as it relates to ensuring that houses of worship continue to
have equitable access to the program?
Answer. The Federal Emergency Management Agency thoroughly reviews
all grant applications for national security and terrorism threats.
Houses of worship that have elevated risks due to terrorism are
prioritized in the grant award process.
Question. DHS is funding a $200 million ad campaign in which you
thank President Trump for his immigration policies. I have several
questions about the bidding process for these ads and the source of the
funds. The two firms selected for the contract for these ads--People
Who Think, LLC and Safe America Media, LLC, are both reportedly owned
by Republican political consultants, some of whom have worked directly
with Donald Trump's presidential campaigns. In government documents, it
appears that the Department is alleging it doesn't have to follow a
free and fair competition process for contracts because of the alleged
emergency at the border.
Did you bypass the competitive bidding process to place these
contracts and, if so, why?
Answer. The Stronger Borders, Stronger America advertising and
media services contracts were competitively awarded in accordance with
the Federal Acquisition Regulation. The Department of Homeland Security
conducted this procurement, ran by career government officials, in
accordance with the Federal Acquisition Regulations.
These common-sense ads embody the Department's duty to enforce the
United States' immigration laws--just like previous efforts to deter
illegal migration, such as the ``Say No to the Coyote'' digital ad
campaign launched by United States Customs and Border Protection in
2022. Right now, border crossings are the lowest ever \1\, traffic
through the Darien Gap has plummeted by 99 percent,\2\ and even the New
York Times is reporting on the increasing numbers of illegal aliens
self-deporting.\3\ The world is hearing America's message loud and
clear.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/national-media-release/march-
numbers-show-most-secure-border-history-operational-control
\2\ breitbart.com/latin-america/2025/03/11/panama-records-99-drop-
in-u-s-bound-migration-through-darien-gap/
\3\ https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/28/briefing/the-self-
deporters.html
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Department of Homeland Security has and will continue, in
collaboration with the Department of Government Efficiency, to review
all of the Department's contracts for efficiency and cost savings.
Question. It has also been reported that the $200 million in funds
for these ads were redirected from the DHS Office of Civil Rights and
Civil Liberties (CRCL), a critical oversight body that the Trump
administration has entirely de-staffed, despite Sen. Britt and me
providing funds for this office for each fiscal year we've been
involved in this subcommittee. Can you confirm if some or all of these
$200 million were taken from the CRCL budget?
Answer. None of the funding for the Ad Campaign was taken from the
Department of Homeland Security Office of Civil Rights and Civil
Liberties.
Question. The Federal statute creating the fee regime for USCIS
States all the deposits from fees collected shall go towards the
``expenses in providing immigration adjudication and naturalization
services.''
Are USCIS fee funds being used for immigration enforcement
activities?
Answer. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) fee funds
are being used in accordance with 8 United States Code 1356(m)
Immigration Examinations Fee Account:
Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, all adjudication fees
as are designated by the Attorney General in regulations shall be
deposited as offsetting receipts into a separate account entitled
``Immigration Examinations Fee Account'' in the Treasury of the United
States, whether collected directly by the Attorney General or through
clerks of courts: Provided, however, That all fees received by the
Attorney General from applicants residing in the Virgin Islands of the
United States, and in Guam, under this subsection shall be paid over to
the treasury of the Virgin Islands and to the treasury of Guam:
Provided further, That fees for providing adjudication and
naturalization services may be set at a level that will ensure recovery
of the full costs of providing all such services, including the costs
of similar services provided without charge to asylum applicants or
other immigrants.
Question. Has there been an analysis of whether using USCIS fees
complies with the statute? If so, can you please share the analysis.
Answer. USCIS prepares an annual budget submission and accompanying
congressional justifications for each of USCIS' resources, including
USCIS fee accounts, outlining how USCIS intends to spend its fees.
Additionally, USCIS fees authorized by section 1356(m) are established
by rulemaking which includes a full analysis of USCIS costs, necessary
fees, and how fees will be used to support USCIS operational
activities.
Question. DHS sent a notice to a United States Citizen in my state
that her status was being terminated and she should immediately depart
the United States.
Were you aware DHS sent United States Citizens notices that their
status was terminated and that they should immediately depart the
United States?
Answer. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued
legitimate notices terminating parole for aliens who no longer have a
lawful basis to remain in the United States. DHS used e-mail addresses
provided by aliens to send parole termination notifications to
parolees. If a non-personal e-mail-such as a U.S. citizen contact-was
provided by the alien, notices may have been sent to unintended
recipients.
Question. What has been done to correct this? How did you get the
email address for a US Citizen with no DHS contact?
Answer. DHS used e-mail addresses provided by aliens to send parole
termination notifications to parolees. If a non-personal e-mail-such as
a U.S. citizen contact-was provided by the alien, notices may have been
sent to unintended recipients. DHS will address any issues brought to
our attention on a case-by-case basis.
Question. Will you commit to sending each citizen a follow up
letter acknowledging the mistake and assuring them they are safe from
DHS?
