Prepared Floor Statement of Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa
Ranking Member, Senate Judiciary Committee
Comprehensive Immigration Reform, S.744
Border Security Questions to Secretary Napolitano Still Unanswered
Monday June 17, 2013
On April 23, the Judiciary Committee held a hearing to discuss immigration reform and the bill presented by the Group of Eight. Secretary Napolitano was the only witness. The hearing lasted 2 hours and 20 minutes, and most members were able to ask her 5 to 10 minutes worth of questions. We submitted questions for the record. We were given just 24 hours to turn around questions.
It’s been over 7 weeks – nearly 2 months – since we submitted those questions to Secretary Napolitano. We have yet to hear back.
The questions I asked were genuine and related to the implementation of the bill, if it were to be signed into law. I asked questions of the Secretary because she will be responsible for carrying out Congress’ intentions. I wanted to know about costs and feasibility, and I asked for data and specifics.
So, I’m concerned that I have yet to receive responses. Keeping information from Congress and the American people is not helpful to ensuring that we have the best product coming out of the Senate.
I’d like to take the opportunity to discuss some of the questions I asked of Secretary Napolitano. Right now, I’d like to focus on nine questions I asked about border security. I may discuss the other 15 questions later in the week.
Questions Submitted for the Record (hearing on April 23, 2013) to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano Related to Border Security
1. You have emphasized that apprehensions at the border are down, and in doing so, praise the Administration’s record on border security. However, Customs and Border Protection has just released numbers showing that apprehensions increased 13 percent over the last year. Does the fact that border apprehensions are up mean that the border is becoming less secure?
2. The bill only calls for establishing an entry/exit system for air and sea ports before implementing the path to citizenship. Aside from costs, what impediments are there to instituting the system at land ports?
3. The bill requires your Department to establish a strategy to identify where fencing should be deployed along the southern border. During the hearing, you indicated that the administration believes that sufficient fencing is in place and that you’d prefer not to increase fencing along the southern border. Do you anticipate that your study will call for any additional physical fencing?
4. During the hearing, we discussed the fact that the Northern border was not a part of the trigger and did not need to be secured before green cards are distributed. You said that the Northern border is a different border, but that it’s a part of the discussion. Can you elaborate? Can you describe how the northern border is “different?” Please provide a list of “Other than Canadians” that have crossed the Northern border illegally in the last ten years, including their country of origin.
5. Section 1102 of S. 744 requires the Secretary to increase the number of CBP officers by 3,500; however, it does not specify how many of those agents will be used to secure the physical border versus customs enforcement and other mission requirements. How do you envision this section being implemented, and how would the department make decisions with regard to determining how many agents are hired to secure the physical borders?
6. Section 1104 provides funding for only the Tucson Sector of the Southwest Border region. Does the administration support only resources to this sector? Are there other sectors that should be included? If so, please provide details.
7. Section 1105 relates solely to the State of Arizona. Should this provision be expanded to all of the Southwest Border states?
8. Section 1107 provides for a grant program in which individuals who reside or work in the border region and are “at a greater risk of border violence due to lack of cellular service” can apply to purchase phones with access to 911 and equipped with GPS. Does the administration believe that the Southwest Border region is safe and secure, rendering this grant program unnecessary?
9. Does the administration have any views on Section 1111 on the Use of Force, including the requirement that the department collaborate with the Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice?
As I said, the questions I have asked of the Secretary are meant to ensure that we pass the best bill possible. We ought to know how she will carry out the bill if it’s signed into law. I hope she’ll provide answers on these, and the other questions I submitted on April 24.
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