Department of Homeland Securitys is playing a central role. Trying to safeguard our Natural History from the banks hearing. We are assessing with the department of Homeland Security needs. We are looking at missions within the coming year. We are making several investments to combat investments through michigan, as well as all across thes. Cyber attacks continue to pose serious threats. This past february, they disrupted thousands of pharmacies and hospitals. Last summer, microsoft faced a dangerous cut outsources criminal organization. This included foreign governments to our citizens. It is critical that we receive the resources that it needs. This includes Significant Resources for the leading Cyber Security agency. We have a chance to discuss the departments plans to secure our border. The irregular flow of migrants at the southern border continues to a string on Law Enforcement officials, as well as neighboring communities. Members of this community, they worked incredibly hard to negotiate a bipartisan border bill this past year. It would have been the most significant border bill in decades. Trying to strengthen our presence on the board. I would certainly like to take a moment to thank them. Thank you for your hard work, developing that compromise. Fortunately, they didnt move forward. I have many colleagues that would like to talk about solving a problem. It is so much easier to throw rocks. Even though the bill has potential to make substantial changes, it also would have provided Critical Resources for the funding operators. They got in the way. This is opposed to the problem solvers. These longstanding challenges, will have his budget with a chance to actually meet that president joe bidens budget request, includes resources for more Law Enforcement officials. This will keep fentanyl from reaching our communities. We have enough resources to the northern order. I was proud to secure funding, to establish the northern order center. This will create one unified focus, keeping the northern border secure. This is from both of our borders. Natural disasters and climate changes, has some of the most serious threat to the homeland. Ill be proud to work on efforts to mitigate damages and natural disasters. This is earlier on the devastating effects of wildfires. We certainly appreciate the work that the senator has done for that issue. We want to continue Disaster Response efforts did we have and how this proposal helps continue that work. We have different aerial systems, more commonly known as grounds drones. Drones can pose a serious secure threat to sporting events, concerts, and so forth. Trying to address this problem. We are going to expire this in may. We will keep working to make sure that we authorize and expand that we can continue to take citizens, air orts, critical infrastructure, and the secretary will provide a key perspective on how to address this increasing threat that drones posed to our communities. This is more serious than ever. The war in serial israel is going to be looking at anti arab, antimuslim actions. At the same time, they will continue to pose a specific domestic terrorist threat to the United States. Im proud to work with the department to address this problem. Making sure that we are adequately tracking the danger. Im glad that this proposal includes resources for the nonprofits and dirty grant. This gives organizations and houses of worship the resources they need to stay safe. I look forward to hearing how else we will look at those deposed opposed by domestic terrorism. These are a few examples of the many security threats that our nation faces. The solution is what we will do to have them proposed in the budget. This will be major for us to talk about today. We have a productive, professional discussion today about the Department Lands to communicate and keep americans safe. I will ask Ranking Member paul, for his opening remarks. Yesterday, your impeachment trial ensued in the senate. Ill see this is a happy day, or a day that i take relish or pleasure in. It is a sad day. In that debate over policy, this is what you have been telling the truth. We have disaster at the southern border. A disaster that is very southern to. This disaster cost them the loss of a loved one. Joe smith from venezuela, then they waltz in. There are rules about paroling people under Donald Trumps administration. A very small number of roles. The administration has become a blanket. He testified with the senator last year. The administration has admitted that it has a public and if it to have migrants come in as migrants. Million people come by, and we dont see them at all. Somehow, that is better. There is a Public Entity that did thats changing people as a group. I cant help but be said for the family. They didnt have to have this. He wasnt paroled for any of those reasons. We will get to that question and answer. Either you dont have the knowledge, but you ask about this all the time read how do they get into this country . What is the statute that allow you to do it . How could you sleep at night having done that . There are laws. This is about trentons administration, and what they believe in. It is about whether we have laws, and if you are going to enforce them at all. The last administration was enforcing the law. They were coming across. They have committed heinous crimes and murder. You will never get her back. That man came in. Apparently, there were let go because they said it was full. When the camps are full, you just let people in. We have a system. What is your name . We fingerprint you, then off you go. This is on the watch list. They were found to be on the watch list. We have people coming to new york, and we give them money. We put them in hotels. They assaulted police officer. Coming out past the cameras, they are flipping the bird to everybody in america. That is a sad day for america this isnt a matter of policy. We dont look at a more secure border. You are supposed to enforce the law yesterday was a sad day. The majority went ahead and set the precedent, that there wasnt going to be any examination did congress didnt rise high enough to be looking at high crimes within these demeanors read you probably just didnt feel true at all worried this was a fix that would have allowed 5000 per day before we would have taken extraordinary measures to try to slow down the influx of migrants. 