Mayorkas Under Oath: 2021 Transcript Shows Shift on Afghan Vetting Claims

A resurfaced 2021 congressional hearing is drawing renewed scrutiny after then–Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas appeared to shift his position on the vetting of Afghans brought to the United States during the chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. During questioning, Mayorkas repeatedly insisted that all Afghans evacuated to the US had been properly vetted. However, when reminded that he was testifying under oath, he revised his statement, acknowledging that he could not confirm whether all individuals had undergone full vetting procedures.

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Transcript

00:00Was Afghanistan a successful withdrawal?

00:05Senator, the evacuation that the Department of Defense and the Department of State led was historic in evacuating so many individuals.

00:17Of those that are evacuated, how many of them were vetted before they got on the plane?

00:21Senator, it is our policy to...

00:25That's a simple question. How many of them were vetted before they got on the plane?

00:29Out of Afghanistan?

00:31Yeah.

00:31Cannot speak to that, but it is our policy.

00:33So you can't tell us how many people were vetted before they got on the plane to come to America?

00:38Oh, I'm sorry. If you're speaking of the plane to come to America, let me, if I may, Senator, explain the process.

00:44Because we, working with our allies...

00:46Okay, here's a question. Very simple. Those that got on the plane...

00:51For America, it is our policy to...

00:53Please, please listen. Please listen to my question.

00:56I apologize.

00:56To those who got on the C-17s and other planes, how many of them were vetted before they got on the plane by American officials?

01:04To the United States, it is our policy to vet and screen 100% of them.

01:08So 100% of those people that got on the plane were vetted. That's your testimony under oath?

01:12It is our policy to do so.

01:15That's not... I don't care what your policy is. I'm asking how many people were vetted before they got on the plane.

01:19Do you know the answer?

01:21Senator...

01:22If you don't know, just say, I don't know.

01:23Senator, I do not know if anyone boarded a plane that was not fully screened and vetted.

01:30Can you tell me that all the people that got on the plane were vetted?

01:34Absolutely. I can tell you that all of the individuals...

01:37Before they got on the plane.

01:38If I may, Senator, all of the individuals who arrived in the United States have been screened and vetted.

01:48That's not... Listen, I'm not trying to trick you.

01:52I'm trying to ask a simple question.

01:55We've had thousands of people that got on C-17s and flew out of the most chaotic situation I've seen since the fall of Saigon.

02:02And I'm asking you, before they got on the plane, how many of them were vetted by the United States?

02:08Can you tell me what percentage?

02:12Senator, I would posit, and I will confirm this, that well over 99% of them were fully screened and vetted before they boarded a flight.

02:24Okay.

02:25If, in fact, any of...

02:27Where do you get that information from?

02:29May I, Senator?

02:30If, in fact, they were not, they were screened and vetted while in flight.

02:36And if any derogatory information was adduced, they were placed in immigration enforcement proceedings and in removal.

02:47You do know you're under oath.

02:51Are you telling this committee under oath that 99% of the people who got on these planes in Afghanistan

02:57were vetted by our government before they got on that plane?

03:01I want to be very clear because precision...

03:03Because you're not.

03:04No, no, no.

03:05Senator, if I may, you are asking me about planes from transit countries, the third country...

03:12I'm talking about people who got on the plane at Kabul Airport.

03:16No, I can't speak to that.

03:18Well, that's...

03:18Okay, good.

Mayorkas Under Oath: 2021 Transcript Shows Shift on Afghan Vetting Claims | APT

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