The acting secretary of the department of Homeland Security. Thank you for being with us this morning. Mr. Secretary, the f. Y. 21 proposes 49. 7 billion in net discretionary funding for the department of Homeland Security. Chair roybalallard while this is a cut of 750 million below the current year level, the budget also proposes transferring the United States secret service to the treasury department. I want to be clear that absent any enacted law to effect such a transfer, this subcommittee will continue to include funding for he secret service in its bill. The budget requests for f. Y. 21 is actually 1. 78 billion above the current year level. There are some things in the proposed budget that i believe well find strong bipartisan support. Such as funding for the coast guard second polar security cutter. However, there are also proposals you should not expect to see funded in the house bill. Among those are more funding for border barriers and the expansion of detention bed capacity, which i believe are unnecessary. Particularly in light of high priority needs such as continuing to hire customs officers to speed the flow of trade and travel at the ports of entry. We will include serious cases of the abuse of authority by some d. H. S. Personnel and contractors. While the mistreatment of migrants is inexcusable, i would be remiss if i did not also recognize the dedication and commitment of the vast majority of women and men of the department of Homeland Security. Who carry out the departments Vital Missions that help protect the American Public and our country from a wide range of threats. This includes rescuing and giving aid to americans following natural disasters, defending us against cyber attacks, securing our airports, and investigating Child Exploitation and trafficking. The subcommittee will continue to work with you to ensure they have the resources needed to carry out the departments many critical missions. The members of this subcommittee also have the responsibility to make sure the department and its personnel carry out its mission responsibly, lawfully, efficiently, and humanely. We have always endeavored to work collaboratively with you and your predecessors to fix problems where needed and we will continue to try and do so hopefully with better cooperation from the department. Unfortunately, that is getting harder and harder to do. I have been a member of this subcommittee since its creation shortly after the 9 11 terrorist attacks. I cannot remember a time when there was less consensus about immigration and Border Security and from my point of view a systemic disregard for the rights of migrants, the detained population, and the asylum laws of this country. To shut down the flow of migrants coming to the United States across our southern border, the administration has implemented multiple new programs to expedite the removal process. Each of which erodes the Due Process Rights of migrants to seek asylum or other forms of relief. From the dangers that they fear. At every turn, in response to the question of how to balance the departments dual missions of Immigration Enforcement and protecting Asylum Seekers, the administration has erred exclusively and determinantly on the side of enforcement and removal regardless of the circumstances. The socalled migrant protection protocols or m. P. P. Is a clear and heartbreaking example. M. P. P. Has been implemented with only the most superficial effort to ensure migrants return to mexico will be protected, have food, shelter, health care, security, and the ability to return for their immigration hearings. Only the most superficial efforts have been made to ensure migrants have meaningful access to counsel. Access which should at the very least be equivalent to what they would have if they had not been placed in m. P. P. The devaluing of the rights of migrants goes beyond even the design of these new programs. Under m. P. P. Guidelines, vulnerable populations are not supposed to be placed in the program. Yet there is a steady stream of reports of pregnant women, individuals with Serious Health issues or disabilities, including children, and lgbt migrants being placed into the program and in some cases coming to harm as a result. Mr. Secretary, i doubt that we will come to agreement on whether this administrations immigration policies strike the right balance. Changing these policies fall under the jurisdiction of the authorizing committees. However, it is squarely within this committees jurisdiction to ensure that the administrations policies and the use of funds to implement them do not run afoul of the humane treatment of migrants, their Due Process Rights, and asylum laws. Carrying out our oversight responsibilities requires us to have access to the full range of information about how the programs we are funding are being implemented. Unfortunately, the department and its agencies are not always forthcoming with all the requested information. While appropriations liaisons and budget officials from c. B. P. , i. C. E. , and uscis usuall do their best to get us the information we need to do our work, they are often not sufficiently empowered to do so. As a result, we are often stonewalled on getting the requested information. Mr. Secretary, as the head of the department of Homeland Security, you set the tone and establish the rules that will guide the department. In meeting our shared goals of protecting our homeland and our american values. If we are to be successful in achieving these goals, we need your support and your cooperation in performing our oversight function. And i truly hope that it will be forthcoming. Before i turn to acting secretary for a summary of his written statements, the text which will be included in the hearing record, let me first recognize our distinguished Ranking Member, mr. Fleischmann, for any remarks he wishes to make. Mr. Fleischmann thank you, madam chairwoman. Mr. Secretary, on a personal note i wish to thank you for the way that you have been so courteous, so accessible. You and your staff have reached out to us on numerous occasions and for stepping up at a very difficult time in our countrys history to take on this herculean task. My personal note of thanks to you and your staff. I also want to thank you for meeting with us today on the department of Homeland Securitys fiscal year 2021 budget request. This is, again, an awesome responsibility that you have undertaken. And im ready to work with you as we move forward. As always, there is a lot to absorb with the departments request. There is a lot of new initiatives and a lot of threats we are trying to cover. I look forward to hearing from the individual components in the hearings planned over the next two months. I thank the chairwoman for putting together a schedule that will allow us to get into more specifics with each component. Despite the fact that the distinguished chair and i agree on some issues and disagree with other issues, we work very well together. And there is a tremendous amount of mutual respect. Madam chair, i truly thank you for that, those courtesies. There is a lot of great work being done adross the department. Its clear that the people at the department are working hard every day to keep our country safe. And again, i have had the opportunity to visit many d. H. S. Sites and offices with the chair and other members on both sides of this diaz across this country to hear from your people and the dedication and commitment stone by the people of d. H. S. To the mission of protecting our country. Please pass along our thanks for the work they are doing around the clock every day, sir. Last year we saw an unprecedented crisis at our southwest border. Im glad we could come to an agreement with the supplemental last summer to provide humanitarian aid and relieve some of the stress onboarder protection and help move the unaccompanied minors to h. H. S. Care. However, the crisis is still ongoing. We are still seeing tens of thousands of migrants apprehended at the border every month, and we are seeing operational challenges at i. C. E. And uscis as those components grapple with the overwhelming caseloads of migrants who are already in the country. I am optimistic that we can again Work Together to address these challenges. I continue to impart to our distinguished chair that there are so many places where we can actually agreel Border Security technology, humanitarian aid, increases for Cyber Security research, increase and investment in our great United States coast guard assets and f. D. E. Investments to improve trade, travel, investigations, and enforcement. Even the request to continue construction on the border wall 2 m is within our billion. I am going to continue to work with you and the president to support his initiatives and his requests for Border Security. And i im hopeful that together both sides of the aisle and both sides of the capitol we can continue to come to agreements and solutions. I look forward to your testimony today. And the departments proposed investments and initiatives. I thank you for