Sen. Cruz Not Satisfied with Border Security Triggers in Immigration Bill

WASHINGTON, DC – Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) today questioned Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano about border security measures contained in the Gang of Eight's immigration bill during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

Specifically, Sen. Cruz asked, “If there are no objective metrics, if it is simply the subjective assessment of a host of factors, how can we have any confidence that the border will be secured and that any trigger will be meaningful?”

Unfortunately, the secretary failed to provide specific, measurable ways DHS would verify border security if the immigration bill was made law and millions of illegal immigrants were given legal status.

Following the hearing, the senator released the following statement:

“We must have a clear definition of what metrics must be reached in order for the border to be secure. I am not satisfied with answers offered at today’s hearing, as it remains unclear how the provisions in this bill will help achieve a secure border.

“As it stands, the border security component – which numbers only 58 pages of the 844-page bill – largely cedes authority to the Department of Homeland Security to determine when and how the border would be secured. However, today's hearing revealed that the last clear metric for border security - 'operational control' - reflected that in 2010, DHS had secured 873 miles of the more than 2,000 mile border. When that metric did not demonstrate success, DHS decided to simply abandon the metric. In order for a metric to be real, it must be meaningful. Currently, there are no objective metrics in place to ensure any triggers in this bill will be meaningful, all while the pathway to citizenship component remains contingent on this undefined border security.”

Below is an excerpt of Sen. Cruz's questions to Secretary Napolitano: