Senator McCain is being stonewalled by both former Secretary Janet Napolitano and current DHS nominee Mr. Jeb Johnson on border security issues.
On December 17, 2013 Senator John McCain of Arizona asked for permission to address the United States Senate regarding the issue of border security.
He indicated during his speech that he is, in effect, being stonewalled by both the previous Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security – Janet Napolitano, as well as the current nominee for DHS Secretary Mr. Johnson insofar as they are both refusing to provide relevant and important information to the senator regarding border security issues. As such he said has no choice really but to oppose Mr. Johnson nomination as the new Secretary of DHS.
“Reforming our broken immigration system is one of the Nation’s top priorities. To that end, ensuring that our borders are secure and preventing illegal entry is absolutely vital.”
“In my capacity as the senior Senator from Arizona and one of the lead advocates of comprehensively reforming our immigration system, I have a solemn obligation and a constitutional prerogative to make sure that the Department of Homeland Security, DHS, accomplishes that mission. In furtherance of that obligation and that prerogative, I–indeed Congress–must count on DHS cooperation to provide any relevant information I and this body request”, he said.
“Unfortunately, in connection with the Senate’s effort to craft legislation to help secure our borders, the former DHS Secretary unjustifiably refused to provide such information. The information I asked for was intended to let Congress and the American people judge for themselves if progress is being made to protect our borders from illegal entry. To date, I never received that information from this administration”, said McCain
So first during his confirmation hearing and then in writing, I asked Mr. Johnson to commit to me that, if confirmed as the new DHS Secretary, he would provide me that same information. Unfortunately, on grounds that I find to be specious and unacceptable, he declined. On the basis of his response, I can only conclude that, if confirmed, the level of cooperation between DHS and me, particularly on the vitally important issue of border security–when comprehensive immigration remains such a vitally important issue–would remain business as usual, and that is unacceptable. It is unacceptable to me and to the people who interests I am committed to representing. For this reason, I have no choice other than to oppose Mr. Johnson’s nomination”, said McCain (source: Congressional Record http://thomas.loc.gov).
McCain is the senior Senator from Arizona.