being here. Madam chair, i yield back. Ms. Roybalallard thank you, mr. Fleischmann. Now i would like to recognize the chairwoman of the full appropriations committee, mrs. Lowey. Mrs. Lowey i thank chairman chairwoman roybalallard and Ranking Member fleischmann for holding this hearing today. And thank you. I hope you have a good long term in this position. That has not been the case so far. I want to thank all our witnesses for joining us. The department of Homeland Securitys mission to secure our nation from persistent and pervasive threats is not an easy task. In new york we know that that is the most to ensure safety, different parts of d. H. S. Must effectively coordinate and cooperate while simultaneously working with other federal, state, and local agencies. That is why the state of affairs at the department of Homeland Security is so troubling. As i told the last acting secretary, who testified before our committee, it seems like the car is driving off the cliff with no one to take the wheel. In three short years the department of Homeland Security has been through five secretaries. Your four predecessors instituted inhumane policies of ripping children from their families, jailing decent people for nonviolent infractions, ensuring the integrity of our borders, and enforcing immigration laws are difficult and necessary jobs. But this administration has taken it too far. With the heartless obsession with Immigration Enforcement. I have recently received calls from local officials in my district with heartbreaking news that our young people are being pulled over, roughed up by i. C. E. Enforcement officers for no apparent reason. This creates a culture of fear and works directly against the Community Policing work local Law Enforcement does on a daily basis to build trust and keep us safe. In addition, the Department Took c. B. P. Personnel from the southern border, including personnel from Law EnforcementTactical Units to augment i. C. E. s interior enforcement operations. This action was meant to punish localities like the ones i represent that refuse to participate in the cruel and unlawful Immigration Enforcement initiatives. It also came on the heels of another decision meant to target my constituents, suspension of c. B. P. Trusted travel programs in new york which will affect more than 200,000 new yorkers by the end of the year. Turning to fiscal year 2021, the budget yet again calls for the unnecessary hiring of an law ional 2,844 i. C. E. Enforcement officers and proposes an outrageous increase to 60,000 detention beds. The administration appears to have learned nothing as democrats will not fund unnecessary whims of the president or his campaign promises, particularly for an agency that lacks transparency and whose enforcement tactics are out of control. The request again misses the point by focusing on a political agenda instead of securing our homeland. The budget would cut 239 million from the urban Area Security initiative, which assists high threat, high density urban areas with the consequences of attacks would be most catastrophic. And 228 million from the state Homeland SecurityGrant Program which enhances Law Enforcements ability to prevent and respond to acts of terrorism or other disasters. These cuts could have disastrous consequences. Late last year my district witnessed a horrific antisemitic attack. The cuts that you propose are a slap in the face to my constituents who live in constant fear that they wont have the security and funding needed given the sharp rise of such attacks. The committee remains eager to support the departments core mission, but we will not be a part of a political act that distracts from the real threats facing our homeland. I look forward to a productive discussion today. Thank you. Ms. Roybalallard now i would like to recognize the Ranking Member of the full committee, ms. Granger. Ms. Granger thank you, madam chairwoman. Mr. Secretary, thank you for coming before the subcommittee today to present the fiscal year 2021 budget for the department of Homeland Security. You recently assumed an enormous responsibility of acting secretary of the department. We recognize that. Leading more than 240,000 men and women who work tirelessly to protect our nation, often without the proper credit. I commend them for their commitment to the departments mission. In my home state of texas, we share the longest stretch of border of any state and have an important relationship with our neighbors to the south. I appreciate your understanding of our unique situation. I know that you remain committed to securing our borders, keeping our community safe, and ensuring the legal trade and travel so vital to our state and nation. Just two days ago i was in mcallen, texas, with deputy secretary of defense to see firsthand where our hard fought investments and Border Security have produced results. This is my sixth trip to the border during this crisis. Hundreds of miles of improved border fencing have been built or under construction. The partnership with the department of defense is allowing Border Patrol agents to get back to their mission of securing the border. Thats what they deserve. I was amazingly aware of new technology being developed where they can spot persons coming across our border in time to apprehend them safely. I would encourage all the Committee Members to travel to the border and see some of these improvements. Particularly Cooperation Among sections and the technology being used. Unfortunately with these improvements we continue to have a crisis on our hand and the facts are undeniable. In 2018, 400,000 people were apprehended at the border. Which is an unbelievable number. Unauthorized border crossings. Last year that number more than doubled to nearly one million. Marking a 12year high. As claims for asylum go up, the pressure on the Immigration Courts grows and as we speak the backlog of cases is already now five years long. The most important nish shoe important issue we have is the high amount of Illegal Drugs being carried across our border and the criminals who are bringing those drugs in and also children. This is something we need to be very aware. I remain hopeful our colleagues on the other side of the aisle will work with us to address these very real issues. I commend the president for using authorities under his jurisdiction to address these issues headon. Mr. Wolf, i think your proposed budget for fiscal year 2021 demonstrates how the department can and will take action if given sufficient resources. As always i will continue to work with the administration to find solutions for these challenges. I do want always to be aware is the criminal action at the border and criminals coming across our border. These are not people that are the people seeking asylum. It is people they are carrying drugs and people. Thank you, madam chairman. I yield back. Ms. Roybalallard before we hear from the secretary, i would like to remind members that they will be called for questioning based on seniority of those present. When the hearing was called to order. Alt alternating between majority and minority leader members. And members have ample opportunity to ask questions. I would ask each member to try to stay within the allotted fiments per round. Mr. Secretary, please begin your statement. Secretary wolf Ranking Member lisheman, chairwoman roybalallard. And members of the subcommittee. Its a privilege to discuss the department of Homeland Securitys mission to keep this nation safe and present the president s fiscal year 21 budget for the department. As acting secretary, my priorities are guided by determination to ensure d. H. S. Is robust, resilient, and forward leaning, prepared to address the threats of today and those of tomorrow. The fiscal year 21 budget, president s budget is not only a reflection of those priorities but a pathtoa cheefingthefment as this subcommittee knows the department of Homeland Securitys mission spans air, land, sea, and cyber domains. Our work force of 240,000 strong stands watch for the nation 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. They safeguard the United States from terrorists, adversaries, and others who seek to do us harm. They also facilitate our lawful trade and travel. Balancing security and freedom of movement with care and precision. As i often said, Economic Security is Homeland Security. And the department plays a Critical Role in this mission. The president s budget ensures that our work force has the resources it needs to execute these critical responsibilities. This includes 49. 8 billion in net discretionary funding and aadditional 35. 