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U.S. Lawmakers Suggest Epstein Redactions Protect Powerful Men; Epstein Conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell Offers Testimony for Clemency; Top Immigration and Border Officials Testify in House Hearing; Epstein Survivors Promote Ending Limits on Prosecuting Abuse. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired February 10, 2026 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[10:00:00]
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Live from CNN London, this is CONNECT THE WORLD.
CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN ANCHOR AND CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Welcome to our second hour of CONNECT THE WORLD. I'm Christina Macfarlane in
London.
We will have an eye on Washington for much of this hour, where two live events are set to get underway. First, in the U.S. House of
Representatives, an oversight hearing on the Department of Homeland Security, where controversial immigration operations will be in focus.
The acting director of ICE is set to testify, the hearing happening against the backdrop of a fierce funding fight and demands for reform.
And later, survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse will be appearing with Democratic senator Chuck Schumer. They'll help introduce legislation to end
the statute of limitations on prosecuting sex offenses, which they see as an egregious barrier to justice.
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MACFARLANE: The push to end those limits comes as demands grow for accountability and for more public disclosure from the Epstein files.
Lawmakers who were able to look at some of the unredacted files on Monday said the names of some powerful men were revealed. And they found the
Justice Department's redactions suspicious.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REP. JAMIE RASKIN (D-MD): I saw the names of lots of people who were redacted for mysterious or baffling or inscrutable reasons. I think that
the Department of Justice has been in a cover up mode for many months and has been trying to sweep the entire thing under the rug.
There's no way you run a $1 billion international child sex trafficking ring with just two people committing crimes, Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine
Maxwell. No way. It doesn't work like that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN HOST: Are you willing to say those names on the floor?
REP. THOMAS MASSIE (R-KY): Oh, absolutely, I am.
COLLINS: When?
MASSIE: If that -- if that will serve the survivors. If the survivors want me to I'll do it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Also on Monday, Epstein conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell appeared from a prison for a congressional deposition but refused to answer any
questions. She did however, offer to talk if she gets clemency from president Trump.
Several members of Congress are calling for U.S. commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to resign over his dealings with Jeffrey Epstein. He was just asked
about that during a Senate committee hearing on another matter. Here's what he said.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN (D-MD): The belief (ph) that you had cut off all contact with Jeffrey Epstein after the 2005 encounter you and your wife had
in his apartment.
But as I'm sure you know, the Epstein files show a very different record of interaction.
Why did the Epstein files show you coordinating a meeting and planning a visit with Jeffrey Epstein on his private island in December 2012?
HOWARD LUTNICK, U.S. SECRETARY OF COMMERCE: Thank you for the question. I'm glad to be here to make it clear that I met Jeffrey Epstein when he
moved -- when I moved to a house next door to him in New York, right.
And I met him then. Over the next 14 years, I met him two other times that I can recall -- two times. And that is none for six years. So six years
later, I met him. And then 1.5 years after that, I met him and never again. Probably the total.
And you've seen all of these documents, of these millions and millions of documents, there may be 10 emails connecting me with him, probably about 10
emails connecting me with him over a 14-year period. I did not have any relationship with him. I barely had anything to do with that person. OK.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Well, chief congressional correspondent Manu Raju is with us from Capitol Hill.
And Manu, I believe Howard Lutnick was just being questioned there in the last few minutes, the first time we've actually heard him being questioned
over his ties to Jeffrey Epstein.
What do you make of that?
And is there a sense there that something is shifting now in the pursuit of accountability after the viewing of those unredacted files?
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MANU RAJU, CNN CHIEF CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, on the Lutnick question, that is the first time he has addressed what was revealed after
some 3 million documents were released by the Justice Department a short time ago.
Those documents, showing more extensive contacts between Howard Lutnick and Jeffrey Epstein that had Lutnick -- had let on. In fact, Lutnick had said
he had severed ties with the sex trafficker about two decades ago.
But the documents reveal a different story. And since then, there have been mounting questions and concerns over Howard Lutnick and in calls for him to
explain more about exactly what was going on.
We've heard Republicans, some -- one Republican, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, told me that he thinks that Lutnick should resign. Many Democrats have
called for him to resign as well.
And Lutnick there was testifying in a separate hearing involving a totally different issue but was asked by senators there about what was what
happened with Jeffrey Epstein and his contacts there. So trying to tamp down that criticism.
But there's no indication that Donald Trump plans to do anything about how reluctant, trying to push him aside or whether there will be more calls
from Republicans for more accountability.
What we've seen here is a number of Republicans, a number of members, who have reviewed these unredacted Epstein files have come out and have said
that more needs to be revealed publicly, particularly alleged coconspirators involved in the Jeffrey Epstein ring.
You heard Thomas Massie there, said that -- said that -- he says there are six people or so who should be identified, he said, publicly and he's
prepared to go to the House floor and do so.
We have not heard many Republicans side with Massie on that question. We've heard a lot of Democrats do so as well. Christina, look out for one thing
tomorrow. Pam Bondi, the attorney general of the United States, will be on Capitol Hill, testifying before the House Judiciary Committee.