Answer. The notice was specific to parole termination of aliens and
has no impact on U.S. citizens.
______
Questions Submitted by Senator Patty Murray
Question. Secretary Noem cited recruitment statistics for several
DHS components, stating that ``CBP's up fifty-four percent--Coast Guard
is up over a hundred percent and the Secret Service is up over two
hundred percent.'' Please provide the data supporting these statements.
Answer. From January 1, 2024, through May 1, 2024, U.S. Customs and
Border Protection (CBP) received 36,101 applicants for Border Patrol
Agents and Customs and Border Protection Officers. From January 1,
2025, through May 1, 2025, CBP received 56,170 applicants for Border
Patrol Agents and Customs and Border Protection Officers, representing
a 56 percent increase.
From October 1, 2024, through April 30, 2025, the U.S. Coast Guard
(USCG) received 4,640 active-duty enlisted applicants, 108 percent of
the Fiscal Year 2025 recruitment target of 4,300.
From January 20, 2024, through April 16, 2024, the U.S. Secret
Service (USSS) received 7,421 applicants. From January 20, 2025,
through April 16, 2025, USSS received 21,838 applicants, representing a
194 percent increase.
Question. The Department released a public statement asserting that
CBP had ``total control of the border.'' What is the Department's
definition of ``total control of the border?'' What metrics are used to
make that assertion? If the Department has ``total control of the
border'' please explain why additional investments are needed?
Answer. The Trump Administration's goal is to make America Safe
Again and that begins with obtaining and sustaining total control of
our borders. Total control of the border means that the Department of
Homeland Security (DHS) is able to effectively respond to and prevent
illicit activity at the border, including illegal immigration.
Specifically, daily border encounters are down by 93 percent; known
gotaways--the top threat to public safety--are down by 95 percent; and
migrant crossings in the Darien Gap are down by 99.99 percent.
The Department uses key metrics related to illegal immigration
flows, drug and arms seizures, and arrests of criminals, gang members,
and members of foreign terrorist organizations to determine the
effectiveness of its efforts at the border. These metrics demonstrate
tremendous improvement over the border overseen by the previous
Administration and indicate that the Department has reclaimed control
over the border.
For example, only five illegal aliens were temporarily allowed into
the United States in April 2025 for U.S. special interest court cases-a
staggering drop from the roughly 68,000 released along the southern
border during the same month last year April 2025 saw the lowest number
of illegal alien encounters at the southern border in recorded history,
less than 6,300. This is a 95 percent drop from April of 2024, where
the number of encounters was 129,000. In sum, President Trump's
successful policies have ensured that fewer illegal aliens are coming
to our border and that those who persist in making the journey are
being apprehended and removed.
Now that DHS has achieved total control of the border, we need to
sustain it. Smugglers, terrorists, and other criminals are always
changing their tactics to try to breach our border and bring harm to
the American people. To address this enduring threat, we need Congress
to secure investments in staffing, infrastructure, technology,
information sharing, and public-private partnerships. We need to
improve infrastructure along the border and to obtain and install new
surveillance and detection technology, primary and secondary border
wall systems and waterborne barrier systems.
Control of the border has only been successful because President
Trump declared a National Emergency at the Southwest Border and brought
in the Department of Defense to assist. Existing CBP staffing alone
could not have achieved this level of border control.
Question. The Secretary's statement cited a decrease in narcotics
seizures and described that decrease as a sign of progress. Please
explain why the Secretary believes an over 50 percent decrease in the
seizure of fentanyl from this same time frame as last year is progress?
Answer. In March of 2025, fentanyl seized at the southern border
decreased by 54 percent in comparison to March of 2024. The fact is
that President Trump's successful policies have made it more risky and
more expensive for drug traffickers to attempt to send drugs across the
border. CBP, supported by the Department of Defense at President
Trump's direction, has finally been empowered to secure our border and
keep drugs and criminals out of our country. Furthermore, President
Trump has successfully convinced the Mexican government to step up and
crack down on drug traffickers on their side of the border, degrading
their ability to produce fentanyl. Simply put, the reason we are
seizing less fentanyl is that less fentanyl is coming.
Question. The Department has shuttered the Office for Civil Rights
and Civil Liberties, the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman,
and the Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman,
despite each office having congressionally mandated requirements.
Please explain how the Department intends to fulfill the statutorily
required functions of the previously mentioned offices and how many
staff the Department will have executing those requirements.
Answer. The Offices will continue to perform their statutorily
mandated duties.
Question. Is it the Department and the Administration's intent to
downgrade current detention standard requirements for newly acquired
facilities or beds?
How does the Department intend to implement standards in new
facilities versus short-term holding facilities?
Does the Department intend to continue implementing TEDs standards
in future ICE soft-sided facilities? If so, please provide the written
legal justification why ICE facilities may utilize these standards.
Answer. No, all U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (All ICE)
detention facilities will continue to operate under ICE's National
Detention Standards. Facilities currently operating under the
``Performance Based National Detention Standards'' will begin to use
ICE National Detention Standards when existing contracts expire.