1 billion for the Disaster Relief fund to support response to and recovery from disasters in the homeland. Our Budget Priorities remain consistent with recent years. They include securing our borders, enforcing our immigration laws, securing cyber space and critical infrastructure, transportation security, and american preparedness. Recognizing that threats to the homeland are more dynamic than ever before, the budget positions smond to a number emerging threats, including those emanating from nation states. The Department Also remains focused on helping to manage the u. S. Governments response to the coronavirus. To be clear, the lead federal agency in charge of this response remains the department of health and human services. D. H. S. Remains focused on assisting travelers arriving at our airports of entry, land ports of entry, and maritime ports of entry. As you are aware, the Department Took action early on to prohibit chinese nationals, the administration took action early on to prohibit chinese nationals and foreign nationals who recently traveled to china from entering the United States. Additionally flights with american citizens arriving from china or american citizens with recent chinese travel have been funneled through 11 airports with enhanced screening cape inters. These measures have been effective at keeping the spry russ at bay. This is an evolving risk and we are assessing our resources and measures on a day by day, week by week progress. We will continue to closely monitor the situation and adjust measures as necessary. A few specific priorities included in the budget, the Department Must continue to grow our digital defense as Cyber Security threats grow in scope and severity. The department maintains enhanced posture on Election Security front to preserve our electoral process and secure our system against interference of any kind. The president s budget invests 1. 7 billion in the Cyber Security and infrastructure security agency. To strengthen our cyber and infrastructure security mission. This is an increase of roughly 150 million above the president s f. Y. 20 budget request. The security of our nations border also remains a primary focus of the administration for the department. Most notably the budget includes 2 billion for the construction of approximately 82 miles of border wall system, as well as additional funding for technology and staffing. While securing our borders is utmost importance, the integrity of you are immigration system requires we enforce the law as written. It remains the priority of the department to protect our citizens by identifying, detaining, and removing criminal aliens from the United States. The budget includes over 3 billion to ensure that our Law Enforcement has the resources it needs to faithfully execute the law. As true today as it was in the wake of 9 11 counterterrorism remains a top focus for the department. Importantly the president has increased funding for targeted violence and terrorism prevention programs in this budget by 500 . 96 million in funding contributed across d. H. S. Components is critical to identifying atrisk individuals and spreenting their radicalization to violence. The budget also invests in modernizing the fleet of the United States coast guard. It provides 550 million to Fund Construction of a second polar security cutter, which supports our National Interest in the polar region. Also includes 564 million for the offshore patrol cutter. Another critical Capital Investment for the coast guard. While physical capabilities and technology are important, the departments greatest asset remains the men and women of the department. As our threats evolve and capabilities grow, new talent is needed to execute our mission. So again in the budget for the department we see 500 new Cyber Security employees across the department being asked for. For c. B. P. , 750 new Border Patrol agents, and 126 new support staff. As well as funding to sustain the 300 Border Patrol processing coordinators that congress provided resources for in f. Y. 20. For i. C. E. 2800 new Law Enforcement officers which includes as well as 420 new i. C. E. Attorneys and 1400 new support staff. For t. S. A. It means sustaining the pace and passenger growth by sustaining 47,000 transportation security officers. Budget office provides an overall pay increase for d. H. S. Employ yeerks including a 3 increase for uniform coast guard men and women. These are only but a few of the priorities included in the budget. The department has been mentioned one of the most diverse and complex mission sets in all of government. I continue to be amazed by the professionalism and dedication of the men and women of d. H. S. I would encourage instead of demonizing our work force we need to thank them for think what they do every day. Their commitment to our mission is beyond reroach and we should all sleep better at night knowing they are on duty. Therefore i ask you for your support in providing them the resources needed to keep the American People and our Homeland Security through the president s f. Y. 21 budget request. Thank you again for the opportunity to be here today. Look forward to questions. Ms. Roybalallard thank you, mr. Secretary. Mr. Secretary, the budget proposes funding for an average daily population in detention of 60,000. This is a drastic increase of 14,726 over the capacity funded in f. Y. 2020. And it would require an additional 710 million. This is remarkable when considering that after accounting for the proposed transfer of the secret service to the department of treasury, the budget request proposes an overall increase of 1. 78 billion above the f. Y. 2020 enacted level. Yet there is no funding for recapitalization programs like the Fast Response cutters and the 130j aircraft which are critical to search and rescue activities. Counter drug operations, and disaster response. Do you have any analysis that supports a detention bed requirement of 60,000 in fiscal year 2021 . Secretary wolf yes. As you know we do have a model that drives the number of beds that we request every year. We have shared that with the committee. Well continue to share that if we havent. Im happy to share that. We have shared it with a number of folks. That puts that past data was current trends. It looks at a number of factors that we need to i. C. E. Needs to continue to do its mission. Will i say that as has been mentioned we had a surge last year in may, june, and july, a number over 100,000 many of those months coming across the border illegally that were released into the u. S. There is a tail to that enforcement cycle that i. C. E. Will have to go into communities and for those that are here illegally that are criminals and the like that fall out of status in some cases will have to continue to remove those individuals. The only way to remove them is to detain them. 4 that this subcommittee should be the first to get that information. My second question is, over the ast year, the department has rolled out several new programs resulted in the removal of migrants directly from c. B. P. Instead of being transferred to i. C. E. Asylum des the prompt claim review, the humanitarian asylum review process, and the electronic e of nationality verification. Oreover, this committee has provided increased funding for alternatives to detention follows asylum eekers to live in their communities. Were these programs factored into the 60,000 i. C. E. Bed and, again, if the answer is yes, we need to see analysis . And ill add to that, why havent we . Has been wolf it factored. Many of the programs you entioned, chairwoman, are new initiatives. So it has not been fully implemented. While we talk about pacer or of the others, well continue to implement those measures. Flights, these are all efforts to ensure that hose that are seeking meritorious claims can have their day in Immigration Court effective manner. So were hoping to do that through a number of ways. Months, not it in years, which has been the case in the past. Effort on these programs is to ensure we root who raud but, again, those have meritorious claims we make sure they get their day in court we know o they can they either have legal right to be here in the u. S. Or they and we effectuate that decision accordingly instead of he years and years it traditionally took. Ms. Roybalallard we will be questions about those further programs and the impact it has on immigrants. To emphasize, again, the importance of this subcommittee getting the analysis for the rather oure asking for than whoever some folks are. My time is almost up so ill yield to the next member. Thank you, madam chairman. Again, mr. Secretary, thank you for being here today. To talk tary, i want with you about something that is world ly affecting the and, of course, is impacting the the coronavirus situation. First and foremost, i want my colleagues and people in the to know that you have been so proactive and cooperative. Called me mann you early at the inception of this crisis and have kept me abreast for that. K you we are all keeping a watchful critically important situation, and ive received side s from the medical and have been kept abreast by crisis. Nvolved in this we certainly want to be responsive to needs. Clarify what exactly your departments areas of responsibility are when it comes to the coronavirus . Because fortunately, there has a Strong National response. C. D. C. Is involved, but as it security, homeland purview, thin your sir . Honorable wolf thank you. Its