Mr. Morgan good morning and thank you all for being here today. As the commissioner of customs and Border Protection, im pleased to announce the official release of cbps southwest Border Migration statistics for the month of august. And ive said this many times, since congress has failed and continue to fail to pass meaningful legislation to address the crisis at the border, which would ultimately stop children from being used as passports and end the cartels ability to exploit this population, as well as our laws, the Trump Administration has taken a number of unilateral actions, unprecedented actions, that were going to discuss today. But, first, lets discuss the results of the administrations incredible efforts. During the month of august, cbp apprehended, or deemed inadmissible, a total of 64,000 individuals. For july, if you recall, that number was just over 82,000, which represents a decline of 22 . Moreover, the august numbers reflects and this is critical the august numbers reflects a 56 reduction from the peak in may, which you recall was over 144,000 individuals. And why . Why do we see, in 90 days, a 56 reduction . The president has made it very clear that hes going to use every tool available to him and this administration to address this unprecedented crisis at the southern border. We have seen historic agreements and policies put in place by this administration, an Unprecedented Network of initiatives, from regulatory reforms, policy changes, interior enforcement efforts. The list goes on and on, what this administration has done that resulted in this 56 decrease. In addition to that, lets talk about the government of mexico. The government of mexico has taken meaningful and unprecedented steps to help curb the flow of illegal immigration to our border. Now, lets talk about a couple of numbers. Mexico has apprehended approximately 134,000 people so far this calendar year. Last year 2018 calendar year the entire year of 2018, 83,000. Thats a substantial increase of apprehensions that the government of mexico has executed. In addition, since june, mexico has deployed thousands of troops. Theyve created a new National Guard within their country, 10,000 troops to the southern border, 15,000 troops to the northern border with the United States. Again, unprecedented support and cooperation with the government of mexico. But im going to tell you, and im going to go into a little bit more what the government of mexico has done, but they need to do more. And ill talk about that in a second. The International Outreach to the governments of Central American countries is also beginning to yield effective and positive results, particularly the efforts to stem the surge of Illegal Migrants crossing the southwest border and to disrupt alien smuggling organizations. Additionally, the northern triangle countries specifically, along with the government of mexico, have really joined the United States as True Partners for the first time. They really are seeing this as a true, regional crisis that need continuing coordination, cooperation, and effort that this is not just a United States problem, that this is a regional crisis that needs Regional Support and regional solutions. Third, again, and this goes to the support that the government of mexico is providing, the migrant protection protocols or, im sure most of you heard, mpp, have also helped. Tens of thousands of individuals arrive at our southwest border every month, many of them attempting to enter illegally. Historically, weve talked about this, these individuals, because of our broken asylum laws, have been released into the interior of the United States as they wait for their asylum hearings. These proceedings can take years. A host of reasons, a shortage of immigration judges, backlogs, the list goes on. Additionally, many never stick to the process and never continue to go through its final stages. And even when they receive a final order of removal, they still remain in the United States illegally. Those are facts. Under the mpp, aliens who are entering or seeking asylum and admission to the United States from mexico, illegally or without proper documentation, now may be returned to mexico and required to wait outside the United States for the duration of their immigration proceedings, which take place in the United States. The government of mexico has agreed to provide them, while theyre waiting in mexico, with appropriate humanitarian protections for the duration of their stay. Heres a couple of key points on mpp. It discourages the abuse and exploitation of u. S. Laws and nonmeritorious or false asylum claims. Mpp also helps promote a safer and more orderly process along the southwest border, freeing up limited resources and helps free up time of those implementing this process to devote to those migrants who may legitimately have a meritbased claim. As of september 1 of this year, cbp has returned more than 42,000 individuals to mexico under the mpp. Now, let me emphasize a point that i made to a minute ago, even though mexico has stepped up unprecedented, they have joined the United States, as well as our northern triangle partners, and really stepped up as True Partners and really are really seeing this as a regional crisis, and they have stepped up in unprecedented ways, we need them to do more. We need mexico to do more. We need to make sure that theyre sustaining the efforts right now, that the National Guard, the 25,000 troops they have deployed, stay on target, stay on task. We need them to continue to join and expand the mpp, which is a game changer right now with respect to stemming the flow. Mexico needs to continue to work with our intelligence folks to use information, share