Citizenship and immigration allices began denying nonmilitary deferred action requests. Most of these request are made by sick immigrants and their family seeking to stay in the United States to receive critical medical care than is simply not available to them in their home country. House oversight subcommittee on medical deferred action requests part 1 medically deferred deportations the administration decided to cast out people and there some who be sentenced to death by this harsh policy. One person here today participated wanted to put dissipate in a medical study that extended life by tenure spirit to live she relies on a medical infusion unavailable in her home country. She will tell you about it. Mr. Sanchez suffers from Cystic Fibrosis, a disease that my family knows well. Im also the proud reppo senate of of the Cystic Fibrosis foundation and michael ray county, which has in Monterey County which led a campaign that transformed treatment of such a sit to fibrosis and made america a leader in Pioneering Research in that disease. Jonathans parents losses sister to the disease due to dramatically inferior and substandard medical care in honduras. He will tell you about that. Now they face the prospect of being sent back there. Was in boy from guyana the states when he suffered a seizure and was diagnosed with epilepsy or was visiting his grandparents who are u. S. Citizens. Thanks to deferred action his grandparents did not have sent him back to guyana where containing treatment for his collapsed lung infection and the removal of his large intestine was essentially impossible. His mother fears returning to guyana now would be like signing my sons death warrant. Badia, a 14yearold with congenital heart defect has gone beyond the left expectancy of doctors in spain. I think she is 16 actually. Im not your van the right information. Im not sure if i have correct information. An eightyearold girl relies on treatments in new york. His daughter his father used to deferred action to keep her in the eye states. From finis well and man and his wife suffers from a brain blood flow issue. Suffers from blessed emma. The administration told him to leave the country this month or face to partition. This policy threatens sick immigrants who may be forced to leave american end their lifesaving treatment. It threatens u. S. Citizens and lawful residents who rely on immigrant family members for financial and emotional support while they are here. Threatens crucial medical research in progress by undermining Clinical Trials that rely on the participation of immigrants with red diseases we was a route that the officials responsible for this policy must be held accountable for their recklessness and fill your to take steps to determine the harm that would have resulted from the policy. The Administration Decision to expel these immigrant was exacerbated by the amended time given to leave. Todays is not enough time attempt to arrange for proper continuity of medical care overseas. And ice squabbled about who was responsible for the decision and how simple mentioned and whether there was a new for stay request. As they bickered, families were left in panic and allconsuming dread and terror. Ice we consider stay request. But ice denied those reports. The only resource ice offered was to acquire vulnerable families to risk deportation before they could request stay of removal. This is what is facing every family caught in this bureaucratic tugofwar between uscis and ice. It appears no one in either agency contemplated or cared about the full up occasions of this change or the families involved. This administrations recent socalled reversal. The policy does not resolve the life and death consequences faced by many more families. After these heartwrenching realities became public, the administration backtracked and now said it would reopen all deferral requests pending on august 7. But there are still a critical questions left unanswered. Will anyone who applied after august 7 be eligible for relief . Does the administration intends to grant relief those who reopened applications . What will happen to families that are currently receiving deferred action, but will need to reapply once there to your state expires . Without answers to these key questions, the administrations reversal appears primarily aimed at avoiding a tidal wave of criticism from the public. It gives the appearance of change, without necessarily altering the essence of the policy. The Administration Must immediately and completely reverse this policy and continue renting deferred action requests in cases of people who are here today and those like them. There are people who applied after august 7 still facing the 33 day deadline to leave america. A deadline that will arrive within days or weeks for some people. That is on except will. Theres no desiccation that is unacceptable. Theres no desiccation for the incompetence of the decision and know just of negation for the recklessness of our government in this affair. I look forward to a serious rigorous analysis of these events and a discussion of how we can all move Forward Together to repair the damage. Is my honor to recognize our distinct shrinking member, miss roy from texas for his opening statement. Thank you mr. Chairman, i appreciate the witnesses to take the time out of your schedules and your life to be here. I appreciate your testimony today. I think that as we gather today it is important to remember and reflect that today is september 11. As a nationt we reflect on the tragedy of the terrorist attack 18 years ago today. A number of us on a bipartisan basis gathered on Capitol Steps moment of silence. Our thoughts and hearts and prayers are with all those affected by it and the family members. And partly also we member those who in the lawn forced me community, first responders, people ran toward buildings and want to thank all of our Law Enforcement community. Your wife andand your life of Public Service and supporting United States. Toould also note that i want thank the chairman for moving the hearing to today. There was discussion about it occurring in august last week would have been difficult for people to make it. We have better attendance this week. As we discussed this topic and it is an important one, the perspective is important. Seen ant summer we have in migrantsd surge crossing into our country. We psy growing he met crisis our border. At the end of august a growing humanitarian crisis at our border. Last year 18000 and in 2018 five under 21,000 is a total. 