[no audio] the subcommittee will come to order. I welcome ranking number inferred, members of the committee and our witnesses. We are expanding the departed of Homeland Security process for managing hydrant arrivals at the southwest border and how this process has changed after title 42 ended. For march 2020 to may 2023, dhs used title 42 Public Health authorities to expel more than 2. 9 million migrants from the noted states. When it ended on may 11, 2023, they sorted processing all migrants under regular immigration authorities. This process is complex and things like demographics and expression of fear all influence how a migrants process. Because the border is so dynamic, programs and protocols change frequently. Each of the components are presented here today, Border Control patrol, the enforcement and removal operations and citizenship and Immigration Services plate pivotal roles in this complex process. The patrol are on the front lines and they are was possible for apprehension and unusual processing on the border. Yaro is was possible for tracking migrants during dependency and removal proceedings, including detention an alternative to Detention Programs. And another Organization Managers more. Any delay can have impacts on our Border Management systems. Delays can cause overcrowding at facilities which lead to unsheltered releases, also known as street releases in order communities. This is currently one of the busiest sectors in the country for migrant encounters and the border communities are at high risk for street releases. As the subcommittee has explored in previous hearings, street releases caused serious harms to migrants and border communities. Congress needs to understand this process in order to modernized our Border Management system and keep arizona families safe and secure. My immigration proposal with the senator included important improvements to this process to ensure that our border is secure and migrants are treated fairly and he mainly. Todays hearing gives us the opportunity to learn how this has changed since the end of title 42 and how the changes affect our management system. I hope this will motivate others to join us in advocating for Commonsense Solutions to our border policies. I look forward to hearing from our witnesses and i would like to recognize the Ranking Member for his opening statement. Thank you for holding this hearing. When it says, thank you for being here. All of your perforation for today, written statements, the orals to consider coming, thank you for your service to the country. It is important to everyone. I have someone who always stops and asks me hows it going on the border, what is happening with the system . People are concerned and there are 6 Million People that have been encountered coming across our border in just the last 2. 5 years. People are concerned about that and want to know what is happening and where things are going. Theres some committee has had several hearings dealing with immigration, the management of the ports, social media and illicit activities happening to recruit individuals coming across the border. This one in particular im excited about, actually. If not have the opportunity to sit down and talk about where is the process since the end of title 42. There been promises that have been made, but we dont understand people breath of the process and what actually happens to each individual as they come across the border. We know some of the terms are new and some of them, there has been a lot of working out on the presumption, which is a new term out there, everybodys trying to figure out how does this work . There were promises there would be a dramatic drop in the number of individuals crossing the border illegally. There were for about six weeks or so and then as was reported by the Washington Post, we have the highest numbers of family crossings in the history of the country in august. So the networks have shot back up dramatically. All of these questions about what is happening, how it is happening, most of our questions will focus on what is the process, what actually happens if an individual crosses at eight port of entry, there treated one way and then they are treated a different way. There treated different than a person who just shows up without an app. There is parole, what is happening with resumptions, a lot of confusion on the process and at the terrell end, are tells refusing the confusion to be able to push additional people across the border. Weve got to know what is happening, what is the process for those individuals and what actually happens in a Court Setting in the days ahead for these in the visuals. Todays hearing we will have the opportunity to walk through those different scenarios and determine where do things go. A report from the uscis highlighted some of the backlog issues and they will be able to raise questions about how individuals can be vetted. There have been different numbers that are, and we would like to be able to talk but the quantity of individuals and how many we can track and how many we cannot. Those that are detained and those that are on the nondetained docket and what happens to those individuals. I appreciate everyone coming prepared because we have a lot to talk through today and we will try to get to as many practical things as we can as we walk through this. I appreciate the input from everyone of you and i look forward to your questions. Going to go ahead and promise you i will flood you with questions