Opening Statement

Statement of Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr.
Hearing on: “Implementation of an Entry-Exit System: Still Waiting After All These Years” Committee on the Judiciary
Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at 10:00 am
2141 Rayburn Building

            Today’s hearing provides us with an opportunity to learn what the Department of Homeland Security is doing to implement a system that tracks who enters our country and who leaves our country.

       The Department is required by law to establish an entry-exit system that relies upon the collection of biometric data—data like fingerprints, facial recognition, iris scans and the like.  Many of my colleagues are frustrated that the system—particularly the biometric exit system—is not yet in place.

       Nevertheless, we should recognize that today we are more able than ever to screen people who are applying for visas or requesting entry to our country.  We now collect fingerprints from people at each of these stages and we have a biometric entry system at our land, sea, and air ports.

       We are also better able to confirm whether people have left the country or overstayed their visas.  Airlines share information from passenger and crew manifests before aircraft doors are secured.  So we have a pretty good idea as to who is on an international flight before the plane leaves the gate and we can now use that information to identify people who have overstayed their visas and to run that information through various security checks.

       We also have a very productive exchange of information with Canadian authorities that helps us identify exits along our northern land border.

       But of course there is still more that can be done.  That is why today’s hearing allows us to hear from the Department of Homeland Security itself as well as several other witnesses who will share their perspectives on the topic.

       But I have to observe one thing before I yield the balance of my time.  It is now the middle of November and the House of Representatives has done absolutely nothing to fix our broken immigration system. 

       The Senate passed S. 744, a bipartisan immigration reform bill, in June—139 days ago.  Republican leadership in the House called it dead on arrival.

       Rep. Joe Garcia, our friend and colleague on this Committee, introduced another bill, H.R. 15, last month and already the bill has 190 cosponsors.  Republican leadership has pledged to take no action on the bill.

       Now the press reports that Republican leadership intends to bring no immigration bill to the Floor before the end of the year because there isn’t enough time on the calendar.

       The very first hearing that this Committee held in the 113th Congress was on the need for immigration reform.  My hope at the time was that the hearing signaled the beginning of an open dialogue focused on the creation of an immigration system that serves American businesses, families, and security.

       Instead I read time and time again that House Republicans oppose comprehensive immigration reform but support a piecemeal approach to fixing the problem.  I wonder, did I miss the votes on any of those piecemeal bills?  We keep hearing that five bills are ready for consideration and more are being drafted.  Where are they?

       If House Republicans oppose comprehensive immigration reform but support a piecemeal approach to fix our immigration system, show us.  Do something.

       We have been trying to fix our broken immigration system for well over a decade.  I believe we are closer today than we have ever been before.  But now is not the time for more talk, talk, talk.  Now is the time for action.