21,000 five under 521,000 we at three hearings in july on border security. I made a trip to texas and was pleased to be joined by my friend ohio mr. Jordan and my friend from texas, mr. Clout to look and see what is occurring in our southern border. The important conversations to have as a member of congress, an american, christian we should be compassionate and do the right thing, help those in need. The question, though is that we are nation of laws or nation of sovereignty and we are willing what question is in part to ask is are we willing to send a clear message of what those laws are and figure out how to navigate than a system and role of laws so we can understand how it impacts our nation, who pays for health care, and what the executions are . My understanding is the number of cases we are talking about is a thousand a year. Thats an important number. These are real people. Each one of those thousand this is actually important part we need to figure out the right process. Lets keep in mind, we are talking about a thousand cases right now with had almost 900,000 people who have crossed and been apprehended into our country since last october. Havem almost 600,000 been caught and released into our nation. We have seen nick in onslaught are trying toce figure out what to do. Uscis is overwhelmed. The system is bulging at the scene because we refuse to do our job. To send clear signals and make sure resources are there to deal with the situation at hand. The people whout deserve our compassion. I think all those people we are talking about here does our compassion including those of 9 who were abused on a journey00,000 because theyre going through a tough journey with illicit organizations in mexico, who are often in stash houses are being held for ransom, women or girls abused on the journey. And ignore that. While we talk about how great open borders are. For some reason the false theme of compassion hunger that is. At our southern border. How good that is paid lets talk about the six hunter whoand who are 600,000 are caught and released. Lets talk about Human Trafficking and how is getting worse because we allowed in guilt illegal organizations to extend into the committee. Overwhelmed who are and being trashed on a daily basis by members of the congress. With deceitful and outright lies disparaging these law officers doing their job. As we discussed medical deferred action we should ask serious questions. Does the process we have work yes or no. Looking outside and whos not know what the rules of the road are lets find out the rules of the road and follow them. Lets send clear signals and operate in the humane and compassionate way to handle those questions. What agency is best situated to handle status questions for those seeking health care. It ice . Lets send a clear message, what are the rules and then follow them. Im encouraged the agencies are here today to correct misinformation about the current status of pending requests. My understanding is that uscis requests pending and denial letters went to 424. All those will be reapplied and will be reevaluated. Certainly the question as to what happened in terms of the letters going out, how that occurred and other reversal of that. We should look into that. Uscis did not issue any issue to appear for any of those requests. Rejectedust 7, uscis 40 deferred action request. Since a temer fest there been no additional requests. That is what i understand in september 5 no additional requests. Deferred action can be revoked at any time. In determining deter deferred action, ill officers used their discretion in the totality of the circumstances to make a decision. Is that accurate. And when asked how individuals who may receive deferred action came to the country, uscis noted they do not track the data because theres no formal application to the process. I like to know about that. So now i think we will learn from of those in the hearing today. Reform, realal change we need to be discussing the root of the problem. The problem in my opinion is we refuse to stand behind the rule of law to make clear our immigration and border laws are enforced. We declare rules of the road and follow them. That is better for nation and our sovereignty and migrants who seek to come here. And those who are sick looking for care and for a just into main way to do things. I think we should stop sending mixed signals. Stop sending signals it is ok to come here illegally, to stay over visas, to empower illicit cartels. Cap a system with indentured servitude in our country because we allow this broken system to continue. We just had 50,000 apprehensions the south worse order in august. See news accounts how that is dropping and we should celebrate that. It is still enormous. Were still overwhelmed at the border even as those declined in the heat of the summer. At the peak they were 132,000 apprehensions at the border. As this hearing continues we need to member the line factors driving