a whole government approach pursuing with regard to this. Specifically for the department, we are there to support, again, the department of homeland out as they department of health and human to supportere there them and to adjust our operations accordingly. Specifically, the department was early on in the funneling of all flights from to 11 different airports. We were involved in standing up edical contracts through our cwmd office at those 11 airports. So individuals who come off the a c. B. P. Will first see officer, normal immigration officer. They will then go to contract medical screening. The department has set up in those 11 airports. And then if necessary hshgs be necessary, will be referred to c. D. C. To determine f a quarantine is needed or not. We do that in airports. We also do it at land ports of maritime ports of entry. We have cargo ships coming every china carrying goods. We have crew that perhaps visited affected areas as well. We have coast guard involved. We have c. B. P. Involved. A whole of departmental effort to make sure that we are measures that the president has put in place to include the travel restrictions to make sure, gain, the American Public is safe and secure. Mr. Fleischmann well, thank you, sir. Count me in for our full support of your endeavors and that of the other departments as we critically important situation and crisis. Mr. Secretary, during my time in ive come to learn and appreciate the Critical Role that research and development our nation andng providing the seed money for innovative goods and services. Is d. H. S. Doing to prepare to meet the nations future needs, and as ty a followup to that, how is the Technology Directorate leveraging scientific expertise and esearch and Development Resources of our national laboratories, universities, and industries, sir . We do that in so a variety of different ways. We do that at our component funding they have. The operators know for the most part what technology and what need so we useey the funding within those acquire s to mostly commercial, offtheshelf products that are here ready to go today. Hen, we have a little bit longer term idea when we talk about our science and technology irectorate thats investing in those technologies that are perhaps not ready today but will be in the short time frame that one to two to threeyear period. Early on in the departments life span, that science and Technology Directorate had a little bit longer tail what was or 10 years out. I think over time weve seen that we need the capabilities a that. Oner than so well continue to invest in that. N. T. Uses not only centers of excellence, again, that they receive funding from congress from, but also the National Network to do that to invest in some of the hightech dont have at they on site but obviously Different National laboratories around the do. Try so we have agreements with them to continue to utilize their well. Ise as so, again, it spans the spectrum need echnology that we today, relatively soon from the Operational Requirements to technologies that can be improved on or we need to invest on with other elements in the government. Mr. Fleischmann thank you, mr. Secretary. Since my time is about up, i thank you for your responses. Chair, i yield back. Ms. Roybalallard mrs. Lowey. Secretary, your predecessor established a red eam review of the migrant protection protocols last fall. Can you share with us what done in response to he red team recommendations, particularly with regard to ensure migrants have meaningful Legal Counsel . Honorable wolf so weve done a things. F we sent the the previous acting secretary took that red out to ort and sent it the department and said, ok, responses. O see your i. C. E. , c. B. P. , here are the results of the red team and then like to see the responses. Some initial responses came back and we gave them two different frames. Some initial responses came back. We tried to implement them. Nd our full response will be forthcoming as well. We continue to do a number of things to try to improve that program. E the weve heard from the chairwoman and from others about access to counsel. At that. Ue to look again, everyone who comes in to m. P. P. Receives a medical screening. And every time they come in to that program. If theres three or four times coming back across the border to go to immigration a rt, theyre looking at medical screening. Every time they are going to officers. Mrs. Lowey may i interrupt for is so because time limited . You said youre continuing to look at access to counsel. Honorable wolf yes. Mrs. Lowey what are you looking at and what can you do . Honorable wolf of course they have access to counsel. We have been discussing with Committee Staff and others is, how do we continue to improve on that . Thing we are doing is showing we have a know your rights video. Thats very ing specific to the Court Process hat does not occur in interior Immigration Courts. Its a continuous running video of know your rights. Of Committee Staff and we can do asked if that in person. We are taking a look at that with our operational components live. E that again, something thats not done in domestic Immigration Courts today. Mrs. Lowey i want to interrupt for a minute because i was in laredo last week and i was the know your rights video was shown on the with television in a room fans so loud that it was very difficult for migrants to hear understand. So this is obviously unacceptable and must be addressed immediately. Know if youre aware of that. Honorable wolf i have not heard about the ic concern television and the fans but i made a note of it so well take look at it. Mrs. Lowey additionally, yesterday, your hearing before the Senate Appropriations stated that many migrants in the m. P. P. Program are not showing up for hearings you attributed that to a claim. Valid asylum do you have an analysis to justify that claim . Can you provide that to the committee . Honorable wolf i think my comment was, again, we are seeing roughly 50 of folks who show up to continue that to continue their mmigration proceedings in the program. Thats roughly the same we see ith interior courts or interior proceedings as well. So part of that is not having a claim. Simply just choose not to be part of the program any longer. If they dont like how the going, they dont like the wait, they dont like a number of things, they can simply choose and leave. Data to have. So theres a number of reasons why an individual may not with their proceed immigration proceedings under the m. P. P. Program. I think my comment yesterday was make was to draw the pair less between sort of the no show see in the interior and specifically what were seeing at m. P. P. Courts as well. See if ey id like to there is a better analysis to see why theyre not showing up something we can do to improve the system. Been made use weve aware of several of the factors migrants m. P. P. Ability to appear for the hearings. Number one, migrants lack of of the process. Shelters are far from the border. Present byment to be 4 00 a. M. At all ports is both ogistically challenging and unsafe. Migrants may not know how or ave the ability to communicate with the u. S. Government that they need to postpone due to or that the s migrants have been kidnaped. So it seems there are many someone may not appear for the hearing and our ystem, seems to me, should protect those who need it the most. O i would hope we could avoid umping to unsubstantiated conclusions and give us a better understanding where we go from here. Up. E my time is almost thank you. Honorable wolf and i would just say we continue to work with a number of n. G. O. s regarding the program, making sure they have enough information. Gain, theyre also communicating with the migrants that are in the m. P. P. Program. So he will with continue to do that. Shortly after becoming in the chair, we heard a number of folks saying they to our i. H. S. Cess facilities. These would be individuals that were curious about the programs. N. G. O. s, nonprofits, Catholic Charities and others that wanted to understand a about these filths. So weve done facilities. So weve done that. They can come into these areas may not be ugh they part of the proceedings, they may not be part of that, they on. See whats going were not, again, not trying to hide anything. Want to make sure we do this in a safe environment so well to work with the committee and staff to see how we can improve this program, folks understand what the programs about and what the procedures are. Doing that with you. Mrs. Lowey thank you. Thank you, madam chair. S. Roybalallard mooez granger. Ms. Granger. Ms. Granger i was at the callen border station monday. I heard from your people on the ground. Crossings are down. Cartels and criminal to make aons continue business of trafficking people and drugs. Visited the Central American triangle, the northern and heard from people coming across the border. In ow you were recently honduras. Can you tell us, give an update on what those countries are to address the human trafficking, the