Transcripts For CSPAN Former 20240704

Democracy. A former Drug Enforcement special arrangement joins other immigration and National Security experts to testify on immigration and Transnational Criminal Organizations at a recent Homeland Security hearing this runs just under three hours Homeland Security will come to order. Without objection. Open border policies and how they advanced cartel crime in america. I now recognize myself for an Opening Statement. Southwest border is wide open. The evidence is clear more than 5. 5 million encounters god away since 2021. Nearly 380,000 encounters of unaccompanied minors. A Record Number of retinal poisonings in the United States largely driven by drugs flooding across our southwest border. The crisis is a direct result of the secretaries dereliction of duties. It is being published later today and makes all this clear. Todays hearing and subsequent hearings and the consequences of these policies. Before i get to the subject of todays hearing i want to briefly talk about some of those numbers because i am sure we are in for a few days of unjustified celebration about what they mean every member that you hear the other side of the aisle talking about is still a number far above crisis levels. Even by the measure of president obamas former dhs secretary. We are still averaging more than 3000 a day. Jeh johnson once said that 1000 overwhelms us as demand is a crisis. We are also seeing a number of aliens arriving at the port of entry continuing to skyrocket jumping to more than 45,000 in june. This fiscal year already exceeds last years by more than 100,000. Last june they were around 15,010,000 a year before that. Why the change . Well, tens of thousands of inadmissible aliens are taking advantage of the new patrol parole programs and his illegitimate one policy accepting his no questions asked released into the United States. More than 170,000 people have used the app to schedule an appointment since january alone. Do a numbers are even being released by the administration. Everyone in this room knows these individuals have no basis to enter the country. Everyone else also knows he is playing a massive game by shifting through the ports of entry. Again not disclosing the numbers. The outcome, tens of thousands of inadmissible aliens entering customs and Border Patrol being released into the country. It is the same. Lets just be honest about that. Simple fact. The secretary insistence that this is legal is a lie. It is against the law passed by previous congresses. And as we are going to talk about today, humanitarian cost of the secretaries are still horrific. The most organizations in the western hemisphere. We will hear from our witnesses and lay that out in detail. As you listen these groups are turned our border over to pave the way some president is the level of control easy of organizations that would serve as both are southwest border in the interior of our country for the boldness with which they operate in open defiance of Law Enforcement and the profits they are breaking in. Both americans as well as migrants are suffering from their wrath. It is virtually impossible to cross the southwest border without first paying the cartel. People are killed simply for trying to do so. A secretary mayorkas policies to pull thousands of Border Patrol paid off the line and release them as quickly as possible this is not the work they signed up to do. The former chief of the Border Control recently told us has made many agents feel like smugglers themselves, their words not ours. Cartels purposely overwhelmed Border Patrol agents with illegal crossers in with illegal cross or someone areas the distractions they can smuggle other aliens and drugs across the air is just vacated those agents. Amazingly secretary mayorkas admitted to the senate under oath in march he was not aware of this aware of the strategy. Meanwhile his attorney general did note the tactic lose used by the cartel. Business is so good the cartel had devised a complex system for massive number of people trying to illegal cross the southwest border. For instant cartels use wristbands as im showing here to inventory those who are attempting to cross. Secretary mayorkas told the senate he was unfamiliar with these wristbands too. The violence and atrocities are not just being felt along the border. Our American Communities throughout the country are suffering as well but a lot of violence can be traced back to the cartel because they often subcontract their mayhem to function at the cartels National Distribution network. A recent New York Post headline quote hundreds of migrants working for the cartel brazenly took over San Franciscos drug market thanks to lack of policies end quote and another outlet reported cartels of started offering quote in a largescale unquote in montana hundreds of miles from the border. They are engulfing communities across the country and it can only be tracked back to the cartel. A tidal wave of human smuggling and trafficking has led to an increased number of car crashes on their streets putting Law Enforcement innocent americans and migrants themselves at risk for lunch or told us his Department Arrested 169 human smugglers and is on pace to rest more than 900 this year. Another sheriff said this county deals with three to four chases per day involving groups of 20 or more per the cartels are recruiting american teenagers to drive with them implicating her youth in these horrendous crimes. Meanwhile innocent americans like maria have been killing crashes by those smuggling illegal aliens on our streets and highways for the transnational whose motto is to kill raped control for taking advantage. The senior Border Patrol agent has said the gang members attempt to evade arrest by exploiting the mpox of migrants into our country. They were close with the cartel to support our persons on both sides of the border. According to issa 40 of them as 13 members them as their team members the rest arrived in the United States unaccompanied alien children. And as 13 forces when the girls into making money for the gang. Cartels amid a record amount of money over the last two years. The cartels made an estimated 13 billion just from Human Trafficking and then theres the fentanyl. It cost as little as 10 cents to produce a fake prescription pill laced with fentanyl that can be sold for 10 to 30 bucks and 10 kilos of fentanyl is worth about 20 million. Only cost 50,000 to produce and every dollar the cartel breaks in covers takes the cost their 109,003 dozen 2022 and 107,041 alone many of them from fentanyl the cartels are continuing to push fentanyl into our push fentanyl and tour country in record amounts stringer comanches one family at a time. Im sure we will hear today the same tired talking points quote most most fentanyls is seized at ports of entry but a couple of things are worth noting the majority of fentanyl the disease has comes to the ports of entry. By definition its apprehended per cartel knows theres a higher risk of getting caught at the borders and secure and we dont know how much the cartel is using to smuggle drugs with my friends of on the other side i want to play while cbp supports a number of drugs they have also said they believe they only catch five to 10 of whats coming through either at or between the ports. Finally the amount of fentanyl being seized is increasing. Mark seizures were up 100 from the beginning of the year according to former chief raul migrants are also victims of cartel atrocities. Once individuals are smuggle into the night states the cartel of and continue to ask extort and use them but according to mayorkas on the part departments than increasing quote alternative forms of payment including migrants who participated in controlled substances across the border or to work off those debts through criminal activity after they arrived in the United States. As many as 60 of unaccompanied minors for kidnappings flooded by the cartel and other migrants are sexually abused and assaulted her and one victim told the New York Times you have to pay with your body end quote. Some have been forced to allow their children to be abused. I cant imagine anything worse. Secretary mayorkas and present bidens policies encourage Record Numbers of people to make the journey to the southwest border that represents a Business Opportunity for the cartel to make thousands on every person they smuggle instead of enforcing the laws written by this body removing for detaining those who have no valid claim to enter mayorkas dhs is flashing the neon sign open. By releasing millions of innocent inadmissible aliens a night States Milito people are willing to bet they won the lottery if they make it to the border under the said administrations policies. The cartels are more than happy to assist. I wonder majority of americans think the cartel have more control of our border than the Biden Administration appeared 61 of america according to a poll last fall for this Border Patrol agents overwhelmed at the historic level of illegal immigration under mayorkas watch the cartel have while mayorkas is implemented his open border agenda spot that the white house has failed a meaningful pressure the impact impacting not just miss new mexico but her country so new mexico but are countries of the United States must the most powerful nation the world and yet we do control her most sovereign southwest border according to chief ortiz. If thats not evidence of mayorkas failures i dont know what is. I now recognize the Ranking Member of the gentleman from mississippi mr. Thompson for his Opening Statement. Thank you very much. Mr. Chairman in nearly two decades that i have served on the panel to panel created in the wake of september 112000 attack have seen this committee come together to address some of the most important Homeland Security issues facing our nation. From supporting the establishment of the departed of Common Security in the early days to implementing recommendations for the 9 11 commission and more recently been cybersecurity legislation. Theres a record of bipartisanship service to Homeland Security. Over the past seven months the character of the Homeland Security committee has fundamentally changed from a Bipartisan Solutions focused committee to a platform for the most extreme. To be honest im embarrassed for the republican majority wasting the committees time and socalled investigations that this entire endeavor is nothing more than a political stunt. Patched in backrooms so extreme mother republicans can conflict power for the speaker hearing is yet another attempt to appease the crowd who are demanding. That same goes for the report we are hearing from the press that republicans plan to release today. We begin been given no time to review this document lets less offer any input. If its anything like their republicans released in the last hearing rife with errors and full of extreme mother rhetoric void effect. Meanwhile the republican jury is squandering time and opportunity to deal with the real work of our committee and seven months since we took her oath in the 18 covers the republican majority has proven itself to be uninterested in legislating in incapable of serious oversight. Instead of holding oversight hearings that will strengthen our nations security improves our department of Homeland Security authorities to carry out its complex mission the majority stuck the southwest border groundhog day. The majority has held variations of this hearing to. Repeating the same hearings over and over again so extreme maga members get their way is not oversight. Dragging Border Patrol chiefs away from their jobs for politicizing is not oversight. Dont get me wrong addressing problems at americas border is a serious task. Oversight is about following the facts and not going on a fishing expedition for the facts dont fit the extreme maga narrative. The fact is this administrations plan to craft the challenges that are southwest border undersecretary mayorkas leadership and entrants to imports of entry in the southwest border since title 42 is terminated on may 11. The number of encounters overall has plunged in that time. Between may 12 in june 2 dhs repatriated more than 38,400,000,000 citizens in more than 80 countries. The Biden Administration has taken unprecedented steps to combat the fentanyl crisis through whole of Government Strategy bent on disrupting the fentanyl trade and addressing substantive abusive home. Operation than to know what secretary mayorkas. Up is disrupted criminal networks and frozen financial assets. An operation established with the ice in june to surge resources to ports of entry to combat fentanyl smuggling and break the fentanyl supply chain. Leveraging intelligence to target precursor chemicals and the movement of illicit fentanyl and operation rolling wave with inspections of the southwest border. Its recently named Border Patrol chief jason owen said in the transcribed interview on may may 5 we have a very robust targeted Enforcement Effort so we work handinhand with our invested partners actively disrupting degrading in dismantling networks and those pipelines of the smugglers. He then went on to say because we have more detection capability, because we have more on the way and additional processing coordinators we are in a better situation than we were in years past. Present bidens secretary mayorkas leadership and hard work have paid off. Our borders are not open to those affecting outside lawful pathways are being sent home. The facts do not support the republicans case. We dont impeach the president or cabinet secretary because you do not like their policies and you surely do not impeach an officer of the United States just to placate the most extreme wing of the Political Party he it is time to move from this sham impeachment effort and do your duty as overseers and legislators. Present bidens fulfilling his duty and secretary mayorkas is doing his job. The republican majority doesnt like what they are doing or how they are doing it then they should get off their soapbox and work with democrats to pass by persons for security and immigration legislation. Mr. Chairman i mr. Chairman i yield back. The gentleman yield. Other members of the committee reminded their statement may be put in the records are pleased to have a distinguished panel of witnesses before us today and they asked that her witnesses please stand and raise their right hand. Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you will give before the committee Common Security in the United States hope how several president spoke the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you god . Let the record reflect that the witnesses have answered in the affirmative. Thank you. Id like now to formally introduce her witnesses mr. Jones is an international respective Border Intelligence expert with decades of experience on the southwest border. He is a retired captain for the Texas Department of Public Safety intelligence and Counterterrorism Division and supervise human intelligence operations in multiple nations including leaving the longest 24 7 order operation in Texas History Operation Secure texas. Is responsible for leading multiple investigations targeting car to leadership in klavern with u. S. Intelligence community to save and numerous lives both mexico and the United States. Ms. Hahn is director of policy studies for the center for Immigration Studies with a d. C. Based in search of attitude that studies the impact of immigration policies. Shes been at the center since 1992 and her area of expertise is immigration policy and operations covering topics such as visa programs immigration benefits and immigration enforcement. Ms. Vaigjam is an expert on Public Safety having been the director of the public director funded project. Prior to joining the center ms. Vaigjam was a Foreign Service officer for the state of art where she served in Belgium Belgium and trinidad. A retired special agent for the Drug Administration he dedicated 28 years of his life to service and currently working as a National Security and Public Safety executive who appears on National News networks and to the subject Matter Expert to mr. Walz was a special agent in charge of United States department of justice special Operations Division for almost 10 years before he left the federal government. He also periods they held the position the chief of the new york Drug Enforcement task force which is the oldest and largest Drug Task Force in america. Ms. Greg kading, did i pronounce that correctly is a senior fellow in the Strobe Talbott center for Security Strategy and technology uniform policy program at brookings and the directive initiatives on nonstate actors in the codirector of the Africa Security Initiative brooking series on opioids. The opiate crisis and International Intervention the codirector of brookings project improved global drug policy imperative perspectives beyond 2016 u. N. G. A ss 2016 as well as another brookings project constituting local orders. Shes an expert in International Internal complex and nontraditional security threats including insurgency organized crime urban violence. I think the witnesses for being here and i now recognize mr. Jones for five minutes to summarize his Opening Statement. Simi chairman green Ranking Member thompson and distinguished members the committee and honored to be here at our Nations Capital to talk to all of you today about without question what is the most significant National Security threat and Public Safety threat to the American People in this country and that is our common enemy the cartel. After returning from the Texas Department of Public Safety i was so frustrated at what was not getting out about their evolution that decided to publicly myself did that the day among your border every other week riding with Law Enforcement trying to eliminate activity and the impact of the American People. What you have not been told as these are no longer drug cartels. They have evolved into organized crime in 2006 into an insurgency in mexico. I was there on the ground with people and we were stunned at what we were seeing. Six to 10 hour gun battles with. 50 caliber machine guns grenade launchers rpgs of rockets and they truly were fighting back against the most elite special forces and the government. This was the insurgency and what brought that about they brought two forms of discipline. Special forces came to work for cartel and what they brought with discipline and tradecraft and from that every other cartel was forced to create enforcement ring and rise to the occasion or fall and thats where you see such wide variety of violence, hyperviolence across mexico and in 2010 at tripwire wind to say that began executing mass migrant as to the rim may remember the 72 migrants killed in san fernando mistreated men women and children killed chopped into pieces because they had have a saying you cant count the body that doesnt exist. The final revolution has turned into two true parallel governed mexico. 