Acting customs and Border Protection commissioner mark morgan testified the Senate Homeland security and government official. Pretty discuss the challenges they coronavirus pandemic posed to his agency including passenger travel restrictions. The hearing will come to order. Im looking at the title of this hearing. Cbp oversight unit i was talking to mr. Morgan earlier. Wondering if he wouldve broken of four told the future before he took this position. He wouldve done so. Is been challenging yes. Crisis after crisis after crisis. So first want to say i want to thank the witnesses mr. Morgan or your perseverance and your service to the nation. About the past and present and in the future. Things are not getting a whole lot better anytime soon a fear. I would ask consent to my Opening Statement be entered into record. This hearing on the border that we have not had of quite a few months. Obviously need to is a chart. This really what i want to talk about in my opening comments. I think close to 40 hearings on some aspect of issues on the border. And with the immigration systems. And begin keeping this chart, then the whole issue of people coming across explaining our silent pause. The problem just exploded. In late 2018 and into 2019. The main reason i want to show this chart. You see the gold colored bars are single adults. Down slightly but that has been pretty persistent and stable for the eight years that this represents. And you do see and read his children in poor the families. And you begin to see the exposing of family units by the sentence of our immigration system. And really crescendoed in may of 2019. Im not going to put the chart up but youll have the spreadsheet here. Weve been keeping track of monthly averages. In may 2019, we were averaging 4651 individuals either pressing illegally between the ports of entry are showing up and claiming asylum. These People Per Day pretty 4651. The most recent months we have these figures, the numbers down to about 745 People Per Day. And when it comes to approximate number of children, theres down to about 49 a day. So we have made a huge level of progress. I did want to point out particularly with a start. Is not just because of covid19. This definitely reduce the numbers but we had made dramatic reductions prior to that because of the programs that the cdb is implement it. I know that some of them, not everybody agrees with bud my standpoint, is extremely important that we enforce our laws. Another certainly what mr. Morgan agrees with as well. So again, i think this is been some tremendous progress in my own mind and thinking what would men like you have covid19 his when we were at may of 2019 numbers. Close to 4651 People Per Day. With cbp personnel having to do with that. It would been completely overwhelming. It was overwhelming back then. But throw covid19 over that, and again congratulations. Very good work at bringing the numbers down. We obviously send our condolences to the family members that the cbp lost officers because they contracted the covid19. You still doing dealing with enormous challenges. And certainly looking forward to your testimonies in terms of how you handle it and how you try to deal with it today. Again you for your service. Thank you mr. Chairman. Thank you for being here today. Its always good to see you. Before make my statement, have three statements one from human rights first and kids in native demands and a testimony from the u. S. Conference of catholic bishops that i would like to enter into the records by unanimous consent. Without objection pretty. Customs and Border Protections certainly played a vital role on the frontlines of our nations efforts to limit the spread of covid19. It is always going to keep americans safe credit even the face of the deadly virus that is affected millions around the globe and killed more than 120,000 americans, the men and women of the cdb continue to do their essential jobs and protect the National Security in very difficult situations. However the service has not been without sacrifice. I want to acknowledge the losses that your agency has suffered during this pandemic. The lives of officers is a terrible terrible price to pay. I think i speak for all members of this committee when i expressed my grief and condolences to the families. In order to prevent more tragedy that the agency, we must ensure that frontline ages customs and Border Protection officers have access to personal protective equipment necessary to defend themselves against the covid19. We count on these officers to keep us safe. But we cannot do so effectively if they are they cant do it effectively if they themselves are left unprotected. Even normal agency plays an Important Role and course is like my home state in michigan. As were all aware that they are far from normal times pretty in the face of the coronavirus, and been tasked with unlimited travel between canada and the United States. While continuing to support trade and essential Services Including the final my medical professionals across the border to support the efforts that combat covid19. And as the nation looks to reopen come across the border communities and states like michigan, will rely on clear and well communicated information about plans for loosening restrictions at the border. Must avoid confusion and uncertainty thats occurred as these restrictions were announced and implemented. As we continue reopening, portrayed in travelers will be returning to our nations course of entry especially their parts and land crossings. We must be diligent in applying the Lessons Learned over the past few months to ensure the cbp is ready to safely meet these very challenging circumstances. As we continue to move forward, we must strive those