smuggling, and he root causes of this problem of migration . Onorable wolf i was in honduras for our 12th minute duty. Al i was there for the sixth time. An agreement on Border Security, information sharing, capacity. We are doing a number of initiatives with them to build their capacity. Its a regional solution. Regional problem. And they understand that. And they are putting resources as well. Agreements so we continue to see progress. Collaboration is certainly a lot stronger than it has been in the past. Ts not only the northern triangle. The government of mexico continues to step up, continues o do additional i would say enhancement operations on making sure they address the illegal of migrants in their country as well. So, again, part of the effort department, in addition to some of the programs we talked about, be we also are at the source in these areas. What do they need from a security and stability . Of that equation is about the prosperity in those countries. I think everyone roll call recognizes those countries re more prosperous, the Economic Situation improves there, individuals in those ountries will stay there, and that illegal flow, lining the pockets of the cartels and the reduce or ll eliminates altogether. So through other elements, the government, department of commerce and others, we are also looking at Economic Prosperity those regionss in to, again, build up those like. Ies and the so theres a number of things were doing with the northern triangle. All the on to, again, programs that were doing at the border as well. Ms. Granger weve helped them help them in the past and the leadership in those countries have not done what we them to do. The difference i saw in whats mexico in helping us, whats going across our was really very evident huge difference. Do you agree with that . Honorable wolf i do agree. Its almost night and day. Ago u look back two years on the cooperation that we have ith these governments, up and own from northern triangle, mexico. We also included costa rica and panama. Ere expanding those that are participating knowing its much larger than just the northern triangle. The department continues to see of populations crossing the southwest border that causes us concern. Ecuadorians, and others. And theres only so many ways they get there. The need to involve all countries along the route and this problem ess so well continue to look at that. I would agree that weve seen of improvement from all of the countries involved. Ms. Granger theres a number its height s at several years ago we were counting immigrants coming border from 51 countries. How many countries are we tracking now . Honorable wolf its much higher that. I wouldnt say its someone from very country but its much higher than 50. Ms. Granger thank you. Cuellar. Lallard mr. Mr. Cuellar thank you, madam chair. Mr. Secretary, thank you, again, for the work that you do and your men and women and we appreciate it. A lot of w, i spent time i live on the border. So i spend a lot of time with itsmen and women, whether Border Patrol, air, marines, i. C. E. So i appreciate the work that they do. Quick question. Mentioned this in your statement about the coronavirus. Mentioned february 2, c. B. P. 14 refused entry to travelers at the ports of entry. 7 preclearance and it goes on, including 319 chinese nationals hat were attempting to enter illegally. About 194 of them were in my valley. The rio grande again, i appreciate what yall are doing. My question is, is there to do to xtra we need protect our men and women in work . Their i know theres already protocols. They explained it to me. Is there anything else that the make tee can help you to sure we protect the men and women at the front lines . Honorable wolf well, thats one of my primary concerns dealing with the coronavirus, shall not only what were doing to protect the people but what were oing to protect d. H. S. Employees, Border Patrol officers, t. S. A. Officers at the airports. Now they have equipment they need. We are providing them training themedical information from c. D. C. What we know about the virus to date. Some best practices on what we our coronaviruss that that are onaviruses similar. If anything changes, we may have to change what were doing with our officers. Today, we feel very confident in the measures that we put in place, again, from a of different per expectives, including the wear, gloves, masks, and things like that. So well continue to do more if and if our strategy demands we do more. I will say the department to spend funding that we didnt perhaps allocate for and well do that. Right now we have the money that we need. Money around ng within this fiscal year and then we will have to see, depending how long this proceeds and where we go mr. Cuellar any dollars you from the wall you can go ahead and transfer. Kidding. Mr. Secretary, we were down laredo this weekend and your men and women are doing a great job. Might disagree with the administration on policy. The mens one thing, but and women, we support your men and women. Just want to make sure we from our that, comes committee. Second of all, let me talk to you about the border wall. Down to my area in the rio grande valley. The last anding in three years theres been only one mile of new fencing. Verything else has been replacement or secondary miles. Going into an a lot in texas thats owned by private property owners. Of the things that i or the committee we added in the sure riations was to make that we mitigate community and by getting pact Environmental Impact by getting consultation. Symbolic. I say its i say it with all due respect. To of the people i talked have given me a pleasant conversation. Basically we have to do this because Congress Told us. Havent seen except for one area that i think that yall with on the bulkhead in laredo but i just havent een a pleasant experience with the landowners. G. A. O. Was in e laredo, in the valley in the last couple days to make sure we dont abuse Eminent Domain when property o private rights. I want to make sure there is a sincere intention to really make adjustments to designs or to the placement of the fence if it goes that far. You. S the only thing i ask language has been there. I dont want a symbolic, ok, we mark, check check mark. Honorable wolf you have my commitment. Talked to acting commissioner morgan. We have his commitment as well. Weve seen that in downtown were working with the city on perhaps some alternative designs that meets ours. Needs as well as well continue to do that. R. G. V. Obviously in the valley, r. G. V. , thats where the predominant private land is that department as well as army corps of engineers whos doing is at n the ground trying to survey the land, trying to assess titles, trying in of things as we to do a number of things as we construct the border wall. Commitment to make sure we bring in the landowners, have that discussion. I think at times there will be with and well have to continue that process, but we want to be transparent about that. Them to we want them to let them know what our requirements are and what their that ns are and have discussion. So you have my commitment. R. Cuellar thank you, mr. Secretary. Ms. Roybalallard mr. Palazzo. Mr. Palazzo thank you, madam chair. You, mr. Wolf, for being here today. We all know about the hard drugs oming across our border, not only at the points of entry but between points of entry. We spent a lot of time on our congress as a d whole talking about the southern border. And what solutions we can bring this dangerous tide. One of the things thats often overlook maritime is our border. Intercepting drugs at our land a goal line stance. Its great if we get stopped. To stop where they begin, at their 1yard line. Coast nue to brag on the guards National Security cutter but with good reason. He coast guard has seasoned millions seized millions of pounds of drugs using the National Security cutter. Committee has funded 11 of these multimission ships. Men s asset along with the and women of our coast guard has taken drugs off the ocean in bulk. This isnt a couple of kilos of cocaine hidden on someones truck or back. Talking about hard drugs destined for our communities. The coast guard seizes more federal n all other agencies combined. Over the past four years, the coast guard has seized two of cocaine. Ds thats an estimated street value billion. We need more focus on the assets to rder and patrol our oceans. Mr. Wolf, i appreciate if you can talk about your vision and utilize lan to appropriated funds to focus operations on drug smuggling in america . Central honorable wolf well, thank you. The coast guard certainly plays a vital role there. Look at key west and what they do there patrolling intelligence perspective, on the drug flow, the drug traffic coming from caribbean,ca, in the in the eastern pacific, happy to eport its the coast guard asse assets thats making those interdictions specifically. Ships, the coast guard helicopters as well as c. B. P. As well. Rs and assets an e jio south is interdepartmental process, a number of