Kristi Noem Confronted Over 'Cruelty, Chaos, & Deep Disregard For Human Dignity' By LaMonica McIver

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At yesterday's House Homeland Security Committee hearing, Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ) questioned DHS Sec. Kristi Noem.

Transcript

00:00or Ms. McIver is recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and ranking member. A lot has been said

00:08and I expect a lot more will be said about the department's interaction with members of this

00:13body when it comes to oversight. But this is not about me. Madam Secretary, it's not every day we

00:21have a cabinet member before this committee. As you know, the members of this committee have

00:26constitutional oversight responsibility for your department and there are many things regarding

00:32this administration's homeland security policies that require our immediate attention. That is the

00:38work I am here to do today and every day. Secretary, this committee and the American people deserve

00:45answers for the actions of the Department of Homeland Security under this administration and

00:50the policies that have been put into place. The department has overseen a regime of cruelty,

00:56chaos, and deep disregard for human dignity, all under the pretense of security. The department

01:03is being mismanaged and its policies undermine our nation's values. This does not make us safer,

01:10the exact opposite exactly. Secretary, we need answers about your department's union busting at TSA,

01:19deporting U.S. citizens, terminating the legal status of international students for no apparent

01:25reason and disregarding the rule of law. None of these issues at your department exist in the vacuum.

01:32In fact, they are all fundamentally connected to the administration's overarching cruelty.

01:39We want to hear from you because we are hoping you can make it make sense for us. Because with all due

01:46respect, we are all trying to understand why in the world this is taking place. In my district and around

01:53this nation, countless international students had their visas revoked without due process, without warning,

02:01and without any regard for how this would devastate their lives. These are students who came here to

02:06learn, to build their futures, and join our workforce, only to have the rug pulled out from under them by this

02:14department's actions. How can we expect international students to trust our institutions and contribute to

02:21our economy when we treat them like they've done something wrong just because they are here? Are we

02:27no longer the home of the American dream? I also want you to understand DHS's impact on our entire

02:35workforce. I proudly represent over 1,000 dedicated TSA workers who had the right to unionize. But that

02:43right has been stripped away by your department. This is an attack on the people who safeguard our skies

02:49and whose dedication we rely on now more than ever. And the destruction doesn't stop there. I represent

02:57communities that live in constant fear each and every day. Families too terrified to step outside and send

03:04their kids to school, go grocery shopping, or take a trip to the doctor because of the harassment of ICE

03:10and Homeland Security. This isn't public safety. It's state-sponsored fear. I understand that this administration

03:17believes that it is its business to scare people into submission and act alone with no regard for the law

03:26to decide who is worthy to live in this country or not. However, it is this committee's business to make

03:35sure your department is held accountable and to get the American people the answers they've been looking

03:40for. So with that, Madam Secretary, I have a few yes or no questions. Do you agree that revoking student

03:47visas without notice can cause fear and confusion among international students? Yes or no?

03:53Congressman, I do not. Congresswoman, but yes or no? Congresswoman, I do not decide legal status or visa

04:00programs. I will take that as a yes. Do you support restoring full collective bargaining rights

04:06for TSA employees? Yes or no? Ma'am, currently today TSA does not have the ability to unionize.

04:13Okay, take that as a no. Do you believe that TSA workers should make a livable wage? Yes or no?

04:19Yes, TSA workers are critically important. Thank you for that. Are you aware that recent student visa

04:26revocations occur without due process or proper notification? Ma'am, I don't make a determination of

04:32status. Yes or no? I'm guessing you don't know. Okay. Do you believe that TSA workers have the

04:37right to better workplace conditions? Yes, absolutely. Okay, great. Thank you for that. Do you

04:43believe that students should have an opportunity to appeal before their visas are revoked? Yes or no?

04:49All processes are followed and that are set out as tools. I'm guessing it's a no. Okay, one more last

04:54question in nine seconds. Do you believe that revoking collective bargaining rights for TSA workers

04:59affects their morale and job performance? Yes or no? I believe TSA is critically important. Okay,

05:05I'll take that as a... If you don't know, maybe it's yes or no. Gentle lady's time has expired. I now

05:09recognize Mr. Gonzalez for five minutes of fiscal...

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