the crisis. We need secure the border and at your job. The pointing of fingers of the agencies and spewing of rhetoric does not solve the problem but real reform starts here in congress. I want to pass think the agencies for appearing in the this is to appearing and look forward to hearing from each of you in the hearing. Chairman mr. Roy, thank you. And i want to associate myself with your commons about 9 11. Im glad we could have all the memos of the house observing this important remembrance. Mr. Defazio i now want to welcome our first panel of witnesses. It is my pleasure to have you here. I thank you for the pains youve come join us. Bueso,nesses are maria shobo wadia atz, fiona donahoe, the irishino, international immigrant center. Former thomas hoemann, director of u. S. Immigration and customs. Mr. Defazio probably witnesses able, please rise. Raise your right hand. I will swear the whole panel in. Youse raise your hand, do swear and affirm your the testimony you are about to receive give is the truth, whole truth and nothing but the truth, so up you got. Let the record show the witnesses all answered in the affirmative. Please street directly into the mic. You have five minutes and your written statements will be made part of the objective part of the record. At what you have to say even if you do knock it all in. Your recognized. Would like to thank members of the House Committee on oversight reform for this opportunity to set before you and share my story. Maria valera. Im 24 and came to the u. S. When i was seven to participate in a, a trial to save my life. And the life of those like me. I came here legally and have been a legal resident for 16 years. Setugust 13, the u. S. Cis a letter giving me and my family 33 days to leave the country. We were encouraged to learn our case will be reopened to our future is still in question. It has been overwhelming for my family and me because the medical treatment i need is not available in got smaller. In guatemala. I was warm born with a disease that only affects 2000 people in the world, a rare lifethreatening disorder. By Life Expectancy was short and the doctor said i would not limit my teens. Theive into my teens at time of my diagnosis there were no approved therapies to treat it. At the hospital in oakland the doctor was conducting Clinical Trials on the therapy. He desperately needed more patients for the research. I was selected for the trial, my family was invited to come to the usa on to be tv set so i could participate in the study. As a young child it was hard spinning so much time in the hospital. But i understood it was an honor and a privilege. As i matured it was a reward to know what i was doing would help people. I continue per spinning and, of trials to this day to help the next generation to be treated with my disease. Fda approval of the first and only treatment thanks to this study. The children with the disease in the u. S. Now have a safe and effective treatment that will help them live longer and have a Higher Quality of life. Me if i stop the treatment my condition would decline quickly and i could die within months. So after the fda approval, my family relocated to california. So i could continue receiving this lifesaving treatment. I haveion to mps6, paraplegia and use a Power Wheelchair from ability. I have agents to take care of me and others making my Health Care Even more complicated. Locatedecision to wreak my parents to relocate my parents left their family and friends. Engineers a computer and sponsor for an h1 visa got a sponsor for an h1 visa so he could provide for us. A changee petition for in status and were granted for humanitarian reasons we renew every two years. This year due to changing policy, a request was denied. I want to live. Im a human being with hopes and dreams. Challenges, ical have worked hard to achieve my goals i graduated some of come loudly from cal state and was director of the students for the concord campus. I established a scholarship to help a poor student with physical and mental disability and i network as an advocate for people with rare diseases. The summer i was an intern at california sunday member for district for california sunday member in oakland. I have an assembly member. Theve stayed positive with help of my family and am grateful for the opportunities i received here. And im grateful for the humane the gratian policy that have made my life your possible. Without life i want to make a difference for others. I asked congress and the ministry to come together to write the wrongs of this changing policy. Parson issue. This is a humanitarian issue. Our life depends on it. Thank you. O mr. Sanchez . Jonathan eduardo boy that im 16 years has Cystic Fibrosis a disease that affects perley the lungs. Lungs. Arily also the digestive system and pancreas. I want to tell about my life in my native country in honduras and how my life has changed since i came to the usa in 2016. I was born in tighe c, address and lived there for the first 12 months my life. My parents found that i have cf and it was scary for them. Three years before i was born they had a daughter named samantha. She was born with a problem in her intestines. Unfortunately the doctors in hud dorset did not a how to treat her. Or how to help her in honduras did not know how to help her. Six month after she was born, my sister passed away. Heart breakingty moment for my parents. One month after they noticed she had Cystic Fibrosis. And they are now worried that if i go back to my country, the same thing will happen to me. In 2016, we came to the usa visas, with our tourist to search for a better Cystic Fibrosis treatment for me. When i go for the first time to boston childrens hospital, in me achusetts, they made pulmonary