This is one hour. Good afternoon, how is everybody good afternoon how is everybody doing. I really appreciate the opportunity thank you for the opportunity is great to see. You also want to thank council for Foreign Relations for the opportunity to be with you today and have an important discussion on the state of Homeland Security and immigration. Also to have a dialog and also on Homeland Security priorities with members. Here i know that many of you have been following crisis on our border last year and tracking the regular challenge of migration, not only has the situation obvious implications for Border Security but its lead to significant humanitarian crisis as well as a Foreign Policy challenge in the United States and throughout the region. I like to take the dialog today a little bit above the headlines and into the daily news cycle and look back the challenges over the last ten months or so, in our efforts to address them especially focused on the last three to four months during that tenure as acting secretary. I took it on five a half months ago and taken momentum and progress to deal with this crisis in the last three or four. For us here for our audience i dont believe its too controversial to stay the development of a regional approach as migration is among one of the most pressing u. S. National security interest in the western hemisphere, one of the most fundamental challenges for the region at large whether its migration situation from haiti, brazil, across the region a few years ago to venezuela crosses its ongoing or closer to home Central America migration close to where the u. S. Border. With regard to that effort we have been meeting in the department Homeland Security working with our partners and government with working with push and pull factor dealing with migration but at the same time we have to recognize one of the biggest contributing factors to this crisis is when we face here at home, and thats a weaknesses in our immigration framework. I was brought in as acting acting secretary at the peak of this crisis. We were in the second of four months of over 100,000 arrivals of u. S. Border heading towards a peak month in may of 144,000 rivals. That means almost 5000 migrants test. Test. Daily family we lack effective tool with, big smugglers and bring in these unprecedented flows as well as funding from congress to alleviate the humanitarian crisis. We made some progress. Today im pleased to report that iran was announced 64 from our peak in may in total enforcement action for Central America and we have been reduced by 70 . Critically, as well we have dramatically improved the conditions and care at our border facilities. Ill be able to talk more about that more broadly, as of next week, we expect to have achieved another milestone. With some humanitarian medical exemptions dhs will no longer no longer be with releasing families into the interior, which means that for families whats been largest demographic happening in the u. S. Border this year, court mandated practice of catch and release due to the inability to dhs their complete immigration proceedings with family detained together in custody, will have been mitigated. This is a vital step in restoring the rule of law in our immigration system, and taking together i believe these improvements demonstrate significant progress i do want to set the stage for a moment where we were, a few months, ago the height of the crisis the strategy and solutions that we applied and trying to address this. Continued effort why continued efforts and leadership are needed. Enormous scale of this crisis they were confronted with this year again in maine, we had it was a third fourth month we are about 100,000 of artist 90 of Work Crossing the border illegally. In addition to this modern day record in may, was the highest in 13 years in any single month. We had one day of over 5800 arrival and then the 24 hour period. And that week, we had a group of 1036 migrants cross en masse together turning themselves and of our record apprehensions nine month, 70 were unaccompanied children and family members. A stark change in its traditional demographics arriving at our border. Many of these migrants represented Central Americas most vulnerable populations. Their lives in hands a very violent criminal organizations. With overwhelming numbers of arrivals of the edges, very difficult humanitarian conditions. In some sectors about 58 of our agents were processing fear of migrants, hospital runs, medical screenings, leaving our borders undermanned and is a sitting we can burgeoning crisis go back to december of last year were requested congress for more humanitarian resources and more congressional actions and congress was not responsive this crisis spiraled. Shift immigration pattern. The core of this issue in the region and i spent much of my time as acting secretary with Central American leaders, since april, multiple meetings here in washington but at the core the push factor of migration are predicated a stark opportunity Economic Opportunity gap access our exacerbated by food scarcity and poverty. Job creation is simply not kept up with labor growth resulting in a start opportunity shortage with only about one fifth of the needed jobs created this year for the number of young people in the workforce in the northern triangle. This is the single most push factor in my perspective. 