Mike McCaul

I never thought I would see this in the United States of America.

As a father of five, I cannot fathom handing my child over to a criminal element and setting them out on this long and dangerous passage.

However, the reality remains that until you tackle immigration reform, no amount of security spending is going to achieve your desired ends.

Securing the border is the obligation of the Federal Government.

I know every member of the National Guard that I served with would love the opportunity to secure our borders.

The unaccompanied children issue is a humanitarian crisis, and we know that.

I would also ask unanimous consent to submit for the record a statement from the First Focus Campaign for Children regarding the issue facing migrant children and families.

This is a crisis that has been in the making for years--one that we should have seen coming--but few concrete actions have been taken.

As a father of five, it's unimaginable what would compel a parent to risk the lives of their children on such a dangerous passage.

Securing the border is a responsibility of the Federal Government.

I call on the president of Mexico and his interior minister to do just that.

This administration should send an unambiguous message that those arriving will be promptly sent home.

The tragic fact is these children are making a dangerous journey based on misinformation and the false promise of amnesty.

I think the saddest thing about this whole story is the exploitation of these children.

I commend you for your immediate response to this crisis. But we do have a crisis on the border.

I, for one, do not want to see another child harmed because we have not clearly articulated the realities on the ground, consistent with current law.

What is new is a series of Executive Actions by the administration to grant immigration benefits to children outside the purview of the law.

Today on the Southwest Border we are facing an escalating refugee crisis.

The President needs to immediately send the National Guard to the Southwest Border to deal with this crisis.

This is a crisis. It is a crisis that has been in the making for years. One that we should have seen coming.

Every Member of this committee including myself is gravely concerned about the safety of children, no matter where they come from.

As a father of five, it is unimaginable to me what would compel a parent to risk the lives of their children on such a dangerous passage.

The Honorable Michael T. McCaul, a Representative in Congress From the State of Texas, and Chairman, Committee on Homeland Security:

This is a capital investment when we invest in scientific research. It is not the same thing as throwing money out the window.

If we don't do it, Mr. Chairman, I fear that competitors such as China and others will overtake us very quickly in terms of research on science.