It's hard to remember that your job was to drain the swamp when you are up to your eyeballs in alligators.

How do we get to the people and change that mindset?

This is a humanitarian crisis, one that the Administration and Secretary Johnson are taking extremely seriously.

I put myself as a parent in Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, and I live in one of those communities with a lot of violence, not much opportunity, much chance for an education to get a job.

The Senate passed a comprehensive immigration reform bill more than a year ago.

This is a shared responsibility. This should not be all on America's shoulders.

The key to almost the success of any entity I have ever come across, whether it was government, business, athletics, church, schools, is leadership.

we have a longstanding historical role in the region.

You have somebody good here. I do not think you want to let her go.

we spent about a quarter-of-a-trillion dollars over the last decade enforcing our immigration laws

They were about to lose their country.

Colombia is, I think, by most people's judgment, is a successful country--economically strong, viable, great trading partner with us, great ally with us.

It is not going to be simple, as Senator Carper said. It is not going to be a short-term thing.

It was bipartisan support to work with the Colombians together.

If we had taken that approach with Colombia some 20 years ago, a country I visited earlier this year, it would be a failed nation today instead of one with a vibrant economy that has become a strong ally of ours.

I am dismayed to hear some of our colleagues suggest that the answer is to cutoff funding for these countries.

the role of the United States in Central America cannot be overstated.

I believe they require a humane response and one that honors our obligations under United States and international law.

We have too many policemen who do not police, too many prosecutors who do not prosecute, too many judges who do not sentence.

We have law enforcement officers that are corrupt in too many cases. In too many cases, the judges are corrupt.

What we need here is, I think, a truth campaign.

If a nurturing environment is created in one or more of these countries, there will be economic enterprises around the world that will want to invest there.

Thank you for encouraging us to hold this hearing.

I believe this is a mistake. I truly hope they will reconsider this decision.

the United States has to play a central role.