Kirstjen Nielsen: “The children are not being used as a pawn. We are trying to protect the children.”

It was the Russians. We know that. They know that. It was directed from the highest levels. And we cannot and will not allow that to happen again.

We urge the committee to consider our recommendations and to hold the Trump administration accountable to do what Congress has mandated: Allow asylum seekers to apply for protection in the United States.

There is nothing humane about a system that contemplates what we see today, that contemplates 60,000 children coming across the border unaccompanied...

[W]e continue to face one of the most serious terrorist threat environments since 9/11. Foreign terrorist organizations are urging recruits to use simple weapons, including toxic chemicals, to target public spaces and events.