“The Trump Administration demoted an agency leader who tried to sound the alarm. They were so afraid of confronting this threat, they tried to prevent DHS from even using the term “domestic terrorist” internally. “But rather than act, the previous administration obstructed. These groups recruit online, spread misinformation and conspiracy theories, scapegoat minority groups, prey on COVID-19 fears, and undermine Americans’ confidence in our institutions. 66 percent of those were by white supremacists, extremist militia members, and other violent far-right extremists. “2020 had the highest number of domestic terror incidents and plots in over thirty years. But one of the greatest modern threats to our homeland is the danger posed by violent far-right extremists and white supremacists. “America faces a multitude of challenges. “You are responsible for guarding our national security from threats both old and new and as varied as cybersecurity attacks, natural disasters, foreign terrorists, and home-grown violent extremists. You have made important progress in these and other areas, but there is a lot of work still ahead of you to address the many challenges that remain. Through neglect and often malice, your predecessors more or less dismantled our immigration system and ignored the grave and growing threat of domestic terrorism.
I will speak plainly: You inherited a mess when you took over the Department, and no one can solve overnight the problems left for you by the previous administration. “We are pleased to welcome you to the Committee today, Secretary Mayorkas. “The Department of Homeland Security was founded after the September 11th attacks, and as the years passed, the Department has taken on new threats and challenges unimagined by Congress in 2002.
Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) delivered the following opening statement, as prepared, during a full committee hearing on "Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security":