2015 the operation are most elite soldiers wanted to get ahead of the generation they were shot down. We went after guzman and 2019 in the president of the country was forced to release him. What you were told because the cartel ahead of them had so many peoples heads at knife point ready to cut them off if the president would not release them for this is where mexico is. How does that impact you and how does it impact America Today . Im telling you with everything i own if we do not designate these cartel as foreign organizations for least the tools of National Power using year after year to date is just the beginning for the cartel will not stop because they cant stop the this is what you are not told. U. S. Intelligence agencies should be briefing you. They do not fear you. They fear their rivals and the reason they continue to escalate in hyperviolence and capability is because if they dont their rivals could completely take them over. Today they have evolved again. February 2021 i wrote the story. This is the adjustment ladies and gentlemen from the smuggling of people i cartel into the trafficking of men women and children. These are wristbands the cartel each one represents a different organization. They began moving them into debt. We have never seen this before. What im holding in my hand before you today i want to be very clear this is americas new. And now we have moved these people throughout the country and send a virus of death across the nation and im happy to talk to about that as i wrote that story in february 2021 and finally want to say this they will continue to increase because they have a validation to all of you. Look at fentanyl. What we are seizing the streets is not regular fentanyl. They have gone from regular fentanyl to an introduction of silas ian. China have evolved around in the last part of this i will say because im running out at time you had to take aggressive action. Texas has sent 9 billion to fight the cartel and its not enough. What we need is authority beyond the Law Enforcement capability. The mothers and fathers across this nation the indicator to you that this government is on the right track to end this problem in this country is only designate these cartel to get the tools of National Power and go after them. Thank you all for having me today. Ms. Vaughan you recognize. Good afternoon thank you. President biden and secretary mayorkas have inherited the most secure border we have ever seen and they discarded the security in favor of what they want and what they call a more humane more equitable system. What they seem to want us to normalize immigration. The system is far from humane. Plenty people benefit from it to be sure employers seeking a split of workers and government contracts but the biggest winners of the criminal cartel. They are breaking in huge profits made possible only because the policies give them in the supply of formal probe customers that they can exploit and abuse. And hundreds of thousands of them are children. The human cost of these policies is unconscionable and for some irreparable and indeed most worthy of the hearing. The three Main Elements of the Biden Mayorkas policies or catch and release policies for illegal border cross or set of broadband more the cbp1 program which gives out about 1500 appointments to the illegal aliens into support entry in the dismantlement of immigration in the interior so theres next to no threat of removal for migrants including those who abscond from this which is the majority and importantly so the employers and traffickers of these illegal workers can avoid scrutiny of their hiring practices practices. But in officials have claimed the cbp1 policy has been a success and because the Illegal Migrants no longer had to do business with the cartel and we should be skeptical of these claims. First of all cbp1 can only be used in locations in northern mexico and the migrants still had to get there and for most that means paying the cartel through smugglers. And the cbp1 appointment itself turns out to be yet another opportunity for them to extort migrants. Of course the bad guys are still coming in with unaccompanied minors. The situation is nothing to brag about. We have merely gone from truly catastrophic to very bad. And to the extent that there is a decline in illegal entry is also helped by the efforts by texas border to block the most popular crossing points. They have been shockingly indifferent to their policies with the migrants. The dangers began on the journey with a highrisk of robbery and assault, distortion injury and illness and as we have discussed the abuse continues after they get there. Some people pay a discounted fee and give up their children to the smugglers to use to get to other single adult and others agree or are forced to drug deals in large numbers make it down payment on smuggling to be paid off and fear driven forced lathe labor in debt bonding. We now have a Thriving Market for cartel involved Human Trafficking and according to one source about one fourth of the victims are children. Part of this is because the policies of how these kids are handled once they are brought into the country as unaccompanied minors Border Patrol has turned them over to hhs as Assembly Lines where the goal is to turn them over to his sponsors than is possible with few questions asked and not surprisingly they end up in servitude working in factories processing plants on farms or in the worst cases traffic. Kids are vulnerable targets for criminal gangs like ms13 and ms13 many of whom came here to the very same policies and are looking for new recruits are commodities to make money for gangs to some of the worst cases that i have ever seen or happening close to hear it in Montgomery Frederick baltimore Fairfax Loudoun and Prince William cos. All had perfect cases per cartel sent to forced labor to the summit called narcos lavery not just drug dealers. Farmworkers in oregon and california. The Public Safety threats that come on top these Public Safety threats, top of other significant cost to taxpayers and we have effective tool to fight back against the cartel directly but the most obvious steps to secure the border and control in illegal migration to deny the cartel the opportunity to make money off the migration of vulnerable people. Thank you ms. Vaughan and not now recognize mr. For five minutes. Thank you for the opportunities opportunities become is very topic. After 28 year career career with dpi been supporting Law Enforcement agencies over the country and is up with the grieving families that are burying loved ones on a daily basis but i believe the safety and security of america must be a top priority in the Current Border policies are placing every american the cartels are taking over and taking advantage of the vulnerabilities of the border. They are working with the chinese transnational at levels levels that there was in this country and operating with no fear. Brave men and women that cbp are doing tremendous work but they are distracted every day because they are dealing with the tsunami of migrants coming in from over 150 countries. How can any reasonable person in america think the Current Situation at the border which is known protecting all of america is safe and secure makes no sense. Look at the historic numbers desperate ideals every day 9161 dead americans headlined in the news nine in Cleveland Ohio the most ever in a 24hour period. Last month another Public Service alert for five dead in a 12 hour period. What about rai lewis the legendary nfl player forced to and the famous actor Robert Deniros grandson dead or baby elijah in florida with the fentanyl mixed in a blender. Look at the s. Wedding cram the country and we dont even know who they are or where they are or what they do. Look at the 143 migrants apprehended he chaired the border. Was only three 2020 during the last administration unless your picnic is how many criminals got away and this is common sense. You dont have trained expert to understand this. Look at the Record Number of migrants making the treacherous journeys baking desert and this man is look at the a Sexual Assault and the to migrants on the journey. Mental illness are on the rise and americans are turning to drugs for help and unfortunately the cartel have tainted the illicit drug supply. Allowing cartel operas and unidentified people from around the world to enter the country illegally at record levels is enhancing the ability for criminals to kill americans. This is not the government should be doing to keep us safe. You dont had to be a border immigration expert to understand the administrations policies related to the border a recipe for disaster and im not a maga, pay . Look at the recent statement on china made by fbi director wray. Lets think about it. China is the most the biggest National Security threat in this country in based on the warning based on a warning look to get the facts. Already this year 14,655 chinese nationals many of the military age men are apprehended on the border and 1540 increase since last year and over 10,750 increase since 2021; to ruin here what are they coming for here military age men from china and how many are in those that the Bombing Campaign from china continues from the chinese labs. This is a tranquilizer. Its rotting people from the insideout could Mike Mccallion made the statement i will never forget it selling fentanyl from americans is great Foreign Policy in china is right on point. Synthetic drugs made in mexico and china are a gamechanger to the sn chinese criminals are fighting Money Laundering services which i can answer questions about. Its not a red or blue issue. Its a red white and blue issue and every american should care. In my view the chemical weapons are destroying our country rapidly and u. S. Law enforcement is a corrupt highlevel government of mexico corruption. You cant rely on software and crime and cropped leaders in mexico to save our kids but as far as i know theres never been a organization in the history of america that has killed as many americans. The cartel should be dealt with severely for what they are doing to our communities and families through the Law Enforcement has done tremendous work and hats off to all of them. 400 million deadly dosages taken up the street and Homeland Security investigation cb on Operation Blue lotus 8200 pounds a fentanyl two months. Everyone had to think about how much is being and how much is there to here. These are the biggest drug threats we have ever seen up without Border Security we have no country. Thank you very much an Ranking Member sorry for wasting your time. I now recognize in your Opening Statement said this was a charade or waste of time to kids are dying at record levels and i dont appreciate that. To mimic the Ranking Member is not recognize. We will continue with our witnesses. Ms. Felbabbrown youre recognized for five minutes. The Brookings Institution is a u. S. Organization in research and political solutions. These are my personal views and not those of anyone else. Criminal groups particularly fentanyl in china in mexico and smuggled them into the United States. Some 90 of fentanyl seizures occur and ports of entry and this is likely the most. Cartel predominately higher u. S. Citizens across supporting a citizens represent more than 85 of those convicted of fentanyl charges. Drugs are hidden frequently in personal vehicles or as illegal cargo. And ports of entry scanning technology authorized by the by is expected to significantly increase the percentage of inspected vehicles and cargo. A highly pernicious development is as establishment as in mexico the pharmacies that sell fentanyl laced drugs and other substances like antibiotics and prescriptions. These are located and linked to cartels although they operate in plain sight of authorities to authorities refused to take action against them. Increasing payment for precursors originating in china are now a significant problem endangering Public Health and safety and repercussions for the United States. Mexico the collapse goes far beyond the high rates of homicide. While the administration of the president labrador and cartel to the groups are increasingly becoming more and violent as well as governing large economies and institutions and the significant people in seeking to influence corruption. In contrast in the United States because of the high effectiveness of u. S. Law enforcement policy criminal groups do not behave in the same way. Indeed the overwhelming majority of serious crimes the United States are committed by u. S. Citizens. U. S. Cartel and Law Enforcement bargaining with mexico is constrained to the u. S. Reliance on mexicos migrants in the United States. If United States were able to pass a comprehensive Immigration Reform that would allow Legal Process for those seeking opportunities in that state you would be far better able to reduce the government to meaningful cooperate on narcotics and Law Enforcement issues. In its engagement with the government the u. S. Should prioritize shutting down pharmacies that sell fentanyl and fentanyl laced drugs and the dismantling of Drug Trafficking networks and seizures and more Effective Press to get tarrio action. Rather than designating criminal groups and supporting organizations United States should intensify border inspections that requires adequate resourcing. U. S. Customs and Border Protections impersonal or legal ports of entry as well as developing packages of leverage such as indictment for denial against officials who sabotage the rule of law in mexico and facilitate activities. The United States should adopt whole of government approach when it comes to fentanyl smuggling operating a wide range of u. S. Including the department of state to support u. S. Law enforcement. Because the cartel and no longer specializing simply in Drug Trafficking but a whole variety of legal and illegal economies the approach needs to be multifaceted. That means increasing intelligence collections against a wide variety of cartels such as crimes against nature and the number of u. S. Fish and wildlife agents investigated as well as other specialties. It also means bringing a wide set of Law Enforcement access to organized crime. Thank you. Thank you mrs. Felbabbrown i want to make a statement members the witnesses and members of Committee Committee whip rules and the rules are that you direct your comments to the chair soap you direct them to another member on the dais or even within the committee we dont do that unless we ask for time to yield and you can ask a question and their procedures on how to do that. Heres comments for the witnesses should be directed to the chair and i want to make sure thats clear. Mr. Chairman . The gentleman is recognized. I appreciate the comment but i wrote to raise a point of order here. I dont think ive ever seen a wit as personally attack a member like that at a hearing. Clarify youre no longer recognize. Mr. Maltz a better way to say what you wanted to say would have been to say someone on the committee or to say its been said that this is a waste of time and you could say thats offensive to me and their americans dying. You could make a comment like that but to directed at the Ranking Member is inappropriate and i think everyone would agree with that. With that i recognize myself. Mr. Chairman . Mr. Carter youre recognized. Shouldnt our role would be to discourage disrespectful behavior do not coach on how to do a more appropriate way . Hold on, hold on. Let me be clear here. In previous hearings we have that individuals attack individuals on my side of the aisle. Hold on. You cannot address your comments to an individual about an individual. You can say secretary mayorkas lights but you cant say secretary mayorkas is a. I know its a subtle difference with the rules of the house are very clear on that. So the point is you cannot direct anything other than to the chair, thats the rule and that the rule we will keep. And to reserve the corpsman respect were rather we agree to disagree no member republican democrat or other no member of the committee should disrespect a member of as a witness and the witness a second ago was a direct attack. Id like to go a step further if i may. If we are going to entertain a debate on the city to be twosided. If we are going to entertain a debate i insisted be twosided. I will recognize you in a moment. Dont do that again. My only comment is that we should always preserve decorum and respect. We can disagree without being disrespectful. Youre disagreeing with