Speech #CREC-2017-01-20-pt1-PgS349-3_t20

He has years of experience working with our neighbors in Latin America as former commander of U.S. Southern Command, where he saw firsthand the drivers of the unaccompanied minors crisis. In his testimony, he outlined what he saw as the root causes of migration, including people fleeing violence and seeking asylum within the United States. Yet the position requires more than experience, it requires a true understanding of the issues and how they affect the men and women we are all sworn to serve. It is in this aspect that I have lingering concerns. Anyone running DHS must be able to prioritize their resources in the apprehension, detention, and removal of undocumented immigrants. On November 20, 2014, the Department of Homeland Security outlined how scarce Federal resources would be allocated in enforcing our Nation's immigration laws. The memo focused resources on threats to national security, threats to national safety, and threats to border security, while deemphasizing law-abiding immigrants who have integrated themselves into society. I have been generally supportive of this prioritization, as I believe that Federal resources should be spent on enforcement actions against serious criminals. On day one as Secretary of Homeland Security, General Kelly will have to address this. I hope he will recognize the wisdom of keeping families together, protecting children and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals DACA Program and focus on deporting serious criminals and those who truly pose a threat to our national security. This focus isn't about being liberal or conservative but is a smart and humane approach to enforcement of our immigration laws. General Kelly will have to grapple with the realities of our immigration system. As Secretary of Homeland Security, General Kelly will be tasked with the critical duty of maintaining our southwest borders. We have heard promises by the President-elect to build a wall that would cost taxpayers $25 billion; yet a wall will not secure the border or stop the flow of illegal drugs into the country.