64 of hundreds look live below poverty line with. 63 of Central Americans site lack of food as incentive for immigration. On top of that, over the past decade Transnational Criminal Organizations have used the corridor for illicit activities including trafficking significant percentage of cocaine bouncing United States, through Central America. As a result, while this security is improving in all three countries, honduras, guatemala el salvador murder rates than 50 more in these three countries the region has experienced elevated rates of violence and general crime committed by drug traffickers, gangs and other groups. Combined these have created conditions i do want to be clear that we believe that poll factors, however are even more significant. That is why now by the democratic demographics the strength of u. S. Economy, and the presence of, with resources in the United States, are certainly strong. But the main cause, the increases in arrivals this year, is weakness in the u. S. Immigration system. They have allowed migrants, especially families and unaccompanied childrens to spend months, and the vast majority of them will not ultimately receive lawful status from an immigration judge. That is why by the end of the fiscal year, which is coming up in a few weeks, we will see the numbers more than triple the record for families arriving at the border. Close to 550,000 this year, at a Record Number of unaccompanied minors. So to be really clear on this point, in our estimation the central factor driving migration crisis is here is the inability to achieve results from the immigration process. To be effectuate at the border, with these demographics. Happening at the time of they arrive. To ensure the crisis is multifaceted problems, and stepping into the role, and being able to look across the, five different agencies, three different departments of government involves, we developed an aggressive, and holistic the strategies to change the borders by disrupting smuggling activity and reducing unprecedented flow. Second, changing the way we process that float create great integrity insistent by treating immigration results that can be effectuate at the border without released into the United States. Third at the same time, to urgently mitigate the humanitarian situation by providing enhanced care for arrivals once they come to United States. To reduce the flow we realize that we need International Partnerships. If we cant convince congress, we need to work with reasonable partners morph actively. We need to develop partnerships within the region based on a sense of shared responsibility for migrant crisis. Principally this is meant pardoning with the governor of mexico, to increase security of their border, and to prevent people coming. It is meant building relationships with Law Enforcement, and other things, to address the root causes of migration from security, economics, and governments perspective. Terms of the reduction and flow the single bigger factor this is included in the deployment know 25,000 troops focused on increased presence along the guatemala border, we had a phenomenon of groups over 100 coming and dramatic numbers, 50 groups, 40 in may, we had six last month, as you can see dramatic progress due to those efforts. Disrupting the transportation hubs, importantly having consequences for those involved in the smuggling cycle. Arresting, prosecuting coyotes and those who are praying. The increase in those human smuggling prosecutions has not been confined to mexico. There have been through our partnership, and intelligence, efforts with, Central American partners, more arrests and prosecutions made throughout the region in the last three months, then in the threeyear period of history. The government of honduras has arrested people, more than three months of this year in the total amount of arrests in 2018. Guatemala has greatly increased its presence with the border with mexico, has about new techniques and technology, they have open their doors to Homeland Security and requested assistance both at and the ports of interest. We have 45 personnel embedded with and supporting Border Security in guatemala. El salvador made the decision to deploy 800 police, and 300 immigrations to patrol blind spots along its border, primarily in guatemala in the last several weeks as. Well in the last two months salvador has made thousands of races again members and one of the push factors of migration. In addition to these enforcement efforts several countries have agreed to partner with the United States on regional asylum capacity asylum building effort. Recognizing these countries decisions to join the refugee response framework, using best practices by International Organizations of the United States these agreements and the protection of the United States will be supporting guatemala efforts to build their asylum and i do to support the guatemalan effort in the country. I believe these International Partnerships of paid great dividends already and ensuring the fact immigration central and our border as well. A partnership have had an impact on the border not just in the region. Both in mexico in our three Central American governance we have initiated our expanded programs are resulting in more effective immigration results for arrivals and to make it all the way to our border and cant be deterred are protected closer to home. Perhaps the most visible program resulting from our energizing forgot has been the International Protection protocol, which we established with mexico early this fiscal year. I want to explain this to you a little bit because its not well understood publicly. Under mpp illegible migrants crossing process for expedited they are now allowed you access three to five months than average no mpp enhances the integrity of the system by getting Immigration Court result in a much faster pace, while keeping Families Together and without keeping them in custody. Its expressly providing four in law in partnership with mexico is committed to providing proper