The committees meeting today to receive testimony on worldwide threats to homeland. Without objection the, chair has authorized to declare the committee in recess at any point. Good morning, today the committee is holding its annual hearing to examine worldwide threats to the homelands. We are pleased to have secretary Homeland SecurityAlejandro Mayorkas, fbi director Christopher Wray and and cpc director christine abizaid. Two years ago that committee convened its worldwide threats hearing during some of the e darkest days of the pandemic. Last, year the panel testified for the committee and the immediate aftermath of the attack on the u. S. Capitol. No matter the circumstances, the committee in the American People have benefited from the witnesses frank assessment of the threats facing the homeland both foreign and direct domestic. More than 20 years after the terrorist attacks of september 11th of 2001, 20 years this month since the department of Homeland Security was established in law, we recognize the witnesses, their predecessors and the men and women of their agencies for their tireless efforts to prevent another 9 11 style attack. That said, we know the threat posed by foreign terrorist organizations have not gone away. It has a vault and persisted just as our efforts to combat it have. At the same time, domestic violent extremists now pose the greatest threat to our homeland. The Biden Administration has put new focus on combatting the rising threat, issuing the First Ever National strategy for countering domestic terrorism, establishing a domestic terrorism Analytic Branch within dhs, the office of intelligence and analysis and designating domestic violent extremism as a National Priority area for Homeland Security grants. More work remains as extremists are increasingly willing to engage in targeted violence, whether addison god and pittsburgh, a walmart in el paso, a supermarket in buffalo. I hope to speak to our Witnesses Today about their assessments of the current threat from our terrorism and targeted violence and what their agencies are doing to protect the homeland. Beyond terrorism, i remain concerned about Cyber Threats. Particularly from russia, china, iran. In response to these threats, the Biden Administration has raised the cybersecurity posture by issuing an executive order on implementing the nations cybersecurity leading global efforts to confront ransomware threats and launching a groundbreaking Public Private collaboration to help secure industrial control systems. I want to hear from our witnesses about how they assess the current threat to cyber and Critical Infrastructure. Progress weve made and what more we can do. Meanwhile, other Homeland Security challenges remain. Like preparing for natural disasters. Dealing with climate change. Responding to the pandemic, securing our skies and waterways, addressing the increased number of migrants arriving in the borders. Protecting our very democracy in its institutions. Our discussion will undoubtedly touch on many of these issues today. I look forward to a robust and respectful dialogue. As the 117th congress draws to a close, i want to take a moment to reflect on the committees work over the last two years. Together, weve accomplished a great deal. Today marks the 25th full committee hearing, the subcommittees have had more than 50 hearings conducting oversight on some of the most pressing Homeland Security issues facing our nation. We enacted critical legislation, particularly in the areas of cybersecurity and creating a mandatory cyber Incident Reporting framework, providing cybersecurity, grants to state and local governments and improving the federal governments visibility into malicious activity on industrial control systems. Historically, much of this committees best work and many of its greatest successes have been the result of strong bipartisan efforts. That has certainly been true this congress with the gentleman from new york mr. Katko as Ranking Member. Early in his time on this committee, Ranking Member katko became a leader and innovator on aviation security, more recently he was made his mark on the committees cybersecurity work. Perhaps most importantly, he was a true partner on efforts to stand up, the commission to examine the january 6th attack on the capitol. Putting country before politics. And the Ranking Member and i did not always agree. He agreed when we could. When we disagreed, we tried not to be disagreeable about it. As he departs congress, i want to thank him for his important work over the years on this committee and on a personal note for his friendship. I wish him the very best in the new year and beyond. Likewise, i want to extend my thanks to all members for their were in 100 and congress. Especially those who are moving on to other endeavors next year. The gentleman from rhode island, mr. Landed in, the gentleman from new york, miss rice. The gentleman from florida, miss demings the gentleman from new jersey, mr. Malinowski, mrs. Gloria, the gentleman from miss again, mr. Myre. And the gentlewoman from texas, miss flurry us. Your contribution to this committees were, this congress, throughout your tenure are recognized and appreciated. Again, i thank the witnesses for being here. I look forward to the hearing. With that, i recognize the Ranking Member, the gentleman from new york mr. Katko for an opening statement. Thank you, mister chairman. I am pleased the committee is holding this important hearing. Its vitally important to look at these issues on a routine basis. Weve always done that. Our nation faces these growing and continuous threats posed by foreign adversaries, criminal and terror organizations and the crisis at the southwest border to name a few. In the first two years of the biden ministration, we have seen a disturbing trend become a catastrophic humanitarian crisis at the border. In 2020, cbp had 500,000 migrant encounters at the southwest border. In 2021, the first year of the Biden Administration, these migrants encounters have tripled to 1. 