And I'm told from a number of members on that committee, they plan to press her on the question of Jeffrey Epstein, on how these redactions were made,
on the handling of all of this and whether there will be additional prosecutions after the deputy attorney general, Tom Blanche, suggested
there would not be.
So a lot of questions about the administration's handling of it and if anybody else will be held accountable or prosecuted in the aftermath of
these revelations.
MACFARLANE: Yes, there's going to be a lot of focus on that, certainly tomorrow.
And amidst all of this, we're waiting on this live event this hour, the announcement of Virginia's Law, set to be announced by Chuck Schumer and
some of the survivors. Epstein's survivors with him.
Can you just tell us what that law is seeking to do and what the expectations are there?
RAJU: Yes, this is Chuck Schumer, trying to -- trying to force Republicans into action in the immediate aftermath of what we have learned from the
release of these files. What -- Schumer is expected to appear in a matter of moments with Jeffrey Epstein victims, including some of Virginia
Giuffre's family members as well.
But we don't expect this to gain much traction in the United States Senate. He plans to offer legislation dealing with this in a matter of moments,
perhaps go to the Senate floor and force a vote.
But in the United States Senate, any one senator can object and block legislation. And that's exactly what we expect to happen when Schumer moves
ahead on this in a matter as soon as today.
MACFARLANE: All right, Manu, we appreciate the update for now. Thank you.
Let's move to CNN senior law enforcement analyst, Juliette Kayyem, who's joining us now alongside CNN Politics senior reporter Stephen Collinson,
joining us again.
Welcome to you both
Stephen, I want to begin with you there because we were just discussing with Manu Raju, hearing for the first time from Howard Lutnick on the
Epstein files.
What is your reaction to that and what that indicates as to how, you know, people now are beginning to clamor for accountability on this?
STEPHEN COLLINSON, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I think it shows that there is rising pressure the longer that these releases start to
reverberate through the country.
But at the same time, there is nothing like the accountability in the investigation that is currently taking place in Europe. And I think the
reason for that is because the Republicans control the Congress. They would be the people that would put the administration's feet to the fire.
And, of course, the Department of Justice has become very much a political arm of Donald Trump's operation. And they want all this to go away.
But we saw, when the bill compelling the release of these papers was passed last year, political pressure can build and it can make a difference. So I
don't think we can rule out the fact that there is going to be larger calls for accountability in the United States.
But at this point, I don't think we're anywhere near what is happening in the U.K., in Norway, in Poland and various other places in Europe.
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MACFARLANE: Yes, we actually have a new bit of sound from that testimony. Let's just have a quick listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
VAN HOLLEN: Dinner in Epstein's New York City home in 2011.
LUTNICK: No.
VAN HOLLEN: So the information that suggests that there was a dinner with Woody Allen and Woody Allen's spouse at the Epstein residence, that's --
there's nothing to that, is that right?
LUTNICK: I actually don't know what you're referring to. There was -- look, I looked through the millions of documents for my name just like
everybody else. And what I found was -- there was a document that says that I had a meeting with him on -- in May, I think for an hour for -- at 5:00,
not dinner or otherwise, for an hour at 5:00.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MACFARLANE: Juliette, this testimony comes amidst the backdrop of -- we've been saying there of the viewing of some of those unredacted files. And,
you know the DOJ were really hoping that they were going to appease lawmakers, really, by enabling them to view these files. But it seems to
have had the opposite effect.
We've heard Massie (ph) and some others there, hinting at a potential cover-up.
To Manu Raju's point earlier, how is this all likely to play with attorney general Pam Bondi expected to testify to the Judiciary Committee tomorrow?
JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: I think what you're seeing is and it's not just Democrats but Democrats and Republicans using typical
Oversight Committee hearings to essentially bring up Epstein all the time.
And there's a terminology now in the United States, the Epstein class, which the Democrats are pushing on, which is just there is a group of
people who were, I think adjacent, I think is a safe word to say. And sense that they are surrounding Epstein and no one can quite get why.
Because all of this was happening after he had already served time. And so you're going to see that push through these oversight hearings, any press
conference; they're just going to use this opportunity because as those opportunities.
Because as Stephen said, you really can't rely on DOJ. Look, I thought Lutnick said something interesting. He said I looked up my name like
everyone else. That's actually not true.
I mean, the American public is not looking up their names on the Epstein list and I think, I think in a weird, not on purpose, he is disclosing that
lots of people are very nervous about how they are portrayed in this and Lutnick is saying one thing, the emails are saying another and the American
public, let's just say, is following along.
MACFARLANE: Yes, that's a great observation.
Stephen, we saw yesterday elsewhere, a very tight lipped Ghislaine Maxwell revealing kind of her strategy yesterday by proposing a quid pro quo
clemency for her speaking out, even going as far as to say that she would make it clear that Donald Trump and Bill Clinton were innocent of any
wrongdoing.
