Homeland Democrats Demand Answers from Kristi Noem on Widespread DHS Surveillance of Americans
“Your actions are abhorrent, blatantly unconstitutional, and corrosive to the functioning of a peaceful society.”
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, led Committee Democrats in sending a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding answers related to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) expansive use of dragnet surveillance tools to spy on and target the American populace in furtherance of its mass deportation agenda – raising grave Constitutional, civil liberties, and oversight concerns.
“At your direction, DHS has established new programs and watchlists to collect, store, share, and utilize data on U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike, without notice to Congress or the public. We are deeply concerned DHS is using these surveillance programs to monitor and investigate Americans and stifle dissent among those who oppose the Trump administration’s agenda,” the Members wrote. “You and your underlings appear to be labeling untold numbers of people as ‘domestic terrorists’ or individuals of concern at will without evidence, operating wildly invasive spy tools to identify targets—and then using such labels as an excuse for yet more surveillance. This self-reinforcing spiral of civil liberties violations ratchets in only one direction: toward an authoritarian surveillance state that punishes dissent and inflicts state violence.”
In the letter, Committee Democrats cited a slew of reports revealed in the past year indicating DHS and its component agencies have expanded the use of watchlists, biometric tools, data collection, social media monitoring, and other intelligence capabilities without transparency.
“The Department’s opaque, mass expansion of spy tools and framing of protesters, photographers, political opponents, and passersby as enemies of the state leans into people’s worst fears of a surveillance state,” the Members added. “Your weaponization of DHS undercuts decades of effort to develop a Department that responsibly balances security with privacy and civil liberties protections and transparency.”
In the letter, the Members requested comprehensive documentation on DHS surveillance authorities, data collection and retention policies, watchlists and databases, definitions and designation procedures for “domestic terrorists” and “Antifa,” TSA passenger data sharing activities, data-sharing arrangements across DHS and with outside entities, and the scope of DOGE personnel access to sensitive DHS systems and information.
Earlier this week, the Committee also sent letters to ten major social media companies launching an investigation into on how they are handling subpoenas and summonses for user info they received from DHS.
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(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, led Committee Democrats in sending a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanding answers related to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) expansive use of dragnet surveillance tools to spy on and target the American populace in furtherance of its mass deportation agenda – raising grave Constitutional, civil liberties, and oversight concerns. “At your direction, DHS has established new programs and watchlists to collect, store, share, and utilize data on U.S. citizens and non-citizens alike, without notice to Congress or the public. We are deeply concerned DHS is using these surveillance programs to monitor and investigate Americans and stifle dissent among those who oppose the Trump administration’s agenda,” the Members wrote. “You and your underlings appear to be labeling untold numbers of people as ‘domestic terrorists’ or individuals of concern at will without evidence, operating wildly invasive spy tools to identify targets—and then using such labels as an excuse for yet more surveillance. This self-reinforcing spiral of civil liberties violations ratchets in only one direction: toward an authoritarian surveillance state that punishes dissent and inflicts state violence.” In the letter, Committee Democrats cited a slew of reports revealed in the past year indicating DHS and its component agencies have expanded the use of watchlists, biometric tools, data collection, social media monitoring, and other intelligence capabilities without transparency. “The Department’s opaque, mass expansion of spy tools and framing of protesters, photographers, political opponents, and passersby as enemies of the state leans into people’s worst fears of a surveillance state,” the Members added. “Your weaponization of DHS undercuts decades of effort to develop a Department that responsibly balances security with privacy and civil liberties protections and transparency.” In the letter, the Members requested comprehensive documentation on DHS surveillance authorities, data collection and retention policies, watchlists and databases, definitions and designation procedures for “domestic terrorists” and “Antifa,” TSA passenger data sharing activities, data-sharing arrangements across DHS and with outside entities, and the scope of DOGE personnel access to sensitive DHS systems and information. Earlier this week, the Committee also sent letters to ten major social media companies launching an investigation into on how they are handling subpoenas and summonses for user info they received from DHS. # # # |
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