5000 per day, was going to let them from the limits, still come to the ports of entry. It was a whitewash. All of the laws under Donald Trumps administration, still are under the administration. You can simply say that we are full up. This was the best thing that happened to them and others. You just dont utilize those powers. We just think you are not obeying the law. We had to reach a member of the cabinet. They chose not to, one way or another i look forward to trying to get some of the answers today. I hope you will tell the truth. I hope you will just simply say that you dont know about the family. You should know about the murder worried i hope you explain to us how he got to the country, and why that happened. Speak this is stand and raise your right hand these were the testimony you give before this committee will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so hope you got . Thank you. This is the seventh secretary of the department of Homeland Security. Distinguished career over three decades. Hes an official employer in the private sector. Director of integration services, and the Department System for the United States attorney district. Thank you, once again, for being in the committee. Chairman peter, Ranking Members, distinctions of this committee, every day, the department of Homeland Security carries out missions at the American Peoples expense cyberspace, borders, and leaders. This is going to be entering our country. As we speak, they are engaged in the response to the tragic Francis Scott key bridge. The combat the scourges of human traffic. This includes exportation and so much more worried this includes the insufficient budget did they deserve full support and they are looking at fully resourced dhs. Fiscal year 2025 budget. This is reported for both goals. I love the opportunities to discuss the post budget. This was founded in the wake of 9 11. We have high visibility targets. This was our primary concern. The foreign threat exists. Now we confront radicalized offenders, and already residents here in the United States. This budget requires an 80 billion increase for the nonprofit security program. This is so that dhs can help better communities. In the nationstate, they are targeting the critical infrastructure. They are trying to have the funding to improve. Fentanyl is reeking tragedy across communities. They have arrested more individuals for the related crimes within the last two fiscal years, then in the previous five combined. This is including funds for targeted operations. During a time when the world included our hemisphere, experienced the greatest evil since world war ii, dhs has maximized our available resources. The last 11 months, we have returned more than six and 30,000 individuals that did not have places to stay. Every fiscal years and 2013. The president s budget will further expand these efforts we have high x appointment personnel. The immigration system, was fundamentally broken. Congress has not updated the Immigration Enforcement law since 1996 28 years ago. Only congress can deliver on more important but for Border Agents. This includes science and technology. Our administration worked closely with the bipartisan centers, on a National Security supplement. This is going to be us remaining steady to work with you on this bipartisan action. Last year, fema responded to more than 100 disasters and they are helping survivors in the aftermath of major disasters. They will save lives and taxpayer monies. This is across all missions that. Trying to retain a different workforce. The president to includes 1. 5 million, to maintain our commitment to fairly compensate the tsa programs. The recently passed 2024 budget, will help with many of our operations. This was enacted, and appreciates a highland search. This includes support for cities dealing with related challenges, and cutting Critical Research and development funding. We are supporting that the extraordinarily talented and dedicated Public Servants of the dhs need and deserve. Thank you, mr. Chairman. The secretary is here. Two rounds for questions. I have a lot of members that want to be here. This is a very challenging time for everyones schedule. Im going to be very strict on the time. Seven minutes on the first room for everybody. Try to adhere to that with her to our colleagues at all want to ask questions and we will then take a break before the second round, to give the secretary some time. Roughly 10 minutes. We will try around 90 minutes. Whatever comes first, we will play it by ear. Five minutes. This is in the second round. I will be more aggressive than i usually am because of the interest in this committee to make sure that we stay to the time. I will start by leading by example, staying within my time. Secretary alejandro mayorkas, i am focused on ensuring that the dhs and the doj have the authorities needed to counter the evolving threat posed by Unmanned Aerial Systems or drones operated by bad actors. Your departments current u. S. Authorities, are set to collapse on may 11th, 2024. Leaving major events like the indy 500 and the new york city fireworks