What are the chances do you think of Donald Trump agreeing to a deal like that?
COLLINSON: I mean, I think it's possible, that that -- I'm surprised that that offer didn't make more of a wave in the United States yesterday.
That was, if you think about it, an extraordinary thing for somebody to do, who is in jail serving a sentence for sex trafficking, telling the
president of the United States to give her a pardon and she would put him in the clear.
I think it is symptomatic of an era in which quid pro quos just take place out in public. And if you look at the way that Trump has used the pardon
power, often helping people who help him, political allies, advancing his own political goals in the use of that power, I don't see there's any
reason why he might not think about it.
He has a record of doing exactly what he wants to do. He wants the Epstein matter to go away.
And if he believes that Ghislaine Maxwell can help it go away in return for some kind of clemency, why would he actually not go ahead and do it?
I think that the idea that Trump would be ashamed of using the pardon power in this way has already been disproven. Let's face it, she was already
moved to a slightly more comfortable prison situation after she spoke to the deputy attorney general Todd Blanche and they released a transcript.
So you know, in any other presidency, I think it would be an almost unthinkable thing. To happen in this presidency seems to me that it might
be quite possible.
MACFARLANE: Extraordinary.
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We should talk about how this is playing out here in the U.K. because King Charles is offering to cooperate now with police in any investigations into
his brother, the former prince Andrew. And the files appeared to show Andrew shared confidential material with Epstein in 2010.
I mean, there's been outrage over Andrew Epstein, which has prompted the king to strip his brother of his royal title already. And there's also been
outrage over prime minister Keir Starmer's appointment of former Epstein associate Peter Mandelson as British ambassador to the U.S. in 2024.
The prime minister today, though, is pushing back vehemently, saying he is not prepared to walk away. So Stephen, how much -- we talked about this a
bit yesterday.
But how much do you think the fallout for high profile figures here in the U.K. is perhaps galvanizing the push now in the U.S. for full transparency?
COLLINSON: I think it's increasingly being mentioned by people like Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie. The fact that the king of England is now
preparing to cooperate in a probe that could target his brother, that's extraordinary.
I think it shows the level to which the monarchy is in danger of being tarnished in the United Kingdom, that's being used as a reference point in
the United States. I don't think it necessarily will change the behavior of the Justice Department or the president.
But it does add to this political pressure. Trump wants this to go away. And everything that happens abroad on the Epstein files means it isn't
going away and it's in the ether. And that, I think, is where it could be politically damaging to the administration
MACFARLANE: Yes.
Juliette, before we go, very keen to have your legal view on this Virginia's Law that's soon to be announced, which is -- will seek to end
protection under the statute of limitations.
Can you just explain to our viewers what this could mean, not just for these survivors but potentially for survivors everywhere if it sets a
precedent?
KAYYEM: Yes, it is unlikely to pass, just given the breakdown. But just to give the calendar here in the United States, the midterms have started.
And so when everything that Stephen is saying is right, that that Trump is going to calculate the pain of, you know, helping, you know, giving a
pardon to Maxwell or trying to maneuver around the British investigation against the unpopularity of his party, that is consistent with any new
legislation that comes up.
Because what is -- what they're trying to do, at least the Democrats and I should say some Republicans as well, is to just keep this on the front
burner.
Why would you be opposed to extending the statute of limitations?
These girls were violated when they were young, over 10 years ago, over five years ago. We should keep these investigations going. So while it may
not pass, putting it up for debate and potentially vote is going to make -- it's going to make Epstein on the ballot.
That's what 2026 is about right now for a White House that's seeing its polling plummet and a House that at some stage must calculate whether it's
worth going down this path with Trump.
As an American, I'm surprised they lasted this long. But one never knows. But the British. What the king is doing is, is, you know, as both of you
said, is just starting to get a lot of play here in the United States as the counter to the lack of accountability here. And that's a headline.
MACFARLANE: Yes.
Yes. Yes. Well, look, it's great to have your perspective from the U.S. as we, you know, experience things here in the U.K. And we'll look ahead and
wait for Chuck Schumer in the next half hour or so.
Thank you both so much for now.
And we will be back after this quick break and we'll bring you testimony on Capitol Hill of top U.S. Immigration and Border officials. That's also this
hour. Stay with us
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MACFARLANE: Top U.S. immigration and border officials are testifying before the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee. The ranking member,
Bennie Thompson, is speaking. Now let's take a listen.
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REP. BENNIE THOMPSON (D-MS), RANKING MEMBER, U.S. HOUSE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE: -- who styled himself in Nazi attire and takes joy in deploying
tear gas at Americans, continued to roam around Minneapolis with his masked gang, terrorizing people and violating their constitutional rights.
And tragically our worst fears were realized. Just days after the hearing Mr. Lyons refused to participate in, CBP personnel shot Alex Pretti and he
was face down on a Minneapolis sidewalk, killing him in broad daylight.
In the video of the incident, a DHS agent can be seen cheering Mr. Pretti's death. Americans watched the video in horror. Yet once again, secretary
Noem gaslit the public, made up a demonstrably false story about Mr. Pretti and blamed the victim for his own death.