humanitarian protection and work authorization, while the weight during the process. Under mpp we have successfully provided protection to thousands of Asylum Seekers, if its been to dangerous from the result of fear screening to return them to mexico to wait for their hearings, as well as several have gone through the entire process already. This just started in earnest in general very small numbers but the already finished their claims and granted asylum on their merits by immigration judge. Anybody have kids . I got this back to school cold. Perennial september fun. Just get back to this very important. Mpp gives us a toll to merge us claims would also discourage individuals with false asylum claims. Meaning economic migrants like the key changes to lead a safer more orderly process along the south border and we are grateful with mexicos cooperation. In relation to whats happening with mexico we are expanding in a program called electronic nationality verification in, for those folks that do not have a claim of of asylum or fear of returning to their country of origin away to verify nationality electronically instead of meeting with an agent. Now its really rapidly increased in Central America. In addition to the border we are working the capacity is noted to extend asylum protection to ensure that those who need protection protection for persecution, religious, racial, ethnic the protectionist at home as possible instead of putting their homes themselves in the hands of smugglers and. As many of you probably see in the u. S. Media, alongside these efforts we are also implementing new regulations designed to limit asylum abuse and preserve our critical commitments under International Law, promulgated stringent go requirements for men are we still believe the key legislative fixes are necessary for durable in comprehensive solution to the crisis. I dont want to, i cant underscore this enough that we cannot be in a position we are with a 70 reduction in the flow of Central Americans without these International Partnerships. This renewed strategy of engagement, we are with support from the present in the white house has been absolutely critical in changing this dynamic, to increase a sense of share responsibility in the region, and allowing us to make progress. I do want though, in the third area, to highlight a place where we had great progress and perhaps the most fundamental when you look at a and responsibilities and federal government in our custody, that has been the area of our first enhanced care and conditions, to alleviate overcrowding at border facilities, access to shower and toiletries, hot wheels, and medical screening care for young, and unfortunately increasingly ill population that is arriving at the border. Also to ensure sufficient transportation in managerial process. Since doing this, in late june almost two months later, the ages has over as ordered 5000 beds, providing more appropriate settings, and eliminated overcrowding of single adults. There has been a key partner in the cycle, to help under a company unaccompanied children. It has reduced times in custody at the border. We have a short access to showers, within 24 to 36 hours. And dramatically increase access to hot meals. I have sought advice from the American Association of pediatrics. Since january dhs has increased the presence of certified medical professionals from approximately 20 at the beginning of december, to over 200 today, and showing that all children arriving at the border are screened, and made in late december after two tragic incidents at the border. We have contracted, and purchase dozens of buses to transport people between facilities. To give you a sense of how important the impact is made we, have combine we had in almost 20,000 people in our cars at the bird border, these are police stations, they are not designed for long term, 2700 of those 20,000 were unaccompanied children. Today, we have 4500 in custody. That number has been fluctuating between 3500 and 4500. Those 2700 kids we, have under 150 in custody. They are saying less than 24 hours, and being promptly transferred to better equipped facilities. We have made a dramatic impact. The initiative we have undertaken with the International Partners interest in the crisis. We have a much better situation at border stations. More broadly, the efforts and actions that we have taken have been focused on breaking the crisis, protecting the vulnerable populations, to restore a sense of integrity to our borders isnt for rivals. We cant let that progress, which is important, to clout our bra our cloud are judgment. Until we change fundamental laws governing our immigration system, we will not be solving a generalized problem. 1500 to 25,000 arrivals, weve had success it, is a reduction but hundreds are dying on the journey. We cant have this as an exceptional situation. Not only in terms of the danger of the journey, and the caressing of the migrants for, the impact to our security missions, for this group in terms of the original impact, for neighbors to guatemala and honduras, several people will be sent to the u. S. Here the leaders of all three countries are concerned about this process. It has been made an explicit part of someones platform, the some people are leaving because of lack of access to Economic Opportunity, and security. In closing, it is essential that we have a dialog. We have to work with policy experts, congress, state local partners, and people along the border, and of course with our International Partners and neighbors. I just want to note one last thing before we cut the dialog. I am privileged to work alongside and be part of an extra network force. I want to say that this crisis