In my view I think a better way to the state of border security is how effective we are at keeping bad people or bad things out of the country.

That conversation will not be being had with Members of Congress or the American people without asking this critical question of is the border secure.

I think we have an opportunity as a country to actually get something done on this very important issue this year perhaps.

It is something that this subcommittee has had a lot of conversations about even during the last Congress.

I think many of us ... see an opportune time in our country, a sort of a pivotal time, a historic pivot perhaps, to get some sort of immigration reform done.

You do not want the Department of Homeland Security to be the stumbling block to comprehensive immigration reform for this country and it could happen. So get in the game.

At the same time we are asking you, can you tell us exactly how you are doing?

I do not believe that we intend that the Border Conditions Index (BCI) will be a tool for the measurement that you are suggesting.

special thanks to Congressmen Miller, Michaud, and Roe and others for helping fund the Gulf War Illness CDMRP

how the American people can be assured that the border is truly secure?

Eleven years ago today, 19 men successfully penetrated our border and visa security defenses and hijacked four planes to conduct a heinous attack against nearly 3,000 innocent people.

Eleven years ago today, 19 terrorist cowards successfully penetrated our border and visa security defenses...

But at the same time as we do that, we have to make sure that we don't let the pendulum swing over so much to the other side where we restrict our own freedoms and our own economic freedoms also.

the largest room is always a room for improvement.

I think that will serve to focus all of our attention on what happened that terrible day 11 years ago when the enemies of freedom attacked our Nation, and they really tried to get us to retreat from freedom.

we need to move from the need-to-know to the need-to-share information.

It is a felony under Federal law to reenter the country after a prior deportation.

I think it is good for us to amplify this message a bit about what a successful program it has been.

If they are not going to assist us in removing not only criminal aliens, but those that might go on to commit a terrorist attack... the Federal Government cannot stand by idly and allow that to happen.

The recent shooting of Special Agent Kelton Harrison while he was conducting surveillance near McAllen, Texas demonstrates the risk that our agents face on a daily basis.

I think that all of us here on the subcommittee want to do everything in our power to give ICE the tools, resources, and support they need to get the job done.

Tangible border security requires we take a layered approach and should not focus solely on the line in the sand that separates the United States and Mexico.

I can't tell you how delighted I am to hear you make that very candid assessment of what is happening in Cook County.

the percentage of screening right now is in about the 5 percentile.

I would hope that you and Attorney General Holder would work together to bring that to a resolve to the satisfaction of everybody who has a mutual constituency which is every American to make sure that if there are violators in the system…