Graham: I reject the idea this is a global phenomenon problem. I think you’re misdiagnosing the problem. These are policy changes y’all instituted that I told you wouldn’t work, and we now need to fix that. Trend lines 2020: 458,000 encounters. 2023: 2.5 million. We need to change that, don’t we?

Witness: We most certainly do. Which is precisely…

Graham: Fair enough. 2019 is an important year as well. Okay, well, I’m worried about tomorrow. The highest encounters were in September. Things need to change, you agree? Like now?

Witness: Indeed, and that is precisely why we have sought our supplemental funding and why we think
Graham: supplemental makes everything worse, not better. Okay, next.

Graham: You said something I want to agree with you. You told Senator Lenford that basically the asylum system needs to be reformed from top to bottom. Do you still stand by that?

Witness: I do.

Graham: Okay, what’s the denial rate of asylum claims?

Witness: Senator, we’d have to break it down. The asylum system has an initial screening rate, as you know.

Graham: The credible, I think the final determination is about 90%. Percent of the claims are eventually denied, am I in the ballpark

Senator? I believe that is inaccurate. Percentage of claims. It also depends on the demographics.

Graham: No, I’m asking you a simple question. You’re the head of DHS, and you can’t tell me how many asylum claims are approved versus denied generally.

Generally speaking, across the board on a macro basis, it’s approximately 75%.

Graham: Okay, so if 75% are denied, would you work with me to change the initial screening standard?

Senator, I will work with you to achieve a comprehensive solution because a piecemeal solution will lead to remaining…

Graham: between now, you’re not. That’s not going to happen. Will you work with me to fix the asylum system?

Witness: I will continue to work with you to fix the immigration system that is fundamentally broken.

Graham: Here’s the law of parole. The DHS secretary may, in his discretion, parole people of the United States temporarily under such conditions as he may prescribe on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. There were 240,000 people paroled this fiscal year. Did you do a case-by-case analysis?

Witness: We comply with the law, so there is a file for all 240,000 where somebody determined they meet these criteria. There is an individualized determination made by all 240,000, and I can see that, yes, Senator.

Graham: Okay, I’m asking for that. So in your opinion, 240,000 people were individually screened and granted parole. You’re not blanket paroling people, are you?

That is correct, Senator. We follow the law.
Graham: It’s your testimony under oath that you’re not giving blanket parole from people from four countries.
Witness: No, Senator, we have Venezuela, Nicaragua, Cuba, and Haiti.

Witness: So you’re telling me that you’ve looked at every person and you gave them parole on an individual screening basis. Is that what your testimony is?

Graham: We have a parole program. Did you do what I ask you? Did you follow the law, or are you giving blanket parole?
Witness: We follow the law.

Graham: The law requires an individual assessment. Senator, we make our decisions on a case-by-case basis. There’s 280 something people on the terrorist watch list that we know of. Where are they?

Witness: The terrorist screening data set. Where are the people and the individuals whom we encounter that are on the terrorist screening data set?

Graham: Are they out of the country? Are they screened? Are they out of the country or they in the country, Senator?

Witness: They very well may be out of the country, but you don’t know.

Graham: They’re people on the terrorist watch list, and you can’t tell me where they’re at. That is not my testimony.

Witness: Well, okay, where are they, Senator? If you would allow me, please, the opportunity to answer. Individuals who are encountered at the southern border ,,,

Graham: Can you give me an analysis of all 200… I know, over time, do you think you’re doing a good job?

Witness: Senator, I’m incredibly proud to support the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security.

Graham: I didn’t ask about them. I ask about that is my answer.

Witness: Okay, well, I think we need to change this system, and you’re completely out of touch with the nature of the problem.
Graham: Senator, I very much look forward to working with you to change the system.

https://www.facebook.com/HygoNewsUSA/videos/886644022815796
Graham: not blanket paroling 240K people? People on watch list out of the country? Asylum denial rate?