Entering the country and overstaying a visa has been the preferred method for terrorists to enter the country.

Since 9/11 our border security efforts have been focused on stopping illegal immigrants and illicit drugs from entering the country; chiefly our Southwest Border.

Clearly, more must be done to ensure the integrity of the visa system, including enhancements to Immigration and Customs Enforcement's ability to identify and promptly remove those who overstay their visa.

There is an important distinction to be made between those who cross the border, largely in search of a better life, and terrorists who abuse the visa process with the ultimate goal of destroying our way of life.

I think this Nation certainly wants this Congress and all the agencies that are under our umbrella to exercise the political will that we need to to secure our borders--all of our borders.

I think we missed the boat during the last BRAC, the Base Realignment and Closure Commission, when we could have looked at some military facilities inventory domestically here that could have been utilized by the DHS.

Commerce is the life-blood of the Nation, and after September 11 we in Congress rightly recognized the importance of securing our Nation's ports and the cargo that transits from overseas to our stores on a daily basis.

A successful terrorist attack on one of our ports... would have a devastating economic impact.

A disruption or attack at one of our Nation's largest ports could be catastrophic, and we need to make sure we 'push the borders out' by conducting as much of CBP's cargo inspection and screening work before potentially dangerous cargo…

I appreciate you, sir, coming.

Port security is a top homeland security priority for me.

it is our job, as Congress, to ask you how much does it cost for you to implement mandates that we are passing.

I am also concerned that DHS has not made any efforts towards improving container screening.

I was disappointed that the administration's National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security did not address container scanning.

the first and foremost responsibility of the Federal Government is provide for the common defense.

We are all painfully aware of the economic transition that has occurred in our country.

I have called this hearing today to examine how DHS can use off-the-shelf, innovative Department of Defense technology and hardware to address the needs of the men and women who are charged with securing our border.

Congress needs to be able to justify to the American people that our border is tangibly more secure as a result of that spending.

the first and foremost responsibility of the Federal Government is to provide for the common defense.

I think that leads us to why we are concerned about this administrative amnesty, how we can be proactive as a Nation; reactive, after something happens.

I believe that the American people--the majority of the American people--have demonstrated over and over that they have the political will to secure our borders.

The last line of defense as we work to control the integrity of the border is interior enforcement.

I believe that that is the definition of what the administration is doing here in regards to administrative amnesty.

When you have the potential to administratively close hundreds of thousands of removal cases it sends a message and that message is crystal clear: If you make it past the border, you are scot-free.

If the President wants to change the law he needs to submit a proposal to Congress.