has bent really hard both in terms of the efforts to care for viral populations, but also in the way that the efforts have been perceived. I want to tell you that they have done an amazing job. With heart and compassion. In trying circumstances, you really do deserve our support. Thank you. I am very proud. So, going forward, we know this audience understands that Border Security and national security, migration crisis cannot be addressed simply by a country working alone. We must create and, we are building a shared set of responsibility and effective capability on behalf of our regional partners, that is what makes sustainable progress. We like to hear your ideas, voices, criticism, and i appreciate the opportunity to provide you an update. A look for it to the rest of our dialog, thank you. applause acting secretary, thank you very much for your remarks. This is one of your highest priorities. You have others. Hopefully well get to those. Certainly. Let me start with, asking some questions. Based on your remarks. You mentioned the catch and release. What does that mean for family units crossing the border and unaccompanied minors . What will happen, what will we see different . Sure. So the main benefit will be the confirmed release, if you cross with a child, we will take that away. We wont be encouraging people to come with a child, even if it is not their own. We have 5000plus instances of fraudulent families presenting at the border so far this year. We have been investigating significant trafficking and smuggling cases coming out of that work. What happens to those arriving, if there is not an asylum claim, there is a more streamlined repatriation. Second, for those that do have a fear of their home country, they can wait in mexico during abdication of their case. You mentioned several times the weaknesses in the immigration process. Im not sure people really appreciate. You only on one small and piece of that. Can you explain, kind of what the pieces are, . Its interesting i had a great conversation with doris myers former commission in which was talking about some of the challenges in the nineties how she on for fifth at the immigration cycle the department of justice all five parts. Five different agencies, i went just from the front of cbp and then three of the components secretary john planning, john operations john president just more challenging. If we had that many children at the border like 2000 kids, they depend on a judge as having a funding for additional beds. We have to go together congress to bring reports. Out of that 4. 5 billion 0. 6 million, simply 3. 4, simply for additional beds for kids. Its like its important to think about it is a system continuing in the cycle and of course the main cause for that was alluding to was failing to get immigration results and, at a good number of judges in the right places to handle cases. Weve done a lot of of innovative things some articles talking about ten courts they are not tense with our temporary at the border right now we do see existing to connect to paris the prioritizing border arrival so we have integrity in the process so Immigration Judges are controlled by justice department. Thats been part of the backlog because there are insufficient numbers of Immigration Judges. My understanding i was quite surprised is one, judges are unionized, and they can be asked to work additional shift and he cant be required to go to those places where you need the most. Are we seeking legislative change in the administration to get that fixed . I will defer to the attorney general in terms of management of Immigration Judges, but we have been working in Partnership Local case numbers, we are giving them an accurate testament of requirements for arrivals but also ability to work remotely. Weve been creating facilities at the border where they can come in by the sea, hearing cases of those arrival unfortunately will lengthen the time for those who are waiting for other cases at least in the United States but hopefully we get a handle on the challenge at the border, increasing integrity in the system so we are not constantly digging deep a hole. The attorney general has the authority to appoint Immigration Judges and, could presumably take have them temporarily assigned vantage it again these cases right . There are a lot of competing priorities and probably critical prosecutions to support you, know more about the doj than i do in your career. But we try to work in parts of the day i just providing a significant number of attorneys to support immigration in Corporate Court proceedings as well. Its got to be a shared responsibility and i think the managing this continually this effect the fact that its unfair departments. You talked about a critically of working partnerships with other countries Central America countries. I will ask you a more difficult question. President recently cut aid to those countries. How do you build strengthen the partnership while youre also cutting aid . I think what the president has asked i think hes been very clear about how he views the priorities and relationship with our Central American partners in particular, is through the lens of collaboration of migration. First and foremost. As we are starting to see government step forward, and we do have strong leadership commitments with the Outgoing Administration guatemala, incoming president like, as well as president hernandez in honduras the new and administration has really stepped up in the first few months with a whole series of initiatives. That commitment has been demonstrated and really in my meetings with we are having engage with everything every single month we are seeing a real sense of ownership of innovation