function test. The result told me i had only 40 of my palm and a function. Pulmonary function. The doctors told my parents i sent to the usa i came to the usa literally dying. They sent me home with cf medication that i took and that i would not be able to get my country. When i got on the treatment i got tired because i was not used to it. Test. Ctors may be another this time he gave the answer of 60 to 69 of pulmonary function. Now my baseline is 90 to 97 . Right now im using a medication that helps the Cystic Fibrosis mutation live for time. But it is only into countries, england and the u. S. Requires a daily Home Treatment hour or twoalf an hours if it is longer. Basically ant is part caution and nebulas are. I also take medicine for my pancreas, lungs, stomach and other organs affected by cf. However, since he got the letter denying medical deferred action application it is telling us that we need to leave the country and 33 days or we would be deported. My parents and i felt the stress scared, sad and mad. It is incredible he unfair to kick out kids who are in hospitals or at home getting treatment to save their lives. Us thatare lawyers told the medical Deferred Action Program was canceled, i started crying, telling my mom i do not want to die i do not want to die. If i go back 200 us, i will die. Honduras, i will die. After this i feel so tired emotionally and mentally. I cannot even sleep properly. I feel disappointed with the usa government, that they canceled this program. [coughing] sorry for that. From my point of view thinking that deporting sick kids like me, it would be a legal homicide because in our countrys does not exist any type of treatment. Thank you for our time. Mr. Defazio thank you, mr. Sanchez. Dr. Wadia . Ranking member jordan, ranking raskin, numbers and tears of the committee and members of the committee. Im a law professor at penn state law and universe he parked testifying in my individual capacity penn state law and university park. My practice focused on Immigration Law which i worked in for 20 years. I published two books with nyu press. My first book, the beyond aportation, binds nearly decade of research on the history of prosecutorial discretion and deferred action in emanation cases. Anned,ond book, band b examines Immigration Enforcement and discretion during the first 18 months of the trump administration. Deferred action enjoys a long history in both democratic and republican administrations. First called nonparity status, deferred action operated informally for most of the 20 century. In the early 1970s, as part of his effort to support his ents, john lennon and oak attorney reviewed 1800 deferred action cases, many involving medical and humanitarian factors. In 1975, ins issued guidance on deferred action through operation instructions. In 1996, the operations instructions were moved into a new publication known as Standard Operating Procedures or from uscis 2 sop describe how an individual or u. S. Representative and request deferred action. Does notction provide a formal legal status. But the Legal Foundation to use it is crystal clear. The immigration statute, federal Court Decisions and legal opinions by inf and dhs have recognized the legality of regular andion. Published during oregano administration explicitly identify deferred action as one basis for work authorization. Uscis has used deferred action in medical and manicuring cases for decades. And humanitarian cases for decades. It is longstanding and customary. In one dataset i received in 2011, nearly half the cases i can identify involved serious medical conditions. Many of the cases involved more than one factor. Was granted to a 47yearold schizophrenic, who overstayed his visa, was assignable lawful permanent resident, and had siblings were u. S. Citizens. Over 100 of these cases involve people whose homes were destroyed by an earthquake in haiti. 578nother data set, of cases obtained from uscis in 2018, 336 were based on medical issues. One case involved a mixing female who entered the United States without inspection and had to u. S. Citizen children. One of her children had down syndrome. The other child had serious medical conditions. Our received a third data set from uscis in 26 team. 2016,revealing in again revealing many requests were based on serious medical conditions. One was a child with burns on over 65 of their body. And parents of children with several policy. Uscis with Cerebral Palsy. Ofis has a long history handling cases for vulnerable continuens and should to process humanitarian action cases. Preserving an affirmative deferred action process at uscis allows a person to request what is often a lifesaving protection, without having to undergo removal proceedings. And also saves the government resources. Further, nearly every legal opinion from inf and dhs on prosecutorial discretion, instructs officers to exercise prosecutorial discretion at the earliest stage of the enforcement process. s jurisdiction over deferred action, forces a noncitizen to instead exhaust the enforcement process. Who has served who is served by playing a cancer patient who might ordinarily request deferred action uscis at uscis into the removal process . No one. Improve uscis should transparency. By publishing statistics about deferred action, and providing greater notice and information to the public. Mr. Defazio thank you, dr. Wadhia. Dr. Donaher . Ranking members, chairman and distinct members of the committee thank you for the opportunity to testify. Im a pediatrician at Massachusetts General Hospital for children. Much of my clinical work focuses on the care of older and immigrant families. I come here today to express the profound concern that in my college share over uscis potential