me and i appreciate that and what im saying is there a way to say it without directing your comment against an individual. You can say secretary mayorkas lights but you cant say secretary mayorkas is a. You can say i dont think this is a waste of time and im offended when someone suggested is a waste of time. I think making that point clear is important for the whole committee. Mr. Bishop youre recognized. At the outs of the Ranking Member said he was embarrassed that we would undertake this hearing that was so it was embarrassing to him. That witness responded to that because it was an attack on that witness. Every witness on this panel and every member of this dais at like to know why a member of congress because he sits up with this dais can feel free to disrespect people. Our invitation to testify in declaring what they have the same about you being killed by fentanyl poisoning across this country, but that is not where this committees time. And i will say another thing in every hearing that i have attended where witnesses testify they address the remarks of the chairman into the Ranking Member. Ive never heard it done otherwise and ive never heard anybody address the Ranking Member and i dont know why this will be the first time that would be brought up and i object to it. We are going to respond to that. I would would buy his members that under clause one rule 17 the rules of the house they must observe the house standards at the corpsman debate but they must speak and act respectively and not use disorderly words unparliamentary and language such as impugning the motives of their colleagues or words that are personally offensive. I would encourage the members to adhere to the house decorum and proceed in order. We need to get on with this and members will be recognized by the order of their security were five minutes of quitting additional round of questioning may be called after all members have been recognized and i recognize myself for five minutes of questioning. My first question is to mr. Jones. The cartel is essentially a taken over allowed the Drug Networks inside many of United States cities and if you look at headlines just in the past few weeks about San Francisco alone they have basically seize control and are coordinating to seize control of the drug trade potentially taking over all the criminal networks. The attorney general Merrick Garland has submitted to the senate that the Cartel Strategy was to plug the Border Patrol and by tying up Border Patrol is Border Patrol is doing basically catch and release system the drug cartels will split people around the other side. Can you tell us how this policy of the open border and the strategy of the cartel have combined to allow them to take basically takeover crime in the city . Chairman to wait works on the southwest border you hear the term all the time offers a control. No one ever tells you what that means and thats what im going to share with you today. I want to answer questions and that the utilizing network, their scouts and lookouts. They check eight to 10 hour and 12 hour shifts. Ive seen them as far as 30 months and the United States and ive seen them in arizona as far as 70 miles. They hold hand encrypted radios and they communicate back to what is known as so what happens is you have these lookouts everywhere in what they call the gate meaning a bend in the river and there is no Law Enforcement. They surge whatever commodity it is that they want pushed so when we are talking about policy all of these migrants that come from all of the world is cartel by design will Commission Hundreds of people as youve seen over the last few years and the media focuses on that. It causes a surge of local state and local Law Enforcement and they do that by design because it opens up other gates and if they do a commodity they will shut down to make sure that commodity makes it and what they do chairman is the contract directly with usbased street gangs what we call cheer gangs that impact multiple regions of our country and work directly with the cartels and today is important to understand u. S. Street gangs are working sidebyside contracting with cartels and i could go on and on but in 2009 mafia and i was in texas as the war broke out. We were stunned at what we found. Red mafia working in mexico working operations going through intermediate and advanced training warming special Law Enforcement at a reduced cost. That is the way it really works. If you wonder today why youre being overrun with drugs its because the tier 1 gangs and street gangs are contracting working directly with these cartels and ill go back to this and that is they will not stop. They cant. They are going to have it be stopped and wanted to take extreme aggressive actions. How has the open policies catch and release and stimulation of a mass wave of migration by having an opera border facility affected this . This is it. I want to be very clear historically your cartel the cartels on the call them drug cartels and today they are in over 54 countries around the world. This is not a u. S. Mexico problem ladies and gentlemen. This will not stop and now they have transitioned into the final version of Human Trafficking. I am holding in my hand this is how emboldened they become. I cant stress to you that you had to take extreme, extreme action to after these cartels and to truly create relationships with mexico and the rest of the world in a unified command and treat them as what they are and im happy to discuss that with you. Thank you. I now recognize the Ranking Member for five minutes of questioning. Thank you very much mr. Chairman. You talked about congress should take extreme action. Let me tell you what was in the last omnibus package that we passed in 2023. We provided 17 billion for customs and Border Protection including an increase in spending a 17 over the previous years. It allowed for hiring, operations along the southwest border. We also provided funding for 19,855 Border Patrol agents, an increase of over 308, the most since 2011. We also appropriated 60 million more per for 125 customs and Border Protection offices and support staff. Id also tell you that a single republican on the committee voted for it. It was passed only by democrats. We are the ones who are trying to provide resources to the good men and women along the border to address this. Every time an opportunity presents itself for resources on the border democrats are the ones who vote for them. You can talk to but when it comes to being a member of congress you need to vote your convictions. If you dont give the men and women that money they need to help protect us and then thats our fault. Thank goodness the democrats in Congress Gave the money that was asked for by the department. They need more and i look forward to the next time that people ask for money. Youre talking about resources, that they will vote for it because thats the only way we can address this problem. Another situation as i said ive been on this committee for a long time. Responsible men and women but there is a way to be disagreeable. I understand the witnesses on the republican side. This is a great democracy and its only great because of the men and women. Its not a personal attack, its just the facts and i hope mr. Maltz you understand that. Be that as it may we have policies here. I think nine hearings on this subject is a bit much. I am embarrassed in fact because we are wasting time trying to impeach a secretary or may ought to be providing our men and women along the border the resources. Ive never voted against the Homeland Security budget since the department was created and i dont plan to ever vote against it. Its not the right thing to do. I disagree with the chairman and i probably will continue to but where adults and as long as we are adults will get things done. People around the world look at us and they want to be like us. But what i see happening in trying to discrete and trying to somehow take it to another level is not who we are. So doctors felbabbrown can you tell me what kind of programs have been helpful along the border in addressing this problem . Certainly. Improving technologies and inspections of people crossing the border is a very useful measure. Cbps several years ago stated its only capable of inspecting Legal Processing and 17 . Raising that number to a much higher level especially because the majority fentanyl is seized through legal forces of entry to stop the amount of fentanyl coming at United States. The whole of government approach needs to be adopted increasing in collection intelligence that the cartels engage in applying various tools and various agencies by the United States to be able to facilitate Law Enforcement work. Thank you. I yield back. The testimonials i recognize the gentleman from texas and mr. Mccaul. That mr. Chairman i want to thank mr. Jones and mr. Maltz for your service and your Law Enforcement service and duty and very dangerous conditions. Mr. Maltz want to thank you for your Foreign Policy because they cant think from kindness china standpoint a better Foreign Policy than introducing poison their mexico into the states killing americans and making money off of it its almost like a reverse opioid and they see it that way. It has killed 70,000 young people. 20,000 pounds of fentanyl seats, enough to kill 4. 6 billion people. My children have been to five funerals of their friends. They thought they were taking xanax or add medication and they never woke up. Mr. Jones i commend you for being number one in my great state of texas which will that we know this better i think that anybody and i remember going down after mayorkas said to remain in mexico and i talked to the Border Patrol chief and it was chaos and i said what do you attribute this to . Is there any cause and effect a direct causeandeffect between what youre seeing now and the policy change of this administration and he said congressmen theres no question theres a direct causeandeffect between the rescission tremaine in and mexico in what we are seeing today. What else are we seeing like ive never seen anything like this but i was u. S. Attorney in the Western District of texas at the texas border. It was chairman of this committee. We were ms. Vaughan getting this under control before controlling asylum because the cartel to manipulate critical asylum and they couldnt manipulate anymore because they couldnt enter the United States. Their claims were adjudicated in mexico and therefore catch and release was ended finally be the very first li introduced in congress 20 years ago, imagine and here we are today. Its alive and well and the secretary is in my opinion. The unpadded homes these kids go to and the men go to ms13, there is a criminal enterprise now not just in mexico and latin america. Right here in the United States and it was created by this administrations policies. My question to the three of you ms. Jones ms. Vaughan and mr. Maltz do you believe that the actions of the secretary by rescinding to remain in mexico the policy was effectively working that has created this criminal enterprise . Do you believe the secretary is responsible for and complicit with the criminal enterprise as a result of these policies . Mr. Jones. Yes, it do and its validated by not only the data from United States customs and Border Protection the numbers across into our country as a result of the exemptions created under title 42 which secretary mayorkas is the architect. In addition the Overdose Deaths in this country and this year impacting mothers and fathers and families across this country and the data. Wanting to add the District Court says you must reimplement remaining in mexico and secretary did not comply with that order. Ms. Vaughan . I believe President Bidens policies are responsible for the disaster. Its responsible for the situation we have today and no amount of money is going to help the situation until the officers and agents are allowed to do their jobs. The policies are more important. And we are turning our backs on you because we turned our backs on you. By sayed starts at the top with the president and it comes down and i just want to say i make these collages with kids amount time to spread awareness so the results are dead children and families going to funerals for thats what comes down to become an expert on Immigration Law Border Patrol policies but i know whats going on in america. We market the bill to designate chemical as a chemical weapon at the chemical weapons conviction convention. The former chairman of and i recognized the chairman. Thank you mr. Can before i start a war wanted to submit for the record without objection the cbp released it just came out yesterday showing the southwest border encounters since february february 2021 total border encounters in june including individuals who presented at ports of entry with or without cbp1 appointment were down 30 to 144,000. And like to submit that for the record. Without objection. I want to personal banker witnesses for being here today. I quote general john kelly secretary of Homeland Security this is Border Security is not end or begin at the border. And mr. Jones to think i heard your testimony and ive listened to it very carefully and ill theyll tell you i really dont like what you said. But as an individual on both sides of border the border had to tell you you have some valid points. We do need some extreme solutions. We need to coordinate with mexico and we need to get it right. Speaking to officials recently they reminded me just recently they had seized 46,000 Bank Accounts the equivalent of almost 700 million of money from organized crime and have entered into an antiMoney Laundering with the United States. 1600 members of the military today are deployed at 55 security points along the border. Seizures recently 7. 5 tons of fentanyl, 1700 labs shut down almost 74,000 criminals arrested in mexico and the course in january of this year the arrest of chapo guzman that erupted into one of those gunfights that youre describing where 12 marines were killed. I think the effort is there but i dont think its enough. This is an effort that were choir all of us working together i speak german higginsen i introduced the bill, legislation to enhance support home and securities investigation of transnational criminal investigations of transnational criminal units mexico Central America and south america. This is the kind of effort they would help us drill down and work with other countries of the border to identify some of these folks . Thank you for the question congressman. I will tell you those statistics you gave are fantastic and i applaud the efforts of all of those in mexico who are in harms way. They have incredible people working to try to fight for their country. If you notice not one cartel has fallen. As a matter fact more citizens and migrants have fallen to these cartels and brutalized like youve never seen before in mexico. We have also seen violence now spreading across the country that levels historically at our border. Today it is across the nation in mexico and where im going with that as a way to no the effort is not near enough, not even close. Me interrupt you because i only have one minute left. Is there a new dynamic emerging . Mexico is our largest trading partner in the world. We are going to depend on each other for economic success unlikelihood and we need to Work Together to address these comment issues. I have 4040 seconds and is there any thought to moving forward on the . And thats a great point and how we can leverage the Work Together. They are dealing with guns going south for militarygrade weapons coming our weapons coming up with a lot lot of areas that we can worth work with. I want to tell you and be very honest theres a lack of effort in mexico right now and a lot of paint on the wall and it means nothing. It is doing nothing. You see the deaths of americans in the citizens and its paint on the wall but but this amount to anything. We need to engage in these transferred issues that affect my citizens on a daily basis in terms of fentanyl death. Thank you mr. Chairman ideal for my time is up. The gentleman yield. The gentleman yield to me now recognize mr. Higgins. Thank you mr. Chairman and thank you ladies and gentlemen for appearing before us today. Lets see if we can clarify for the American People mr. Jones and mr. Maltz i will go to you in my limited time. Mr. Jones your former kylan Law Enforcement in a former captain of intelligence and counterterrorism at the department of Public Safety, is that correct . Yes sir it is. Youre a resident of texas . You know whats going on down there, dont you brother . Yes, sir. Mr. Ivey you are former special of agent with the dea is that correct . The long history of Law Enforcement. Where do you live sir . I live in virginia now. So congratulations. You a lot of time down there with dea operations did you not . Absolutely. You know whats going on down there . Lets get to it shelly . Is present by and was inaugurated in may perhaps the poorest decision in the history of poor decisions secretary mayorkas enacted his policies and although secretary mayorkas has a great deal of expertise as you gentlemen do as well. As an added responsibility as the secretary to advise the president is the president s policies are injurious to americans. Once those policies have been demonstrated it would be clearly injurious to our country. The secretary further reflective of this his oath as a responsibility step away from that administration if the president does not abide by his advice when the president s policies that the secretaries and acting are clearly hurting our country. And they absolutely are. Gentleman i want to ask you a little bit about the cartels access to or contributed both conduct