Correspondence
Rep. Max Rose Calls for Counterterrorism Budgets from Social Media Companies
(WASHINGTON) Congressman Max Rose and fellow Democrats on the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism, which he chairs, are requesting details on the investments that members of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism are making to prevent the exploitation of their platforms by terrorists and extremists. The request follows a March 27th briefing in which Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Microsoft were unable to answer questions about resource allocation … Continue Reading
April 10, 2019
Chairman Thompson Writes New Acting Homeland Security Secretary on Outstanding Document Request and Upcoming Hearing
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan reminding him of Secretary Nielsen's commitment to come before the Committee on May 1. In the letter, Chairman Thompson also asked Acting Secretary McAleenan to produce documents still outstanding from a January 4, 2019 request related to the Department's border activities, including its separation of families and … Continue Reading
April 08, 2019
Chairman Thompson to Trump: Law Is Clear on DHS Order of Succession
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to President Trump informing him that the law is clear on the Department of Homeland Security's order of succession following the resignation of Kirstjen Nielsen. The Under Secretary for Management shall be the Acting Homeland Security Secretary. Dear President Trump: Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen's short-lived tenure at the Department of Homeland Security was a disaster from the … Continue Reading
April 03, 2019
Democrats Write Secretary Nielsen: You Must Engage with Congress on Thoughtful, Specific Border Security Solutions
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, and Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Chairwoman of the Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security, led a letter from leading border security and immigration House Democrats to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen after she wrote Congress on the current situation on the border last week. Letter … Continue Reading
March 19, 2019
Chairman Thompson: Tech Companies Must Work to Stop Spread of Terrorist Content
(WASHINGTON) - After last week's deadly white-nationalist domestic terror attack on two New Zealand mosques, and the shooter's concurrent live-stream of the attack, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, has written a letter to the CEOs of four major technology companies (Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Microsoft) urging them to prioritize the immediate removal of violent terrorist content, including that of far-right, domestic terrorists. In the … Continue Reading
March 14, 2019
Chairman Thompson: Administration Stonewalling Domestic Terrorism Oversight
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to the Attorney General and the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to demand the Department of Justice (DOJ) and FBI brief the Committee on Homeland Security on the evolving threat of domestic terrorism. After Congress has ignored the issue of domestic terrorism for years, the Committee plans to hold hearings on this issue in the coming months. This request comes … Continue Reading
March 14, 2019
Reps. Thompson, Rice, Espaillat, & Clarke Demand Answers on Reports ICE is Tracking Trump Protesters
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Border Security, Facilitation, & Operations Subcommittee, Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), and Rep. Yvette D. Clarke (D-NY), sent a letter to the Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding news reports that ICE is tracking Trump Administration protesters. The letter demands the tracking document and an … Continue Reading
March 07, 2019
Chairman Thompson & Chairwoman Rice Demand Answers on Secret CBP List to Target Reporters & Lawyers at the Border
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, & Operations, sent a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Kevin McAleenan to demand answers about new reports of a list CBP is using to stop, detain, question, and search reporters, attorneys, and advocates at the southern border. In the letter, Chairs Thompson and Rice … Continue Reading
January 29, 2019
Chairman Thompson to Secretary Nielsen: Your Refusal to Testify on Border Security Is Unacceptable
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent the below letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, calling on her to reconsider her refusal to testify before the Committee next week: Dear Secretary Nielsen: Your decision to refuse my invitation to testify before the Committee on Homeland Security regarding our Nation’s border security on February 6, 2019, is unreasonable and unacceptable. I strongly urge you to … Continue Reading
January 11, 2019
DeFazio, Thompson Urge TSA Administrator to Provide Financial Relief for Transportation Security Officers
(WASHINGTON)—Today, Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Chairman of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, requested a meeting with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator David Pekoske to discuss ways to provide financial relief to Transportation Security Officers (TSO) during the government shutdown. In particular, the lawmakers urged Administrator Pekoske to brief them on ways TSA … Continue Reading
January 08, 2019
HOUSE CHAIRS DEMAND ANSWERS ON SANCTIONS RELIEF FOR RUSSIAN OLIGARCH