which is new frankly in the last year from the region. What we can do then as look at how the restart a Program Programs that are working that are supporting our interest, weve already done that in Law Enforcement with attorney general barr, we go back to programs that we turned back on. The next step is to look at which of those eight programs already helping on the economic side and help reduce migration, help International Narcotics and Law Enforcement that helpful in reducing crime and violence are helping a good drop in violence communities that thats the process were undergoing run out its not completely stop. If you look at the overseas major support for a new again gee, in el salvador and energies a critical issue driving economic challenges of the price of energy textile, concerns as dramatic and advice and competitiveness even though they have good. Whats gonna be working in supporting our joint interest. So immigration is a top priority, terrorism and counter terrorism, Election Security. Lets talk about Election Security for a moment. In 2018, there were temporary Task Forces Set up dhs, and a sigh, fbi director said, 2018 was a dress rehearsal for 2020. Can you talk for a moment about why it is a priority . And what the departments role is in ensuring Election Security and integrity in 2020 . Sure. You outline my three top priorities. Board immigration issues, but really counterterrorism, and the emerging challenge with domestic terrorism. Cyber an Election Security, no question. Those are my top three. Have a tremendous deputy, and administration person, and Homeland Security professional, who will help us cover things we had a hurricane in between, dorian, was a great response by fema and partners. In terms of cyber an Election Security, i think chris is accurately describe. 2018 was a playoff game, against maybe not the toughest upon in the lead, 2020 will be the super bowl. We have to be ready. There will be more than one opponent, concerned on the field with us. What we have done is, maintain the momentum. We never took our foot off the gas after 2018. It really build out the partnership. The threat to our democracy is fundamental, if we have a disrupted election, or if we have foreign influence that changes perceptions of the american voting public. We have to address both sides of that coin. With the states now we, are engage with all 50 states and their election infrastructure, voter registration. About 1900 restrictions, among the 800 that it minister elections locally, constitutionally, locally administer stuff. We have put out practices globally, to the states and counties, we have a National Table top exercises, which have had tremendous participation and run through world real world scenarios we can expect. Vendors of the voting machines, we have taken a comprehensive reproach approach, it is a ban our top priority for cybersecurity. I know you saw someone by the name of kristen aspen. We will continue to drive this within a year, and Close Partnership with the nsa, looking at the Cyber Threats from foreign, and with the and fbi, leaning on the for foreign influences. Well each of the departments and agencies, like dhs has their own task force and strategy. In the counterterrorism world there is a National Strategy, and each agency has a supporting strategy. Is there a National Strategy focused on Election Security integrity, or is it just the individual agencies working . Together you know, that is a good question. In july, we had the opportunity as a team, the dni, the fbi director, myself and chris, to go over the house and senate. Several people showed up to that briefing. I think what emerged from that dialog is that we do have a coherent strategy. Everyone knows their roles, and there is plenty of information sharing. And essay and Cyber Command articulated a Clear Strategy on detecting, and ideally deterring cyber attempts to impacts our elections. The fbi talked extensively about the foreign influence expert, the dhs will support the states and locals on building that resilience, as well as supporting the fbi and resilience instead of trying to counter every potential element of foreign disinformation, it is about having voters who are armed, understand that theyre going to be bombarded with, and how to get good information to make their own decisions. I think it is a coherent strategy, along with major players. We are dedicated on Cyber Threats to the election. We communicate with all of our departments. Aggressively one more before i open it up. Just to touch on terrorism, you released a domestic terrorism targeted violence strategy last week. Can you talk about that little bit . Explain what you mean by targeted violence . It was a significant step and statement for us counterterrorism, strategic fame framework at the age. Yes we did do some new things as you noted. First of all, we linked we explicitly rebounds responsibilities which are operational, and the focus of dhs, it is where our authorities are directed. Rebalancing it with renewed focus on domestic terrorism, specifically and explicitly violent extremism and right supremacy. We also ordered this concept of violence as the ages equities can impact. That was intentional. We do see significant number of increase attacks with significant infallibly, coming from places that dont have a clear ideological motivation, or shopping on that. Theyre on a path to violence, and theyre looking for foundation, justification. In the chat rooms, and to apply these. For us, the capabilities that we have, through helping identify threaten vulnerabilities in public spaces across the board, and supporting the National Threat assessment center, committees understand risk