for the record as well to follow up and gather data. Thank you, senator sinema. Thank you, Ranking Member langford. It is the practice to swear in witnesses so please stand and raise your right hand. You swear to the testimony will give before this committee will be the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you god . Thank you. I will ask each of our witnesses to keep their remarks to seven minutes or less and your full written statements will be entered into the hearing record. I would like to first introduce our witnesses reppo venting customs and Border Protection components, chief miller and mr. Matthew davies, who will be jointly to liberating the testimony. The chief serves as the chief of Law Enforcement operations for the Border Patrol in washington, d. C. He is responsible for the oversight of daytoday Border Patrol operations throughout the United States and in international engagements. He serves as the principal advisor for the chief of the order patrol on enforcement operations, personnel, infrastructure and technology requirements. Mr. Davies is the executive director for admin stability and passenger programs within the office of Field Operations. He receives he oversees multiple programs related to traveler facilitation in addition to serving as a primary point of contact for engagement between the travel industry and the office of Field Operations. Welcome, you are recognized for seven minutes. Good afternoon chair cinema, ranking number langford entity which murmurs of the subcommittee. It is an honor to testify and discuss u. S. Customs and Border Protection operations at our nations port of entry ports of entry since the title but it dost title 42 Public Health order. Im proud to recordrepresent an office that remained on the front line throughout the pandemic and work tirelessly every day across 328 ports of entry to protect our border, our homeland and our communities. There were multiple complex mission sets, including the facilitation of lawful trade and travel critical to our economy and protecting our communities from the intersections of transnational organizations. I would like to highlight our efforts. The current process is for an admissible persons at the southwest ports of entry, the department of Homeland Security began incrementing this last year to manage the increased in irregular migration. And to ensure performance of our primary security Facilitation Mission objectives. Starting in october 2022, dhs incremented a process allowing certain venezuelan nationals to travel to the United States by air which is granted on a casebycase basis up to two years. This was expanded in january for nationals of cuba, nicaragua and haiti, along with an application feature enabling applicants to request advanced travel authorization via the app. To receive this authorization must meet specified criteria to include having u. S. Based financial sponsors and clearing the biometric and graphic screening. As of july 31, more than 181,000 cubans, patients, nicaraguans and venezuelans have arrived this process. Building on this approach on may 11 when the title 42 border order ended and they applied a full range of immigration is already set or title viii, the department of justice incremented a circumvention of lawful part level pathways rule, establishing parameters for asylum eligibility. It was intimated in conjunction with a new feature that allows noncitizens seeking to enter the United States to submit advanced biographic and i metric information and schedule and appointed with an officer at one of eight designated ports of entry for appropriate processing disposition under title viii as determined on a casebycase basis considering the totality of circumstances. This is just one example of how they are using Innovative Technologies to enhance the security and efficiency of processes at our ports of entry. We also continue to expand electronic functionality across our operational footprint. This initiative aroused ice and uscis to share and maintain a single immigration case file an additional environment replacing the paperbased process. Prior to may 11, oh if a implement it electronic processing for notice to appear and other dispositions through out the field offices, including at the ports of entry that inspect noncitizens with points. In august, 80 of the inadmissible population encountered at the southwest border was processed using an electronic file. The transition to integrate it digital processing plat form as part of comprehensive order management operations enable them to create efficiencies for our officers, modernize our processes, manage our available operational resources and pursue other mission priorities. While also can 10 ewing to address ration challenges, we retain focus on national and economic security. We continue to, the threat of illicit synthetic drugs, especially fentanyl, being trafficked into the United States. We have seized a parks medley 4000 pounds of fentanyl, most of it sees at points of it sees it ports of entry. We are pursuing objectives to address the issue, including expanded partnerships and information manageable intelligence, advancement, data integration, efforts and disrupting and dismantling efforts networks. They are drawing lines of International Travel across all operational environments. July, the number of travelers moving by air were increased to 18 compared to last year. At the ports of entry, increased by 12 and 11 per respectively. We also enforce