(WASHINGTON) - The chairs of seven committees in the House of Representatives today are calling on the Trump Administration to explain the easing of sanctions on businesses tied to Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. In response to a December 19, 2018 notification that the Treasury Department intends to terminate sanctions against three companies tied to Deripaska, the lawmakers wrote Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin requesting a briefing for Members of Congress and a postponement of the … Continue Reading
January 07, 2019
Chairman Thompson Inquires on Shutdown Effects on TSA
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to request more information on the security and workforce effects the government shutdown is having on the agency: Letter excerpt: On Friday, CNN reported that hundreds of TSA officers from at least four major airports called out from work last week. As you are aware, TSA officers are required to work … Continue Reading
January 04, 2019
Chairman Thompson Calls on Secretary Nielsen to Come Before the Homeland Security Committee to Answer for the Administration’s Border Security Policies
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen requesting her to testify before the Committee for its first hearing of the new Congress on the Administration’s failed border security agenda. Secretary Nielsen has only appeared before the Committee once. In the letter, Chairman Thompson wrote: Your border security presentation submitted to Congress today is yet … Continue Reading
December 07, 2018
Thompson Inquires on Death of Roxsana Hernandez Rodriguez
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to the Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) regarding the disturbing and tragic circumstances surrounding the death of Roxsana Hernandez Rodriguez, who was detained at a privately contracted ICE facility earlier this year. In the letter, Ranking Member Thompson writes: The seemingly preventable death of Ms. Hernandez Rodriguez is just one … Continue Reading
December 07, 2018
Castro, Cummings, Thompson, Nadler Ask DHS OIG to Investigate Toddler Death Shortly After Release From a Texas Detention Center
(WASHINGTON) - Congressman Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Chairman Elect of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus; Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (MD-07), Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee; Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee; and Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-10), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, today called on the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector … Continue Reading
December 03, 2018
Thompson Inquires on Massive Marriott Data Breach
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to the President and Chief Executive Officer of Marriott International after it was revealed last week that the corporation suffered a massive data breach. In the letter, Congressman Thompson has requested to meet the CEO to discuss cybersecurity. In the letter, Ranking Member Thompson writes: As incoming Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security in the U.S. … Continue Reading
November 19, 2018
Thompson and McCaul Lead Bipartisan Letter to Support Grant Funding to Protect Religious Institutions After Tree of Life Attack
(WASHINGTON) - Reps. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), Ranking Member and Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, led a bipartisan group of 139 Members in a letter to House and Senate Appropriators to urge them to support funding the Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) at $60 million for Fiscal Year 2019. The domestic terrorist attack on the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh last month underscores that places of worship - nonprofit institutions - are … Continue Reading
November 05, 2018
Top Dems Renew Request for Docs on Harassment and Bullying Allegations at Coast Guard Academy
(WASHINGTON) - Reps. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Bennie G. Thompson, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, and Joe Courtney sent a letter on Friday to the U.S. Coast Guard Commandant, Admiral Karl L. Schultz, renewing their request from earlier this year for “all documents” pertaining to “allegations of harassment or bullying made by any student or faculty member at the Academy during the past three years, … Continue Reading
November 02, 2018
House Democrats Demand Answers on Trump Border Deployment
(WASHINGTON) - Today, House Armed Services Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA), House Homeland Security Committee Ranking Member Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), House Oversight & Government Reform Committee Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), and 104 other House Democrats sent a letter calling on Secretary Mattis to provide answers about his deployment of 5,200 additional U.S. troops to the border, including how much the … Continue Reading
October 12, 2018
Harris, Thompson, Nadler, Lofgren, Beatty Lead Lawmakers in Letter to Urge Administration to Halt Deportation of Black Mauritanians
(WASHINGTON) - Today, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris (D-CA) and Representatives Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), and Joyce Beatty (D-OH) led a group of lawmakers in a bicameral letter calling on Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to cease the deportation of Black Mauritanian nationals, who face the threat of race-based discrimination, violence, or slavery if forced to return to Mauritania. “Most … Continue Reading