factors. These factors are demonstrating concerns that someone has nose on the path of violence who want that to be shared with all potential intervention points. Along the way. These equities a flight Weather International terrorism motivation, domestic terrorism motivation, or simply a disaffected young individual who wants to take a violent act. We can help pour the whole community effort. Be able to respond more effectively with the multitude of things one one more. What role does gun control play in this . Why dont we seem to be able to get it back check legislation . To get we the administration with a bump stop regulation after the Las Vegas Shooting i dont want to get in front of the white house discussion on capitol hill this issue the attorney general his department is working with a white house and specifically the question. But its definitely something we need to work through but, on the dhs side we want to help prepare stakeholders jurisdiction with his first responders, health professionals, schools resources officers they have be ready to prevent and respond regardless motivation. At this time i want to ask members to join the conversation with our. Questions reminder that this meeting is on the record with a microphone please stand and and state your name in affiliate shun and please limit yourself one question to allow as many members as possible to speak. We will start in the front and i will work my way around. Thank you. From inaudible thanks for these remarks he gave a very detailed, concise you inaudible also said that legislative fixes were necessary and fundamental laws need to be changed. Could you outline with the administration would like to achieve in terms of change and also you mention the concept of asylum abuse. What changes for noise inaudible they that would address the key drivers of this crisis the first a deal is how we are able to how families of the border weve taken a regulatory step if this were allowed to go forward with federal court but the idea is to keep Families Together in an appropriate setting through expedited and fair immigration proceeding. Thats what we didnt offensive acting out of the obama and inspiration, j. J. Johnson made a decision to is the affair residential since, the first major crisis. It works very successfully we were able to adjudicate family asylum claims within 30 40 days on average. Again, these are facilities were educational, recreational, medical court dining campus like setting that obviously youre not ideal but better than a situation where families are released and thats the first change we as that would be even more durable and consistent in just a regulatory so we still have that request outstanding to congress and the second is really a key one, its modifying the very important trafficking victims traffic victims authorization protection act. Something we agree strongly with, High Standard for care for children in custody but also has a double standard in that in. And we are not empowered to repatriate unaccompanied children arriving from not continues country. So you can return a child in mexico working the mexican authorities, but you cant do so for Central America. Thats something the Central American governments dont like, they want some say whats happening with the nationals who are minors for one. And to, its providing an incentive for to put children in the hands of smugglers. What we propose to the hill is to provide access to asylum protection for children in country or in neighboring countries but in response if the child does not meet the requirements and still came to the border or avoided that process, will be able to repatriate to, ensure that we have integrity in that cycle and can see to protect moscow storms, possible in the field will be modified the initial asylum standard. Theres two parts of the asylum consideration where an individual crosses. If they are putting a proceeding they can claim fear of return, and whether it credible fear. The course of interpretation for that its possible improving an asylum case and its a very low bar we are seeing where they see an immigration judge it gets a ten to 13 been granted asylum by an immigration judge so that gap tells that people come back claiming fear in the be released in the u. S. Of this it is a significant changes that we are asking for an immigration law. In terms of the broader regional commitment we are all here into the International Law commitments. The best way to honor those commitments and we see this happening in europe as well, is to support transit countries, and soft countries and building their own capacity to provide those protection and that is the kind of strategy was shared responsibly that were trying to take. Thank you. Okay. Lady, all the way in the back. I dont know if i achieve the concise. Let me say, one question, no statements we will get as many questions. And thank you so much for speaking to us today. Your name and affiliation. I was wondering if you could elaborate a little bit on families just being detained and not released into the inter of u. S. What practically would that mean . What virtually facilities will they be detained . And with that require constructing new facilities . Where would the funding for that come from . And what would happen when Border Apprehensions go up, as has happened historically . Okay, i will try to be concise and build off of my answer to front, with a similar question. On this is no point, we have not seen flows to our border around the agricultural cycle, that has not been the case in recent months. For instance, from july to august we have seen the numbers increase for the past six years, but not last one. Traditional spring two summer cycle