McCaul Calls Out Secretary Mayorkas for Complicity in Border Crisis, Record Terror Watchlist Encounters
McCaul also responded to criticism of his remarks from a New York Democrat
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Congressman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) — chairman emeritus of the House Committee on Homeland Security — provided remarks at the committee’s hearing titled “Worldwide Threats to the Homeland.” McCaul questioned both FBI Director Christopher Wray and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on the record number of attempted border crossings by individuals on the terrorist watchlist, and he called out Secretary Mayorkas’ complicity in the unprecedented border crisis.
Later in the hearing, Rep. McCaul also responded to claims from Representative Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.) that his criticism of Secretary Mayorkas was “unwarranted.”
Watch Rep. McCaul’s opening remarks and questions
Below are excerpts from Rep. McCaul’s remarks:
On the record number of attempted entries by individuals on the terrorist watchlist …
McCaul: “Director Wray, we’ve had about 7.5 million encounters at the southern border. We’ve had 7,000 special interest aliens [SIAs]. We’ve had nearly 200 [encounters with individuals] on the terror watchlist [this year]. When I chaired this committee, … when I got the briefings, the first question I ever asked was, ‘How many SIAs, and how many on the terror watchlist?’ Two hundred is alarming to me. Does that give you concern?”
Director Wray: “Certainly, the numbers give us concern. I think it’s important, though, in some ways to realize that numbers alone don’t even tell the problem. We’ve all seen how much damage just a small number of foreign terrorists could cause. Sometimes people, as crazy as it sounds, tend to forget that it was 19 people who killed 3,000 people on 9/11.”
McCaul: “That was the next point I was going to make — that it only took 19 to create 9/11. And that’s alarming.”
On the need for the Biden administration to brief Congress and leaders in Texas on this threat …
McCaul: “I just got back from Israel. I saw the Hamas videos. It is very disturbing. I know you’ve testified previously that Hamas could either inspire attacks or maybe get into the country. The problem is we don’t know who these 200 people are, and to your point, how many others got in that we don’t even know about. Why won’t either you or the secretary provide us with the full, complete, accurate information — as I used to get when I was chair of this committee? Who are these 200 individuals? Who are they? Is Hamas on the list? We know the SIAs include countries like Iran, Lebanon, and Iraq. That gives me great pause. …
“My governor of the state of Texas, who has to deal with this problem on a daily basis, cannot get this information.”
On Secretary Mayorkas’ complicity in the alarming border crisis …
McCaul: “Let me just say, 18 U.S. Code § 2 states, ‘Whoever commits an offense against the United States or aids, abets, counsels, commands, induces or procures its commission, is punishable as a principal.’
“Human trafficking, a criminal enterprise in this country now with people with no legal status. The entire population seven times over [able] to be killed by fentanyl — 12 billion total. Three hundred thousand people dead due to fentanyl. Sir, I would argue that you have been aiding and abetting the deaths and the criminal enterprise that has occurred in this nation.”
Rep. McCaul also responded to Rep. Dan Goldman’s (D-N.Y.) claims that his criticism of Sec. Mayorkas was “unwarranted.”
Watch Rep. McCaul’s exchange with Rep. Goldman
Below is an excerpt from Rep. McCaul’s response:
“Look, I live in a border state — you don’t. And I’ve dealt with this issue for 25 years. I’ve never seen it this bad. It’s [Mayorkas’] dereliction of duty that has created this problem in the United States. … Look, we’ll disagree on this one, but I have to say that the change of policy has created this problem, and he knows better.”
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