Additionally, ICE issued a new set of standards for Non-Dedicated
Intergovernmental Services Agreements, which are designed to serve as
an overlay to their existing detailed standards and requirements with
which non-dedicated detention Service Providers (e.g., county and local
government partners) are already required to comply.
All new facilities will be contractually obligated to operate in
accordance with ICE National Detention Standards except facilities
operated by the Bureau of Prisons and United States Marshals Service,
which will abide by their own national detention standards.
ICE is currently applying the U.S. Customs and Border Protection
(CBP) National Standards on Transport, Escort, Detention, and Search
(TEDS) at the El Paso Emergency Holding Facility. This facility was
previously operated by CBP, and it currently holds aliens for periods
under 72 hours.
The TEDS standards address procedures and services required for
short term hold rooms and detention in accordance with Federal laws,
which establish standards of care in the United States pertaining to
hold rooms such as temperature, meals, clean water, hygiene, inventory,
retention, and return of an individual's personal property such as
identification documents, medications, currency, and legal papers, and
the prevention of sexual abuse and assault.
Future, soft-sided facilities holding aliens for periods longer
than 72 hours will operate under ICE National Detention Standards.
These standards apply to facilities holding aliens for over 72 hours
and address procedures and services required for longer-term detention
in accordance with Federal laws establishing standards of care in the
United States, including: conditions of confinement; safety and
security (e.g., use of force and restraints, searches, segregation,
disciplinary systems, and protection from sexual abuse and assault);
detained alien care (food service, medical and mental health care, and
personal hygiene); access to due process (legal materials, legal
visitation and phone calls,\4\ and consular officials); and activities
(telephone access, social visitation, recreation, correspondence, and
religious services).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\4\ There is no law that specifically mandates ``legal rights group
presentations'' in ICE detention facilities. This has been a policy
requirement found within ICE's Performance Based National Detention
Standards (PBNDS) and National Detention Standards (NDS) under which
ICE detention operators are contractually obligated. The standards are
available on ICE.gov. Section 6.4 in NDS 2025 and PBNDS.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
______
Questions Submitted by Senator Gary Peters
Question. The DHS Science and Technology (S&T) Directorate has long
funded universities to conduct deep analysis of the most urgent threats
to homeland security, such as terrorism and fentanyl trafficking, and
provide actionable recommendations for DHS components. S&T also
develops technology to detect fentanyl and related drugs at the border.
You have noted that some of the best answers come from outside
government, and that's exactly who S&T looks to for solutions to tough
problems. After cutting funding for nearly all the DHS Centers of
Excellence that were funded by S&T, how will DHS get the best research,
science, and technology support that it needs to carry out its homeland
security mission?
Answer. The Centers of Excellence will transition to emeritus
status with no continued annual funding from the Department of Homeland
Security (DHS). The expertise and capabilities afforded through the
Department of Homeland Security Centers of Excellence will remain
available via utilization of their Basic Ordering Agreement. Basic
Ordering Agreements are a streamlined funding mechanism that allow the
government to fund directed research for more immediate impacts through
emeritus Centers of Excellence. The Science and Technology Directorate
will continue to resource research activities with a range of
performers, including academia, to assess emerging vulnerabilities and
anticipate future threats within priority mission areas.
Question. How many DHS personnel are currently stationed at
Guantanamo?
Answer. As of May 8, 2025, there were 46 DHS personnel stationed at
Naval Station Guantanamo Bay.
Question. How many DHS contractors are currently stationed at
Guantanamo?
Answer. As of May 8, 2025, there were 75 DHS contractors stationed
at Guantanamo Bay.
Question. How many U.S. military are currently stationed at
Guantanamo in support of DHS's immigration detention mission?
Answer. The Department of Homeland Security respectfully defers to
the Department of Defense.
Question. How many immigrants have been detained by ICE at
Guantanamo? Please provide a count by nationality and dates of
detention.
Answer. Please refer to the below table.
Detention at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay by Country of Citizenship
February 4, 2025 through May 18, 2025 \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total Aliens
Country of Citizenship Booked-In
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Venezuela................................................. 232
Nicaragua................................................. 160
El Salvador............................................... 25
Guatemala................................................. 15
Ecuador................................................... 15
Colombia.................................................. 9
Honduras.................................................. 9
Dominican Republic........................................ 6
Vietnam................................................... 4
Brazil.................................................... 4
Peru...................................................... 3
Turkiye................................................... 2
Afghanistan............................................... 2
Cambodia.................................................. 1
Senegal................................................... 1
Costa Rica................................................ 1
Liberia................................................... 1
Morocco................................................... 1
Belize.................................................... 1
Sweden.................................................... 1
Syria..................................................... 1
Bolivia................................................... 1
Guinea.................................................... 1
Laos...................................................... 1
Romania................................................... 1
Egypt..................................................... 1
Georgia................................................... 1
-------------
Total 500
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ ICE is unable to provide a breakdown of dates due to operational
concerns.
