Houston Daily

Today, Congressman Michael McCaul of Texas, who serves as the vice chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, addressed the Trump administration's efforts in securing the U.S. border. During a hearing with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, McCaul praised the administration for its achievements and questioned Noem about the necessity of passing House Republicans' reconciliation bill.

In his remarks, McCaul highlighted improvements under Secretary Noem's leadership compared to previous administrations. He stated, "I never saw the border more broken, more chaotic, than I did under the prior administration. Yet within months, you have restored order to the border." He noted a significant reduction in encounters at the border and commended President Trump and Secretary Noem for their actions.

McCaul criticized policies from past administrations that he believes led to increased illegal immigration and security threats. He emphasized changes made by Secretary Noem that have improved safety: "[In the first] 50 days, you have 14,000 criminal aliens arrested... making this country safer."

Secretary Noem responded by stressing the importance of resources provided by the reconciliation bill to maintain national security. She stated, "The reconciliation bill is imperative to our future in securing our nation." She outlined needs such as surveillance technology and upgrades for ports of entry to counter threats not only from gangs but also from international actors like China and Iran.

Noem pointed out vulnerabilities revealed by cyber threats such as Salt Typhoon and underscored her department's role in protecting critical infrastructure: "Department of Homeland Security has 10 of the 16 components of critical infrastructure."

The discussion underscored ongoing concerns about border security and national safety while highlighting legislative efforts aimed at addressing these issues.