termination of the medical deferred Action Action program. Our hostel cares for children who have benefited from the program. Including a young child with a rare genetic condition that causes seizures and domicile challenges. In the country of origin, this childs condition is still andcing stigmatizing deemed unworthy of care. The family was told the child would die within a year. Recusing to accept that nothing to be done, the family left everything behind to seek a Second Opinion at mass General Hospital specialized clinic devoted to this genetic condition. One of only a handful of such clinics in the world. Next to the familys determination and the care of a dedicated, a team, the child has lived a longer and much richer life. Attending school, and achieving some ability and social skills. None of this would have been possible without the medical Deferred Action Program. Now the childs status is due for renewal at a time when the program may arbitrarily end, jeopardizing hardwon progress. When pediatricians care for medically, like children, we often do so with latent breath. The children are by definition vulnerable. Whether they suffer from cancer, Cystic Fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, Cerebral Palsy or one of any number of other diseases, they require care from a Multidisciplinary Team of specialists. Depending upon their underlying condition, and error as simple as a missed dose of medication, a dislodged breathing tube or a poorly covered sneeze can fell catastrophe can spell catastrophe. For many children their health is so tenuous that travel is unsafe. There clinician would hesitate to transfer them within the United States never mind overseas. Should they be forced to return to their home countries their care maybe impeded by stigma and misunderstanding or lack of basic resources. Access to safe food and water is not a given in many parts of the world. Chronically ill children routinely die from malnutrition or infection as a result. Unreliable electoral grids threaten the health of children who depend upon interventions such as pumps, ventilators or medications that spoil without consistent refrigeration. Particularly frail children can die from heat related, locations for want of excess air kissing. Severe air pollution and countries poses a dire hazard for children with underlying lung disease. Immuno comprised children are poorly equipped to handle exposure to endemic infections diseases, such as malaria, diarrhea, measles and pneumonia. Health care systems in many low and middle Income Countries are still in their day since. Simply transporting acutely ill child to a hospital can pose an insurmountable challenge in areas without ambulances are safe roads. Supply chains are inconsistent so if the child makes it to the hospital the medications and equipment may still be unobtainable. As may skilled personnel needed to administer them. Sadly it is not hyperbole to say children beagile sent to such an varmints amounts to them being issued a death sentence. Medical care to ease. Perhaps no interventionists more important than maintaining the presence of a loving family merit the bedside. Terminating the medical Deferred Action Program would mean medically complex u. S. Citizen children struggling not only with the fiscal burden of disease with the Emotional Trauma of forced separation from their immigrant parents, no child can be expected to heal under such circumstances. This is not just bad medicine. It is unconscionably inhumane. The u. S. Department of health and Human Services building here in washington, d. C. Theres a great quote from its namesake, hubert humphrey. It reads, the moral test of government is how it treats those who are in the dawn of life, the children. Those who are in the twilight of life, the agent. And those the aged, and those in the shadows of life, the sick, the needy and the handicapped. My colleagues at mass general and i respectfully urge uscis to brace the moral imperative to them permit our young patients that opportunity to heal and thrive. Mr. Defazio thank you doctor. Mr. Marino . Chairman raskin, members. Im here my capacity as the head of Legal Services at the irish immigrant center. We provide services to ogres from ireland at hundred 20 countries around the world. In our Legal Program we have represented dozens of families facing the horrific circumstances that always accompany and application for deferred action. Of deferredity action cases i have seen, an individual enter temporally and then fell ill, was greatly injured or received a terrifying diagnosis. Sometimes the illness or injury makes travel impossible. Sometimes life sitting treatment is not available in the home country. Arevast majority cases child whose life is at stake. We rep that children with Cerebral Palsy, muscular dystrophy, a child blinded by cancer in her eyes, a child who is suffering multiple seizures every day. We represent children confined to wheelchairs connected to feeding tubes and tracheostomy tubes. In each of these cases there is a family with no desire to break any law. But who sibley cannot leave without putting a life in danger. He simply. The government has always provided a release valve, process by which a family could come forward rather than cowering in the shadows over a sick child. And lather circumstances, explained to u. S. Cis why travel had become impossible even deadly and the government would agree to allow them to continue their childcare. I know lifes have been saved by this pogrom. Ive also i note that lives have been saved by this program. Ill snow children who have died. The brief reprieve by the program bought those families precious time. Government actions that would shock the conscience and betray fundamental values