Mr. Pretti was a law-abiding U.S. citizen and a VA nurse who dedicated his career to caring for our veterans.
Mr. Chairman, at our last month hearing, I asked for a moment of silence in the memory of Renee Good. Today the great sadness about another American
killed at the hands of DHS, I asked that the committee observe a moment of silence in honor of Alex Pretti.
Thank you.
The slaying of Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti by DHS are the most tragic examples of what is wrong with Trump's DHS. But far from the only ones. Last fall, a
Border Patrol agent shot Marimar Martinez, a U.S. citizen and preschool teacher from Chicago, five times.
The agent bragged and text messages about shooting her, saying, quote, "I fired five rounds and she had seven holes. Put that in your book, boys."
Again, the Trump administration tried to blame Ms. Martinez, the victim. But prosecutors dropped charges against her when it became apparent that
the evidence contradicted the Border Patrol's phony account.
Unlike Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti, we can no longer tell their stories. Ms. Martinez has shared her story about what Trump's DHS did to her. I want to
play a bit of the video here because people need to see what ICE and CBP are doing to Americans.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIMAR MARTINEZ, BORDER PATROL SHOOTING VICTIM: So this is the first one I realized I was like, oh it's just the pepper pellet. But no. And then I
got shot right here and then I have a wound on the side of my chest right here. And then. I got two holes in my thigh and then right here. Yes, over
here.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Wow. You're covered in wounds.
MARTINEZ: Wounds, yes.
And I want people to see, like what's going on. Like the type of stuff they're doing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
THOMPSON: What happened to Ms. Martinez, Ms. Good and Mr. Pretti is a scourge on this country and shameful chapter in our nation's history.
[10:25:00]
But tragically, there's more. DHS agents recently used a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy, Liam Ramos, as bait to lure his family members outside
their home to arrest them. The family has had entered the country legally as asylum seekers and were living in Minnesota while awaiting their
immigration proceedings.
DHS sent the little boy and his father to detention in Texas for over a week.
Thankfully, a judge ordered him released, slamming DHS for its, and I quote, "incompetently implemented deportation campaign."
"Incompetently implemented deportation campaign" is putting it nicely, especially as it relates to small children.
More apt in the Bible quote from John, 11th chapter, 35th, referenced at the end of the judge's opinion, "Jesus wept."
DHS personnel are now forcing their way into private homes without a judicial warrant in violation of the 4th Amendment. In one recent incident,
ICE dragged a U.S. citizen from his home at gunpoint in underwear before realizing they had picked up the wrong person. The person ICE was actually
looking for was sitting in jail in Minnesota.
The Minnesota Department of Corrections says that ICE had this information all along. Bystander videos from Minneapolis and cities around the country
show ICE and CBP personnel having behaving like unprofessional goons cursing at bystanders and mooning people from their hotel rooms.
News reports have a Border Patrol agent was found passed out, drunk and covered in vomit in a vehicle.
And ICE personnel apparently stole a child's phone and sold it for cash. It's an embarrassment. And DHS' so-called leadership should be ashamed. If
only they had any shame.
Secretary Noem's Department of Homeland Security has the blood of American citizens on its hands but she takes no responsibility for anything. To the
contrary, Secretary Noem was last seen in this committee room hiding behind her family in a desperate attempt to distract from her department's
failures and abuses.
Then she ran from our questions, leaving early under the guise of needing to attend a meeting that it turns out didn't even exist. Her inexcusable
behavior should come as no surprise. She all -- she's always been more concerned with photo ops and wardrobe changes than following the law and
fulfilling the mission of her department. Since being sworn in, Secretary Noem has enriched herself, abused the power of her office, obstructed
congressional oversight and violated her oath to the Constitution.
Donald Trump and Christy Noem are doing real damage to this country and to the department that was stood up 25 years ago in the wake of 9/11 to
protect American citizens from future attacks. Secretary Noem is a liar with no concern for the lives of Americans killed by the department she
runs. She must go.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
REP. ANDREW GARBARINO (R-NY), CHAIR, HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE: Gentleman yields back.
Other members of the committee are reminded that opening statements may be submitted for the record.
I would now like to formally introduce our witnesses. First is Mr. Rodney Scott. Mr. Scott is commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
After decades of service at CBP, including a stint as chief of Border Patrol, he served as a Senate confirmed commissioner since June of 2025.
Second is Mr. Joseph Edlow. Mr. Edlow is director of Citizenship and Immigration Services. Director Edlow has served in numerous legal roles
across executive branch and Congress, including chief counsel to USCIS.
Mr. Edlow has served as a Senate confirmation -- Senate confirmed director since July 2025.
Third is Mr. Todd Lyons. Mr. Lyons is the acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Acting director Lyons began his federal service in
the U.S. Air Force in 1993 and joined ICE as an agent in 2007. Mr. Lyons moved up the ranks and has served as acting director since March of 2025.