intelligence, and develop target Enforcement Actions at strategic locations in their country. So they are stepping up in unprecedented ways, but we need them to continue to sustain that, and we need them continue to do more. Lastly, deterrence. President trump is making it clear that if you come to the United States of america illegally, you will be removed. If you come here as an illegal alien in the United States, if you commit crimes or illegally take american jobs, you will face consequences. Now, let me talk a minute about the border wall, just a little topic thats been in the news. President trump has made it very clear that we will build a wall on the u. S. Mexico border. And that, as a cbp commissioner, i can tell you, thats exactly what were doing every single day. Together with the United States army corps of engineers, cbp has constructed more than 65 miles of new border wall. And its more than a border wall, its a border wall system. And now that we have the secretary of defenses authority to use an additional 3. 6 billion, were hoping to build between 450 to 500 new miles of border by the end of 2020. But i want to make sure that i emphasize something, as the cbp commissioner, the Border Patrol field leadership, they want this wall. This is not a vanity project, as one of the false narratives out there has been, and ive heard it numerous times. This president has delivered to the experts, to the Border Patrol, to the leadership, asked what they needed. One of the key things that they said they needed was the wall. And this is not just a wall thats being built right now, its a wall system. It includes access roads, lighting, technology. And when asked, the leadership universally has said the wall works. Where its been used in the past, history has shown the numbers go down. Facts and history show that. And weve been saying for a very long time, the experts have been saying, when they were asked by the president , this wall is absolutely needed to help safeguard and secure our southern border, as part of what weve always been saying, a multilayered approach of infrastructure, technology, and personnel. And where that is implemented an effective, a strategic location, it works. The experts say it works. The experts have asked for this, and this president and this administration has delivered and theyre going to continue to deliver. And as we stated from the beginning, that wall is an integral part of that multilayer strategy. In closing, President Trump has used every tool available to address the humanitarian and security crisis at this border. The entire dhs family, including uscis and ice, are working together with cbp to secure and restore integrity to the immigration system. And i, as the commissioner, could not be more proud of the men and women of the customs and Border Protection who they support what they do, and their steadfast devotion to their mission and the rule of law, and doing so with humanity and compassion. And let me summarize by reiterating that we are absolutely encouraged by the downward trend of apprehension numbers, but we know these numbers could always spike upwards. History has shown that. Weve seen it happen in the past. We cannot rely solely on the government of mexico or our Central American partners to solve the pull factors created by our broken system. Unless the laws change, these numbers will rise again next year, just as weve seen in the past. We will again face the same kind of crisis we have for way too long. Congress must absolutely act to pass meaningful legislation to address the loopholes in our Current System if were going to have a durable, lasting solution to this crisis. Ill take your questions. Yes, sir. A couple of quick questions. First, can you address the complaints of reports and abuse of minors in u. S. Custody . And secondly, are we giving up on when this was sold, the wall was sold, we were told that mexico would pay for the wall. So is that gone . Mr. Morgan so let me take your first question. So, with allegations of abuse and weve talked about this a lot of one of the stints that i did with cbp a few years ago, in 2014 i actually was the acting assistant commissioner for, then, internal affairs, which is now opr, and i can say, from my personal knowledge, that every single allegation, every single allegation that is brought forward with any type of abuse or violation of policy is absolutely investigated to its fullest. And its not just investigated by cbp, there are multiple layers there. So the dhs ig, they have a take at it. If its appropriate, doj civil rights, Civil Liberties section takes a look at that as well. So im confident that i can say every single allegation is taken seriously and investigated thoroughly. And when appropriate, appropriate discipline is utilized. Now, so for your second question, the wall, as far as who is paying for it, as the commissioner of cbp, i dont care. Thats political. Thats for politicians to decide. What i can tell you, as the cbp commissioner, every single mile of wall that is built, this country is more safe. Every single mile of the wall thats built, it allows the Border Patrol agents to exponentially increase their capacity to do their job. Thats what i can tell you. So question. Mr. Morgan yes, sir. Thank you, mr. Commissioner. A federal judge in california has reinstated a ban on the administrations policy that would restrict migrants ability to apply for asylum at the southern border. What is your reaction to that . And a followup, please. Mr. Morgan so, my reaction is, im frustrated. The unprecedented judicial activism that weve experienced every single time that this administration comes up with what we believe is a legal rule