as a nation. I was shocked three weeks ago when i received the first denial notice and over the next two weeks a dozen more. They all contain the same boilerplate leg which. Longerield offices no consider these field applications at all leave in 33 days or we may initiate removal. The decision to terminate the program was done in secret. Theres no prior notice. No opportunity to advocate for the program peered and opportunity to prepare my client for those denial letters. Theerely reached out to all families applying or in the program already. I have at some of the Difficult Conversations of my life of the past few weeks. Clients ask me what the government asked xm to do, to disconnect a child from lifesaving support . To put them on a flight they may not survive . They asked me what i would do. We found many applications for parents whose u. S. Citizen children suffer these life turning diseases. In these cases, the termination of the program threatens yet more family separation. Their parents now having conversations about whether to orphaned a child. In order to extend his or her life. When the reality of what they have done became public, uscis initial response to deny that they had limited the program. They claim they sibley transferred it to ice. Of course, our clients wanted to know what that meant and how much danger the valleys were in. Media outlets were contacting our center try to get us to ask lena to them. I had to tell them the only information i had, i was gay from them. I was getting from them. The transfer to ice appears to be false. Theres no new procedure. Theres no new program. Ice officials have since confirmed again through media that they have no program in place. And no plan to them permit one. At no plan to implement one. Release lastpress week, we began to get noticed that some cases might be reconsidered. We still do not know what that means. The press alert References Department estate regulations. It is unclear whether they are applying the same standard or if they have made up a new standard we do not know. The press alert and these were consideration notices indicate the program has been terminated moving forward. It leaves no option for families in these dire circumstances now or in the future. Because the program was terminated in secret, people do not know and they kept filing. We filed applications as regionally as august 16 and we have no idea what it means for that case. Is a criticaln literally life Setting Program that impact a small number of families, but in an absolutely measurable way. Notmately, uscis has backtracked so much as doubled down. It delayed the consequent as of the decision for a handful of families, but that is it. Unless congress or the courts can either convince or compel uscis to reinstate the program, everyone in it and everyone will that would otherwise benefit, is in a horribly worse position today. Thank you ray much for your testimony. Mr. Homan . Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today on the support and subject. Is the important exercise of prosecutorial discretion. Holman, imm passionate about this issue and im glad we can touch on a different aspect of it today. Before im done with the details pertaining to the subject to todays hearing i would like to pause and reflect on this being the 18th anniversary of the 9 11 terrorist attacks on our homeland. May god have mercy on those innocent victims who lost their lives and their families. And maybe continue to protect this country against those that want to destroy it or the freedom we enjoy in this country. I want to salute and honor the Fallen Soldiers that took to fight, to those who attacked us and made the altman sacrifice. I will never forget. Regarding todays hearing i would like to clear a common misunderstanding. It is not lawful to have a Deferred Action Program at any federal agency. The word program conjures the idea that an entire class of aliens if they meet certain criteria are entitled to a benefit. In this case deferred action, that is not the case. When you rake it down to the most basic underpinnings, deferred actions exercise of prosecutorial discretion. And plus controlled a fresh discretion whether his minister closer deferred action or deferral may only be exercised on a casebycase basis and not for class according to set criteria. And two, by lawn person agencies. Again, prosecutorial different discretion is rightly only executed exercise on a casebycase basis. And then only by the relevant agency, Law Enforcement agency with the statutory authority. Im here to answer questions about that. I understand this hearing is important. Thats why i accepted the offer to come here today to discuss members of congress and the american people. One death that could have been prevented is too many, but i have noticed the house is quick to schedule hearings whenever there is a policy change or operational change as some think, and usually, they are wrong, that this change may someone whompact knowingly violated our laws. An unsecured border results and not just a humanitarian crisis but a National Security crisis. We continue to have hearings which contain inaccurate and misleading titles that only served to push a false narrative about the actions of this administration and vilify the brave men and women that serve innocent in this ration, you are choosing to a nor a bigger problem that affects many, many, many more lives, many more than this recent policy change. If you want to effect meaningful change that will save countless lives, you need to refocus and add to this hearing today. Where are the hearings to discuss the crisis on the border and the loopholes that are causing most of the crisis . Where are the hearings on existing asylum law loopholes that