has not followed followed pattern. We see the flow responding more to anticipated success or failure than simple seasonal results. But families, what we are doing with Central American families now, the can doing catch and release process, if they dont have a fair claim, they will be repatriated in a streamline fashion. If they do have a fair claim, asked to eight under the minor protection protocols in mexico. They wont be cleared they wont be held on the u. S. Side of the border. We arent able do right now to complete an immigration proceeding, while in the 21 days we have by court order. After the regulations are abdicated and put in place, that timeline will be alleviated, and that will be a third option for managing cases of families. Being able to hold them together, inappropriate settings for immigration proceedings. Thank you. Over here, the blue shirt, yes, blue shirt. Thank you. Mister secretary, im with the l. A. Paper. My question concerns a number of businessmen arabs, who want to come to the United States who are investors in the country, who have businesses here, and employ americans. Many of them now in the administrative processing, can take ten months to two years. Previously, they receive five year, multiple entry visas. Is there a policy in place to give extra scrutiny to arab Business People . It seems that a number of them who need medical attention here, are not getting visas or any kind of humanitarian consideration, policy decision in that regard. Im not aware of this. Good question for consular affairs, partners at the department of state. Thank you. Right here up front. Strategies, good to see you ambassador. Good to see. You i think youve been doing a good job under the circumstances. I think everyone in leadership, in the dhs is in an acting position that i believe this is your efficiency of management, and further allows white house staff to be the controlling policy dhs, do you see any improvement in these positions . Caleenan thats your question ambassador i will just highlight a few, our director is Civil Service head of intelligence analysis we have a number of our key leadership components its own capacity something dhs we have a couple of numbered actors and if he can mean the deputy twice, which is really not fair because we are both confirmed in our head roles we do have a number of acting, specially immigrant immigration side of the department, that said what we do have as tremendous career professionals threw out, a number of these leaders are known for almost two decades coming along the system alongside each other in the department of security and we have missed a beat it can impact us on the hill sometimes having that vote of confidence and having those engagements but its something we are not worried about what we try to keep our Forward Momentum and that certainly my charging my goal. Thank you. All the way to i inaudible want to ask you a little bit more about el salvador. Something inaudible perhaps give us more details about el salvador situations very different in guatemala and el salvador. Guatemala has been a large is sending countries the u. S. Border this year almost 40 flow. About 80 of those arriving aboard a trans in guatemala. Very negligible its a different structure and situation in terms of how we collaborate, guatemala has a functioning in needs to be further developed we see similar on a smaller scale with salvador to support them in their own decision to join the high commissioner for Refugee Program in latin america and build their asylum commitments we think thats important, it could apply in the future the transit partners from neighboring countries for instance but its really to show this is a shared responsibility regionally the access to protection if you are being persecuted or the core conditions of asylum measures ocean, group, ethnic, religion nearby we want to meet each part where they are and each of the these will be operational in application. Thank the question im alex attorney at law refugee very personal for me i usually have very eloquent question when, i hear family, units crisis, arrivals those are people. Had my mom come here today try to come here today like she did 35 years ago my sisters and i dont think were. I want to know how you are challenging assumptions upon which by this listen tired immigration system is based. Are you changing the essentials maybe santa crisis maybe its an opportunity those conversations very basic conversations happening . What we are trying to do is make our immigration system work i would also recommend improvements, that are responsible for changes in patterns around the world. I do recognize deeply personal ways that those patterns are people. But i like to say in response is that the u. S. Is and will remain the most generous country in the world for refugees and Asylum Seekers. The combined processing and access for both refugees and Asylum Seekers in the United States is the highest in the world, it will be again this year, we will be next year we are also managing lawful immigration system has been directed with 750,000 when or naturalizations won every 42 seconds what we have to make that thats a Global Leadership responsibility for the United States and for hi. Thank you. I am the acting Deputy Director for Human Rights Watch in washington. There are concerns about your description of the migrant protection protocol as something that maintains the integrity of one of you, when filed an amicus brief in the federal court claiming that the program itself violates u. S. Obligations, when the over 40 dozen people now waiting in mexico for their hearings are less than 2 presented by attorneys represented by attorneys. I am interested in