By CHRIS STROHM, CongressDaily
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman, I/D-Conn., and ranking member Susan Collins, R-Maine, used the confirmation hearing for a top Homeland Security Department official today to criticize the poor coordination of border security efforts. With John Morton there to answer questions about his nomination to head Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Lieberman complained about "unacceptable turf wars" between federal agencies along the nation's Southwest border. Collins said she fears a recent decision by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to create a border czar will only exacerbate coordination problems and lead to more confusion.
Morton had to navigate through the politically charged topic of how to limit illegal immigration while clamping down on guns and money being smuggled from the United States to Mexican drug cartels. By all accounts, it appears the committee will approve his nomination and he will be confirmed by the Senate.
Lieberman decried turf wars between ICE, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and called on Morton to help bring the problem to "a rapid halt." Morton said he is aware of the turf battles and pledged to focus on solving them immediately. He added that he personally knows key Justice Department officials, who he said will help solve the problems. Morton also said he will seek authority for ICE agents to conduct drug investigations, which can only be done on a limited basis through an agreement with the DEA. He said he would seek legislation for the authority if needed.
Collins expressed concern the Obama administration is relying on a proliferation of czars to address problems. She said she was specifically concerned about Napolitano's recent appointment of Alan Bersin, a former U.S. attorney, to be the border czar within the Homeland Security Department. Collins said she worries his responsibilities will conflict with chiefs of ICE and Customs and Border Protection. Morton said he is not concerned the roles will conflict and described Bersin as an adviser who will not have an operational role. On a related matter, Morton said in answers to written questions that he supports proposals that would require employers throughout the country to use the E-Verify system to confirm their employees are legally allowed to work in the country.
Lieberman's committee also considered the nomination of W. Craig Fugate to head the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Fugate is widely viewed as a qualified and skilled emergency manager and is expected to be confirmed. Answering the most politically charged question of his confirmation hearing, Fugate expressed support for keeping FEMA within Homeland Security, as opposed to an independent agency under White House control. "That debate, as far as I'm concerned, is over," he said.
To post a comment, you must provide a name and a valid e-mail address. Messages must be limited to 400 words. By using this service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable. Although Lost in Transition does not monitor comments posted to this site (and has no obligation to), it reserves the right to delete, edit, or move any material that it deems to be in violation of this rule.
Responded on December 22, 2011 4:12 AM
Derick
Vickers received his, with honors, from the University of Alabama как похудеть рукам
Responded on December 21, 2011 6:06 PM
Enoch
Clapper is currently the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence, where he is the principal staff assistant and advisor to the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of Defense regarding intelligence, counterintelligence and security matters серьга для похудения стоимость
Responded on December 14, 2011 1:29 AM
abercrombie and fitch
Abercrombie and Fitch may be a retail merchant from typical clothing as well as niknaks males, as well as children, largely approaching the school enrollees. In 1892 abercrombie and fitch set about as the minor oceanfront browse and a manufacturing facility from the The big apple.abercrombie and fitch clothing|abercrombie and fitch sale|abercrombie and fitch uk.
Responded on December 5, 2011 10:24 AM
heluxtech
vERY NICE POST. I've read this
post and if I may I desire to suggest you some interesting things or
suggestions.
heluxtech
Responded on November 12, 2011 12:07 PM
wholesale designer handbags
Is very happy to arrive at your blog!I like very much!At the same time, I also hope that you like my luxury handbags website!
Responded on November 11, 2011 10:46 AM
Furniture UK
advance for Obama's campaign who previously worked on many other campaigns, including for Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va
Furniture UK
Responded on November 9, 2011 3:41 AM
ultrasound technician
Morton also said he will seek authority for ICE agents to conduct drug investigations, which can only be done on a limited basis through an agreement with the DEA.
ultrasound technician
Responded on November 6, 2011 11:17 AM
elan credit card
Obama is making a power grab, for crying out loud! First he lied to the American public during his campaign, breaking every single promise he made.
elan credit card
Responded on November 6, 2011 6:29 AM
susanna
Thanks for sharing excellent informations. Your site is so cool. I'm impressed by the details that you've on this web site. It reveals how nicely you perceive this subject. Bookmarked this website page, will come back for extra articles. You, my friend, ROCK! I found just the info I already searched all over the place and just couldn't come across. What an ideal web-site. we've got many new users here who recently got an Apple iPod touch or an www.itunes.com/download.The instructions to download it and install it are below. itunes.com is needed in order to sync your device, and also to download or sync applications or music from the App Store.