7 million. In the last fiscal consistently, year Border Protection reported recordbreaking 2. 3 million migrant encounters. Mr. , am i know that has got to be concern for you. The vast majority of migrants may be coming to find work or a more prosperous opportunities, we cannot ignore the evidence and Security Threat that looms beneath the circus of that crisis. Cpp reported over 29,000 Illegal Immigrants who have no criminal records and 751 documented gang members, including entering 12 affiliated with a notorious ms13 gang, and those encounters at the southwest border. Those are the ones you know about not the ones we dont. More troubling, they are the ones that are found by Law Enforcement. Not the 600,000 that are estimated. How many dangerous criminals and gang members entered undetected . How many were smuggling deadly drugs like fentanyl into our communities . The truth is, we have no way of knowing. These reports demonstrate its almost certainly an elevated in fast growing number. In addition, a still darker threat lies within the data. Some that is central to cbp a located three individuals on a watchlist attempting to these were deemed to be a potential threat to the homeland. In 2020, one acre to 15. And the last reported year, 98 potential terrorist or affiliates were discovered between ports of entry that, the increased risk to our nation is not the only consequence of this crisis. The migrants attempting to passage are experiencing brutal conditions that i saw firsthand. Child exploitation, rape, death. The un and then labeled the selfless border as, quote, the deadliest land crossing in the world, and quote. Migrant deaths for 2022 of her to be over 150. Breaking the grim record for this same just last year. There are counties in texas and arizona and california where theyve had to cut their budgets to deal with a number of dead bodies encounter on the border. We have reminded these tragedies almost daily reports of families drowning in the Rio Grande River no dying of heat exhaustion crossing federal dealers. Often abandoned by smugglers who care only about profits. I would like to recognize the brave men and women who stand guard at our nations borders, constantly under siege by drug cartels. Smugglers, ever increasing humanitarian crisis. These honorable brave americans workday in the, holidays, weekends, so most of the million i know secretary mayorkas, you know that for sure. They were to only face danger and death, all while being villainized by some fulfilling their duties to protect the homeland from some of those that wish us harm. In this difficult position, it is truly tragic but ounce arising that many of them bear scars with both mental and physical from the burden that they shoulder. My heart goes out to the families of the hurricane and women who given all protecting your country, as well as those that suffer the mental toll of prolonged exposure to the crisis, including the alarming rise in the number of suicides amongst these agents who are despondent. Another threat to our country illuminated by the Inspector General last year was of experience during the evacuation resettlement mourn 79,000 afghans as part of operation allies refuge. Operation allies welcome. It is now becoming ever clear that the Biden Administration facilitated the transfer and relocation in the u. S. Of many afghans that were known at the time to have potentially significant security concerns. Both Homeland Security and the department of defense igs found that information used was not complete, reliable, always accurate. We understand it was a fire drill, we know understand we had to practice that help us. We have to do better with vetting refugee. Is almost wrong support because i think they are properly vetted by a large. We must also not lose sight to the challenges at our virtual borders. State sponsored cyber actors continue to use for espionage, suppression campaigns, the spread of disinformation and to steal intellectual properly and technology to bolster their own defenses at the expense of industry, government, every day americans. We must remain vigilant in efforts of china, russia, iran, north korea just to name a few who seek advantage and tactical capabilities in the virtual environment and bring rests to our security. In addition to state sponsored adversaries, organize criminals and cyber these devised formidable attacks and fraud scams, 100 88 in 2021 costing businesses an estimated 1. 