I thank all the witnesses for being here today. Pursuant to Committee rule 8 (c), I ask that the witnesses please rise and raise their right hand.
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Do you solemnly swear that the testimony you will give before the committee on Homeland Security of the United States House of Representatives will be
the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you God?
Let the record reflect that the witnesses have answered in the affirmative. Thank you. And please be seated.
I now recognize commissioner Scott for five minutes to summarize his opening statement
RODNEY SCOTT, COMMISSIONER, U.S. CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION: Chairman Garbarino, ranking member Thompson, members of the committee, thank you for
the opportunity to appear here before you today.
I'm honored to represent more than 67,000 dedicated men and women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, who are tirelessly protecting this great
nation every single day by simply trying to make sure we know who and what is entering our homeland.
Border security is national security. Law enforcement personnel that selflessly provide this service to America increasingly perform under
difficult conditions and intense public and political scrutiny.
But these brave men and women deserve our gratitude and thanks. It's my privilege to be here today, joining my colleagues from Immigration and
Customs Enforcement and Citizenship and Immigration Services.
Our agencies work in partnership to secure the homeland and uphold the integrity of our immigration system. CBP has spent the last year rebuilding
what was an intentionally broken border.
As I informed Congress in 2021 and again in 2023, the open border policies of the Biden administration all but eliminated any meaningful border --
along any meaningful border.
And it replaced it with a porous geographic line defined by record high encounters with illegal aliens, overwhelmed facilities and a workforce that
was stretched so far beyond their capabilities that hostile nations and the cartels exploited our border at will.
That all changed on January 20th, 2025, under the leadership of president Trump we have now implemented effective policies, established unified
priorities and objectives across all federal departments and empowered our workforce to do their jobs by simply enforcing the laws that already exist.
We have imposed consequences for those who break our laws, the laws that this body enacted. And today the United States, because of these efforts,
enjoys the most secure border in our nation's history.
But this progress did not happen by accident. It's a result of a comprehensive approach to border security. We ended catch and release. We
prioritized detention and removal authorities and we sent a clear message that illegal entry into the United States will not be tolerated.
And the numbers speak for themselves. We have achieved record low illegal crossings between ports of entry. Border Patrol apprehensions along the
southwest border totaled over 90,000 for the entire year. That's a number that used to represent a single month under the Biden administration.
Daily encounters have dropped by 95 percent, averaging about 250 per day, compared to 5,000 a day during the Biden administration. Our increased
enforcement also resulted in the seizure of over 617,000 pounds of illicit narcotics. That's nationwide an 8 percent increase over the prior year.
This included nearly 11,000 pounds of fentanyl and more than 186,000 pounds of methamphetamines. This is what having a secure border looks like. None
of this would have been possible, though, without the vision and leadership of president Trump and the historic investments made in border security.
The one big beautiful bill, a $65 billion investment, is enabling CBP to modernize border infrastructure, deploy additional advanced technology and
to grow our workforce. Since January 2025, CBP is building smart wall at record levels. We're installing high tech attributes where the Biden
administration had shut it off.
We're installing water barriers on the along the Rio Grande River, which denies criminals access to these routes but that is not all. We're
investing in technology at our ports of entry, non-intrusive inspection equipment, biometrics and advanced surveillance, to improve our ability to
know what's coming into this country.
The land, air and sea at and between the ports of entry, CBP's workforce is without a doubt the greatest asset that we have.
The one big beautiful bill is investing historic amounts of money in recruitment, hiring and retention and training to ensure that we have the
most highly qualified and capable law enforcement professionals securing our border.
Due to the collaboration across all federal departments, the resultant record low encounters, CBP has been able to surge resources to support ISIS
targeted enforcement operations across the nation.
CBP is integrated with ICE and other partners to identify and remove dangerous criminals and others who remain in the country illegally.
As recent events have demonstrated, though, our officers and agents are increasingly facing an unprecedented level of aggressive interference and
intimidation when executing the laws that you have asked them to enforce.
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These attacks on federal law enforcement personnel are coordinated and well funded. This is not peaceful protest. No law enforcement officer should be
put at personal risk simply for doing the job that we have asked them to do.
I thank you for your continued support of CBP's mission and I look forward to answering your questions today.
GARBARINO: Thank you, commissioner.
I now recognize director Edlow for five minutes to summarize his opening statement.
JOSEPH EDLOW, DIRECTOR, U.S. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES: Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Chairman Garbarino, ranking member Thompson and members of the committee, it is an honor to speak to you about the priorities and progress of U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services.
I'm grateful for your partnership as we work together to uphold the rule of law, protect our citizens and safeguard our homeland.
Let me begin by expressing my appreciation to president Trump for his trust in me and to secretary Noem for her leadership at the Department of
Homeland Security.
I'm proud to serve alongside a workforce that's deeply committed to advancing the president's agenda, protecting our communities and restoring
integrity to America's legal immigration system.
As director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, my vision has been straightforward and clear: restore accountability to our immigration
system and ensure that it serves the interests of the American people first and foremost.