United States operations in and with mexico, have you not . Yes, sir. Yes sir. Yes and yes. United states operations in mexico as they followed United States law and be organized at the government and Law Enforcement . Mr. Jones . Yes sir. Yes and yes in the course. We have operations in mexico Law Enforcement operations and we had to follow the law, do we not . Of the best example of that is the unified operations capture that captured el chapo working with the range but they did the hour person of u. S. Understood. They like your spirit so lets compare that to the cartels. Gentleman do you consider in a statement that the cartels have gained unprecedented access to networking within the United States of america United States of america . Yes. Yes sir i do. Then they get sir. Mckitty seen as increasing credibly over the last two years mr. Jones . Mr. Maltz . Yes. Do they had to follow our laws . No way. Absolutely not. They have unfettered access to the communities of america and they truckee into things drugs and human beings. This administration has accommodated their efforts. How can you say that congressman higgins . The me give you an example. We spoken a great deal about technology on the border. My colleagues across the aisle say we dont need a barrier system. Technology, okay. First of all thats tonight with the fact that a physical barrier is a part of the Security System that includes physical barriers to deter and delay and attempted criminal crossing or trafficking of human beings and drugs into our country. And secondly lets talk about the technology. Which is then been said about drones being used. We have technology on the border requested by Law Enforcement the border approved by Congress Funds appropriated contracts to arrange for to detect and take down cartel drones. Its called the detection and mitigation capabilities and tied drone attacks on the border deployed. Its a defense and offensive operations today. Somewhere secretary mayorkas has been in charge and i promise you we will find the smoking gun. Secretary mayorkas has been in charge to offensive capabilities or the mitigating capabilities of the antidrone tech has been suppressed. Mr. Chairman my time has expired that my passion is not an ideal. The gentleman yields. Sometimes representative higgins says of the that the best way but i now recognize mr. Carter. From louisiana. I think you mr. Chairman. Ask unanimous consent to enter into the record and article title card ray of nativist groups, figures have long pushed replacement by immigration ideas into mainstream which explains how the replacement conspiracy inspired domestic terrorism and document the buffalo mass shooting should be decided by ms. Vaughan research and justifying the domestic terror attack. Mr. Chairman this hearing is unfortunately a sham. Its a dangerous National Platform that risks legitimizing extremist idea terrace latch onto when carrying out attacks on the homeland. In this committee all of us should frown on that. Id like to introduce for the record without objection, so ordered. Most migrants coming to our border have no other legal pathway to the u. S. For citizenship that are seeking asylum here because they have no other legal pathway which is illegal however our system was not set up for this kind of volume that we are experiencing and its absolutely unsustainable and i think we all agree. What are recommended practices that could be used at our ports of entry for human rights . Seema congressman thank you. Certainly comprehensive Immigration Reform that would allow legal points of entry would immeasurably improve Law Enforcement domestically as well as would improve sponsorship and meaningful cooperation in countries such as mexico. In the meantime increasing inspections is an important measure as well as recognizing the cartels are no longer focusing on smuggling drugs that engaged in a variety of activities that require all of u. S. Government. Thank you. There has been a shift round the world of people seeking asylum in safety and Economic Prosperity and individuals have uncertainty. This is not only a struggle here in United States. Worldwide. Ms. Vaughan you work at the center for Immigration Studies in which you agree theres Unprecedented Movement of people in the americas and worldwide . There certainly is Unprecedented Movement in admissible migrants into the United States for sure, yes. How is that impacting our points of entry . Is overwhelming the men and women of the Border Patrol in cbp to the extent they cannot adequately talk to migrants to protect trafficking for example. They are forced to process and release them as quickly as possible. It is distracting them from preventing often the bad actors and the drug loads from coming into United States and it is creating chaos in border communities and impacting the safety of those communities. It is compromising the safety of the people who live along the border who had to deal with the cartels bringing loads of people and drugs through their private property and threatening their lives and wellbeing. The problems created by the open border airing calculable. We are all yours now and we are presumably here to listen to learn and to do better. We are now all ears. How should government interact with our regional partners to make a difference . Well i think the United States needs to make it clear to our International Partners that this level of migration, illegal migration says it cannot be sustained and is causing problems of with their country and we need to Work Together to address it and stop it because to the extent the criminal cartel are in richest emboldened affects Civil Society in their countries as well. Its destabilizing to mexico and panama is destabilized because of trafficking that occurs in the gaps. They have an interest in working with us. And thank you very much. My time has expired and i about. Some of the gentleman yields and i now recognize mr. Bishop from North Carolina. Thank you chairman the witness ive been waiting to hear from for months and months of this committee. He talked about and i forgot how you describe the ultraviolence . Hyperviolent among cartel. I have question witnesses here before about the january open warfare. 50 caliber machine guns using being used in narcotanks against the army and the second ever to take out guzman i believe. You said i think i have concern about militarizing and having the United States military take on the cartel but theres another aspect of interest to me and i wonder if you would comment on it. The wristband that you hold up you testify to any talked about what a did you call that slavery . Debt. Debt yes sir so you have hundreds of thousands or 150,000, 200,000 migrants entering and the cartel is tabs on all of them we saw the headlines the chairman put up on his Opening Statement honduran migrants operating in the drug trade and believe in San Francisco at very troubled place. They bring these very vulnerable human beings that they have absolute control over an knowledge of into the United States in their keeping tabs on them these organizations. Do they not develop the same sort of hyperviolent in the United States that we are seeing in mexico given sufficient time . They will. I can assure every member here if you do not take action on this and change what we are doing and look at them not as criminals. Truly as organizations to leverage the full weight of this government it is coming here. I worked in 2015 on the beheading of an individual and South Padre Island that was committed by u. S. Border patrol working directly with the cartel. He was gutted from the naval and his intros were removed and his head was taken back to mexico. Ive worked in 2013 with lawyers for l. Gatto spending 1 million to put tracking devices all over families vehicles are able to locate him and texas and executed him. They are here, sir. The people who have erased our borders as a means of improving the voter population rdf gotten got more than they bargained for i would say in the fentanyl death and i want to ask mr. Maltz about that but we may see the same open militarist conflict with their own Law Enforcement and military resources here in the United States. I have video that ive submitted to this committee have. 50 caliber rifles on interstate 10 going from tucson arizona passing to Arizona State troopers. They are here sir. Lawmakers only decry the fact that werent spending more money. Mr. Maltz heavy ribbon to Charlotte North Carolina . Its a community of very affluent community. Tuft high school a member of a sports team up their young men died a week or so ago and they say fentanyl has pierced Tuft High School and cornelius North Carolina its happening everywhere. Its everywhere across this country and is there something i dont know if you would say more disturbing than that. I just watched a movie sound of freedom and i would urge everybody to see it. Child sex trafficking is i understand that epidemic levels as well. Being fed from places of the United States and now the United States we have children that have 600,000 children coming to United States under the policy that democrats have abdicated. Secretary mayorkas is thats not even the worst of it. The people being sold into, sex trafficking. You keep up with that at all mr. Maltz the they have total control the borders of their making money on all those young kids is dancing kids and thats why i commented before because of his and assaults on these Young Children that make the journey to the United States for one thing i would add secretary mayorkas did say the fentanyl overdose is the single greatest challenge that we have in america. My question to everybody is why would you reverse the policies that were working before to keep that stuff out to keep those people out. Its the operatives that are all over country running the business of collecting money of pushing poised on the streets. They have total control control. Is the problems so insignificant that it embarrasses you to be the law . Thats your answer and i yield back. The gentleman yield to men now recognize mr. Thank you mr. Chair. And thank you to the witnesses who are here today. Two months ago the dea confirmed the interception of a massive shipment of over 50 kilograms of fentanyl traffic stop in my city of detroit. Think about this for a minute. A fatal dose is only two milligrams. If you look at 20 milligrams, 50 kilograms seizure of fentanyl and if i do quick math here that 20 kilograms is enough to kill 10 million people. Thats almost the entire population of my state of michigan. Let me clarify, this deadly drug finds its way to my district because there is a need an unattended the path of destruction waiting for them. That is the root cause of this fentanyl crisis. Demand for open rates. My message to my republican colleagues is that the Opioid Epidemic does not begin or is it aimed at our borders. This is not a border crisis. It is a Public Health crisis. We need to focus on health care and by doing so we not only save lives but also disrupt the profitability of the cartel. We can their operations by helping those trapped in this grip of addiction. Dr. Can you describe how demand for these drugs to what Cartel Operations while saving lives . Thank you. I said in the beginning of my testimony focusing on treatment is absolutely critical. This is indeed what will save lives. Both on the u. S. At the border and internationally we want to minimize flow into the United States and also because objective should be dismantling the Drug Trafficking however expanding access to ensure so more more people in the states would get treatment for topping the smartest most proof and evidencebased approaches so that people are not dependent on sourcing illicit drugs on the market is crucial. With that of very important almond of that is also keeping the underlying cost which is still significant overprescription of legal opioid and i want to go back to emphasize another point for my testimony pharmacies in mexico are brickandmortar buildings that look like any pharmacy for selling all kinds of drugs including fentanyl and meth laced drugs to International Tourists and they need to be shut down. Thank you. My understanding is that is working to expand its Public Health initiative to combat the fentanyl epidemic. And you view this as a necessary step . The biden demonstrations deserves enormous credit for policy and terms of Public Health. Significant progress has been made. The u. S. Congress recognizes a much smarter and much wiser strategy such as the availability of medications for overdose. Thank you and mr. Chairman i yield back. Hegemony of the man now recognize mr. Menendez. Thank you very much. In september the 11th of 2001 killed around 3000 americans and we went 7000 miles and waged war for 20 years because 3000 americans were killed. 70,000 americans are being killed every single year by fentanyl and we are doing nothing about it. I had the director of the fbi sitting in chair and i asked him do you think that we should be labeling cartel is a multinational . He said its a technicality. While they are and they are killing us. We have lost close 60,000 people in vietnam in 10 years of war. This is killing 70,000 americans every single year and they are right across the border. So my question to you mr. Jones is this predo believe the Biden Administration policies have strengthened the cartels . Yes sir i know they have. Do you believe that by strengthening the cartels we are not only destabilize the entire states of america there were also helping to do stabilize mexico . Yes. That is the problem. I do not believe in going to war with the cartels. Those are dark network spread that way we win against them as fullspectrum operations, leveraging powerful u. S. Intelligence agencies, Law Enforcement operations. How you go after the cartel as a network will be to many others. These networks are different. We have to fight in the future it differently than we have in the past reflex i agree we also need to change our policy so the migrants who are coming through, who think they can get into the United States, they are paying their passage prides them of that revenue and makes them weaker, is that correct . It does. You need to understand east cartels are global. You hear all the time but i was making billions of dollars off the Human Trafficking of people. That is absolutely true theyre making more than they are off of drugs. When you look at them in the totality today look at how the new generation has risen so quickly so fast. They began moving their narcotics overseas to europe, russia, and australia. Making hundreds of thousands of dollars literally 1 kilo at one time in a story was 180,000. This is why the rice is so massive. What are you always told by the socalled experts . These cartels if you legalize it will all go away. Look at what has happened to us. X you are right this is not a simple simple simple answer to the problems we face in the United States. But we need to view them as adversaries. We need to view them as people that are killing americans. 70000 a year. Look i was in the streets of miami i am a paramedic, that is my craft for the 70s and 80s i responded to overdoses left and right all of the time. And overdoses with open is the but they were not laced with this poison. This poison hooks them. Makes it much more addictive and then it kills us. We have to do something about it but the Biden Administration is doing is not doing very much to protect the american lives. That is the duty of governments for the duty of government is to protect the lives of american citizens. And in this respect the Biden Administration and this secretary is failing miserably. Much has been said about the decrease in the number of migrants that are coming to the border now. And maybe it was but the number that i got in february 2020 only 36000 migrants were encountered at the border. Now we are looking at 100,000 as being a good number print 150,000 being a good number it is an utter disaster what is happening at the border for its utter disaster was happening at the border and one final thoughts my colleagues across the aisle think everything can be resolved by throwing money at it. And it cannot. In this case the best think we can do is change the policies. And by changing the policies you will diss incentivize the migrants coming into the United States, deprive the cartels of the money they get from them and then we start focusing in on destroying the cartels which are the source of the fence and out which is killing 7000 americans every single year end i yield back recruit the judgment yields. Without objection the title of the testimony submitted for that for thetestimony has to be stri. The wording of that title makes an accusation against the president and the secretary that they are accomplices to crime and we have to strike that. So without objection of the title of that testimony is stricken and we will move to the next question i now recognize for five minutes break works thank you chairman. The American People want us to Work Together in a bipartisan way to solve the nations problems and to strengthen our security. But instead were here for yet another episode of impeachment theater. The latest installment in House Republicans plans to impeach someone, anyone from the Biden Administration. And it is disappointing for the facts do not support it. The premise of the argument and we all know where its headed. The premise of the argument is Something Like this. That secretary and President Biden are breaking the law because they are not attempting to stop transnational criminal activity of the border. But unfortunate for my colleagues the facts are not on their side. Here is just a sample of the actions he Biden Administration have taken to