implement strong safety measurements and alternations long held values for the families and children who continue to seek asylum in our southern border. Cbp priorities is often difficult to balance but the agency cannot abandon one part of the mission because things get tough. Congress and the Administration Work together to support the effective trade travel migration and Security Operations particularly in the stomach pandemic. So again, thank you mr. Morgan for taking the time to be with us here today. I look forward to your testimony hearing what we can do to assist you in facing these extensive challenges pretty thank you pretty summa tradition of this committee discern the witnesses. Is where testimony that you could before this committee will be the truth, the whole truth and so have begun pretty. I do pretty. Mr. Mark morgan is doing he began serving his country as u. S. Marine this community and local Law Enforcement. After completing a 20 year career in the fbi, mr. Morgan started this department of Homeland Security with the acting assistant commissioner for internal affairs before being appointed by president obamas chief it of the u. S. Border patrol pretty serviced jeep until january 2017. He then returned to dhs to be active with enforcement of may of 2019. Is been leading u. S. Customs and Border Protection since july 2019. Mr. Market. Mark morgan chairman. And members of the committee, thank you for giving me the opportunity to appear before you today. To discuss many of the challenges facing the United States of customs and Border Protection. And of course, coming the list of the challenges is global covid19 pandemic. The Infectious Diseases that we know, they dont know quarters. Answers as another example of why Border Security is so important. Today and everyday, individuals arrived in our border with or without covid19 symptoms, pose potential health risks to american people, our frontline personnel for healthcare workers and our community. As weve discussed before, the cbp encounters travelers and illegal aliens for more than 130 countries on a given year. Most of which are also currently facing significant covid19 outbreaks. Safely, several early president ial proclamations, similarly suspended the entry of travelers from certain countries. Ncp along with other u. S. Key personnel on the frontlines enforcing those critical and essential containment mitigation strategies. These actions no doubt, save american lives. Early on and i am proud of the cbp workforce for their efforts. They issued a Public Health order on march 20th of this year coming that the introduction of persons who would likely be held in the ports of entry and Border Patrol stations increases the risk of Public Health. The cb entrance easy order has been critically important tool in the fight against Public Health crisis. It allows the seed deep seek to prevent the introduction of the word spread of this virus in an effort to protect the market people, our workforce and the immigrants themselves. Lets be clear, this order is not about immigration enforcement. It is about take an and decisive actions to address the publics health. It is still continues today. An early on, after that order, we saw the star new illegally enter in our country probably more than percent from a pretty covid19 numbers. And rather than introducing the illegal aliens into our facility, increasing exposure is to our workforce and our country. The cbp because of this order is returning approximately 95 percent of those we encounter expeditiously to the country of mass transit. As the chairman said, can you imagine what we would be going through right now if youre going through this pandemic at the same time last year when our border facilities were overwhelmed and overcrowded with families and children. One point we had more than 20000 individuals in our custody. Introducing a single covid19 migrate into these conditions would have been catastrophic. And i hope we are united being must Work Together to prevent those conditions from ever happening again. Now grab urging about a hundred 50 200 people in our custody in any given time. Only sing the 70 percent reduction in unaccompanied minors. And is the chairman said, is important to note that the cbp and is whole, better to deal with this Global Pandemic because of the success of the Administration Network of immigration policies and initiatives that have been placed in months prior to covid19. These initiatives along with our partnership, the government of mexico and Central American countries that already reduce the flow of illegal migration by 76 percent crated from the height and make 2019. On testing numbers went from 20000 to just over 3400. The driving force behind the crisis, families from the northern countries, had been reduced by 94 percent. We had all but ended catch and release. And even as the cdp shifted our resources to mitigate this program this deadly virus, we maintain and continue our efforts against a vast complex and challenging array of threats. And this year, we received over seas over 500,000 pounds of drugs. An increase in the same time last year. And although the cartels had to adjust their tactics because of covid19, their alive and well they adjusted quickly. Just after the first few months of this year, we saw a little bit of a downward departure the beginning and then soon after that, last night. They began to skyrocket backup. We saw significant increase this past may. Meth infinitys alone jumped 66 percent. This one Border Security is National Security. It is why border smattering importantly, why the ball matters as well. Lastly, while many in our country are so quarantining and are working from home, the majority of the workforce from the cbp