Today I want to highlight some of our most significant accomplishments ending the exploitation of immigration programs, putting American workers
first, protecting our communities from public safety threats, protecting national security and combating immigration fraud.
Fraud isn't just a paperwork issue; it's a national security and public safety concern. Often, those who wish to do us harm exploit weaknesses in
our system. Over the past year, USCIS has made nearly 33,000 fraud referrals to law enforcement, a 138 percent increase over previous years.
We conducted thousands of site visits to homes and workplaces and thousands of social media checks to ensure aliens aren't espousing anti-American
sentiment.
Moreover, our fraud detection and national security team completed over 21,000 investigations identifying fraud in approximately 65 percent of
those cases.
In Operation Twin Shield in Minneapolis-St. Paul, back in the fall, we uncovered marriage fraud, visa misuse and student visa abuses, leading to
denials of immigration benefits, arrests and removal proceedings.
This work led to Operation Paris, where we continue reexamining thousands of refugee cases in Minnesota, conducting thorough background checks and
in-person reviews.
We've also strengthened our vetting policies. If someone falsely claims U.S. citizenship to get a public benefit or try to vote, we hold them
accountable through denial of citizenship or loss of immigration status.
We've tightened screening to determine whether claimed marriages and family relationships are legitimate. And we've changed regulations to employ
authorization to -- excuse me -- to employment authorization is no longer automatically extended.
Now we require more frequent renewals so that we can vet aliens more frequently and ensure that they deserve to remain in the country.
Additionally, we've taken action to end the exploitation of immigration programs. Mass humanitarian parole programs were being abused by the prior
administration, so we've restored them to Congress' original intent, allowing those benefits on a case-by-case basis.
Secretary Noem also ended decades of temporary protected status for several countries, returning the program to what Congress intended, temporary
protection not permanent status in the United States.
Moreover, this administration is doing more to ensure the integrity of our elections. We enhanced the SAFE program so states can verify citizenship of
those on their voter rolls more effectively.
Since January 2025, we've processed over 58 million queries and 27 states are participating. Additionally, federal agencies ran nearly 206 million
SAFE queries last year to identify fraud and preserve public assistance benefits for lawful U.S. residents and citizens.
We've also we're also putting American taxpayers and communities and workers first. We affirmed that aliens should be self-reliant, not
dependent on public assistance and that their sponsors are liable for the cost of public benefits that they access.
The Department of Homeland Security is also working to rescind the 2022 public charge rule, restoring our discretion to determine if an alien will
rely on government assistance.
We've proposed protecting American jobs by prioritizing H-1B visas for higher skilled, higher paid workers so that companies can't use those visas
merely as a way to get cheaper, non-citizen labor.
We've also streamlined agricultural visa processing to better support American farmers. A major milestone was implementing the one big beautiful
bill, which added new fees for certain immigration processes. USCIS collects those fees but only retains a small amount of the money, while the
rest goes to other agencies and deficit reduction.
[10:40:05]
Finally, protecting the American people is at the heart of everything we do. After the attack on two brave service members of the National Guard
last November, secretary Noem directed us to review immigration benefits for aliens from high risk countries.
In closing, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is restoring integrity, accountability and security to America's legal immigration
system.
These accomplishments reflect the dedication of our workforce and the transformative leadership of president Trump and secretary Noem, both of
whom have allowed USCIS to do the job it was created by Congress to do.
We stand ready to continue working with Congress to protect the homeland and uphold the rule of law. Thank you and I look forward to your questions.
GARBARINO: Thank you, director Edlow.
I now recognize acting director Lyons for five minutes to summarize his opening statement.
TODD LYONS, ACTING DIRECTOR, IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT: Good morning.
Chairman Garbarino, ranking member Thompson, distinguished members of the committee, thank you for the invitation to discuss the critical work U.S.
Immigration and Customs is doing every day to carry out president Trump's agenda to keep America safe, restore order to our communities and return
law return the rule of law to this country.
Under the leadership of president Trump and DHS secretary Kristi Noem, the men and women of ICE have been empowered to do exactly what they're trained
to do: arrest and remove illegal aliens and criminals from our communities. We are enhancing public safety, securing our national security
and restoring integrity to the immigration system.
MACFARLANE (voice-over): We are going to continue to monitor this happening on Capitol Hill right now.
But for a moment, we're going to step away because survivors of Jeffrey Epstein's abuse are appearing with U.S. Senate Democratic leader Chuck
Schumer here, pushing for legislation to end the statute of limitations on prosecuting sex offenses.
Let's just have a listen.
(JOINED IN PROGRESS)
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER (D-NY), MAJORITY LEADER: -- that have kept survivors of sexual violence from justice for far too long, and to create new legal
avenues to pursue justice, because justice should not expire. Justice should not expire.
And because for survivors, healing does not run on a government clock, does it?
I'm also so proud to be joined by congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez, not just chairwoman of the Democratic Women's Caucus but she's always been a
fierce advocate for survivors and a partner in this fight.
Where are you?