Question. ICE has stated that the detention of immigrants is
``temporary'' at Guantanamo.
What is the average length of detention for immigrants held at
Guantanamo?
Answer. Please refer to the below table.
Naval Station Guantanamo Bay Detention Overview
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shortest Detention Longest Detention Aliens Currently in
Average Days in Detention in Days in Days Aliens Booked-Outs Detention
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10.35 52 427 73
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question. What is the shortest length of time an immigrant
has been held at Guantanamo?
Answer. The shortest detention stay is less than 24 hours.
Question. What is the longest amount of time that an
immigrant has been held at Guantanamo?
Answer. The longest detention stay is 52 days.
Question. How many days does DHS consider detention at
Guantanamo to be ``temporary''?
Answer. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
leverages the Migrant Operations Center and Joint Task Force
Camp Six for detention sites to arrange flights and removals.
However, the time an alien remains in custody at Naval Station
Guantanamo Bay depends on various factors, including the length
of time it takes to secure a removal flight.
Question. What is the current maximum limit for usable
detention space by DHS at Guantanamo? Please provide numbers
for Camp VI, the Migrant Operations Center, and any other
facilities.
Answer. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is
currently using Naval Station Guantanamo Bay to house detained
aliens subject to executable final orders without legal
impediments to removal. ICE leverages the Migrant Operations
Center and Joint Task Force Camp Six for detention sites. The
Migrant Operations Center can currently hold up to 50 persons
and the current holding capacity for the Camp Six facility is
up to 143 persons.
Question. What entity (i.e. ICE Air or Department of
Defense) is responsible for transporting people to Guantanamo?
From Guantanamo?
Answer. ICE Air Operations operates flights in and out of
the location using a contracted carrier.
Question. The National Fire Academy (NFA) was closed
earlier this year as part of a review to ensure alignment with
the Administration's priorities. Given the importance of the
NFA to training fire service personnel from all around the
country and helping to ensure nation-wide readiness, when will
the NFA campus will be reopened and trainings be made available
again?
Answer. In-person training has resumed at three national
schoolhouses in June 2025-the Center for Domestic Preparedness
in Anniston, Alabama and the National Fire Academy and the
National Disaster and Emergency Management University in
Emmitsburg, Maryland.
Following a comprehensive review by the Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA) and the United States Fire
Administration, it was determined certain courses provide
effective training to enhance national readiness for State,
local, Tribal, and territorial emergency managers, first
responders, and local leaders. FEMA's principles for emergency
management assert that disasters are best managed when they are
federally supported, state managed, and locally executed.
Question. Due to personnel shortages, the U.S. Coast Guard
has made operational changes and temporary station closures
across the country, including at a number of locations across
the Great Lakes. How are you prioritizing recruitment,
retention, and training, of the personnel necessary to restore
the Coast Guard's full operational capacity in the Great Lakes?
Answer. In Fiscal Year 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
made the strategic decision to focus significant resources and
personnel to growing its worldwide recruiting capacity. The
Service focused on recruiting new service members from across
the Nation to meet personnel needs at every USCG unit. In
Fiscal Year 2024, the Service achieved its active duty
recruiting goals for the first time since Fiscal Year 2017 and
closed its workforce gap by nearly 1,000 members.
USCG continues to expand recruiting operations and will
open a new recruiting office in Grand Rapids, Michigan, later
this year. This is in addition to the five other recruiting
offices in the Great Lakes region. The Service continues to
enhance its recruiting ability to ensure it can fully staff
every unit to maximize operational readiness across the Nation.
------
Questions Submitted by Senator Chris Van Hollen
case of kilmar abrego garcia
Question. On April 10th, the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that the Trump
Administration must facilitate the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a
Maryland resident, to the United States. The Trump Administration has
acknowledged that his deportation to El Salvador was an
``administrative error'', and President Trump said himself in the Oval
Office that he ``could'' return Abrego Garcia with a phone call to El
Salvadoran President Bukele.
During the hearing you claimed, ``this Administration is following
and complying with all Federal court orders.'' So I reiterate my
question to you: what have you done and what has DHS done to comply
with the Supreme Court's order to ``facilitate'' Mr. Abrego Garcia's
return to the United States?
Answer. Mr. Abrego Garcia was returned to the United States around
June 6, 2025.
u.s. el salvador deportee detention agreement
Question. The State Department has informed Congress that the Trump
Administration intends to pay El Salvador up to $15 million to imprison
deportees, at least $6 million of which has already been paid. During
your testimony, you agreed to respond to the letter I sent you on April
8th regarding Mr. Abrego Garcia's deportation, which included questions
about the Administration's actions in this case. One of the questions
asks you to provide to Congress the grant agreement document between
the United States and the government of El Salvador on the detention of
people deported from the U.S. When I asked you about this during your
hearing, you said, ``I'm sure you can see this document as well.''
When will you respond to that letter as promised?