intelligence comes into that. The ground, in this case the sea, that are making those interdictions are coast guard men and women. Am incredibly proud what they do. Of course, i would say the u. S. Overnment doesnt have enough resources to interdict all of the narcotics coming from south america. Thought what was interesting one time is if you put the outline of the u. S. On the eastern pacific and the what the ats thats what coast guard patrols. Ships. Ndful of and well continue to do that. Its a very challenging task. Just one part s of it. Obviously when they interdict the drugs is critically mportant but its also the investigators that have been talking to those individuals, trying to formation, bring them on as sources and the issueo, again, get at the at the source. So well continue to put resources into the interdiction, say the ld also investigation part of that process that, again, that we do vitally e country is important and, of course, d. H. S. Plays a role there with i. C. E. , investigators,ty but also with d. E. A. And other government. The u. S. Well, i agree mr. Palazzo well, i agree 100 . The National Security cutter is so important. Several are disappointed we have funded this committee for a 12th funds National Security cutter only to ee the president s budget remove those funds but they also went, in addition, they froze cutters. Response before ing these drugs they make it into mexico is vitally important. Makes it into the you know, mexico, its pretty much in america. Could w, i think we afford to, you know, fund these more because sets these drugs are destroying our communities. Heyre destabilizing the countries in south and central merica, leading to the mass migration were seeing at our southern border. Ts being driven by ransinternational criminal organizations. Honorable wolf ill continue to work with the commandant as i did in a little bit of the of this one. The commandants priorities continue to be the polar cutter. Again, in the budget request is funding to support a second offshore well as the patrol cutter. So those are two capital nvestments that the coast guards focused on. Obviously they still very much believe in the National Security theyr and the mission that have. So its a budget like any other budget where theres tradeoffs made. Ave to be we want to make sure they have capability in the polar region the new offshore patrol cutter capability as well. Ut well continue to work with congress on what the right priorities are going forward. Mr. Palazzo i agree. Cutter and curity offshore cutter are important. I think we need to maybe look at demands were putting on the coast guard and what theyre doing and protecting our maybe we needity, to fund them more. So thank you, madam chair. Roybalallard ms. Meng. Ms. Meng thank you, madam harm and, Ranking Member chairman, and Ranking Member, for todays hearing. Thank you for the Committee Staff for the preparation and to acting secretary wolf and your team for being here today. I want to ask about an incident happened in my hometown in new york city where i. C. E. An unarmed man who was not even a subject of a warrant. Then two weeks ago, news outlets reported that the is deploying unit, patrol tactical essentially a swat team, to raid sanctuary cities. You can understand actions like this cause a lot of alarm for both nstituents undocumented and documented from hildren to seniors who fear that these units will further their and our communities. The tactical and operational with enforcement at the southern border are different than the steps these in heavy populated urban area, especially like new york city. Been an update in policy and training for these teams to ensure they are not unnecessary and excessive force, especially in urban areas . Honorable wolf sure. Individuals that, again, that c. B. P. Is lending i. C. E. , for about 90 days, be not only comes from vortac o. S. O. s. Those are the nonBorder Patrol parts of c. B. P. Half. S about half and its about 50 and 50. And all of those individuals deploying in a number of cities across the country ave specialized training that will support i. C. E. , e. R. O. Officers that are going into communities. Its not very its very similar to what other federal agencies provide i. C. E. On a basis as well. Other federal Law Enforcement agencies provide that support as well. Theres probably been some misconception. These are not individuals that are going to show up in riot down the street in tank which ive seen pictures of as well. Thats not the case. Not be able toll distinguish them any different than i. C. E. , e. R. O. Agents, or federal Law Enforcement agent that supports i. C. E. They will be in plain clothes. Of course theyll have the appropriate vest on that they they o do their job, but will be trained there to support i. C. E. As needed. Meng has there been previous deployments of teams vortac in recent years . Honorable wolf there has been to oyment of c. B. P. Forces assist i. C. E. Ill get you the exact number on bortac specific agents over the last several years. That number with me. Ms. Meng we read in a New York Times article that the from about ill be february to may of this year. Just wondering why and how this was chosen. One of our concerns is because same time frame as the census and that its being carried out all throughout country, as you know. Theres a lot of fear in our our nities and in districts. And the time frame just makes it a lot more challenging for the to do their job nd people have misconceptions, hopefully, that they are not coordinating with Law Enforcement. If you would sorry im so rushed. I dont have a lot of time, but would dering if you consider halting these raids so the Census Bureau will not be law as coordinating with enforcement. Honorable wolf i can tell you in all the discussions that ive had with at ive commissioner morgan, the time maybe the coincidence of the Census Bureau has never factored into the us. Sionmaking for its never been brought up in any discussion i have been in regarding this. Tol certainly take that back the team to see what we can do to address any concerns about census and see what can be done in these specific locations. Again, theres about theres six to seven cities, believe, that these teams are h. S. I. I. C. E. E. R. O. C. B. P. Ng supplemented by ms. Meng thank you. Sorry. Just want to get in one quick question. Topic. A different the trusted travelers program. You announced that d. H. S. Is suspending the program. There any attempt by d. H. S. To communicate and to work with new york state officials on out these exceptions to the ban . Law isle wolf so as the currently written, does not allow any carveout. O we continue to be in touch, not only with the governor but with other new york state reach a solution. Im hopeful we can. Prior g were there communications before the yes. Able wolf we communicated to new york prior to including a letter prior to the suspension. Hear from id not them. Ms. Meng sorry. New york d. M. V. Has stated there history minal information that is held exclusively in their database. Wondering what criminal history data is only available through d. M. V. . What is the reason for the suspension . Honorable wolf again, the information we need not only for trusted Traveler Program but, wide range of the Law Enforcement mission of the department goes beyond criminal information. Thats in other data that d. M. V. Database thats absolutely critical. Travelerlly on trusted to vet a trusted traveler applicant. A. U. I. Thats perhaps not felony conviction but you have n arrest, that factors in to the decisionmaking process at c. B. P. On whether that trusted traveler warrants the benefit of entry, for instance, or another program. So theres information in the not only c. B. P. Needs for trusted traveler but i would say both c. B. P. And i. C. E. Eeds from a Law Enforcement perspective. So if i. C. E. , Homeland Security investigations is pulling over a of a suspected human trafficker, they need to have access to that data to whos in that car, whos it registered to, have the picture of that individual, and that. Now they cannot do so its severely impeding the aw enforcement provision of protecting new york residents. Ms. Meng sorry. I yield back. Ms. Roybalallard mr. Newhouse. Mr. Newhouse thank you, madam chairman. Acting secretary wolf, thank you being with us today. Appreciate very much your presentation. Just take a moment to use this as an opportunity to that the men and women and for the. Dedication to the mission in country. G our we appreciate that very much. We look forward to continuing to you. Partner with i wanted to talk a little bit National Role of the laboratories and what and how hey can be an integral part of d. H. S. s work. I heard your response to mr. I ischmanns question and appreciate that. Dont have to tell you that were were facing evolving threats, both natural and manmade. Things that erent are coming at you. Im sure sometimes you feel like he little dutch boy with your fingers in the dike but a lot of things are happening. Areas like n