She's a champion and a fighter. And that's what a bill like this requires, a fighter who will relentlessly push for the cause of justice.
Justice, that's what we demand, justice. And here is World without Exploitation And Sigrid McCawley, whose work, along with the survivors,
helped shape this legislation. We thank her.
The bill exists.
Why?
Why does the bill exist?
Because people refuse to accept silence as the end of the story. It's that simple. It cannot be when something this dastardly and this terrible and
this heart-wrenching happens.
For years, survivors of Epstein's abuse were ignored. They were doubted. They were silenced. They were dismissed. And even when the truth finally
came out, even when the world finally listened, too many survivors were still told by the law, it's too late. Your justice has expired.
Not because the harm wasn't real, not because the abuse didn't happen but because the system ran out the clock. When they were told it's too late,
your justice has expired, we aimed to change that. And that's what we're trying to do today.
When the -- when you say the system ran out the clock, tough rocks, too bad, too late, that's not justice. That's a system that protects abusers by
waiting survivors out.
Our law, Virginia's Law, changes that. It allows survivors to seek accountability when they're ready, when they're strong enough, supported
enough, able to face the weight of civilization -- of civil litigation.
Sometimes it takes years to recuperate from the horror that occurred.
Why should the government say well, we're setting an arbitrary time when you are able to pursue your case?
[10:45:05]
It makes our law makes clear that abusers and those that enable them cannot escape responsibility by running out the clock. It makes clear that the law
will empower survivors to pursue justice.
And it recognizes something survivors have always known: time does not erase harm. Time does not erase harm.
Jeffrey Epstein depended on silence and fear, on a system that protected power instead of protecting people. Today we are saying, no more. This bill
carries Virginia Giuffre's name because she spoke when so many were told not to and because of her story and the story of the survivors standing
here today.
And we salute you again, all of you, for your courage, these nice faces. And it shouldn't have happened to you. It shouldn't have happened to you.
So no survivor should ever be told again that the law failed them and that time mattered more than truth. The survivors of Jeffrey Epstein have waited
long enough. Virginia waited long enough. The time for justice is now and Congress must act.
So now let me call on our great leader in the House, Representative Teresa Leger Fernandez.
Where'd you go?
(APPLAUSE)
REP. TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ (D-NM): Thank you. Thank you so much, Leader Schumer, for your amazing work on this issue, which is not new. You have
championed these issues for many, many, many years in the House and in the Senate.
But I want to also acknowledge the survivors. We have -- we have shed tears together because what happened was horrible. The coverup and the abuse that
continued by refusing to acknowledge the pain and the crimes and everything that happened was also an injustice.
And that's what we are here to do today, to say that justice delayed is justice denied. And one of the lines that a survivor shared with me early
in the many meetings we've had -- and it's chilling. It's a chilling warning that Jeffrey told them, he gave them this warning.
He told the women and young girls, I have the government. I have the banks. In other words, you are powerless. Imagine hearing that from the man who
abused you. Imagine being a young girl, a young woman, already traumatized and being told that the system, the government, the institutions, the
courts, the powerful are on his side.
That he and those to whom you are trafficked are untouchable, that the world is made up of the powerful who are above the law, above reproach. And
you, you are disposable as a mere object of sexual use and abuse.
And for too long those sexual predators have been protected by their wealth and power. And now, with the help of Donald Trump and Pam Bondi, the
pedophiles and sexual predators are being protected by our government.
But today, we're one step closer to proving Epstein wrong. But this bill is bigger than Epstein. It's bigger than the abuse that the victims endured.
It takes years for victims of abuse to feel safe enough to come forward and. Time should never be a weapon in the abuser's arsenal.
Virginia's Law eliminates the statute of limitations for key federal civil claims brought by survivors of trafficking and sexual exploitation. It
includes a look-back window, so survivors who were previously barred, who were told no, you do not have access to the courtroom, so they have time to
now go back and seek justice.
And it clarifies that traffickers cannot escape accountability by committing abuses in another jurisdiction. You don't get to escape
prosecution by simply putting predators and victims on a plane to a private island or a mansion in Florida or a ranch in New Mexico.
[10:50:05]
Because justice should not depend on a calendar. Justice should not depend on geography. And it should never depend on how powerful your abuser is. To
Virginia Giuffre's family, thank you. Thank you, thank you for letting us use her name in this law.
It's her courage that we are honoring today with Virginia's Law. Her courage unlocked the first set of gates that were protecting the rich and
powerful. This bill will unlock the doors to the courthouse for the survivors.
And to every Epstein coconspirator and sexual predator, we're coming for you.
And to Donald Trump and Pam Bondi, how dare you?
How dare you use the Department of Justice, a government agency which, by its name, is intended to bring justice, to use it to prevent justice, to
protect yourself and that predatory circle of abusers?
And so I join with the senator and with the leader. Yes, let's pass this bill. Let's prove Epstein wrong.
And now I want to recognize -- as I was talking to Sky and Amanda Roberts, we talked about how they couldn't have imagined that this day would come.