combat Transnational Criminal Organizations of the border. In 2021 secretary launched operation sentinel a collaborative enter Agency Effort to disrupt logistical networks of criminal organizations but also in 2021 the administration launching joint Task Force Alpha to enhance against smuggling and trafficking groups operating in mexico and in the northern tranquil countries. December 2021, President Biden issued executive order 14060 establishing the United States council on transnational organized crime. The executive order outline policy in the United States combat and establish a counsel to monitor the production implementation of coordinated strategic plans to do just that. Last Year Congress passed and President Biden signed legislation to increase funding or order it security, for Better Technology for more Border Patrol agents. In almost every case our republican colleagues who were there last year voted against this legislation. The issue the Biden Administration launched Operation Blue lotus enter agency surges of operations to seize narcotics investigate crimes and investigate dangerous individuals associated. In just two months those operations sees nearly 10,000 pounds of fentanyl and more than 10,000 pounds of other narcotics like cocaine, and methamphetamines for the last week alone Operation Blue lotus opportunity for people on benzyl charges. I can keep going. Secretary mayorkas lodge operation artemis to target precursor chemicals and finished substances involved in fentanyl. Secretary of state blinken who some of our colleagues are also trying to impeach organized a ministerial meeting of more than 80 countries to launch a Global Coalition to address synthetic drug threats a worldwide effort led by the unites states to disrupt fentanyl supply chain. In april to buy Administration Justice department announced charges against 28 cartel leaders. And of course most importantly the expiration of Donald Trumps title 42 policy, illegal border crossings are down or than 50 . That is on President Bidens watch. So it listen we can all have our own opinions about the administration is doing a good job or not. Everyone is entitled to those opinions. But if your core argument is the by demonstrations breaking the law by not trying to disrupt the facts do not support it. We are going to keep having this debate apparently for months to come but that is the central point. And heres what all was done she. Even though the president and his administration have taken numerous actions to address the challenges at the border detaining short criminals, seizing drugs some of our colleagues are bent on impeaching a cabinet secretary for the first time in a 150 years. For some this is been the plan all along. House or republicans first introduce articles of impeachment against secretary trent 22 years ago that id only been in office for couple of months. They have been gushing to their donors about behind closed doors before they even took control of the house and before any of these investigations even began for even though there is no legal basis. So, look, the American People want us to Work Together, to secure the border on a bipartisan basis. There are things we could be doing week should invest in technology and personnel pride we should strengthen our relationships with allies in the region who are key partners in this fight. We can reform the immigration system and make it more orderly. We can finally do something about the flow of illegal guns across the border from United States to mexico which is a part of this problem that her colleagues dont ever want to talk about. But in order for us to move forward in a productive way, impeachment theater has to stop so that we can get to work for the American People and i yield back. Whats a judgment yields i now recognize ms. Lee from florida for five minutes. Think it mr. Chairman. I would like to return to your testimony. You touched on a subject i think is a very important aspect of what we are here to discuss today and that is Human Trafficking and how the policies are affecting women and girls and children who are being trafficked. Specifically you use the phrase in your opening that these kids go into hhs Assembly Line few questions being asked for a bike to focus a bit there. Is it correct or not that when that happens we see numerous incidents of children who are put into placements in homes that proved to be unsafe. Absolute yes. There are a number of instances for example girls have been placed with older men and what is clearly an exploitative situation. There are kids who have been turned over to labor traffickers. There are kids who get turned over to gang members. There are kids who gets placed into domestic servitude and other forms of abuse is quite horrific. Weve also seen cases where this happen even in my own state the children themselves are not screened that can pose a danger inappropriate circumstance for a host family is that also correct . Yes. There are problems at some of the shelter sometimes. Incidents of predatory behavior on the other kids who are house there. There is a case in jacksonville where the ledge and a minor who turned out to be 24 years old because Border Patrol is not able to really screen people, murdered his sponsor. In your opinion after children are placed in these sponsor homes is there an adequate level of followup and supervision that is occurring by hhs . Absolutely not. Theres almost no supervision or followup that goes on. These standards that they have for not only placements, but also post Placement Services are weight way inferior to the procedures every state in the union uses for foster care order to adopt a cat sponsor an unaccompanied minor because there are rarely background checks. Note financial assessments, Biden Administration has stopped doing a background check other people in the household to make sure simply would not be tolerated in foster care. You also mention roughly a ma quarter of the trafficking victims were children. Would you tell us a little bit more that patterns affecting young people and children coming to this country . The smugglers often either convince the parents of these kids that they are going to have a better life in the United States. So pay us a down payment on smuggling feet now the child will make enough money or be able to go to school or some other tale to get the parents to release the kid. When they get to the United States are often released to a sponsor who turns out to be a trafficker. Are put directly into trafficking situations. Sometimes it is forced labor trafficking. Sometimes its commercial sex sometimes is domestic servitude. The child is isolated from their family members in complete control of people who have custody of them. Theres no monitoring of the situation by the federal government that put them in the situation. There is very little opportunity for seeing whats going on and some of these workplaces, to rescue the kids. It is a lot of hear no evil, see no evil, there must not be any. Really deliberately looking the other way at what is happening. Agent, i want to return to you. You used a phrase in your written testimony that is important and i what to make sure that we today hear the distinction that you make a someone who has spent so many years with dea. The distinction is between drug traffickers which are some think we have seen obviously for many decades coming across our southern border but you use the phrase narco terrorist would you please explain to me to us the narco terrorists . Drug traffickers in the business to make money only. The cartels, when i first started to work we were known as drug traffickers they devolve from drug traffickers to Trans National terminal strip look at the death and destruction of what the doing and that country. When i was head of the special Operations Division i kept on my phone the greatest hits of the violence in mexico with head decapitations, chopping off limbs, throwing people in acid where they had a guy called the steelmaker he would drop three to people in acid tank so they were never found. That is why in mexico today there are so many disappearances. They do not want to put that out its going to deter any tourism in mexico. Jason can tell you, he reports on every week, every two weeks they got tanks, theyve got rockets, they have drones that drop explosives that is another thing that makes me concerned as a citizen because it is our brave men and women are on the board or habs of wonder they drop an explosive on our own people . So these guys have evolved to the point there multibillion dollar enterprise for they have plenty of money for they have norules for they have no bureaucracy. I am very concerned about the evolution and the lack of the way we deal with them. Thank you agent them out of time mr. Chairman i yield back. Quick gentlemen yields i now recognize mr. Iv. Thank you, mr. Chairman i appreciate it. Got a lot of ground to cover i do want to start off with respect to the impeachment issues. We have got two tracks of things going on here. One is there is an impeachment track thats pretty obvious with the dereliction of duty language it dovetails exactly what ms. Greenes 5198 has articles to impeach President Biden. We know thats part of what is going on. The fact that you are all here as a panel, i do have some questions i would ask you. I appreciate we have different views i dont to try and figure out some of the things going on here because i do think we have a duty to try and address the problems that we have got. Ms. Vaught you mentioned prince georges county. I was the states attorney at the local prosecutor one of the groups we prosecuted was ms 13 repeatedly in fact we did it a joint prosecution with the u. S. Attorney at the time i will later ended up being President Trump to Deputy Attorney general. A lot of the stuff they were doing looks a lot like some things we are talking about now, the Human Trafficking piece, the prostitution up and down the coast. The enforcers, the money, all of that. I want to come to you at some. 2. I do wonder about some of the differences that seem to be there. Think you kind of touched on this. But in the old days and ill put myself in that category the sale of drugs theyre not trying to kill their customers basically. They would sell addictive drugs cocaine, heroin, whatever but they were not necessarily killing them off. Fentanyl seems a fundamentally different set in the sense it is extremely addictive more addictive than those but it is also the fatality rates are incredibly high. What things i would like to try to figure out if we get a chance to move to a hearing on that front would be why that change the Business Model taken place . Mr. Jones and have to ask you all to send in a written response or something at momas have at the right time. Mr. Jones comment to you you made a couple references i think essentially military action. I think was the way you phrased it. Need more authority and more tools beyond the Law Enforcement was one and then your last answer you gave a few minutes ago you mentioned explicitly waiting to have the military get involved in pushback against the cartels. I will pause for this answer. What exactly do you have in mind on that front . Yes, sir. What im talking about is the tools of National Power here is what i mean by that. Our system by design as you know is a former prosecutor it was very slow its exactly how we want under Fourth Amendment protects on the ask you to cut to the chase and down to minute half. What exactly croissants military involvements very. Of the operate beyond the investigative model what is allows us to do his or her assets of the money really time versus working to your cases. It allows us to limit them mobility globally around the world, just to mexico you cannot get on an aircraft you cannot get on boats and third it allows us to remove them who are here on visas. Most of you would be stunned that they have the money for visas input speed in the system and gives us tools now we go after the network and that is how we do. Let me reclaim my time but i do not know you need military to do any of those three things. I think the department of justice does not currently. We could maybe discuss that at another time. I also had a question you mentioned working with china and i think mexico. Here at a previous hearing i cannot remember mr. Higgins or mr. Bishop we had someone i would say the white house that also said the importance of getting involved with china especially and blocking the amounts of precursors out of china and going to mexico. With the relationship between the United States and china broke off a few years ago china stopped enforcing the exportation of precursors led to the really explosion of the availability of that in mexico. That witnesses thought part of the answer was going to be we needed to work with china to address that. With respect to mexico now im running out of time. Mr. Jones you mentioned another issue to which was meant you are the first witness ive heard it one of these hearings to say more money is not the issue. Weve had this guys come up and talk about we need more agents, we need more drones, we need everything really we are outgunned in a variety of ways. So ill have to get that from you later on. I would ask for it unanimous uns consent to offer a couple of articles. How to stop the Mexican Cartel, stop supplying them with guns which i think is a point you made mr. Jones. On bidens a border policy critics of left and right or wrong. Southern border eerily quiet after policy shift on asylumseekers. That objection so ordered. The gentlemen yields i now recognize new york. Thank you, mr. Chairman and to the witnesses for being here today. Mr. Jones in 2021 Border Security metrics report dhs documented the increase in alternative forms of payment and exchange for a passage including a migrants being required to participate in smuggling controlled substances or other illicit items across the border to work off debts upon arrival in the United States as well as reports of harsh negotiation concerning payment plans with family members. Can you talk about the rising prevalence of debt bondage and how the cartels are using those they smuggle into work on their behalf . The gulf cartel has a sink and that his people are the gift, they keep giving because they cant make that move the commodity as you just acknowledged we have seen that on the border they are now making migrants carrying narcotics. They have been exploited weve seen other migrants now being used to transport migrants themselves because you can truly make this commodity do what you want it to do. What these really represent is the most important here to understand is this is a process purchases Border Patrol was being absolutely overwhelmed with these people, so were the cartels. They had to come up with a process that work to receiving it in my hand there is a number on each of these youve got some you can look here and see. That number goes into a database. And at the time we broke this story if you were a mexican citizen it was 2500 to cross the river in south texas even et centromere is 3000 of your chinese five grand. If you are russia middle eastern ive never seen many like that ever. They dont care where he went. Now think of this. These people are move throughout our nation. Years if not decades to come and a foreign country. This is where we really are now. You talked about lower numbers. These higher numbers and the amount of people is relatively a new phenomenon . It is for the smuggling of people has always been there but the adjustment from smuggling into the trafficking through debt bondage due to the sheer numbers they thought to themselves we can make so much money. We can do it for the long run. This is a game changer pretty think of Human Trafficking you think of sex. You have forced labor in this is your final four announced nationwide. Quest mr. Jones i want to continue with the profit potential Human Trafficking reached in july of 2021 he said i can without any doubt tell you the profits theyre making today like nothing we have seen prior with a major revenue stream it. How those profits increase secretary mayorkas took office. How much you think cartels are making annually on Human Trafficking smuggling alone . We do not really know the exact amounts are. This is going to go on for decades. Many of us will be dead and gone before we clean this up. I will tell you this, there will not be a Law Enforcement agency in this country this would be doubling down on the threat we are now facing from trafficking as a result of what secretary mayorkas is the architect behind these changes. When he took power and created the exceptions lying to new acs unaccompanied alien children. When he allowed a pregnant mother to come into the country and allowed family units. This was a Game Changing moment. It stated by the data. You see these people again pouring across the country. So trying to do some numbers what you said, went from 100 to 3000 for some 2500 up to 9000. Has just at the river syrup or just at the river never mind what country of origin you came from but right now if you are chinese to cross and chided to ecuador make your way up the charge in 35000 ahead and moving 35 at a time. The cartel literally takes all of their id before they let them into the u. S. And they drop it on that side to it comes across that holds a Border Patrol longer so they can move weapons south and is much weapons and as they did to progress last two and half years it seems the profits for the drug cartels have increased immensely . Agreed. How are these prophets given these cartels more power making them more dangerous . Look at the military grade weaponry they are now using. Look at the level and span of control in mexico. People in