Lindsey Graham Confronts Mayorkas About Terror Watch List Border-Crossers In U.S.
At today's Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) pressed DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas about the state of the border.
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00:00 Thank you.
00:00 Senator Graham.
00:02 Thank you, Madam Chairman.
00:03 I was also in the Gang of Eight and to my Democratic colleagues,
00:06 securing your border is part of the problem.
00:08 We have to do more.
00:09 I get that.
00:11 The challenge before us is to help Ukraine,
00:15 is to help Israel.
00:18 I want to do that.
00:19 Majority of people in my party think Ukraine,
00:22 we've done enough.
00:23 I don't.
00:25 If you want me to be able to vote for this,
00:27 you're going to have to help me deal with the following question.
00:30 Why are you so intent on helping Ukraine?
00:32 You're not doing much about our own country
00:34 when we have a border that's completely broken.
00:36 I reject the idea this is a global phenomenon problem.
00:40 I think you're misdiagnosing the problem.
00:42 This is policy changes.
00:44 You all instituted that I told you wouldn't work.
00:47 And we now need to fix that.
00:50 Trend lines, 2020, 458,000 encounters, 2023, 2.5 million.
00:59 We need to change that, don't we?
01:00 That trend line?
01:02 We most certainly do, which is precisely--
01:04 Fair enough.
01:07 2019 is an important year as well.
01:09 Yeah, OK.
01:10 Well, I'm worried about tomorrow.
01:13 The highest encounters was in September.
01:17 Things need to change.
01:19 You agree?
01:19 Like now?
01:21 Indeed, and that is precisely why
01:23 we have sought our supplemental funding
01:25 and why we continue to--
01:26 I just think your supplemental makes everything worse, not
01:28 better.
01:29 OK, next.
01:31 You said something I want to agree with.
01:35 You told Senator Lankford that basically the asylum system
01:40 needs to be reformed from top to bottom.
01:43 Do you still stand by that?
01:44 I do.
01:45 OK, what's the denial rate of asylum claims?
01:49 Well, Senator, we'd have to break it down.
01:52 The asylum system has an initial screening rate,
01:57 as you know, the credible--
01:58 I think the final determination is about 90% of the claims
02:02 are eventually denied.
02:03 Am I in the ballpark?
02:05 Senator, I believe that is inaccurate.
02:08 OK, well, what percentage of claims are--
02:10 It also depends on the demographics.
02:12 Now, I'm asking you a simple question.
02:14 You're the head of DHS, and you can't
02:16 tell me how many asylum claims are approved versus denied.
02:19 Generally, generally speaking, across the board
02:22 on a macro basis, it's approximately 75%.
02:26 OK, so if 75% are denied, would you
02:28 work with me to change the initial screening standard?
02:32 Senator, I will work with you to achieve
02:34 a comprehensive solution, because a piecemeal solution
02:38 will lead to remaining problems.
02:39 Well, if you're expecting comprehensive immigration
02:43 reform between now--
02:44 that's not going to happen.
02:46 Will you work with me to fix the asylum system?
02:49 Senator, I will continue to work with you
02:51 to fix the immigration system that is fundamentally broken.
02:54 OK, what's parole?
02:56 How many people-- here's the law of parole.
03:01 The DHS Secretary may, in his discretion,
03:03 parole people in the United States temporarily
03:06 under such conditions as he may prescribe only
03:10 on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons
03:14 or significant public benefit.
03:16 There were 240,000 people paroled this fiscal year.
03:21 Did you do a case-by-case analysis?
03:25 Senator, we complied with the law.
03:28 So there is a file for all 240,000
03:32 where somebody determined they meet these two criteria.
03:35 There is an individualized determination made by--
03:37 On all 240,000.
03:39 And I can see that.
03:41 Yes, Senator.
03:42 OK, I'm asking for that.
03:44 So in your opinion, 240,000 people
03:48 were individually screened and granted parole.
03:52 You're not blanket paroling people, are you?
03:54 That is correct, Senator.
03:55 Is your testimony under oath that you're not
03:59 giving blanket parole from people from four countries?
04:04 Senator, we have--
04:04 Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba.
04:09 And Haiti.
04:10 And Haiti.
04:11 So you're telling me that you've looked at every person
04:16 and you gave them parole on an individual screening basis.
04:20 Is that what your testimony is?
04:22 Senator, we have a parole program.
04:24 No, did you do what I asked you?
04:26 Did you follow the law or are you giving blanket parole?
04:29 We follow the law.
04:30 OK, the law requires an individual assessment.
04:35 Senator, we make our decisions on a case-by-case basis.
04:38 There's 280-something people on the terrorist watch list
04:41 that we know of.
04:42 Where are they?
04:44 Senator, the terrorist screening data set--
04:46 Where are the people?
04:48 The individuals whom we encounter
04:50 that are on the terrorist screening data set--
04:52 Are they out of the country?
04:53 --are screened--
04:54 Are they out of the country or are they in the country?
04:57 Senator, they very well may be out of the country.
04:59 But you don't know.
05:00 There are people on the terrorist watch list
05:03 and you can't tell me where they're at.
05:05 That is not my testimony.
05:06 Well, OK, where are they?
05:07 Senator, if you would allow me the opportunity to answer.
05:11 Individuals who are encountered at the southern border
05:15 who are in the terrorist screening data set
05:18 may not necessarily be known or suspected terrorists, number
05:22 one.
05:23 Number two, individuals who pose a threat
05:26 to our national security are an enforcement priority for us.
05:30 They are the priority that are subject to removal.
05:34 Also, if we make a determination that it would not
05:37 be safe to the American people that they be released
05:40 into the United States, we detain them
05:43 pending their removal proceedings.
05:45 Can you give me an analysis of all 200?
05:46 I know of our time.
05:48 Do you think you're doing a good job?
05:50 Senator, I'm incredibly proud to support the men and women
05:52 of the Department of Homeland Security.
05:53 I didn't ask about them.
05:55 I asked about you.
05:56 That is my answer.
05:57 OK, well, I think we need to change the system.
06:01 And you're completely out of touch
06:02 with the nature of the problem.
06:04 Senator, I very much look forward
06:05 to working with you to change the system.