And we talked about how, yes, it's been a long journey.
But before Virginia, there was one of those big arroyos or chasms that you see in New Mexico. There was no way to cross it. But what Virginia did was
build the bridge. And now we are crossing that bridge because of the bravery and the words and the wisdom.
And I'm sorry for the loss of Virginia but she has left something so powerful for all victims. And so I now like to recognize Sky and Amanda
Roberts.
(APPLAUSE)
SKY ROBERTS, VIRGINIA GIUFFRE'S BROTHER: That was a tear jerker.
(LAUGHTER)
S. ROBERTS: I am the crier in my family. I'm just going to throw that out there. So all right. Hello, everyone. My name is Sky Roberts and I am the
brother of Virginia Roberts Giuffre.
I am deeply honored to stand here today alongside some of the most extraordinary people you will ever meet, including World without
Exploitation, Congressman Chuck Schumer, Congresswoman Teresa Leger Fernandez, survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and the legendary Sigrid McCawley
...
Whew -- known to many of us as he ...
I want to begin with a single word, a word that meant everything to my sister, a word we will not stop fighting for until real justice is served
and that word is change.
Virginia's dream was to inspire and empower survivors to come forward in a world that too often turns away from abuse and pushes and pushes it into
the shadows. She wanted to bring light. That light is change. Virginia's dream was to inspire and empower survivors to come forward.
One of the main missions of her nonprofit, SOAR, was to eliminate the statute of limitations on adult sex trafficking. She talked about it all
the time while elevating the voices of survivors alongside her publicist and dear friend, Deanie Von Muffling (ph).
Today we give her -- we give Virginia her voice back. We amplify the voices of survivors around the world. Today, we send a clear message to
perpetrators everywhere by introducing Virginia's Law.
We are introducing Virginia's Law because survivors deserve justice, not expiration dates. Change must mean justice; not someday; not in speeches,
not in private settlements, justice in law, justice in court and justice in the form of consequence. Virginia's Law is more than legislation.
[10:55:00]
It is a change in the truest form. It challenges how we see, how we confront and how we respond to sexual abuse and sex trafficking, not just
in theory but in reality.
We do not take this moment lightly. We are holding an overwhelming mix of grief, loss and pride. And if our voices shake and our tears fall, it is
only because of the depth of our love for our sister.
Grief without action is another kind of silence. And Virginia did not survive what she survived just to be silenced again.
And with that I'd like to turn that over to my wife, Amanda.
(APPLAUSE)
AMANDA ROBERTS, VIRGINIA GIUFFRE'S SISTER-IN-LAW: Virginia was a passionate voice a fierce warrior and an unwavering advocate for survivors
everywhere. She named what others were afraid to name. She stood up to wealth, status and power and she proved that having money does not
guarantee exoneration in the eyes of the court.
Virginia's purpose was always to create lasting change. Her truth and resilience helped spark a monumental shift in how survivors are seen and
heard. But she also knew cultural change is not enough.
She saw the legal gaps survivors fall through and she was determined to close them at the legislative level. Her wish was clear to reform the
statute of limitations.
When a child, teenager or adult experiences sexual abuse, it is a profound violation of both the body, mind and spirit. The mind often protects itself
in the only ways it can, through denial, disassociation and silence. It can take years, even decades before the walls of trauma begin to crack and a
victim can truly understand what happened.
It takes time to unlearn grooming. It takes time to release the shame that never belonged to them in the first place. Statistically, many survivors do
not disclose until around the age of 40.
Virginia understood this not as a theory but as a lived experience. Virginia's Law does more than honor her legacy. It protects the future of
every survivor. It says, legislatively and legally, we see you. We believe you. And what happened to you matters.
It says you deserve the right to seek justice, no matter the status, wealth or power of the person who harmed you and no matter when the abuse
occurred.
To every member of Congress, mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers, we ask you to stand with us. Stand with survivors and say, no more, no more
silence, no more systems that protect the powerful and deny justice to everyone else. No more laws that treat survivors as though time can erase
harm.
Pass Virginia's Law. Let this be the moment this country chooses accountability over denial, courage over comfort and justice over
obstacles.
Page 361, "Nobody's Girl," "We need to make it easier to punish those who victimize others. Siggy and I want to eliminate laws that limit the period
in which survivors can seek justice for their abusers."
Virginia put that into writing and we're here to put that into law.
(APPLAUSE)
S. ROBERTS: And with that, Siggy, that's what we're here to do today.
(OFF MIKE COMMENTS)
SCHUMER: And such courage.
SIGRID MCCAWLEY, ATTORNEY, BOIES SCHILLER FLEXNER: Now everybody knows my nickname.
(LAUGHTER)
(OFF MIKE COMMENTS)
MCCAWLEY: This is really a watershed moment for survivor rights, the announcement of Virginia's Law.
And as you heard today, the genesis of that law is to get rid of the statute of limitations so that survivors can work on their own timeline.
With the passage of this law, no longer can abusers weaponize the clock. Survivors --
END