Answer. On May 19, 2025, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
provided a response to your April 8, 2025 letter.
Question. Please provide the grant agreement with El Salvador or
let me know how we can arrange for me to see it.
Answer. The Department of Homeland Security respectfully defers to
the Department of State.
the national fire academy
Question. In March 2025, the Administration canceled all in-person
first responder training courses at the U.S. Fire Administration's
(USFA) National Fire Academy (NFA) and the Emergency Management
Institute (EMI), collocated at the National Emergency Training Center
(NETC) in Emmitsburg, Maryland. I sent you a letter, along with
Congresswoman Delaney and 64 of my fellow Members of Congress, on March
14th about the cancellations and never received a response. During the
hearing you mentioned to me that, ``I believe we did respond.''
Moreover, you also mentioned that ``those grants and programs are being
facilitated, and those dollars will be forwarded. So, that is something
that if I didn't get that back to you, we will get it to you within 24
hours.''
When will you provide the response to the letter?
Answer. DHS thoroughly evaluated our training programs and spending
to ensure alignment with Administration priorities and support
responsible spending. The Department's review has been completed, and
the schoolhouses have reopened. In-person trainings resumed in early
June.
In reviewing available trainings, the Federal Emergency Management
Agency (FEMA) worked to ensure training and education resources are
maximized to best serve our State, local, Tribal Nation, and
territorial first responders. Our goal is to ensure that we are
effectively and efficiently addressing the most critical preparedness
outcomes for our partners while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Question. When will the in-person classes resume and the
restoration of funding for the NFA and EMI start?
Answer. In-person training has resumed at three national
schoolhouses in June 2025-the Center for Domestic Preparedness in
Anniston, Alabama and the National Fire Academy and the National
Disaster and Emergency Management University in Emmitsburg, Maryland.
Following a comprehensive review by FEMA and the U.S. Fire
Administration, it was determined certain courses provide effective
training to enhance national readiness for State, local, Tribal, and
territorial emergency managers, first responders, and local leaders.
FEMA's principles for emergency management assert that disasters are
best managed when they are federally supported, state managed, and
locally executed.
baltimore holding rooms
Question. On April 10th, following reports of inhumane conditions
in the ICE Baltimore Field Office's holding rooms and a visit by our
staff to the facility, Senator Alsobrooks and I sent you a letter
expressing our concern. In the letter, we requested the production of
the waiver for the 12-hour holding rule and asked a series of questions
regarding ICE and DHS's operations.
My office has been told that the Department's response to the
letter is in process but has not been given a timeline. Do you commit
to provide a response to our letter, and if so, when?
Answer. The Department is committed to providing a response and is
working to provide a response to your letter.
Question. Do you commit to providing Senator Alsobrooks and me the
waiver document granting Baltimore's ICE field office authorization to
waive the 12-hour holding rule?
Answer. Please refer to the attached memorandum, Attachment A--
Enforcement and Removal Operations Baltimore Field Office Hold Room--
Waiver Request (January 30, 2025).
ice prioritization of enforcement
Question. In your nomination hearing, you said that ``President
Trump has been very clear that his priority is going to be deporting
criminals, those who have broken our laws and perpetuated violence in
our communities. That'll be the priority... those with criminal
convictions in our country, that will be a focus that we need to tackle
right away.''
How is ICE determining that its targets for enforcement are persons
with criminal convictions?
Answer. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) employs a
broad range of law enforcement and intelligence techniques to identify
aliens who are present in the United States without authorization or
are otherwise removable, including those who may pose threats to
national security, public safety, or border security, or who undermine
the integrity of United States immigration laws.
ICE's Targeting Operations Center provides leads and referrals to
ICE field offices to enhance operational efficiency of enforcement
actions, including through the support of the following organizations:
--The National Criminal Analysis and Targeting Center analyzes data
in law enforcement and immigration databases to identify and
locate priority targets.
--The Law Enforcement Support Center provides real-time data on
criminal aliens to a variety of federal, State, and local law
enforcement partners.
The Pacific Enforcement Response Center reviews data on removable
aliens with criminal charges and/or convictions and provides near-real
time leads and referrals to ICE teams operating across all field
offices.
ice detention
Question. In March, Congress passed a continuing resolution that
provided nearly $500 million additional funding for ICE, giving the
agency a nearly $10 billion budget. Shortly after, however, ICE issued
a solicitation for ``Emergency Detention and Related Services,'' which
could spend up to $45 billion over 2 years for new ICE jails and
related services. ICE also posted a sole source justification noticing
less than competitive contract awards. The solicitations came shortly
after the Chair and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee
sent a bipartisan letter to the Trump administration challenging its
treatment of emergency-designated funding included in the full-year CR
passed in March 2025.
How does ICE justify issuing solicitations for $45 billion and
awarding new contracts when it is currently under a Continuing
Resolution, and already spending well over its annually appropriated
budget, which was just increased to $10 billion?