are being abused . Where are the hearings concerning the agreement that has resulted in the unprecedented flow of family units resulting in countless child trafficking units . Criminal cartels are making millions of dollars a year because of congressional inaction, but i see no hearings on this. This humanitarian crisis has caused a National Security crisis because half the Border Patrol is no longer on the front line. Wheres that hearing . You will not address sanctuary policies that provide sanctuary to criminals and put our communities at risk. Many children and others have been derived and murdered by criminal illegal aliens have been raped and murdered by criminal illegal aliens, but i dont see any hearings on that. Our nations heroes and ice and Border Control are under attack. There families are being attacked and believed in public and in churches and schools. Wheres the hearings on that . I hear nothing but dead silence on this issue. What i do here are members of congress joining in on the hate. Truly unbelievable. I ask that you step back and take a breath. Attacked this administration a little bit less and address the underlying problems that cause those problems. Do your job and ask the loopholes. Make hearings meaningful and take legislative action after the hearings rather than staging more political theater. No member of congress should be against securing our border. Theres no downside of that. Downside unless illegal drugs, less illegal immigration, taking money out of cartels desk cartels hands taking money out of cartels hands. Im glad to be here, but we need to talk about these other issues. Thank you for your testimony. We will now begin the period of questioning from the members, and i will recognize myself for five minutes for questions. On september 2, after the thismmittee demanded hearing, the administration announced a partial reversal of the new policy, in particular, stating that they would reopen requests for deferred action that were pending on august 7, 2019. By and your family were told uscis in a letter dated august 13, 2019, that you need to leave the country by september 14, which is this coming saturday. I would like to put the letter up on the screen if we could. In the meantime, quickly, let me ask you a question you were recruited to participate in several Clinical Trials. Is that right . Thats correct. For yourg youre here own treatment but also to . Articipate i know if we look up on the screen, its as if you fail to depart the United States within 33 days of the date of this letter, they may issue you a notice to appear and commence removal proceedings against you with immigration in court. Would your was your request submitted before august 7, 2019 . We issued our package on may. Receivedn have you anything about your case since this letter came on august 13 . Received a letter on august 13, and then we got another letter from the uscis that they were going to open it, but it is still uncertain, the situation. We dont know what that means. uscis as i understand has not explained to anyone with a practical up occasions are what the Practical Implications are. Mr. Marino, in light of this putative reversal, what concerns do you have for people who requested deferred action before august 7 . I would not call it a reversal because the alert still indicates they have terminated the program. They just that they would finish the cases that were pending on august 7. I have clients with Sick Children now who need access to this program and are not able to file. Homan had advised against using the idea of a program, saying this is selective casebycase granting of the deferral. What is your response . Mr. Marino i dont see the distinction. There are lots of programs that have individual decisions made in them. If he does not like the word program, thats fine. Mr. Raskin do you feel confident that request like ms. Buesas will get a full and fair review from uscis . Mr. Marino i hope so. I told my clients that i hope those they will consider will get the same consideration they have always gotten in the past. This language in the press alert about some state department regulation, we are not sure what that means. Mr. Raskin there is even more uncertainty about the future of critically ill kids whose family specific did requests after august 7. What will happen to immigrants and families who fell on the wrong side of this august 7 deadline . Mr. Marino i have no idea. We have filed one case after that and received nothing. Orhave not received a denial understanding about new procedures in place. Mr. Raskin these are people in relatively similar circumstances . I have about 19 families we represent and they are all critical medical conditions. Mr. Raskin how would you describe their mental condition . Mr. Marino it has been absolute chaos. People are terrified. We have had more cases in my office with crying clients then ever in history and that is something to say in immigration Legal Services process. It has been devastating. People are terrified. Its their childrens lives. Mr. Raskin dr. Donovan, let me come to you. What is the attitude of doctors, nurses, medical personnel given the current context about what has happened . We areovan frankly, rather appalled. These patients are incredibly sick, and they need care, and we would like to provide it for them. Mr. Raskin ok, and my time is expired. Mr. Heiseto recognize for his five minutes. Mr. Heise thank you, mr. Chairman. We are a compassionate country, and that goes for both sides of the isle and the vast majority of people in this country, and it is an honor and privilege to be able to help those in need, and i welcome and thank everyone on the panel for being here today, but there are issues that arebefore us