Investing.com - Secretary of Homeland Security nominee Gen. John Kelly said during confirmation hearings today that economic opportunity in the U.S. and violence in Latin America are still the primary motivating factors that drive most illegal immigration to the U.S.
A former military commander who headed American operations responsible for Latin America, Gen. Kelly told Senators he had worked with the presidents of Latin American countries and South American countries, and noted that Honduras had made exceptional progress of late in reducing drug violence there.
To contain illegal immigration, Gen. Kelly said that the Trump administration would rely heavily on advanced information technology. The administration wants to build a way to halt illegal aliens from crossing the border, without permission from U.S. authorities. But Kelly said that drones, aircraft and other data and imaging technologies would be essential to accomplishing the goal.
Thus far, in the hearing, the only controversy came from rabble-rousing Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) raised issue of cybersecurity, and read from last week's declassified report on the alleged hacking of the Democratic National Committee's computers and the unsecured G-mail account of Hillary Clinton aide John Podesta. Otherwise, questioning was cordial, and non-controversial, and gentlemanly in the old-fashioned sense of that word, and one senator even reminisced with the nominee about their recent sit-down visit in his Senate office.
The hearing for Attorney General nominee, Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), also was proceeding without major controversy today, with no indications of an adverse, or "no" vote, on the committee handling his nomination, contrary to promises of progressive activists. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.), a former late-night TV comedian, offered the most difficult questioning during today's meeting.
ExxonMobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM) CEO Rex Tillerson sits for his confirmation hearing on Wednesday for Secretary of State. Five other hearings for nominees are planned this week.
President Obama is giving his "farewell speech" this evening in Chicago, as his administration winds down operations after two troubled terms.
"I don't think he was a good president," said Gov. Matt Bevin (R-Ky.), in a TV interview today. "For all the hype and all the fluff, it has not been a good eight years in America. Now there's a chance to chart a new course."