Rep. John Conyers Asks Immigration Official the Same Question Seven Times in a Row

EXCERPT:

CONYERS: “Now as you and all of us are aware, President Trump has repeatedly promised to deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants. You’re aware of that, I presume.”
McHENRY: “I’ve heard that report.”
CONYERS: “You’ve heard it, yeah. This committee has marked up legislation that would unfortunately implement President Trump’s vision for mass deportation. And these plans often involve expediting removal hearings, streamlining immigration court procedures and denying legal representation. Now, under your watch, do you believe the immigration court system will implement a mass deportation agenda?”
McHENRY: “Our judges adjudicate immigration cases that are brought to us by the Department of Homeland Security. So I would defer any questions about their enforcement actions to them. I can’t speak for that agency. Our judges adjudicate the cases that are brought in front of them. They adjudicate them in a professional and dedicated manner based on the facts and the evidence before them. And they ensure that due process is met.”
CONYERS: “Well, I’m not asking them, I’m asking you. What you think about it?”
McHENRY: “About — I’m sorry.”
CONYERS: “Well, the plans of the president are such that I want to know if you believe the immigration court system will implement a mass deportation agenda.”
McHENRY: “I can’t speak fully and I’m not entirely sure what mass deportation agenda means in this context.”
CONYERS: “Deporting all 11 million undocumented immigrants.”
McHENRY: “Our immigration judges aren’t involved in the actual deportation or removal of aliens. They make determinations as to whether an alien or someone is removable in the first instance and then they make a second determination whether that person is entitled to relief or protection from removal.”
CONYERS: “Well, that's -- that gets us right back to where we began. That’s what they do, is determine removal. It’s two steps you’ve mentioned.”
McHENRY: “But they do also determine relief and protection from removal as well.”
CONYERS: “Yes. But I’m asking you about President Trump’s promise or threat to deport all 11 million undocumented immigrants. And all I want to know is do you believe that the immigration court system might implement a mass deportation agenda.”
McHENRY: “Again, it’s not the role of the immigration courts to implement any particular agenda. They adjudicate the cases brought to them by the Department of Homeland Security and issue decisions either based on removability or based on protection or relief from removal.”
CONYERS: “You don’t think they’re influenced by President Trump’s public position on this question?”
McHENRY: “I have confidence that our judges apply the law in each case to the facts and evidence in that case and they make the best decisions based on the evidence before them.”
CONYERS: “Well, you know, well do you believe that President Trump’s promise or threat has any bearing or influence upon them at all?”
McHENRY: “I can’t speak to the mindset of -- of all of our judges. As I said, I -- I do have confidence that they carry out their duties to the best of their abilities, the best of their understanding of the law based on the facts and the evidence of each case that comes before them.”
CONYERS: “Well, do you believe that the policies implemented by the Executive Office for Immigration Review may lead to mass deportation?”
McHENRY: “Our policies are not outcome determinative and they’re not implemented with any specific outcome in a particular case in mind. Our policies are essentially outcome neutral. We’re trying to resolve more cases, but we’re not trying to reach any particular outcome one way or the other.”
CONYERS: “Well I know it, but you -- you may -- they may be neutral, but the policies may lead to mass deportation anyway, or they could, or you may think that they wouldn’t? I mean, in other words, I’m not asking you how they operate but if there was implemented such a -- such a policy, would this lead to mass deportation?”
McHENRY: “I’m not sure I understand which policy in particular.”
CONYERS: “The policies that I -- I just mentioned, that President Trump has repeatedly promised to deport 11 million -- all 11 million undocumented immigrants.”
McHENRY: “I haven’t seen a specific proposal as to how that would impact the EOIR.”
CONYERS: “Well I didn’t say you did see it.”
CHAIRMAN: "The gentleman’s time has expired.” [crosstalk]
CONYERS: “Consent for one additional minute, chair?”
CHAIRMAN: "Without objection. But I think you’ve asked him the same question like seven different ways and he’s answered your question. So I’m not sure what else you want the gentleman to do."