mexico taken the blunts of this. They have lost over 300 and 40000 citizens since 2007. Cnn did a fantastic work. There is a wonder to 32 politicians and staffers killed. Anyone can google it. Mexico is truly fall into these cartels by tulley they are a parallel government you are truly looking at a narco state. Since white we are so far behind with these cartels are doing. That is why we and americans are feeling the impact in every part of this nation today for. Im out of time if you could respond more about what is happening thank you i yield back for. Are not recognized ms. Jackson lee of texas. I am kind enough to yield to the next individual picnics we can go out of order absolutely. Mr. Garcia that you are recognized for. Ramirez. I am sorry. Thank you. Thank you chairman and Ranking Member. Weve been here for about an hour and a half and i want to thank you for this hearing. Todays hearing should be shedding light on the pressing issues surrounding immigration policy, what is causing migration . How do we make sure the children we talk about, the children actually know personally are cared for . Instead i think we continue to politicize an issue that actually both need to address which is Immigration Reform. I actually want to get back to white we are all here today. The American People expect us to do our job and to solve the problem. They expect us to have unbiased people who are witnesses here and provide us an opportunity to shed light on how we move forward. And, as i think about the hearing now and hearing the witnesses i think about just last year how a horrific domestic terror attack in a buffalo new york supermarket left our nation reeling. My colleagues across the aisle offered up their thoughts and prayers. But they offered no action to address a racially and ethnically motivated violent extremism. It is not lost on me that before murdering 10 people at the supermarket last year, the shooter wrote and i quote we are experiencing an invasion at a level never seen before in history. However, justification shooter believed he was repelling innovation of the United States by immigrants from latin america but does that some familiar . And your testimony, you said i know it is going on in america. So let me ask you, do you support the assertion that the United States is experiencing a historic invasion is that the yes or no question for. Picnics Illegal Immigrants from around the world, yes. So you believe that we are experiencing a historic invasion of immigrants . Yes. So, despite knowing the pittsburgh shooter justified his actions based on the idea of an immigrant invasion to replace white people, despite knowing that invasion ideology was used to justify the shooting in buffalo you continue to espouse the great replacement theory and extremist ideology that people like me when my mother across ce border pregnant with me, dont deserve to be a because we are invading the country . Mr. Chairman this hearing is not a factfinding mission. It is a real political sham to put fear it will continue to justify the violence against immigrant communities. And i find that unacceptable. Distrack and prioritizing the expansion of resources for immigrant communities and comprehensive Immigration Reform. Thats how we address Public Safety. So let me just end by saying let us direct our efforts towards meaningful action that upholds our values and insures the security and wellbeing of all of us regardless of immigration status. That is the america that i know, that is the america that i love. And with that, chairman, i yield back. The gentlelady yields. I now recognize mr. Ezell for his five minutes. Thank you, mr. Chair. Thank you, panel, for being here today. I know theres a lot going on, and we appreciate your time here. Ive spent 42 years in police service, three terms as sheriff, and enjoyed every day of it. And ill tell you, the safety and security of people has always been on my mind not only in my home state of mississippi, but across this nation. I want to be clear that due to the Biden Administrations open border catch and release policies, cartel crime is transitioning from a border issue to a national issue. Every state is a border state. Border patrol agents have arrested more than 30,000 illegal aliens with criminal background withs since joe biden took office. While this is a staggering number, it is not even considering the illegal aliens with criminal backgrounds that have evaded Border Patrol and entered the country illegally. Mr. Jones, in your estimation, how many criminals, gang members or suspected terror is are now in the United States among the 1. 5 million gotaways that have evaded Border Patrol agents . Congressman, thank you for your service of we have no idea, the border is so wide open. What threats do these individuals pose to communities not just at the border, but throughout this country . Everything from terrorism to the unprecedented amounts of deaths that were seeing of american citizens from fentanyl and the many other drugs crossing that southern border. Mr. Moss, we know cartels are the leading criminal organizations that manufacture and distribute illegal fentanyl in our country. Over the past three years, Border Patrol has seized over 45,000 pounds of fentanyl, enough to kill over 10 billion people. Most of that fentanyl has been seized at the ports of entry on the border. However, the sheer amount of this drug on our streets shows that the ports of entry arent the full story. Can you walk the committee through how cartels are using mayorkas open border between the ports of entry where there is little infrastructure stopping them to smuggle these drugs into our country . So i would say, first of all, theyre making billions of dollars, so funding is not an issue. And then theyre flooding the zones. Theyre sending massive amounts of migrants to surgeon areas where they know border to certain areas where they know Border Patrol has limited resource, and then theyre using the open border area to smuggle in unlimited amount of people, unlimited amount of drugs and, of course, bringing the weapons south and the money south. So its basically theyre just taking full advantage of the vulnerables and the weaknesses, if and the poor Border Patrols out will there, and they dont have the personnel. They dont have enough people in certain sectors. I mean, obviously, this documeny attached this into the record its all the news stories around america, Headline News of all the mass poisonings. Thats the ultimate impact when the cartels is have such control at the border to send their people into america to set up operations and move this poison all over the place. Do you believe a border wall would deter the flow of fentanyl in this country . Yes. Because the border wall would then force everybody to go into the poes where we could put the best and brightest and resources and technology and scanning and k9s and do much more thorough search. We wouldnt have to worry about our manpower running around the open border trying to chase people down, sometimes one and two guys. Its very, very, you know, dangerous to be out there when you dont have the manpower. So i would prefer to focus everybody into the poes. Thats not going to solve the problem, but its going to help. And thats what were looking to do. Thank you. From what weve heard today, its completely irresponsible that President Biden from his first day in office he signed an executive order pausing border wall construction. The 70,000 fentanyl deaths in america are directly attributed to this open border policy. Mr. Chairman, i will not stop the working with you to protect our nations families. And with that, sir, i yield back. The gentleman yields. I now recognize ms. Jackson lee from texas for five minutes. Ive been in this committee and ive watched chairman green and chairman thompson work very well together on a number of issues. In fact, they have. Shown themselves to be respectful of each other. For that, i say thank you. Ive had the ability to monitor what has been going on in this room, and i, frankly, believe that problems dont get solved by castigating and making incorrect statements. And i also have a 28year history in this congress and have been involved with the issue of immigration for at least that long a period of time. In the Judiciary Committee, in in this committee, chair of the transportation Security Committee, ranking chair of the border Security Committee and as a texan, ive been to the border many times. I do believe that we can do this and solve the problem of Immigration Reform together. What i also know is at least the border in texas, there are many who are on the border that dont want a border wall. Because of its intrusiveness. In addition, because of topography and design, the border wall sometimes not effectively put in the right place to be able to create any kind of criminal incident. After title 42, we have found statistically as answered by those at cbp, customs and Border Protection, and the Border Patrol that numbers have gone down. It is clear that we have work to do together on those who are coming across. It is clear that not one american no matter what their Party Affiliation abhors cartels, violence and viciousness and will come together to work on that issue. But it does no good for any of us to suggest that the president of the United States and the secretary of Homeland Security are the key and only reasons for migration. I take offense and it is wrong, frankly. Because migration is a worldwide concern. Some would say problem, others would say crisis is. People desperately come even if its for their economic goodness, and they argue Something Else e. We well know that immigrants contribute 1. 3 trillion in spending power to the economy. We also realize that not one Single Person sitting in this room was an indigenous person in the United States of america. Your ancestors came from somewhere. Mine came unwillingly in bondage. But it is clear to me that we have to find a better way. Let me quickly raise this question, met me quickly do so. In 2018 the nation was horrified when a domestic terrorist shot down 11 worshipers at the tree of life synagogue in pittsburgh. The shooter shared a manifesto alleging that, quote, the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society likes to bring invaders in that kill our people. I cant sit by and watch my people get slaughtered. Two weeks before that he called immigrants hostile invaders on social media. Ms. Vaughn, do you believe there is a flood of immigrant invaders at the southern border who are slaughtering victims in American Communities . This is a yes or no answer. No. Theyre taking advantage of the opportunities that are the offered by the current policies. So youve answered no, so let me just say this. On your, in your testimony on page 8 of your written testimony you say there is a flood of people to the border brought on by the bidenmayorkas policies and that these careless policies have created scores of new victims in American Communities, all of which were preventable crimes. Ms. Vaughn, the issue of your partisan extremism goes beyond your testimony today. In another report you alleged the tragic murder of a man in florida [inaudible] open border. And two years before that on january 8, 2019, you laid blame for the murder of a Police Officer in San Joaquin Valley at the feet of democrats sanctuary policies. I find this very dangerous because we need to come together as americans, frankly, to be able to work or not namecall, but to be able to say none of us want those kinds of incidents. How a dare you how dare you say any of us want an officer killed. It is untenable. Neither does the president , the chairmanover the secretary. Chairman or the secretary. I happen to be someone who knows that there are barriers that can be utilized in certain ways being a texan, and i also know that we need to stop penalizing nonprofits for trying to help persons so that cities wouldnt have to put persons somewhere because the nonprofits havent. I want to applaud a dps officer who is on duty today in texas who became a whistleblower to ask the question why is state the government in this lone star effort causing immigrants to die in the water, causing a pregnant woman to miscarry over the raised wire and the boys that are there forcing them to go buoys that are there, why a mother lost her life, her childs life and another child is miss, why a little 4yearold was denied water. This is the words of a dps whistleblower right on staff today. And the question would be to all of you as i ask the question, this is not america. Expect Border Patrol agents saying and the Border Patrol agents saying that the razor wire and the buoys are creating a difficult situation for them because as sworn officers of the United States of america, they are sworn to protect these people even as they seven them back. And they are send them back. And and they are going into deeper water gentleladys time has expired. Im putting that on the record, mr. Chairman, because i want an investigation. These are not governmental witnesses, they are witnesses who share their stories [inaudible] i respond to that . Is there an ability for he to respond to that. Hold on. I am taking control back with. The gentleladys time has expired. By december to see toe is recognized, and you may yield the gentleman is not on staf the mr. Chairman, id like to yield 30 seconds of my time to mr. Jones. I am the only one sitting in this room thats been exactly where those accusations were made. On my phone ive got video of what the men and women of Law Enforcement at local, that state and especially the Texas Department of Public Safety and National Guard are going through as hundreds of people 3 miles from the closest port of entry are being crossed by the cartels. And to say that the men and women of dps are throwing babies into the river is absolute absurd. [inaudible] hold on i didnt say that. The gentleman is recognized. The gentleman is do not malign me in this room. I did not [inaudible conversations] mr. December to see toe, youve reclaimed your time. Thank you. Is so the name of this hearing, biden and mayorkas open border, advancing cartel crime in america. Ive heard this described as a sham, ive heard it described as theater, ive heard it described as a complete waste of time. Its beyond explanation. People are dying, and crimes are being committed. How is that a sham . How is that theater . How is any of that a waste of time . I want to thank all of you for being here today. Mr. Jones, i want to thank you for your service in Law Enforcement. I, too, spent a career in Law Enforcement and retired from the nypd as a detective. There is no doubt there is a crime crisis in America Thanks in part to the dereliction of duty of secretary mayorkas wide open southwest border. Im going to ask all of you, its a yes or no question, do you believe the Biden Administrations soft on crime policies such as their efforts to limit Law Enforcement access to surplus federal equipment and their restrictions on federal grant dollars to Police Departments worsen our nations crime crisis . Mr. Jones, yes or no . Yes. Ms. Vaughn, yes or no . Yes. Mr. Malts, yes or no . Yes. Dr. Brown, sorry, yes or no . Correct. So ive heard this also mentioned that we should be thankful that the numbers have fallen to such a low level. Theyre not low, theres still thousands upon thousands of people coming into this country illegally, and thousands and thousands more that we dont even know about. Quite frankly, its like celebrating a category three hurricane instead of a category four hurricane. Its absurd. I want to focus on the Law Enforcement for a second. Mr. Jones, what are some of the main consequences for local Law Enforcement of increase Cartel Activity in their jurisdictions . Theyre completely overrun on the southwest border. If you go to arizona right now and you sit back with sheriff mark lamb, let me tell you, ive embedded with his Law Enforcement agency. Do you realize out of one out of every ten traffic stops that man is making and his personnel are in pursuits . 