hundreds of trade laws that protect american businesses and consumers. Part of our planning for the end of title 42, we urged resources to safely and efficiently manage challenges at the ports of entry, while maintaining a persistent focus on other missions, including but not later to intercepting illicit drugs and facilitate the flow of which admit trade and travel to insured to ensure continued national and a comic secured he. I appreciate the support of our mission and i look forward to your questions. Good afternoon. Charwoman cinema, Ranking Member langford and a distinguished members i want to make sure the megaphone is working. There it is. Thanks. An honor to testify today on behalf of the u. S. Border patrol to discuss the operations along the southwest border, which since the termination of title 42 book health order. This past may, u. S. Border patrol celebrated its 99th anniversary. As we approach 100 years to this country, much has changed in the agency and throughout the world. However, during my 25 years of service with the u. S. Border patrol, at least two aspects have remained unchanged. First, the Border Patrol mission has always been complex, demanding and very dangerous. Second, the ability of our workforce to persevere even during the most challenging times. It is remarkable at a reflection of the agents cando attitude. There are three areas i would like to focus on. First, summarizing the current immigration and enforcement processes. Second, discuss how ongoing Security Operations and initiatives, and third how we are addressing anticipated operational challenges. First, our Immigration Enforcement processes. While title 42 was in place, it was part of a National Effort to prevent the spread of covid19. Knowing that time, the board patrol expelled certain migrants encounter between the ports of entry. While this aided in streamlining, the return of certain individuals, he also led to a higher level of repeat encounters. Since title 42 ended, all migrants intercepted between the ports of entry are transferred between Border Patrol facilities, processed in accordance with title viii authorities and appropriate consequences are applied. This may include expedited removal and transfer to immigration and customs enforcement. As part of our process and intake for seizures, the Border Patrol is committed to ensuring the health and safety of those in our custody, including providing onsite medical care and referrals to local medical services when necessary. The board patrol faces that each sector faces its own unique challenge, regardless of the circumstance or environment in which encounters occur. Agents will continue to adapt to the everchanging threats. Which brings me to my second point. Ongoing Security Operations and initiatives. In addition to our Immigration Enforcement duties, the Border Patrol maintains a persistent focus on our Mission Objectives aimed at countering sophisticated and ruthless transnational criminal organizations. When it comes to combating job trafficking that should Drug Trafficking such as fentanyl, they target and sees illicit drugs between the ports of entry. During a twomonth Intelligence Driven operation recently, Border Patrol seized nearly 25 hundred pounds affectional, along with thousands of other pounds of dangerous narcotics and weapons. These efforts are in direct are directed to protect the citizens in the communities of the United States. Additionally, coordination with International Partners informed information sharing on migration flows and Drug Trafficking activities. This increases our domain awareness and influences how the Border Patrol plans and rep leverages its resources. Board patrol also collaborates with many local, state and federal lawenforcement officers to counter illicit activities that prey on vulnerable migrants. All too often, smugglers abandon them in dangerous and lifethreatening situations. To that end, the Border Patrol agents regularly connect conduct and provide Emergency Medical Care to those in distress. Our agents rescued 30,000 migrants this fiscal year, including nearly 3000 in august alone. This brings me to my third and final point. As we reflect on the past 99 years of the Border Patrols history and rise to the current operational demands, there are several complexities and challenges that i must address as we look forward. We must continue to invest in our workforce. Provide them with the tools to face these extraordinary challenges head on. We also cant overlook the importance of our Critical Infrastructure and the significant role our facilities play in our Law Enforcement mission. While Quick Solutions are unlikely, our facilities, including our checkpoints, must be modernized to face the evolving threats without impacting trade and travel. Lastly, the most significant operational challenge facing the Border Patrol is that our agency is increasingly performing detention and processing related duties that are outside the scope of Border Patrol in their front line mission. While we should be focusing efforts to combat the flow of illicit drugs and disruption of tco posh gas, much of the time is spent transporting, tossing and detaining migrants. This substantially increases the risk of traffic including narcotics, terrorists and other contraband. Border security is National Security. In closing, the u. S. Border patrol will not waver from our Critical Mission and we will continue to serve and protect the nation with honor. Im grateful for the c