what you are doing to investigate whether in fact the commitments you refer in terms of humanitarian conditions, work visas, are actually providing safety for the migrants in the program, and whether you are at all concerned rate,hat representation serious of due process concerns raised by attorneys and advocacy organizations in the actual court proceedings. I am wondering what you are doing to address that. Sec. Mcaleenan thank you for the question. A couple of examples. I will be meeting later today with the mexican ambassador to the United States, something we do pretty much biweekly, to talk about the progress of our partnership on a whole series of issues, but specifically on the migrant protocol. We are constantly discussing ways to ensure the safety of migrants waiting in mexico on the program. We have offered financial support, which has been received by the government of mexico. They opened a new shelter in juarez in the past few weeks. I have been down there talking with partners on the ngo side on how the situation is working. We are hearing positive things about the government of mexico granting not only work authorizations, but temporary mexico, as well as Social Security numbers to access social services in mexico while they are waiting. This is a shared commitment of both governments. This is the approach mexico agreed to with the United States. Would looking at ways that we can make sure they have shelter, they have care when they are waiting for their hearings, it is something that is important to me and something that i am engaging the mexicans on every week. I would like to see the numbers increase in terms of co everyone are providing with information on legal providers as they are processed, and we are talking with government to make sure they have access. Thank you. Host right here. Thank you so much for your remarks on here in washington, d. C. , a member of American Academy of pediatrics. I would like to see if you can comment on the flu vaccine. Just out of concern for people coming through, but also for your own staff having contact with people who may have a contagious illness. You. Mcaleenan thank not to go back into our layers of complexity in the immigration continuum, to give you a sense of how were looking at the problems, first of all, we put in place procedures at the border after the tragedies last september of two children dying in custody for the first time in 10 years. We talked to the doctors that month about the challenges of what we could do better. Under the guidance of our chief medical officer, in consultation with h. H. S. In the Public Health service team, we are looking at ways to adjust our screening for more permanent medical procedures, that is due by the end of the year. We are looking at the flu vaccine issue very specifically. To be clear, when children are transferred to h. H. S. , they get the vaccine. When families and adults are transferred by i. C. E. They get vaccine,. The time at the border is intended to be very short processing and then movements to a more appropriate setting for a longerterm detention. We got away from that doing the crisis last spring. If we did that again, we would certainly look at applying a more broad flu vaccine protocol. You might not be aware of it, but we did that in south texas, where we had significant numbers of people waiting at the station, and we also had a slew of rick. We stepped up we also had a flu outbreak. We stepped up vaccinations after that. But i just wanted to assure you that we are looking at it very carefully, and we want to preserve the health of the arriving migrant populations and prevent outbreaks not only of the flu, but of critical diseases were seeing like mumps, chickenpox, in significant numbers of those arriving. Host mr. Secretary, two questions. One, there is consideration of moving the secret service, which would move from treasury into d. H. S. With the establishment of the department. I understand secretary mnuchin is looking to take them back. Where is that, and when do you expect it to happen . Sec. Mcaleenan i understand that that is in the interest of the finest Law Enforcement professionals in the world. My eyes have been open further to just how tremendous a group of people they are. Theyweek, they have unga, have the elections swinging into full flower, and of course, doing their regular missions at the same time. There is deep interaction both on treasury and financial investigations and cyber, and across the Homeland Security enterprise. I will be a huge supporter of them regardless of where they are housed in funded in the federal government, but we are always looking for opportunities to tighten and align the best possible way. Last question. Ien we were in government, was there when we established the three ounce liquid rule. I understand that there is testing of technology to be it what to do away with the three ounce rule. How far away are we from that. . Sec. Mcaleenan some of the to the logical developments with computer tomography and a. I. Assesshms to better substances, i am looking to apply that for countering ilioids in the ma environment, fentanyl and carfentanil. I dont think those are Science Fiction anymore, we are talking years in the cycle from development to application. We are expanding the use of highend computer tomography machines at checkpoints at t. S. A. , in addition to what they have in the baggage environment. That. O come on i think we will hopefully be it were to develop even better techniques in the coming months and years. Host mr. Secretary, thank you so much for being here. Sec. Mcaleenan thank you. I really appreciate it. [applause] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2019]