I missed the beginning of this hearing but I'll be paying attention to it and highlight any immigration-related issues that arise in the next hour.
After @SenatorCarper asked @DHS_Wolf about new Border Patrol hiring, Wolf admits struggles to hire new agents but says that the agency has reversed losses at the agencies over the past two years.
True. But those reversals have been small—less than 250 over the last two years.
True. But those reversals have been small—less than 250 over the last two years.
@SenatorCarper talks about how under Obama there was "swiss cheese" in the DHS leadership, but it's worse now. He calls the fact that @DHS_Wolf is the third Acting Sec. in three years "not good" and says it's the President's responsibility to nominate someone to DHS position.
@SenatorCarper asks @DHS_Wolf when the Senate can expect nominations for the wide variety of positions that are empty at DHS.
Wolf demurs, saying it's up the President. But he says he "understands" Carper's point.
Wolf demurs, saying it's up the President. But he says he "understands" Carper's point.
@SenKamalaHarris asks @DHS_Wolf about DACA, specifically Justice Robert's comment that the Trump administration wouldn't deport DACA recipients. She asks Wolf whether the administration will target people who lose DACA.
Wolf says: "That would not be our priority," then waffles.
Wolf says: "That would not be our priority," then waffles.
@DHS_Wolf says "We have to enforce the law as written," and says that ICE will deport people with final orders of removal.
But since many people with DACA have final orders from when their parents missed a court hearing, that means former DACA recipients will get deported.
But since many people with DACA have final orders from when their parents missed a court hearing, that means former DACA recipients will get deported.
Now @SenKamalaHarris asks about @humanrights1st 's reports of over 1,000 public reports of rape, torture, and harm against people in MPP. She asks @DHS_Wolf: "Is it your intention to send people to a place so horrible that they give up their request to seek asylum?"
He says no.
He says no.
@SenKamalaHarris pushing @DHS_Wolf hard on harm to people in MPP, listing horrific cases of violence against those that @CBP sent to Mexico, and demands to know whether Wolf has investigated any of the complaints about the program.
Wolf pivots and completely avoids the question.
Wolf pivots and completely avoids the question.
@DHS_Wolf keeps refusing to answer @SenKamalaHarris's question about people in MPP, trying to pivot to dangers on "the journey north." She asks "Are you investigating those cases and critically evaluating" if the policy is defective.
Wolf AGAIN avoids the question. Third time.
Wolf AGAIN avoids the question. Third time.
@DHS_Wolf says that people should go to the "Mexico-designed shelters" if they want to be safe in MPP.
There are TWO such shelters, one in Ciudad Juarez and in Tijuana. They hold barely 3,000 people combined. We've sent back 62,000+ people.
That response is totally inadequate.
There are TWO such shelters, one in Ciudad Juarez and in Tijuana. They hold barely 3,000 people combined. We've sent back 62,000+ people.
That response is totally inadequate.
Fixed a big mistake where I didn't realize that Senator Harris had gone after Senator Hassan because I was listening without watching the feed. While I was gone, @DHS_Wolf pushed back on critiques from @SenJackyRosen about medical care of kids in CBP custody.
After diversions to coronavirus and other DHS topics, we're back to immigration.
@SenatorRomney asks about visa overstays, and says Border Patrol officers are pushing him on E-Verify. He asks why DHS isn't pushing for mandatory E-Verify in its budget. Wolf says it's complicated.
@SenatorRomney asks about visa overstays, and says Border Patrol officers are pushing him on E-Verify. He asks why DHS isn't pushing for mandatory E-Verify in its budget. Wolf says it's complicated.
@SenatorRomney says that "it's not rocket science" to set up a system to verify if people are legally eligible to work, saying that credit card companies do something similar.
I think that's the kind of comment designed to make @AlexNowrasteh laugh.
I think that's the kind of comment designed to make @AlexNowrasteh laugh.
Moving on, @SenatorSinema pushes @DHS_Wolf about the Tohono O'Odham Nation and the Wall, which is being built right through their historical land and destroying their sacred sites.
She asks why Wolf hasn't consulted with the Nation as promised and what he'll do going forward.
She asks why Wolf hasn't consulted with the Nation as promised and what he'll do going forward.
In response to Sinema, @DHS_Wolf says "it's not the case" that DHS is not communicating with landowners as well as the Tohono O'odham Nation. He says he's "happy to look into" a more formal process of nation-to-nation consultation—which isn't much of a commitment here.
@SenatorSinema continues pushing @DHS_Wolf about DHS waiving environmental protection laws, including groundwater issues. In Jan., she asked Wolf for a "red team review," but got a no.
Wolf says he'll commit to learning more about specific concerns. Hard to believe he's unaware.
Wolf says he'll commit to learning more about specific concerns. Hard to believe he's unaware.
I have to step away now, but over the past 15 minutes the conversation has moved almost entirely away from immigration to other DHS-related issues.