2 billion dollars. Focusing on schools and Health Care Organizations primarily, including many in my district. I look forward to the collective insight of our Witnesses Today and how we can further address the most prevalent and concerning Cyber Threats impacting both our communities and National Security. Additionally, along with many americans, im sad to say that i am very concerned about reporting that an fbi agent, timothy t ball, may have suppressed derogatory information relating to hunter biden and has a long history of partisanship and quickly left the agency when the oceans came to light. As a Law Enforcement professional i know i found these revelations to be deeply troubling. As in many other Law Enforcement. Similarly, you have publicly acknowledged, i apology for that that you are troubled by the allegations and a recent Senate Judiciary hearing. Well todays hearings focus primarily on threats to the Homeland Security, i have to say im concerned about the overall state of the bureau and increasingly partisan perception right or wrong of the bureau. I say that from someone who for 20 years or to the highest of violent dangers comes in the world and the federal omicron ice crime prosecutor. Every time i had fbi agents on my side, they did the best wiretaps, they did the best organized crime cases, they were by far what i consider to be the ateam when they did the major cases. I know those agents, theyre still friends, mine are heartbroken by their perception of the fbi today. I hope in the days and years Going Forward that you can turn that ship around. Our nation deserves it. When a nation loses faith in Law Enforcement, its a terrible thing. You are the premier Law Enforcement agency. I hope you can turn the ship around. Mister chairman, as you alluded to, this is in all likelihood my last full committee at this hearing. Of all the decisions ive had to make about whether to retire or not, this is a tough one by far. Ive had more joy, more satisfaction with this agency. It was like a bastion of bipartisanship. We dont conduct a lot of the sheep via tricks that the other committees do. We get our job done, we care about this nation, republican or democrat. We love our nation. We want to keep it safe. I commend you for the time that you have been chairman and the way that you conducted yourself and the way we become friends and the way weve been able to keep our eyes focused on the mission despite all the that seems to be higher than ever this east days. Good for you for what youve done for this committee. Good for all of your members here who have put your partisanship aside and do whats right for this country. Thats a me is a very important thing. We may often disagree, sometimes with strongly, i believe this committee has demonstrated our passion for securing the companys bipartisan i want to thank my Committee Staff who has spent countless hours developing oversight legislation and policy to secure the United States. Im incredibly grateful for their service and dedication. Many are with me here today. We are not going to single him out. Others when i will. This person has been with me some beginning, now my staff director. Entire years ive been in congress ever for them side by side on Homeland Security. Hes right behind me. I want to say thank you to him. He has been a two professional. He is a bipartisan person he cares about this country, he loves the country wants to keep it safe. Kyle, thank you very much. With that happy note, i yield back. Thank you, mister chairman. The gentleman yields back. I expressed my thoughts on your leadership as well as the members who will be departing. Thank you. Other members of the committee are reminded that on the Committee RulesOpening Statements may be submitted for the record. Members are also reminded that the committee will operate according to the guidelines laid out by the chairman and Ranking Member in our february 3rd, 2021 colloquy regarding remote procedures. I welcome our panel of witnesses. Our first witness is Alejandro Mayorkas, secretary of Homeland Security. Our next witness will be Christopher Wray, director of the federal bureau of investigation. Our third and final witness will be christine abizaid, director of the National Counterterrorism center. Without objective, the witnesses fall statement will be included in the record. I now ask secretary mayorkas to summarize his statement for five minutes. Chairman thompson, Ranking Member katko, distinguished members of this committee, thank you for inviting me. Thank you for inviting me to join you today. Next week marks the 20th anniversary of the Homeland Security act being signed into law. This act brought together many components of the federal government, to safeguard the United States against foreign terrorism in the wake of the devastation brought on september 11th, 2001. It remains the largest we organization at the federal Governments National security establishment since 1947. It is a testament to the grave threat we face for as a nation from terrorism brought to our shores by foreign actors and foreign terrorist organizations. Congress created a department that is significantly reduced the foreign terrorism threat posed to the homeland. Mister secretary, pull your mic closer. How is that . Well all right, lets see how that goes. [laughter] congress created a department that is a significantly reduce the risk foreign terrorism poses to the homeland. By increasing our capacity to prepare for and respond to those events. Foreign terrorist organizations remain committed to attacking the United States from within and beyond our borders. They use social media platforms to amplify messaging intended to inspire attacks in the homeland. They have adapted to changing security environments seeking new and innovative ways to target the United States. The terrorism threat to the homeland now includes lone actors, fueled by a wide range of violent extremist ideologies and grievances, including domestic vio