does not have an option. To get up every day, they say goodbye to their loved ones and they go to work protecting this nation predict their frontline defenders that we just set already. Theyre good decent honorable people of the role is to carry out the cbp rod mission date after date despite the risk to their own health and safety. And i personally want to thank you. Chairman, Ranking Member peters, for your acknowledgment of the seven cbp personnel that we have lost this year. That is personal. And i sincerely appreciate you knowing that, understanding that and acknowledging that. That means a lot that we can be united and acknowledging their sacrifices and the dedication to this country and the citizens they protect. I personally thank you for that and im looking forward to answering your questions. Mr. Morgan. The men and women at the cbp. To my standpoint, they are heroes. Witnessing down assault against Law Enforcement. I dont know how that could even possibly be a solution. The same thing is true in terms of enforcing and securing our borders as well. And again situations just think of it. My first question moving forward is anticipating what we will be dealing with, lets say August September october this year. This is far from the position we were in may of 2019 when the Unemployment Rate was at record lows across all demographics. And of course those opportunities that only america is really known for. Was a huge draw combined with our system to be exploited. Never going to have i would anticipate an appointment levels in excess of 10 percent. Will have americans out of work. Were also going to have Economic Hardship in countries south of our border as well. How are you going to cope with that. Talk a little bit about what your plans are. And what you think challenge will be. This are pretty personal spot on. So right now, but we are going through right now with the cdc orders as i mentioned earlier. Public Health Perspective but at some point, we are going to get on the other side of covid19. My concern and i share your concern is that but we are seeing right now is that while our economy is struggling, it is by far worse in mexico, and other transit countries and in the western hemisphere. My concern is we are going to see these factors that we have historically but it will be magnified because we would like to state is the accelerant of covid19s that were going to see these countries, their Economic Conditions are going to be far worse than ours. And we anticipate that we are going to see an increase, another search of migration due to the Economic Conditions in the economic. Her coming forward to. It is a significant concern for us. For years i have been saying as we face this crisis at our borders but the first school is to reduce the flow. People coming in exporting our system. Breaking our laws predict describe some of those programs and again i realize, not everybody agrees with them but i think it is hard to disagree with the results. We reduce the flow. Talk about those programs and what was most affected and will they remain effective pretty and are they going to be challenged pretty. Insert. I think the latter first. So yes the challenge. They voiced a challenge. Im assuming people always be challenged. As you said, although we may philosophically disagree, is the x commissioner of cbp. They been effective with the goal of reducing the flow of ilLegal Immigration. And you are spot on. We have a multitude of programs that will working with the northern tribal countries pretty think most people primarily, the agreement. That is where the transit through a country and come to our border. For example, we sent them to guatemala. Where they can go through the asylum process there in guatemala. It is been effective. The program i know everyone is familiar with this mpp, margaret protection protocol pretty that is been an unbelievably effective program. The problem is the most Successful Program that we have. And it has absolutely within a few months of this application, we started seeing a significant decrease in those they were trying to illegally into the country because of that predict this a couple of other programs. I think you know them up because they really neared what you started operation to return. I believe last year and another other members of this committee and join you and how we can still get them to to do the due process according to our laws. They deserve respect to the law, we do that more effectively and efficiently basically national, the means for displaying the whole government approach to the border doing it more efficiently. We often that. And conceptually the same as Operation Safe return has been effective as well. So as we are saying, as we arent anticipating increase of this because of the Economic Conditions driving the pole actors that we always have. These programs are going to be absolutely essential to continue this flow. Give any doubt, if youve not implemented those programs and carry them out, that we would not be at those in excess of 4000 People Per Day rated. Im sorry sir pretty. Theres no doubt in my mind without those programs, we would still be in the middle of a crisis seeing thousands of folks illegally entering every day. Sign of something else, the son hundred percent agreedupon. For appreciate it is the border has included no you just sat down with the president earlier this week. Talking about how many miles weve implemented pretty can you talk a little bit about that. In terms of new fencing pretty in which you anticipate will be completed by the end of the year. Your evaluation of the effectiveness of that fencing now its in place pretty. Yes sir. I tried to get out every time. This is not the president s wall. This is the