70 miles into the country on interstate 10. These agencies are overrun. The Texas Department of Public Safety has spent 9 billion from the state legislature to try to support operations between the ports of entry because we are overrun with crime. Will mr. Malts, do you believe that Law Enforcement throughout this country faces more threats of violence because of our open borders . Absolutely. And i also know that retiring at record levels at the executive leadership level because they cant take it anymore. The mixed messages are overwhelming. So you dont believe the lie that the pension [inaudible] just happen to happen in. I just know that i talk to people every day, and theyre leaving Law Enforcement because morale is at a rock level, at the lowest level, because it is. They signed up to keep america safe. I agree, and its because of exactly failed leadership like this. Im going to ask you a question. Both of you have served in leadership capacities in Law Enforcement. Have ever and would you ever make a decision that would put any of your officers in danger . Never. Never. Right. And thats why were here today. Were talking about cartels. Were talking about crime thats being committed. And were talking about secretary mayorkas and his dereliction of duty. Why in because he makes why . Because he makes policies and carries out policies that have put people in danger, has put Law Enforcement in danger. I only have 40 seconds left. A general question to are mr. Jones and mr. Malts. What are the broader impacts on first responders, Law Enforcement, fire service because of the cartels along the border . Please, if you could do 10 seconds apiece. Completely overrun are. When you look in to south texas, youve got Texas Troopers who have been deployed for two and a half years, 12,000 plus texas National Guard completely overrun and overwhelmed. Mr. Malts. The criminals dont fear any repercussions of their actions because theyre not being held accountable. Exactly. So what were seeing here today, were answering the question to this hearing. So its not a sham, t not theater, its not a waste of time, its actually a mission. Its a mission to make this homeland, our homeland, the United States of america safer for our children and grandchildren. Mr. Chairman, i yield back. Gentleman yields. I know recognize mr. Menendez of new jersey. Thank you, mr. Chairman. We can all agree that Mexican Cartels pose a direct threat to u. S. Interests. We can all agree that we need to fight the scourge of fentanyl in this country. We can also agree that this body and the United States government should prioritize addressing these issues. But todays hearing has not been a serious discussion of ways to protect American Families from Cartel Activities or fentanyl photographicking. Trafficking. How can we engage in good faith discussions of border policies when this committees majority is using this committee to arrive at a predetermined investigation, the impeach amount of secretary mayorkas, a destination they have said they are set on reaching no matter what the facts are, no matter what the administration has done to address these critical issues. When witnesses confirm what the majority already believes instead of engaging in actual factfinding. Ms. Vaughn, you work for the center for Immigration Studies, is that correct . Yes, i do. Ms. Vaughn, yes or no, did you speak at an event organized by the social Contract Press . Look, i yes or or no. Yes or no. Yes or no. Yes or no. You were able to answer other questions in a question yes or no fashion. Yes or no you did. [inaudible] you appeared excuse me, mr. Chairman, my time. [inaudible] no, im just asking gentleman reclaims his time. [inaudible] did you appear alongside an editor of chronicles magazine, yes or no . Could you repeat it, please . Did you appear alongside an editor of chronicles magazine . Not that i know of. Did you give an interview with the American Free press . Ive never heard of it. Excuse me, reclaiming my time. I think its important that we shed light on the organization you work for as well as the three organizations that i believe you have either worked for appeared alongside. The center for Immigration Studies have been labeled an antiimmigrant hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center thats a complete a White Nationalist publisher has been labeled as a designated hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center. According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, chronicles magazine is a publication with strong neoconfederate ties that kuwaiters to the white candidate canners to the White Nationalist league, and the American Free press is an antisemitic newspaper founded by a holocaust denier e. On the day the congress welcomed the israeli president to address us, we have someone who has contributed to an antisemitic newspaper found by a holocaust denier. A witness who makes nine assertions in her written testimony about the administrations policies, assertion circumstances the majority will likely relien on to further their cause for the impeachment of secretary mayorkas. Yet only two citations were provided for those nine assertions, both of which were provided by the center for Immigration Studies where you work, again, an a organization thats been labeled an antiimmigrant hate group. I also think its important that we discuss some of these issues through the lens are of our values. Members of the majority along with some of our witnesses have mentioned their concern for the safety of migrants. Ms. Vaughn, the administrations policies expose [inaudible] by the cartels. Im glad you reck e nice the long and difficult journey that immigrants face. Immigrants travel to the United States by any means they can in search of a better life for their families including on foot for hundreds if not thousands of miles enduring exposure to injury and illness along the way. Thats why its uncon unconscionable to me that you go out of your way to praise what Governor Abbott of texas has done. You say in your testimony, quote, to the extent there is any improvement at all. It is more likely due to efforts by the state of texas to block entry points such as by patrolling the rio grande river, installing razor wire and buoys. Im sure many of us saw the reports about how texas is telling their medics to treat immigrant migrants human humanely. Theres been a soaring heat wave, yet medics have been told to to the to not give out water. Governor abbott has added buoys and raise can razor wire that you alluded to including in areas of the river with high water and hoe visibility. In this report included a story of a 19yearold woman trapped in the water who was having a miscarriage. Five immigrants have drowned in oneweek period in the area where near this wire was installed. Where is the humanity for these people . Where ises your outrage when you hear these stories . What are you doing to change the outcome for the people trying to get to this country, our country, to live their American Dream for the betterment of their families . Where is your outrage when they have to endure these conditions trying to get here to seek asylum . I yield back. The gentleman yields. I recognize mr. Bar keen of oklahoma. Mr. Chairman, at the onset of my time, id like to yield 30 seconds to ms. Vaughn. Ms. Vaughn, youre recognized. I am outraged because i cannot imagine a more inhumane policy than one that entices vulnerable migrants to turn over their life savings, their families, their kids to criminal smuggling organizations because they believe that they will be allowed to stay in this country. And end up in debt bondage and other horrific situations. And, frankly, im saddened that, that members feel the need to distract from this horrific treatment of people by impugning my motives, insulting me, smearing, repeating lies about me to distract from a horrible problem. I sat and testified as a witness at a hearing about a year ago that ms. Jackson lee held. He brought in three survivors of Human Trafficking. It was a very well done hearing. We heard their stories. They were brave. This is a real issue, a real atrocity that is occurring at our border, and to act like this is some kind of political stunt is a shame. Mr. Chairman, if i may, i wanted to give you some time. Im going to reclaim my time. Gentleman reclaims. Look, lets just talk about the difference in two years. Historic historic lows in 45 years of illegal drags gration. Bidens the person at the helm who enacts laws many response to we, the people, historic lows of illegal immigration. Now we have the most illegal immigration in our countrys history. Decisions matter. A lack of leadership on this front matters. People are losing their lives. Children are being sold into the sex traffic, slave trade because of decisions that are being made. In 2022 Human Trafficking arrests have increased 50 . 72 of trafficking victims are immigrants. Now, mr. Jones, a minute ago you talk about some things that we have to be concerned about. The new mob, the cartel, coming into the United States, the new mob. I want you to recite the fact that you said a minute ago. How many politicians were killed in mexico . In the last National Election if you look up cnn did some great reporting on this 132 including their staffers. Are they coming to a state near you . Are the cartels richer and more powerful because of this administration, President Bidens decisions and secretary mayorkas decisions . Are they more powerful and richer today . This is a whole new scheme that has resulted in them getting richer, right here in they more powerful in america because of decisions at the executive level . Yes. We keep hearing about debt bondage. 35,000 if youre coming from china, the cartel is charging you to come into this country, and do we not think theyre going to employ the tactics ott of not only employment, but what about prostitution to repay that debt . In every form that you can think of, theyre going to require these people. And then when they pay it, theyre going to say they did something wrong and now they owe another 5, 10, 15,000, because thats what they can do. You see, they know where their families are in their country of origin, and they know where theyre going here in our country, and its all right here in the numbers. Mr. Chairman, im concerned about the Biden Administration as i know many of us in this committee are, the policies of unaccompanied alien children. And its run by the department of health and human services. Some of you is are some great insight on that, fraudulent use of that program, children that are being trafficked, theyre being us abused, theyre being sold into the sec trade. I want to ask ms. Into the sex trade. I want to ask ms. Vaughn, what do you know about children that have been involved in the sex trade because of the uac Program Implementation . Well, in many cases their lives are ruined. In some cases it happens because they get preyed on when, for example, theyre in shelters in places like san antonio or new york or chicago that are overrun. Theyre by themselves. Is this administration making sure that those children who may be forced to say theyre related, is this administration making sure that they verify that theyre those children . [inaudible] and what change over the prior policy is not taking muir making sure that theyre the children in. Well, previously, the policy was that no child would be released without a earn level of vetting of the sponsor does that include dna tests to make sure okay. Well, dna testing was done at the border because there was a problem has that been companyinged change . Yes, i it has. Is this administration being complicit in children who are being forced to say theyre related being sold into a sex trade, and we could have caught them at the border the cartels and smugglers are thrilled that the dna testing policy has been abandoned because it e makes it very seize easy for them now the remember, kidnap rent, kidnap. And use with children to assist other inadd a missable, illegal aliens from crossing into the United States. Gentlemans time has exing firedded. I i now recognize ms. Titus [inaudible] into the record citizen ms. Titus to introduce that for you, ms. Titus has been recognized. The Texas Troopers accounts of bloody migrants on the u. S. Mexico border, also in the houston chronicle, the washington post. These are not my words, these are the words of a texas trooper. Without objection, so ordered. Thank you. Cartel members are thrilled [inaudible] to figure out how thrilled they are about this . Thats a rhetorical question. You know, i just sit here one more time and listen to one more hearing trying to attack the secretary, trying to attack the president , talking about the border with inflammatory titles like the open border, advancing cartel crime. Meantime, weve got domestic terrorism, weve got antisemitism, weve got asian hatred, weve got cybersecurity, all of that is being ignored, and all of those things are serious problems. You know, its so easy just to point a finger at one person and say, oh, its his fault for being a bad manager. But if you look at the issue from a historical, sociological and economic standpoint, youll find that its much more complicated than that. You can look at the complex history of central and south america. You can look at our currently strained relationship with mexico. You can look at the broken immigration system that we dont seem to be able to fix. You can look at the immense power of the cartels and their abuses at every level using guns that theyve mostly gotten from across the border and selling drugs to people in the u. S. Because we have customers here who want that, so we have a decadeslong opioid crisis. And theres no agreement on border policies. We hear from some members of the border what we need are more resources, we hear from whatever your sources are from disgruntled people at the border that its all managements fault. And largely that can be credited to our Law Enforcement doing a good job. Theyre not as violent. They do not raise villages here. But we do not have a very Good Relationship with mexico on this front like we do on some other diplomatic fronts. Could you talk a little bit about how we could maybe improve that relationship . So we could jointly go after some of his cartels . Several years ago the u. S. Government and the Mexican Government a basic understanding of shared responsibility. This notion of shared responsibility cut across republican administration, the Democratic Administration of the u. S. Side across several Mexican Governments. Unfortunately, although this notion the Mexican Government was significantly walked back from it. We have seen a host administration a profound hollowing out of his cooperation for is also adopting a policy is in mexico that are enabling their lack of response the Mexican Cartels. It is difficult to see how this could be changed during the last administration. It is clear any kind of effective policy requires respect, interest on both side. Unfortunately this is not happening with the current Mexican Government. Per the biteadministration has t to drive to induce or cooperation from mexico but we have very far to go. Thank you. I hear from your other Panel Members the way to solve this problem is get rid of mayorkas and build the wall. But there are other things more realistic we could do to make the situation better on our side . Absolute bird certainly there are many opportunities to strengthen and those important i mentioned as well as access mitigation such as overdose medication, other medications for those who have Substance Abuse disorders and opportunities to strengthen Law Enforcement action. These include resourcings first sump constructive content takes place. This includes expanding the policies how we tackle the cartels. Not simply thinking of them as smuggling entities or drug smuggling entities only in targeting their many dimensions including the other access to money joint task forces, that if u. S. Law enforcement agents as well as other members of Government Agencies so whole of government approach and department of state, department of defense that expands authorities for agencies such as fish and wildlife. We also are some of the mexican pharmacies are selling drugs laced with fentanyl. At that is killing american tourists were down there. Theyre not the cartels but this could be a connection per the retail crime often use with a cell on the internet or wherever through some of these things like trafficking. Theyll be part of the all of government approach would that be right . Absolutely thank you, mr. Chairman i yelled backwards as gently as i recognize mr. Crane from arizona. Think you mr. Chairman bray thank you all for coming here today. I continued to have the same thing i want to echo what my calling was saying. I cannot help but notice this is a sham of her as Homeland Security committee. For nothing but this i do not know what else were going to be talking about. When charge of leadership accountable wish you joan simone were here yesterday my colic on the other side were trying to undermine pharaoh effective effective walls andbarriers are. It is insecurity understand Security Systems for lapping deterrents we talked about barriers intelligence all these things together to secure whatever you want to secure print said to my colleagues on the other side of thou could not even acknowledge the barriers for those around their house, their schools these complexes whatever it is are affected. Mr. Jones i want to ask about that, sir. You understand security a lot better than the average individual. Do you find individuals that isolate barriers and walls that say they are archaic and ineffective. To find this individual series when it comes actual security . They do not understand what taken place. In south texas for example you can be inside of a stash house and ate matter of seconds is not about an electronic wall for protection its about how fast can you get Law Enforcement personnel there . Or should go to arizona you have a lot of space there. You have the challenge were we are in 2024 port 2023 where we are today is not about detection issues. Its about how you get Law Enforcement able to respond before they are picked up her inside the stash houses. Thats a court fundamental problem. Correct these deterrents help give our Law Enforcement officials time to respond, is that correct . That is correct. Oxygen agreed that . Absolutely yes. Mr. Jones you would talk about classifying cartels as terrorist organizations. I have heard that argument before. I understand why that argument is being made. I want to ask you something sir did you watch the videos of the u. S. Pulling out of afghanistan . Yes or brickwork situation to be buying from plains questioner. Yes or a dead pig. Yes and also witnessed my brother coming back in a body bag from the war in afghanistan for a quick thank you sir. One of my biggest concerns and we Start Talking about that kind of stuff sir, its the same leadership that was executed in that fight against the cartels and that concerns me. Quite honestly i do not trust them to do that job. But is one of the biggest issues that i have. I also want to hear your thoughts, sir i know youve done this for a long time how that would affect how that would affect some of the asylum claims. Sure. First we have to understand the issue we have right now right now is about authorities. I do not look to go to war using our military in mexico. We have improvement in the past working with the marines, working with mort driving intelligence led operations. But we did not do was network through. We leverage a Law Enforcement model. It was too slow for it what is it do . For time six or fewer talk ye talking more about using intelligence. Absolutely. Who have used overt action at the time they have surfacetoair missiles over these years you are not flying over the thought and shot down for a quick thank you sir. My last question the federation for america Immigration Reform for a reason to calculate the cost of illegal immigration to be one to 50. 