on july 4th, unprotected. Unprotected from is growing drone threat. My question for you sir, what would losing this authority mean to our combined efforts to protect the homeland . Mr. Chairman, the loss of our authority to counter Unmanned Aerial Systems, would leave us less secure, and less safe. The proliferation of unmanned cyst is for adverse uses, has only grown. The capability of the systems, has only increased, with respect to speed and distance covered. Payload carried. That system quite compelling. While i appreciate the dhs operation, i believe they have resulted in seizures of over 5500 pounds of illicit fennel. This is in the first two months of fy 2025 alone. Clearly, more needs to be done. Looking at dhss budget request, im concerned that the department is relying on congress to pass a supplemental appropriation, to advance the fight against fentanyl and synthetic opioids. My question is, how will the dhs address resources that address this challenge if Congress Fails to take action . Unfortunately, it has in the past did we do the most with what we have. We engage in strategic operations. We have nonintrusive inspection technologies. We deployed operating labs. We have criminal organizations to work with international partners. The department of Homeland Security do so much with the limited sources that they have. They have provided us with Additional Resources to combat fentanyl. This is no other than i have seen. You throughout my 12 years as a federal security. Ranging from cocaine to black tar heroin. I was looking at watch listing and screening practices from our nations are words. This report, including concrete recommendations that dhs should implement in order to enhance National Security. Also upholding travelers dignity and rights. Dhs, addressed the reform and politics. This is a holistic manner. We are establishing a watch listing and streaming Advisory Council and my question for you, what actions has dhs taken so far to begin to address these three recommendations and report . Mr. Chairman, we were published. We were certainly acting upon it read this is the highest purpose to ensure the safety and security of the American Public treated doing so well complying with civil rights and liberties. We have privacy rights. Department of Homeland Security, looking to get their own practices. We are looking at the offices of civil rights and civil liberties. We are also working with other departments and agencies. This is with respect to the recommendations, and the important recommendations that are reported the issue. I still have remaining time. Im going to stop the remaining time. I need to relieve temporarily, to look at the Armed Services committee. Senator, this is going to be here right now. I recognize the Ranking Member for his comments. Secretary alejandro mayorkas, your ministration, president joe bidens ministration, over 1 Million People have been paroled. Whats the criteria that you have used for parole individuals . Ranking member of the parole process, this is one that we executed according to the law that we make. This is with respect to significant public benefit. We have the urge for humanitarian reasons. For what reason was the alleged killer paroled . How were they allowed to come to this country . Ranking member paul, first and foremost, all of our hearts rake for the family. Secondly, the perpetrator of this heinous, criminal act, needs to meet justice to the full extent of the law. I will not comment on the particulars of the case. The matter is being prosecuted by authorities now. This is in the case of whether or not he murdered her. Why was he paroled . My same answer. You are refusing to give the answer . I have provided my answer. The document says that the subject is accused of killing him. He was paroled due to detention capacity. It was full. The detention capacity, is that allowed to be used for reasoning with role . Let me assure you that individuals who propose a safety threat, are the highest priority for detention. The reality with respect to this administration, but every administration that proceeds me, is that the number of encounters has exceeded the number of detention beds available. Is a statutorily legally allowed to use the excuse . He was paroled two to retention capacity. Is that allowed under the law . My prior answer stands. This means you are not going to answer the question . No, Ranking Member. I have answered the question. You havent. You have testified previously. You have testified today that there are two reasons that you can be paroled. Urgent humanitarian need, or significant public in a fit. The reason listed, parole, due to retention capacity, is this a lawful reason for paroling someone . Ranking member, paul, i am not a legal expert in this regard. Let me assure you that when an individual is encountered at the border, and they are deemed to be at the time of encounter, a threat to Public Safety and National Security, they are a priority for detention. If not, they receive a notice to appear, and replace enforcement proceedings. The number of individuals encountered at the border, exceed the number of beds available in our detention facilities. That is not something specific to this administration. This is something that has been remaining true. They might have more beds in mexico. The administration when you came into office, reversed 92 executive orders of donald trump demonstration. This allowed them to have people remain in mexico. Allowed them to probably have 90 less paroles than you have. You come to us, and you say you only had more registration and legislation, why dont you bring back the executive order that seemed to be working . You got rid of them for little purposes. Why dont you bring back the 92 e