biodefense and cybersecurity, mentioned. One way that we have been able to tay ahead of the game is research and development and thats certainly something the laboratories, including the National Laboratory in my district, the Pacific Northwest national lab. Theyve been very active and biodefense ers in and cybersecurity for a long time. I have been there a lot, as well as my office. I want to extend to you an to come and see the laboratory and the work theyre oing and how we can integrate more into the responsibilities f the department of Homeland Security. Mr. Newhouse well, thank you for that. In our ay we continue s. N. T. Directorate, utilizing a umber of resources outside the department to include the national labs. I will state specifically, when e talk about corona, we have a facility outside of fedderic, federick, maryland, looking at the virus, but they are doing that in conjunction number of federal partners as well as outside entities. O from a departmental per expect of course, obviously we have a lot of threats, as you ndicated perspective, of course, obviously we have a lot of threats, as you indicated. So how we utilize other elements government, private industry, and the like is absolutely critical to making ure that we do our job in securing the homeland. So i know we have agreements and we have relationships with a and happy to dive into that further. Mr. Newhouse well, thats a more t segue into my difficult question. The budget request includes to r d, both ts science and technology the countering weapons of mass destruction office. We talked about, theres continuing threats and daily. Ges that we face the labs, in my opinion, seems for this suited mission. You talked about the integration technologies. Tor thats all great. I agree with that. Worldclass facilities within our National Networks. So could you address this issue the rationale for these cuts . Honorable wolf for the cwmd new e, its a relatively office. I believe were going in our second fiscal year. There were a number of resources f. Y. 2020 that they continue to utilize. Budget for ink the cmwd for f. Y. 2020 continues to work and continues that for s. N. T. I believe we fund in the budget d. H. S. Five of 10 of centers of excellence. Again, focus on some of the on onal priorities we have detection and a number of theiatives and missions for department. I will say its a tough budget. Theres tradeoffs that we have do. We have to make sure we resource the men and women, the operators their front lines to do missionary there and making sure ehave enough resources to continue our s. N. T. Directorate to continue to plan for, invest in, and work with them on some longer solutions in technologies and technology solutions. A tough isagree its budget. We have to make tradeoffs. We continue to see value. And usly our science Technology Directorate is also cmwd office thats in the issue. Of the coronavirus it does make the needed investments in 2021. Mr. Newhouse appreciate that. Asking the re people under you to accomplish almost Impossible Task and i appreciate that. We do have a lot of assets at our disposal. To utilize them as possible. Thank you very much for everything you do and appreciate you being here today. Thank you, madam chair. Yield back. Ms. Roybalallard mr. Aguilar. Mr. Aguilar thank you, chairwoman and members of the committee. Thank you, acting secretary, for here. Mr. Secretary, in january, i isited matta more oes camped s where people out. His policy requires Asylum Seekers and migrants to stay in mexico as they wait for court earings with immigration judges. While i visited there i saw children and family who lack care and some were drinking out of water sources ecola, e exposed to ecoli, truly bad. To extortion sed and cartels. Do you know this in regions people are living because of the m. P. P. Policy . Honorable wolf yes. I am aware of a number of the the stics, the violence, department of state warnings. I am aware of all of the information. Mr. Aguilar because commissioner morgan was on the oford stating he was unaware kidnapings taking place along the border. O you acknowledge that the m. P. P. Policy has exposed refugees and Asylum Seekers to erious risk of kidnaping and other Violent Crimes . Honorable wolf so i am aware of antidotal information about kid others. And kidnappings and others. I dont know information about program and the violence you described. I guess my statement is more general. I am aware of the general violence. Mr. Aguilar ok. Lets get beyond antidotal. 816 rights identified incidents of torture, rape, and murder among Asylum Seekers sent mexico urined the current poll mexico under the policy. One woman was raped. One man from cuba was sent back daysxico after spending 40 in detention only to be ssaulted and robbed at a local store. One from guatemala was sexually her son. In front of these were documented by human rights first. Antidotal. Ond this is not the only this. Zation reported doctors without borders, i am sure you are familiar with that organization, issued a report included the following findings. Eight out of 10 patients treated navo laredo by nuevo doctors eated by without borders, eight out of seven erienced violence, consultation. 43 of patients treated were returned to mexico through the. P. P. Program had been kidnaped. And in october of 2019, a of kidnappings among hose returned had increased by 75 . Considering this data, can we this is nd saying antidotal . This is happening. This is real. Organized crime is playing a the southern border. And this is a direct consequence. Correlation to m. P. P. Would you not agree with that . Mr. Aguilar i onorable wolf i would agree that the journey and we talked about it for a number of ears is very dangerous for these Asylum Seekers or for any economic migrants or for a of Different Reasons they are choosing to come to the u. S. Journey. Ry dangerous even time you pay a smuggler, they are in for the bottom dollar. All of them are paying smugglers. We can move beyond that. Acknowledge the proposals, the policy honorable wolf and so what i continue to encourage those individuals that whethering protections, its in el salvador, honduras, uatemala, seek those protections close to home as possible so you dont make the angerous journey, as youre describing, cock mang, through parts of mexico. Are talking specifically about m. P. P. , ill address that. We are working with our department of state colleagues other elements of the u. S. Government to provide resources. To date we provided 20 Million Department of state to the government of mexico for m. P. P. Shelters. Includes security, for access to transportation. If they choose not to stay in m. P. P. Program, we do provide some assistance to have hem returned home and the likes. The u. S. Government is going above and beyond on trying to mexico government of provide these shelters along the m. P. P. Mr. Aguilar theres plenty more we can do. The administration requested m. P. P. Llion for how much of this, as you mention ed some of the humanitarian work mentioned some of the umanitarian work being done, how much of the 126 million will be directed to the humanitarian concerns at the border that will generally wellbeing of Asylum Seekers . Honorable wolf that comes from the state department. That have h them different sets of funding, different sets of buckets they to unhcr. Inly mr. Aguilar i think everyone is aware of the different agencies funding. Le for this out of the 126 million, which agency, none of that is going toward the allowing youre will be through state or other agencies that will provide the fundi related to wellbeing . Honorable wolf right. Again, they have the mechanisms funding. That our funding has certain restrictions. Sure we do that. We continue to work with state department to Fund Additional unhcr, a number of n. G. O. s that will go in there and continue to build that capacity and talk to the government of mexico about that. Mr. Aguilar i appreciate it. You, madam chair. I yield back. Ms. Roybalallard mr. Rutherford. Mr. Rutherford thank you, madam chair. Mr. Secretary, i thank you for here this morning. Say thank t to also you to all of the men and women of d. H. S. For all that you do. Want to thank you for the 287g program that push. Ntinue to i can tell you as a lifelong law nforcement officer, that enhanced the safety and security of my community. Removed thousands of violent riminals as a result of that program. Within our jail. These are bad, bad people. I see the numbers that ouve talked about here today, 40,000 arrests, 4,300 gang 450 just from ms13, thats amazing. As appreciative as i am of that, im also appalled at sanctuary city concept that by ngers citizens back home not working with i. C. E. To remove these kind of criminals from our streets. Just want to start with that. Me, hing that does concern though, jacks port in florida, is a very large container port. In fact, we move over 10 million goods just last year. That i haveuestions is, can you tell me what percentage of our cargo is being inspected through he nonintrusive inspection process . Honorable wolf at maritime countrywide . Rd honorable wolf i have some of that data for the southwest border. I would probably need to get countrywide on n. I. I. Detection. Low on the ely southwest border. We have funding that congress provided in f. Y. 2019 and 2020 were deploying over 400 systems higher n. I. I. That will go mainly at the southwest border to interdict hose drugs and other illegal contraband. So i have much more clarity on those numbers. Can get back to you on nationwide at every port what n. I. I. , how much it screens. Mr. Rutherford id like to see that. I think the numbers are pretty low is what im hearing. Eally, if you think about it, these ports, particularly where coming these containers in, its almost like the trojan of e coming in the city troy. Were inviting these things in nd we dont know whats inside a lot of them. So id like to follow up with mind. That, if you dont last year we appropriated almost this llion for this equipment, as you mentioned. Budget, dohis years you know right off hand . Honorable wolf the money is for that. Nance and support of once again, we had 60 in f. Y. 020, as you indicated, congressman. 