7 billion to americans. Do you know how much a border wall would cost to build, and he went on the panel have any idea roughly . Whats the same groups is about 22 billion. Mr. Jones you think theyll be a good investment . Was i think right now beyond anything regarding money being spent by this committee or any other to protection of this country you have to look at the totality of these cartels and provided the authorities we need. Think it mr. Chairman. I asked for unanimous consent to enter this article into record, thank you yelled back. Without objection the article is entered. I now recognize mr. Green for five minutes from georgia. Thank you, mr. Chairman. As a one or 50 billiondollar industry. In 2021 georgia had with the highest number of cases per capita that were reported through trafficking hotline. The Northern Area of atlanta is well known. It is one of the highest places of Human Trafficking, human sex trafficking of women and children. Women and girls represent approximate 71 of all trafficking victims globally. For the 90 of detected female victims are trafficked for sexual exploitation. Approximately one third of all Human Trafficking victims are children. This next sentence is hard to even read because it is our country by the United States is one of the Top Destinations for Human Trafficking and as among the largest consumers of child sex. The average age of entry into the commercial sex market is 12 years old. In the past few weeks theres been a lot of controversy about a movie called sound of freedom. I cannot understand why anyone would say anything negative about a movie thats trying to expose child sex trafficking especially when it involves our United States border. Ms. Ivanka can you tell me is that a Conspiracy Theory that child sex trafficking a Conspiracy Theory question request is mostly not a Conspiracy Theory. It occurs far too much. I have met with an hub for survivors and heard but theyve gone through. To refer to it as a conspiracy is it insult what they have endured it. Is our board or a serious issue . The fact that our border on the amount of people come across our borders contributing to child sex trafficking . Plus is most definitely contributing to not only child sex trafficking but forced labor and domestic servitude. And death bondage as we have discussed today. Is our Current Administration border policy contributing to child sex trafficking . Theres really facilitating yes. It is happening with more frequency as a result of the policies of the border. The lack of enforcement and the interior of the country as well that would help rescue some of these survivors. Turn that into survivors as opposed to victims. Think it ms. Vaughn. Fentanyl deaths are on an alltime high 300 americans die every single day from fentanyl. Having a top Government Official on the Mexican Cartel payroll help to the cartel operate with impunity moving tons of drugs around the world. And make billions for caustic cartel as little as 10 cents to produce the fentanyl lace fake prescription pill. Ten cents a. That is sold at the United States for as much as 10 30 per pill. With your experience in your career and the dea, is the amount of fentanyl coming across our border is this an alltime high . Yes. This is the greatest drug threat ever. Went to at its not a drug it is a chemical weapon coming out of china. Just like katu, the spice, now this ila zine thats rotting people from the inside out for this is delivered in my opinion my Expert Opinion from all the years of doing this for and lived in this nightmare starting in 2008 and then fentanyl started coming in around 2012. This is deliberate. I would say just like the africans used to say g hot against america. For china they are undermining, they are destroying our country sitting back and using the Mexican Cartels to do the dirty work. I agree with you. And i believe i would ask your opinion as well. With the bite Administration Policy allowing the Mexican Cartel to trafficked the amount of poison fentanyl thats coming across china it is not negligent. Its not that they dont know it is happening for they know its happening but its hard to deny 300 americans dying every single day from fentanyl. What would you agree the bite Administration Policy with the chinese poison fentanyl into the nine states of america . Absolutely look at this little boy three years old from kentucky and this is his mother here with the kid because of fentanyl toughening everyday all over the country built the families, i know. It is really sad its really sad the Current Administration overturn strong comments are std policies that kept us all safe. That is my passion i cant waitdeceptive great country. It seems like Border Security should be our utmost only to stop child sex trafficking, Human Trafficking but to prevent the poison of 300 americans. Thank you, mr. Chairman yelled back the. The gentle videos i now recognize mr. Garcia for five minutes. Also just want to be clear, to review for the hearing democrats want to solve for traffic and we went to solve Human Trafficking thoroughly went to solve any arms trafficking which arms he cartels what we do not want what some on this Committee Want to do is we do not demonize her scapegoat immigrants people who need the most help we are interested in Real Solutions not going along with republican attacks to launch a big impeachment for. Want to start the question lesson here of the tree of life massacre in pittsburgh which we know kilda left 11 worshipers. Shut up a walmart in el paso killing 20 people like the tree of life shooter before him the murder lead was fighting in a war two hispanic invasion of texas. Mr. Jones, yes or no is there an invasion of taxes of the southern border by immigrants . No, sir we are in a new phase we are in a nation overrun. No longer an invasion . You dont believe thats this in going on question request we are beyond invasion. You your self on twitter and numerous occasions said there is an invasion caused by the u. S. Government similar to the same words that have been set in this horrific shooting. I just want to note words actually cause impact. And can be quite dangerous here and across the country. Our country needs responsible leadership. It needs Border Security but of course democrats agree with that. To clarify for the record more than 90 of the hard drugs enter legal crossing at ports of entry. Continue to be forgotten over and over again democrats increase funding on the funding package at last year course overwhelmingly opposed. We keep hearing over and over again solutions that are not serious which is why we never discuss in this committee. No interest how to improve access to healthcare Faculty Mental Health crisis happening in our country. Q. Have the same groundhog day hearing over and over again with the migrants for drug crisis continues to replay itself hearing after hearing. I want to read quickly go down and ask each of you yes or no for each of you. Yes or not some of the fentanyl crisis mustve drove addressing not only the supply but also the demand is coming from the United States cluster at mr. Jones is that correct . Exit is but also have to remember where the demand is proquest just yes or no yes thank you. You have to remember at the cartels have done never. Is my time i asked for yester no thank you. Ms. Vaughn is that correct . Do we have to also pay. Until they think is adderall. I would not call that demand for quick she would not agree to u. S. Demand is not part of the fentanyl crisis . I think it is part of it. Mr. Maltz . Aptly demanded to disaster right now thank you. Second question yes or no pleased. Mr. Jones have you ever received a direct order from the president to stand down and open order . Have i received address from the present to stand out of the border . No, sir. Mr. Maltz of you . No fitness vaughn are you aware of any such orders ever happen . In my aware questar. Question. Orders directly from the president to stand out and open the border . Like to know. Ms. Brown to be heard of that . Thank you very much for it also real briefly ask you about some the border policies that have been proposed by some of the committee on the other side but do you think of a good idea to build a water filled trench with alligators on the border . Would that be held. In the border crisis . No progress interesting. You think of a shot migrants in the legs to stop them from coming over do you think that would be helpful . No. With those pulses were proposed by former President Donald Trump just to be very clear. Like members of this committee am very concerned we continue to have his hearing to essentially put doubt immigrants i immigrate to this country when i was a young kid. I am proud to be a very proud american that earned and gain my citizenship. I hope future committees we could stop dehumanizing immigrants. Without the yield that, thank immigrants a gentleman yields. I now reckon its a Ranking Members closure marks the. Thank you very much mr. Chairman. To say the least it has been a journey the last three hours. Mr. Chairman i remain extremely concerned the committee continues to focus its attention a baseless attempt to impeach secretary mayorkas to the exclusion of its legitimate legislative and oversight work. As a representative outlined the department of Homeland Security under the leadership of secretary trench on his ticket unprecedented Law Enforcement action to disrupt and dismantle the cartel. The notion that secretary mayorkas work to advance cartel crime in america, is this curins hearing title suggests is outrageous. He is working to combat it. This is a momentous task. One that entirely the abided administration is focused on. This committee should be focused on how we can help the administration in those efforts for this should be bipartisan. In the past it has been bipartisan but now, we need to look no further than the previous title of this hearing which accused President Biden and secretary mayorkas of being accomplices to crime her to understand the goal of this socalled investigation. I will remind everyone that chairman greene struck that title from the record because it did not adhere to house rules. We can also look at the members who accused secretary mayorkas of been derelict in his duties before their socalled investigation had even concluded. That did not seem to matter. The investigation as it closed before is even open. They are explicit about this. In fact the hearing that launches investigation was called open borders, close case. Secretary mayorkas dereliction of duty on the border. That is right. This does not sound a good face investigation. In releasing a report today what that any consultation with democrats is in a good faith effort of bipartisanship. Nonetheless i am grateful for the witnesses for appearing here today. This is a nices of america we have an opportunity to voice our opinions. The greatness of this country is that we can do it without interfere of a cartel or anything doing anything to us. But also the greatness of it is that at some point as americans we can come together. It is a process. But i dont think fighting secretary mayorkas who has it been here as secretary two years six months, is the way to go. Democrats work with the republicans, we put our votes where our concerns have been. We actually support comprehensive Immigration Reform. We support fully funding the men and women who protect us along the border. Our votes reflect that in our votes will continue to reflect that. So i think our witnesses those who are in Law Enforcement where their servicer. But you know, when you look at the democrats on this committee and its diversity it looks a lot like America Today. And so i hope you understand that diversity it makes us stronger. What i also say as our policies have to reflect that diversity. My ancestors came over too this country in the belly of a ship. They did not want to come but they came in. I am american i only know this country. I will defend the right for what we do in this country and for others who used to come because we invited them to come because we were the shining star. Now, for whatever reason we have decided that we do not want anyone else because we have enough. I reject that notion. Sure, comprehensive immigration will get us there. President reagan knew we had a problem. He self the problem right off the bat. He sold it to everyone who is here, stay here. Until he wiped it out with an executive order. We can do anything we want as americans. But to demonize people who travel thousands of miles to try to get to our border because of what we stand for is not our value system. Albert value system is what everybody else would like to be like. I dont ever want to change it. Comprehensive Immigration Reform, not impeachment is the way for us to get there. I yield to back up. A gentleman yields. I want to thank our witnesses are being here. We appreciate it. I am sure the Ranking Member knows Immigration Reform is handle and the Judiciary Committee and not here. I do appreciate and bring up the need for it. Ill talk to mr. Jordan and encourage him to take that up. We heard from the Ranking Member about how embarrassed he is this committee has held nine hearings on the southwest border. We have heard from our witnesses the horrific actions of the cartels are worsening secondarily to the policies of this administration. We all know the process they allowed instant parole, they stopped detention, they stopped deportation for catch and release policies happened in the migrants called Home Millions have come. Make no mistake there is no change in crime or corruption or Economic Conditions in latin america. They have gotten better. The mass migration is secondary to the policies of this administration. There is no legitimate argument to suggest otherwise. Even merton garland agreed trafficking large group to overwhelm the Border Patrol and pass nefarious individuals the god always in drugs around them. The attorney general recognizes it the Minority Party own that they address the problem they could move on the bp one apple shell game living the numbers crossing over the ports of entry and getting automatic per road to those individuals not decreasing the incentive. They are still coming. We have allowed for automatic perot through the app those numbers are not being counted. The border is open the incentive for mass migration remains and as i said theyre coming the drug cartels seizing the opportunity my democratic colleagues have said its a waste of time to look into cartel crime they said it was a waste of time to address the dead americans to fentanyl. Nine Committee Hearings is too many. They say look at the policies this administration has done theyre not working he southwest border the Human Trafficking, the overt dose of death the cartel crime murders is the greatest threat to this country. Were going to continue until the border is controlled and the cartels are stopped. They stopped dying we will stop these hearings. Open border, drug cartels seizing the day partnering with the gangs that speak of the criminal activity in many of our city is what has happening. The dems on the spell do not want to discuss that no one has denigrated immigration here today yet that is what you want to imply. I am offended by that. This is migration policies killing americans. I hope the media is paying attention. Americans are dying in the left is saying this is an embarrassment at the percentage of our border is not controlled by us. Yet, investigations are an embarrassment. Ask for impeachment my democratic colleagues keep saying how this is somehow an impeachment effort. I have never use those words. Not here in this committee and not and this recording they keep talking about. They also say that somehow this discussion is racist it is not racist to say we have a problem seizing the opportunity and the waves are coming. Its not racist to say that those in the bring up it is racist or trying to impeach or some kind of dog and pony show is because they cannot tell you that americans arent dying. The numbers are going down on americans dying due to fellow. They cannot make a valid argument against those facts and plight we are racist or it isnt embarrassing we had nine Committee Hearings on this. I will tell you when the Committee Hearings will end. They will end when this administration start fixing the problem. They will end when the white house recognizes there is secretary of Homeland Security isnt doing his job. That is called dereliction of duty. That is when the hearings will end. It is the job at this committee to the bottom of what is going on and we will do it. Democrats are on record. They think this Homeland Security is an investigation of the border and the overset of of the border is embarrassing. They do not want these hearings they do not want the light to shine on what is going on the decisions made by this white house and the dhs secretary. Like i said, we will not stop until we get to the bottom of it. Again i think our witnesses for being here. And as i said this is not end these hearing but it does and this one. The committee is adjourned. I. [background noises]