Answer. The Administration directed ICE to increase the number of
detention beds to meet operational needs as enforcement operations
intensify in line with President Trump's desire to vigorously enforce
U.S. immigration laws. ICE has issued various solicitations and
requests for information to identify potential detention facilities to
meet the agency's needs, particularly in locations with insufficient
detention capacity. Certain contracts may be deemed essential to
maintain these operations without interruption. While under a
continuing resolution, agencies have some flexibility to reallocate
funds within their existing budget to address urgent needs. In this
case, ICE may prioritize essential contracts and adjust other
expenditures accordingly.
Question. What private contractor bids or proposals is ICE
considering for expansion of its detention and deportation operations?
Answer. ICE is currently considering a variety of locations to
expand detention capacity; however, no decisions have been made at this
time.
ICE is working with the Department of Defense to establish several
immigration staging and detention locations on Department of Defense
installations.
Question. Please provide the Committee with information regarding
which State, county, or local governments, or private companies
responded to the Emergency Detention Related Services sourcing vehicle
posted in April 2025 seeking funds from the $45 billion for additional
detention capacity. What are the names of the proposed facilities or
regions?
Answer. Please refer to the below table for the requested
information. ICE and Department of Defense have identified the
following locations for emergency detention facilities.
--Fort Bliss (Montana site) (El Paso, Texas);
--Joint Base McGuire Dix Lakehurst (Lakehurst, New Jersey): and
--Camp Atterbury (Franklin, Indiana).
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Offeror Unique
Offeror Name Entity Identifier Address
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Active XXJXSMP4H4J1 280 Hugo Road, San
Deployment Marcos, Texas
Systems 78666, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Acuity L41JMCZK10701 Parkridge
Boulevard, Suite
200, Reston,
Virginia 20191,
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 Akima LUDNH5K4XQU9 2553 Dulles View
Drive, Suite 700,
Herndon, Virginia
20171, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 Amentum QEMLRQA7PLG4 4800 Westfields
Boulevard, Suite
400, Chantilly,
Virginia 20151
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
5 AMI DL1VNK64YL14 12030 Sunrise
Expeditiona Valley Drive,
ry Suite 250, Reston,
Healthcare Virginia 20191
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
6 Apex Site P5YZCMJ1300 West Main
Services Street, Suite 305,
Waxahachie, Texas
75165, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
7 Aspen UF3FMLEAWT13 1100 15th St NW,
Medical Washington, DC
20005, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 Asset HMJ4CBS5502 Burnham Drive,
Protection Corpus Christi,
and Texas 78413,
Security United States of
Services America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 Bering L8BNTYVF45P7 3301 C Street,
Straits Suite 400,
Professiona Anchorage, Alaska
l Services 99503, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Caduceus ZX23KR32ZH32 1850 Parkway Place
SE, Suite 725,
Marietta, Georgia
30067, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 Centerra H4H3J7SJCT713530 Dulles
Group Technology Drive,
Suite 500,
Herndon, Virginia
20171, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 CoreCivic HJGMJN1JKL46 5501 Virginia Way,
Brentwood,
Tennessee 37027,
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 Cotton VPRKW5GS6K17 5443 Katy Hockley
Commercial Cut Off Road,
Katy, Texas 77493,
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
14 Deployed GFTGQRJ8F959 164 McPike Road,
Resources Rome, New York
13441, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
15 Deployed T4R2JNL2PKV3 6820 West Linebaugh
Services Avenue, Suite 105,
Tampa, Florida
33625, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
16 David Money MLLGWJ8ZZ2S3 4741 Military
Group Trail, Suite 202,
Global Jupiter, Florida
33458, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
17 Emergency HAK5PNC3G1385 Pridemore
Disaster Court, Lexington,
Services Kentucky 40505,
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
18 GardaWorld FJLMN2N34M93 1700 North Moore
Federal Street, Suite
Services 1875, Arlington,
Virginia 22209,
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
19 GEO Group JMLKZZ1NL2Z6 4955 Technology
Way, Boca Raton,
Florida 33431,
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
20 Global QDNZY1MXQUK8 923 Maple Grove
Dimensions Drive, Suite 201,
Fredericksburg,
Virginia 22407,
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
21 Gothams HVR7BYAMSL27 115 E 5th Street,
Austin, Texas
78701, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
22 Guardian 6 TTLUYN248DA1 1968 W. Belt Line
Solutions Road, Cedar Hill,
Texas 75104,
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
23 Industrial N7GNTMBL69K5 322 Riley Road,
Tent Houston, Texas
Systems 77047, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
24 InGenesis PC8M18756 Stone Oak
Parkway, Suite
200, San Antonio,
Texas 78258,
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
25 Internationa EEANN2A3SSQ4 1201 Louisiana
l SOS Street, Suite 500,
Government Houston, Texas
Medical 77002, United
Services States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
26 ISS Action CN6204 E Mckenzie
Street, Unit E6,
Punta Gorda,
Florida 33950,
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
27 J&J Y4TKSMDNTRN6 8350 Broad Street,
