Kennedy to DHS Sec: Either you’re not qualified to manage Costco food or you believe in open borders

Heated Exchange Between Sen. Kennedy, DHS Chief Mayorkas Over ‘Safe Third Country’ Policy

On 11/8/2023, at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the DHS’s supplemental funding request from Congress on Wednesday, Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) grilled Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the so-called Safe Third County policy.

“The first thing that President Biden did, and you did when you took office, was abolish our Safe Third Country policies,” Mr. Kennedy said. “If we had a Safe Third County policy, that means that … 71 percent of the 6.6 million people that you have allowed into our country illegally, would not be here in any way.”

Mr. Kennedy objected to the Secretary’s answers and cut Mr. Mayorkas short several times during questioning, claiming “you try to filibuster us and use up our time.”

KENNEDY: “Here’s what I think, Mr. Secretary. I think you’re a smart guy. Now there are only one or two things going on here. Either you’re not qualified to manage a Costco food court, or you believe in open borders.”

Kennedy to DHS Sec Mayorkas: Either you’re not qualified to manage Costco food court, or you believe in open borders

Key Points

Heated Exchange Between Sen

• Kennedy, DHS Chief Mayorkas Over ‘Safe Third Country’ Policy

On 11/8/2023, at a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on the DHS’s supplemental funding request from Congress on Wednesday, Sen

• ) grilled Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over the so-called Safe Third County policy
• “The first thing that President Biden did, and you did when you took office, was abolish our Safe Third Country policies,” Mr

Transcript Highlights

Transcribed from the video audio:

• How many members of Hamas have come into our country across the southern border
• Senator, I’m not aware of a member of Hamas crossing the border
• Have you stopped a member of Hamas from coming in
• 4 million people who have come into our country illegally
• Senator, you and I have spoken about this before
• As you know, we screen and vet individuals whom we
• Senator, as I said, we screen and vet individuals whom we encounter at our border
• I want to move on because with respect, Mr
• Secretary, to quote a public official in my state, it takes you an hour and a half to watch 60 minutes, and you try to filibuster us and use up our time
• in their ultimate country of destination because they