Responded on November 6, 2011 3:50 AM
tapetes promocionales
Collins said she fears a recent decision by Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano to create a border czar will only exacerbate coordination problems and lead to more confusion.
tapetes promocionales
Responded on November 5, 2011 1:24 PM
cash advance
Fugate is widely viewed as a qualified and skilled emergency manager and is expected to be confirmed.
cash advance
Responded on November 3, 2011 3:30 AM
barclays card
Thanks web hosting services are accessible, such as cheap vps , email hosting, Unix hosting, forex vps , Windows hosting
barclays card
Responded on November 1, 2011 3:16 AM
online accouting
It's the best time
to make a few plans for the future and it's time to be happy. I've read this
post and if I may I desire to suggest you some interesting things or
suggestions.
online accounting
Responded on November 1, 2011 3:13 AM
topbestairlines
I've read this
post and if I may I desire to suggest you some interesting things or
suggestions.
cheap flights
Responded on October 29, 2011 1:29 AM
medical coding and billing
.When I visit this good webiste,Just to say,I am glad to read so good article in the webstie.Well,OK.I have to say,what a wonderful blog it is.thank you for your sharing so good articles in the website.
medical coding and billing
Responded on October 20, 2011 2:35 AM
kate
Thank you for this blog. That’s all I can say. You most definitely have made this Hermes Handbags into something that’s eye opening and important. You clearly know so much about the subject, you’ve covered so many bases. Great stuff from this part of the internet. Again, thank you for this blog.
Responded on October 13, 2011 5:44 AM
lorla
Large scale transportation involving wood pellets made by pellet machine to general consumers along with stores is definitely successful, because the wood pellets use up a small space within high densities.
Responded on October 13, 2011 4:43 AM
pellet machine
Hey very nice post. It is truly very interesting to read it. Thanks for this interesting information.
pellet machine
Responded on October 12, 2011 6:41 AM
payday loans online
It is very interesting in it.Look forward to reading so good articles in the website.
payday loans online
Responded on October 9, 2011 5:24 PM
online casino
Friendship is not like love, love, you can love at first sight, but the friendship Sometimes you really feel silly, most of this period the boys to bully girls for it.
online casino
Responded on October 8, 2011 6:04 PM
car insurance
Alegria has shoes designed for you. And will find you don't have to give up fun and fashion in order to wear comfortable shoes. Alegria offers both.
car insurance
Responded on October 5, 2011 5:23 PM
payday loans
"That's pretty typical for in-state senators to support the nominee from their home state," said Brownback, a contender for the Kansas governor's race next year. payday loans
Responded on September 30, 2011 8:29 AM
photoshop free download
thank you!
Responded on September 29, 2011 11:29 PM
cheap Marc Jacobs Handbags
This is exactly what i was looking for. thank you for the informative post and keep up the good work! Big thanks for the useful info i found on cheap Marc Jacobs Handbags
Responded on September 1, 2011 5:47 AM
Hoffman
Wow, Great postNice work, I would like to read your blog every day Thanks Solar Panel
Responded on July 20, 2011 2:39 AM
larry
I hope that they are planning well about this article , specially about the Liqour, tobacco the government should be strict in selling this to anyone, for example the teens . maybe they can conduct a liqour banned for a mean time.
uplula
Responded on May 16, 2011 10:08 PM
Supra Shoes
If you are someone who has problems with your feet - or your problem is that you spend too many hours on your feet - Alegria has shoes designed for you. And will find you don't have to give up fun and fashion in order to wear comfortable shoes. Alegria offers both.|Supra Shoes
Responded on April 4, 2011 12:31 AM
Allen Santiago
Hey very nice post. It is truly very interesting to read it. Thanks for this interesting information.
iPhone App Development
Responded on March 3, 2011 3:53 AM
ucvhost
Wide range of web hosting services are accessible, such as cheap vps , email hosting, Unix hosting, forex vps , Windows hosting, Linux web hosting windows vps etc. We hope you will find a cheap hosting company here. Thanks
Responded on February 18, 2011 12:44 AM
ryanss
Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, according to sources familiar with the matter. cheap watches
Responded on January 2, 2011 11:41 PM
replica watches
Breitling In fact ,this is a good posting that I read.When I visit this good webiste,Just to say,I am glad to read so good article in the webstie.Well,OK.I have to say,what a wonderful blog it is.thank you for your sharing so good articles in the website.I like it very much.It is very interesting in it.Look forward to reading so good articles in the website.
Responded on December 1, 2010 11:18 PM
stunning
one of the Senate's staunchest abortion opponents, GOP Sen. informal plus size prom dress, happens to be from Kansas and said he plans to support Sebelius. "That's pretty typical for in-state senators to support the nominee from their home state," said Brownback, a contender for the Kansas governor's race next year.