Worldwide Suite 1100,
Services Mclean, Virginia
22102, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
28 Kastel SVC5U60 Saint Francis
Enterprises Street, Suite P6,
Mobile, Alabama
36602, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
29 KIG Z5JLMFHLJF59 3030 K Street NW,
Technical Suite 203,
Services Washington, DC
20007, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
30 LaSalle J76AEWGPFZT1 192 Bastille Lane,
Corrections Suite 200, Ruston,
Louisiana 71270,
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
31 Lemoine C181906 Eraste Landry
Disaster Road, Suite 200,
Lafayette,
Louisiana 70506,
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
32 Longview CNM12930 Worldgate
Intl Tech Drive, Suite 300,
Solutions Herndon, Virginia
20170, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
33 Loyal Source Y54FQAPG4TN5 12612 Challenger
Parkway, Suite
365, Orlando,
Florida 32826,
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
34 Luke MT3CJK375 Commerce
Parkway, Suite
103, Rockledge,
Florida 32955,
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
35 MLU L77SPKGHB5G5 200 Whitehead Road,
Bogart, Georgia
30622, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
36 Management & G58ZEJ7HJGM1 500 N Market Place
Training Drive,
Corporation Centerville, Utah
84014, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
37 ProTech II YT2JRNW5CHB21145 Whitfield
Place, Suite 106,
Sterling, Virginia
20165, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
38 Rapid K1B6MGA23WL3 1521 Azalea Road,
Deployment Mobile, Alabama
36693, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
39 Recana HT74GJ837NF8 11767 Katy Fwy,
Solutions Suite 930,
Houston, Texas
77079, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
40 Response AI ZE2JVFS8ML75 843 Constellation
Solutions Drive, Great
Falls, Virginia
22066, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
41 Responsive C1G400 W. Virginia
Deployment Street, Suite 100,
Mckinney, Texas
75069, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
42 Rockwell H6NCLM10849 NW Quail
American Road, Terrebonne,
Services Oregon 97760
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
43 Security H9YLYJ7TSEH8 366 Merle Gustafson
Partners Road, Tallulah,
Louisiana 71282,
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
44 Sullivan F1PMZXNJ7NM5 6702 Broadway
Land Street, Galveston,
Services Texas 77554,
Co. United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
45 SOS L3VCKM1881 Campus Commons
Internation Drive, Suite 500,
al Reston, Virginia
20191, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
46 Target LLMHPD1Q3X51 9320 Lakeside
Logistics Boulevard, Suite
300, The
Woodlands, Texas
77381, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
47 Telos JLW7WAKPEKD4 19886 Ashburn Road,
Ashburn, Virginia
20147, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
48 U.S. UKQUPVHWM6V9 2 Executive Circle,
Advisors Suite 205, Irvine,
California 92614,
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
49 U.S. DHL2L69BKFT5 500 NW 91st Street,
Commercial Miami, Florida
Diving 33150, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
50 USA UP STAR EQDFVSJ3HGE7 1760 Industrial
Drive, Greenwood,
Indiana 46143,
United States of
America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
51 V2X RRFJZGASZJ41 2424 Garden of the
Gods Road, Suite
300, Colorado
Springs, Colorado
80919, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
52 Vision Quest MNA3EF2HHKE5 13212 Commodore
Solutions Road, Hot Springs,
South Dakota
57747, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
53 Xator LLC ZJFDNMA46LT9 10432 Balls Ford
Road, Suite 240,
Manassas, Virginia
20109, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
54 Zebra G5G7HJNJRJN9 310 Haley Meadows
Drive, Moncure,
North Carolina
27559, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
55 Mercedes Cab NAFMPMUZNN73 182 Queen Anne
Company Inc Road, Harwich,
Massachusetts
02645, United
States of America
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Question. Has ICE conducted any studies to evaluate the feasibility
of building new facilities in specific communities, or conducted any
environmental impact studies regarding the impact of utilizing existing
detention facilities or prisons to detain more individuals as described
in the Emergency Detention Related Services sourcing vehicle? If so,
please provide the results of the studies, including any environmental
impact assessments.
Answer. To date, ICE has not completed any feasibility or
environmental studies related to building additional detention
facilities, though there are locations where ICE may benefit from such
an approach. Generally, the demand for increased detention capacity
dictates a response that does not allow for a multi-year site
acquisition and construction effort. ICE continues to work to expand
detention bedspace across the country through various acquisition
methods, primarily by establishing contracts with private entities and
entering into Intergovernmental Service Agreements and
Intergovernmental Agreements. ICE is targeting areas with insufficient
detention capacity as it identifies locations for additional detention
beds.
Question. Based on the responses to the Emergency Detention Related
Services sourcing vehicle, how many new IGSAs, or direct contracts with
private companies, is ICE considering? Please provide a list of new
contracts under consideration, in what region, and the number of beds
associated with each new contract.
Answer. ICE is working with the Department of Defense to establish
several immigration staging and detention locations on Department of
Defense installations. See locations in #3 above.