today that broader than what is on the surface. We have organizations, for whople, like uscis and ice are now being forced to make decisions they should not be forced to make because this to pass anduses deal with serious Immigration Reform and implement it. This committee continues the same type of political posturing and attacks toward this administration regarding the border crisis while at the same time doing absolutely nothing to address the problem and to offer authentic solutions. If the democrats genuinely cared about the plight of migrants and unaccompanied children, sick immigrants and so forth, then lets come to the table and lets try to get solutions instead of continued political posturing. Let me just review a few things in recent months that are unproductive activity. In june, a member from this committee from the other side of the aisle remarked that the United States is running concentration camps on our southern border, vilifying the , our bordern of ice patrol agents who are putting their lives on the line every day to defend us and protect this country. In a group of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle issued a press release criticizing the emergency border supplement till build that provided increased funding that would have helped. Membersof my democrat visited the cbp facility in clint, texas, later alleging the and thaty conditions individuals were being forced to drink out of toilets. We can address problems if we are willing to get to the root of the issues and address them. We have the authority to do so, but there are things staring us right in the face that we are totally ignoring, like amending our broken asylum process, reviewing the floris settlement agreement, increased funding for border security. I have been at the border. I think i have into six out of nine sectors. Im not seeing any of the things that have come from my colleagues on the other site of the aisle. Ive seen great, hardworking members of our cbp and others giving all theyve got to do a job well done. Weve got to address solutions and the solution is not over border policy. The solutions are not to decriminalize Border Crossings. Thank yousk you again for joining us why would having an open border policy pose a Security Risk . Now,r example, right Border Patrol has about 50 of their staff offline. If you are someone in this world that wants to do harm in this country, youre not going to buy a plane ticket because theres too many background checks. You are not going to get a visa because theres too many visa checks. You will enter the way millions of others entered, especially now. Decriminalizing Border Crossing is that really is itself an open border policy . Mr. Homan its another enticement like Free College Education and medical care are rewarding illegal behavior by giving people citizenship. Its another enticement for these people to put themselves in harms way, come into this country and put themselves in the hands of criminal organizations. Mr. Heise what does it do to the morale of those on the border, our agents trying to do a job when members of the press for members of Congress Push false narratives as to what is going on down there . What does that due to the morale . Mr. Homan it hurts the morale not only of men and women who carry a badge and gun but their families. The spouse leaves every day to protect the safety and security of the nation and their kids are attacked. My kid was attacked. He had Death Threats against him. Its out of control. Policy doesrders not solve anything. Its going to create more people coming to this country illegally. More women will be raped. You, mr. N thank heise. Your time is expired. You can watch the entire hearing on cspan. Type in deferred deportations in search box on the homepage. Here is a look at our live coverage monday. On cspan at 7 00 p. M. , democratic president ial candidate Elizabeth Warren speaks to voters in Washington Square park. At 9 00, president Trumps Campaign rally in rio rancho, new mexico. On cspan2, Arizona Governor doug ducey and u. S. Chamber of commerce executives hold a News Conference on trade and infrastructure. The u. S. Senate gavels in at 3 00 p. M. To consider the nomination for u. S. Ambassador to the united arab emirates. Later at 7 00, Supreme CourtJustice Neil Gorsuch talks about his book, a republic if you can keep it. The studentcam experience valuable to me. For past winners of cspans studentcam documentary competition, the experience spark their interest in documentary production. I attend university and i o and the fund part about that is i get to be right in the middle of caucus season and i got to meet 70 different candidates and because of cspan, i had the experience and equipment and knowledge to be able to actually film some of them. We are asking middle and heisel students to create a Short Documentary answering the question what issue do you most want president ial candidates to address during the campaign . Include cspan video and reflect differing points of view. We are awarding 100,000 in total cash prizes, including a 5,000 grand prize. Be passionate about what you are discussing, to express your large or matter how small you think the audience who will receive it to be. I know that in the greatest country in the history of the earth, your opinion does matter. For more information to help you get started, go to our website, studentcam. Org. The white house did not release a weekly address from the president. Senator Catherine Cortez masto gave the democratic address discussing the need for universal background checks for guns. The address was given as the nation approaches the twoyear anniversary of the mass shooting in las vegas. Hi, im senator Catherine Cortez masto of nevada and ia