570 million that congress provided in f. Y. 2019. Of over 660 million both large, medium, n. I. I. Cale thats a lot of money. Thats a lot of equipment that will be rolled out over a period of time. We hope to have the majority, if all of that, fully 2022. Ed by mr. Rutherford ok. The p. B. R. This year . Honorable wolf this year its a little over 140 million for support of that equipment. Ok. Rutherford thank you. Years, last three president trumps administration, how many miles f border wall have we actually built . You hear these numbers back and forth. I dont care if its replacement but how many miles total . Honorable wolf we have about 126 miles completed. Of new border wall system. I always say thats new wall because it provides our agents capabilities they have not had before. Mr. Rutherford right, ok. Have we actually invested in the technologies to that . Ith after you still need to etect these folks once they they come across. Honorable wolf i talk about the border wall system. Within that system is not only the physical infrastructure of wall but its cameras, roads, lighting, fiberoptic the whole package that the c. B. P. And army corps puts in along that southwest border. 126 miles ave completed. We have 213 miles under construction and another 414 in preconstruction phase. So we are getting at it as quickly as possible. Ok. Rutherford and youve talked today about the im sorry. I that far over on my time . Yeah. That threw me off. F i could ask one last question. The president , in his p. B. R. This year, has asked for 2 billion for border wall. Know its having an impact, along with the technology, because we see those numbers addressed that you earlier. Is that adequate for you . Honorable wolf it is. F. Y. 2021 budget request and, again, moneys we 2019, 2020, 2018, well have over 57 570 miles funds. That well continue to look at what we need along with Congress Going forward. Security border Improvement Plan that c. B. P. Is working on to update. Last one congress has smaaw this rd some as a pullback. Its absolutely not. Honorable wolf i think you have of ook at the totality funding we have gotten over the last fiscal years. Looking at the president s budget request for one year. You have to look at it in the totality. Mr. Rutherford right. You. I yield back. Price. Balallard mr. Mr. Price thank you, madam chairman. Welcome, mr. Secretary. Ask you another question hat has multidepartment aspects but nonetheless one that i hope you can answer because role is a curitys key one. It has to do with refugees. The trump 020, administration set a refugee only 18,000iling of individuals. Thats the lowest refugee ceiling throughout the programs 40year history and comes on the heels of two historically low ceilings of 30,000 refugees in 2019 as well as the 2017 executive ordered that halted our entire refugee for 120 days. Not only is an 18,000 refugee shockingly low, but currently, almost halfway through the fiscal year, the admitted only as about 5,000 refugees. Hats less than 30 of an already low ceiling. That puts our nation on track to admit a total of only about refugees. In fiscal 2020, which will be a our duty liks of dereliction of our duty to the vulnerable, religious are increasing around the world. 70. 8 million forcibly displaced people worldwide 25. 9 million refugees. Now, we all heard the reports of bureaucratic slowwalking, administrative barriers, ureaucratic rerouting of paperwork, drastic reductions in closure of s, the c. I. S. Offices, socalled security measures, enhanced measures. Together, all of this seems intentionally designed to revent our nation from accepting any more than a trickle of refugees. I hear about this at home wonderful ave organizations that participate in refugee resettlement. Their nt to fulfill promise to help integrated refugees into north carolina, but they get weeks, they go a single out seeing refugee. This is totally, totally unprecedented. The fact you explain that were almost halfway through the fiscal year and have half of the than in, ees we pledged to take my prediction of 10,000, end of the at the year and this is taking place during one of the worst refugee history. World and about these various bans of obstacles and waiting requirements, do they eally reflect some increasing danger . As you know, refugees have ommitted no terrorist acts, none, zero in recent years. What leads you to conclude that been curity measures have inadequate or whats going on . Changed . Hat t has changed, why has our country not determined the anger without stopping the flowing entirely . Why dont we have an appropriate vetting system to deal with this do our duty . Our ll our wlagss obligations as a member of the International Community to deal crisis . S International Honorable wolf well, congressman, i would say we are one of the only countries that between refugees and Asylum Seekers, so i think we protections at the we provide and the totality of not only the refugees that the but also is vetting the Asylum Seekers that we process each and every year. Looking that into totality, ando allow historic numbers provide protections to historic numbers. 5,000 the mr. Price historic numbers, that really g me invalidates the importance or the significance of these low numbers ive cited . If thats the case, please correct the numbers. Again, im happy to get you the numbers where we look at both the refugees and aasylum Asylum Seekers and year. We adjudicate each we are one of the only countries, there may be one or others, that distinguish between those two populations. Mr. Price and youre our treatment of honorable wolf protections that are similar a lot of this hearing this morning had to deal asylum treatment of seekers. Our treatment of Asylum Seekers compensates for our shutting doors to refugees. Like to see those numbers. I just dont understand the that somehow were doing so much to open the door o Asylum Seekers that these efugees these disgraceful refugee numbers are meaningless or need to be corrected. Honorable wolf im happy to, again, get with the department your 5,000 versus the 10,000 projection. E obviously play a role in vetting the refugees, but that is a department of state program to touch base and provide more information on where they see those numbers going. That says we will not reach the 18,000. What on what increased danger is this based . About the failure of the administration or anybody facts are se the there to associate refugees with cts of terrorism arent there to associate refugees with acts of terrorism so whats the slowing this for flow to a trickle . Is it a matter of security, or else . Something honorable wolf it is. I will say a number of the security measures we put in 2018 were 17 and real. Th there were vulnerabilities in the system. Will not go into it in this setting but there continues to be vulnerabilities that we see that program, that we want to address, we want to make sure it continues, but we need to make that the individuals that are coming here are fully vetted and that we understand who they so well continue to get at it. To increase snot only the processing and security vetting we do but making sure we resourced dedicated to that. You, madam thank chairman. Ms. Roybalallard ms. Wasserman schultz. Ms. Wasserman schultz thank you, madam chair. By way of reference, you may not now that my role on appropriations is i chair the military construction and subcommittee. Irs so its primarily my job to make sure that our Service Members and our veterans have everything they need, both during their active duty service and once service. E active im not sure you understand the on our appropriators, in terms of the quality of life of Service Members and also making sure that we protect the of dollars in equipment that the United States funds every year to keep us to watch continue this hearing online at cspan. Org. Well break away here