Question. If ICE is seeking to enter any new IGSA's, will ICE
follow all procurement laws and transparency and accountability
requirements under the Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR), which
otherwise would apply to a direct contract with a private company?
Answer. ICE will continue to follow all applicable laws, statues,
and regulations pertaining to the solicitation and award of contracts.
Intergovernmental Service Agreements are agreements and not contracts
subject to the Federal Acquisition Regulations. Intergovernmental
Service Agreements will be issued pursuant to 8 United States Code
Sec. 1103(a)(l l)(A), which allows ICE to enter into Intergovernmental
Service Agreements with a State (or political subdivision of a State)
to house immigration detainees.
SUBCOMMITTEE RECESS
Senator Britt. Thank you for the work that you're doing,
and this committee hearing is adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 11:48 a.m., Thursday, Wednesday, May 8, the
subcommittee was recessed, to reconvene at a time subject to
the call of the Chair.]
LIST OF WITNESSES, COMMUNICATIONS, AND PREPARED STATEMENTS
----------
Page
Britt, Senator Katie, U.S. Senator from Alabama, Opening
Statement of...................................................
1..............................................................
Collins, Senator Susan M., U.S. Senator from Maine, Questions
Submitted by...................................................
48.............................................................
Hyde-Smith, Senator Cindy, U.S. Senator from Mississippi,
Questions Submitted by.........................................
48.............................................................
Murkowski, Senator Lisa, U.S. Senator from Alaska, Questions
Submitted by...................................................
46.............................................................
Murray, Senator Patty, U.S. Senator from Washington, Questions
Submitted by...................................................
58.............................................................
Murphy, Christopher, U.S. Senator from Connecticut:
Statement of.................................................
3..........................................................
Questions Submitted by.......................................
51.........................................................
Noem, Hon. Kristi, Secretary, Department of Homeland Security:
Prepared Statement of........................................
8..........................................................
Questions Submitted to.......................................
46.........................................................
Statement of.................................................
1..........................................................
Summary Statement of.........................................
6..........................................................
Peters, Senator Gary, U.S. Senator from Michigan, Questions
Submitted by...................................................
60.............................................................
Van Hollen, Senator Chris, U.S. Senator from Maryland Questions
Submitted by...................................................
62.............................................................
SUBJECT INDEX
----------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Page
Additional Committee Questions...................................
45.............................................................
Baltimore Holding Rooms..........................................
63.............................................................
Benefits for Coast Guard.........................................
40.............................................................
Border Wall......................................................
17.............................................................
Case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.....................................
62.............................................................
Center for Domestic Preparedness.................................
45.............................................................
Cisa's Mission...................................................
38.............................................................
Complying with Supreme Court Decision on Abrego Garcia...........
15.............................................................
Commitment to Border Security....................................
16.............................................................
Concerns About Fema and Disaster Relief..........................
20.............................................................
Cybersecurity and Combatting Cyber Crime.........................
10.............................................................
Decrease in Border Crossings.....................................
21.............................................................
Deportations of Legal Residents..................................
14.............................................................
DHS Actions to Comply With Supreme Court Orders..................
27.............................................................
Drug Trafficking in Maine........................................
12.............................................................
Emergency Management and Disaster Response.......................
11.............................................................
Federal Judiciary................................................
36.............................................................
Firefighter Grants...............................................
41.............................................................
Freeze of Grant Funds............................................
19.............................................................
H-2A AND H-2B Visas..............................................
13.............................................................
Ice:
Detention....................................................
64.........................................................
Prioritization of Enforcement................................
63.........................................................
Immigration at the Northern Border...............................
23.............................................................
Improvements to Coast Guard Facilities...........................
24.............................................................
Increases to Coast Guard's Topline...............................
39.............................................................
Invasion of the United States....................................
43.............................................................
Justice Next Gen Program.........................................
26.............................................................
National:
Domestic Preparedness Consortium.............................
49.........................................................
Fire Academy, The............................................
63.........................................................
Non-Intrusive Drug Inspection....................................
22.............................................................
Northern Border Mission Center...................................
37.............................................................
Olympics & Paralympics...........................................
50.............................................................
Overspending of Allocated Funds..................................
20.............................................................
Reductions to FEMA Funding.......................................
25.............................................................
Resources Needed for Border Security.............................
43.............................................................
Senator:
Hagerty's Remarks on the Border..............................
42.........................................................
Kennedy's Remarks on Illegal Immigration.....................
35.........................................................
Spending Money Under SSP.........................................
44.............................................................
Staffing Shortages in Ice-Partnered Prisons......................
24.............................................................
Trade Enforcement................................................
9..............................................................
Transportation Security Administration...........................
10.............................................................
U.S. Coast Guard.................................................
11.............................................................
U.S. El Salvador Deportee Detention Agreement....................
62.............................................................
U.S. Secret Service..............................................
10.............................................................
Work Authorizations for Immigrants...............................
40.............................................................
[all]