or policy that we really believe that will address this crisis, we end up getting enjoined. Its very, very frustrating. But were just going to keep going. Well continue to work within the current Legal Framework to address this. And heres what should be frustrating to the American People, this president , this administration, we keep having to go outside the box within the current Legal Framework to come up with new initiatives, new policies, new regulations, because this Congress Wont do their job. This congress ive talked to multiple people on the hill. I personally told them exactly that they need to do to pass meaningful legislation that would end 85 of this crisis. I think you could put it on one piece of paper and do it in a half an hour, and they refuse to do so. Thats what really should frustrate the American People. And a quick follow. I want to ask you about using resources like personnel and finances related to the United States military. Is that making the, sort of, difference that you thought it would . And are you sensitive to the pushback that weve certainly heard from a number of people that, by engaging the military in this particular fight, is perhaps not the best use of their time and energy . Mr. Morgan so, what i would say is, it would be way outside my lane to talk about the impacts of the use of the military or the funding. That really should be left up to the secretary of defense. Heres what i will say on this, is that i have full confidence in the secretary of defense that he would not approve either the utilization of resources or funding that he think would negatively impact his job to carry out his National Security mission. But what i will say is, cbp, were doing a National Security mission too. The crisis at the southwest border is not just a humanitarian crisis, its also a National Security crisis. So again, every every troop thats assigned there, they are helping with the National Security crisis along the southwest border. Every mile of wall is helping as well. So, in the back. Hi. Alayna from axios. You talked about needing congress needing to do more. Whats the latest with Jared Kushners immigration plan . Weve been told that hes planning to roll it out into a formal bill in the coming weeks. Mr. Morgan so, i think thats a great question. Again, that shows this administrations effort as Congress Continues to fail to put anything out there. They havent even brought anything to the floor, any meaningful legislation to the floor. So mr. Kushner, as well as a team, they are trying to put together a comprehensive plan that hopefully gets traction. Dhs is working on that. We have people i personally am having dialogue and discussions with that. It would be great to be able to put something together thats meaningful that we could get bipartisan support to actually end this crisis. I applaud his efforts. Absolutely. Yes, sir. Thank you, sir. Two questions. One mr. Morgan ive been told i can only give people one question. Well, one and a half then, sir. The half a question, you attribute the drop in apprehensions to the president s policies, but isnt it also true that apprehensions always drop this period of the year during the heat . And also, i mr. Morgan well, let me take that question. So i think thats a good question, because thats one of the false narratives out there. So, the past 5 years, due to seasonal reasons, weve seen, on average, those numbers drop about 8 . So if you look from, you know, june to july, we saw those numbers drop by 40 . So its just not supported by the facts. And now, generally, from july to august, last year from july to august, as an example, the numbers actually went up 16 . This is the season when they start going up. And what i just said, for this year, down 23 . Absolutely, its what this president and this administration is doing. It has nothing to do with seasonal trends. And the second question, you just now complained about judicial activism and having policies enjoined by the courts. Isnt it also just as possible that the policies that are being promulgated dont comply with the law . I mean, isnt that judges job to decide whats legal and whats not . Mr. Morgan the judges job is to interpret law, not make law. And thats what i think judicial activism means. Thats a big thing in this country. I believe its a big problem in this country. We can disagree on legal premises that have that argument. Thats what courts are there for, to interpret the law, not make the law. And judicial activists decisions like this, i think theyre trying to make law instead of interpret that. So, yes, maam. Thank you, commissioner. We know that the primary drivers of the border crisis are Central American families. How specifically has the administrations policies affected that demographic . Mr. Morgan so, thats great. So, at the height, in may, remember when we saw about 144,000 just staggering, catastrophic numbers, we were ranging between 65 to 70 were family units or unaccompanied minors. And, remember, because of our broken laws, that meant those 65 to 75 , where they were being released into the interior of the United States never to be heard from again. Right now, as these numbers not only continue to drastically decline you know, 57 in 90 days, so has that demographic. This month, that demographic fell from 65 to 75 , i mean, 70 to 55 . And a second question if i may. I understand that the Administration Says that there have been 65 miles of new border wall built, but thats in areas where there have been vehicular barriers or smaller, more porous border systems. When can we expect the administration to break ground on border wall where there hasnt previously been any barrier . Mr. Morgan so im really