Correspondence
Thompson Responds to DHS Acting Secretary McAleenan’s Refusal to Comply with Proper Subpoena
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan after he wrote that he will refuse to comply with the Committee's lawful October 24th subpoena for a hearing on terrorist threats facing the country. Letter text: I was disappointed, but unfortunately not surprised, to receive your letter yesterday. I write to set the record straight and to urge you to comply with the … Continue Reading
October 23, 2019
Thompson Writes House Sergeant at Arms on SCIF Security Breach
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to the House Sergeant at Arms regarding the security breach at a House SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility) today. Letter excerpt: Today, a group of Minority Members of the House of Representatives, including Minority Members of the Committee of Homeland Security, intentionally brought their electronic devices into a SCIF (Sensitive Compartmented Information … Continue Reading
October 18, 2019
Thompson & Rogers Request Intelligence Assessment on Homeland Threat from Escaped ISIS Fighters in Syria
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Committee, sent a letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan and DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis Under Secretary David Glawe to request an intelligence assessment on the threat to the homeland posed by Islamic State (ISIS) foreign fighters released or escaped in the aftermath of the withdrawal of U.S. troops and … Continue Reading
October 18, 2019
Committee Chairs, Congressional Hispanic Caucus Demand Investigation into Tent Immigration Courts at the Border
(WASHINGTON) - Congressional leaders from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and House Committees of jurisdiction called on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari and Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz to launch an investigation into the use of tent courts at the border. These tent facilities are being used to hold immigration hearings via video teleconference (VTC) for asylum seekers subject to President Trump's "Remain in … Continue Reading
October 08, 2019
Chairman Thompson Writes Acting NCTC Director After Pulling Out of Counterterrorism Hearing
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to the Acting Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC) after he pulled out of testifying on a mutually agreed upon date for a public hearing on threats facing the country. The NCTC, which is part of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), has consistently testified at previous, yearly hearings on this topic. Letter text: I was dismayed to … Continue Reading
September 16, 2019
Chairman Thompson, Members Urge DHS to Help Hurricane Dorian Refugees from the Bahamas
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, led a group of 36 members of Congress in sending a letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan urging him to use his department's discretion and available resources to help the people of the Bahamas after the country was devastated by Hurricane Dorian. Letter excerpts: "Since the storm devastated the Bahamas and displaced people began to flee, there have been numerous … Continue Reading
August 30, 2019
Bipartisan, Bicameral Homeland Security Committee Leaders Press DHS on Reported Changes to Weapons of Mass Destruction Counterterrorism Programs
(WASHINGTON) - The bipartisan leaders of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee and the House Homeland Security Committee are pressing the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for answers following recent reports that the Administration has scaled back programs focused on preventing terrorist attacks involving weapons of mass destruction. U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Ron Johnson (R-WI), Ranking Member and Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security and … Continue Reading
August 19, 2019
Cummings and Thompson Request Interviews in Investigation of Coast Guard Academy’s Handling of Harassment Allegations
Washington, D.C. (Aug. 19, 2019)-Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Coast Guard Admiral Karl L. Schultz requesting transcribed interviews with Dr. Kurt Colella, Dean of Academics at the Coast Guard Academy, and Rear Admiral Anthony J. Vogt, Commander of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District, regarding the handling of complaints of harassment and … Continue Reading
August 09, 2019
Chairmen Cummings, Thompson, and Raskin Request Information on Immigration Enforcement Actions in Mississippi
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, the Chairman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Chairman of the Oversight Committee's Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, sent a letter to the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security requesting documents and a briefing to investigate the recent coordinated immigration enforcement actions, resulting in the arrest of 680 … Continue Reading
August 09, 2019
Chairman Thompson Inquiries on ICE Raids in Mississippi
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to the Acting Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to express his outrage on the ICE raids in Mississippi this week which left children without their parents - a form of child separation. Even though these raids were purportedly planned for over a year, ICE seems to have ignored its own guidelines to minimize the impact on children and the broader … Continue Reading
August 08, 2019
Thompson, Rogers Question Acting Secretary McAleenan on What DHS Is Doing to Address Domestic Terrorism Threat
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Committee, sent a letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan asking him what the Department of Homeland Security is doing to address the domestic terrorism threat after several recent acts of mass violence. The letter also asks him to testify on the matter next month. Letter excerpts: These acts of mass violence remind us … Continue Reading
August 06, 2019
Thompson, Rogers Demand 8chan Owner Appear and Answer Questions on Site’s Extremist Content
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), Ranking Member of the Committee, sent a letter to Jim Watkins, the owner of the website 8chan, to request that he appear before the Committee to answer questions on what is being done to address the proliferation of extremist content on his platform. According to media reports, the killer who carried out the August 3rd domestic terrorist attack in El Paso, Texas, … Continue Reading
July 25, 2019
Wasserman Schultz, Thompson Write Trump on Lack of Election Security Leadership in Run-up to 2020 Election
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to President Trump on the White House's lack of election security leadership. Letter excerpts: "To the best of our knowledge, you have not designated any individual at the White House to coordinate interagency efforts to defend our elections against foreign interference, nor have you requested or received a recent joint briefing from the officials leading … Continue Reading
July 18, 2019
Thompson Writes Capitol Police on Increasing Threats Against Members of Congress
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to the Capitol Police Board following up on his letter earlier this week on member security and threats against members of Congress. In the letter, Chairman Thompson requests the police board hold an emergency meeting and act swiftly to address this heightened threat environment. Letter text: I am following up on my July 15th letter given President Trump's continued attacks on … Continue Reading
July 05, 2019
Chairman Thompson Requests DHS Inspector General Investigation of CBP Leadership After Racist Facebook Group Revelations
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to the Acting Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requesting the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) commence an investigation into current and former U.S. Customs and Border Protection leadership after it was discovered employees allegedly posted violent, racist, misogynistic comments and pictures on private Facebook groups. Specifically, Chairman … Continue Reading
July 03, 2019
House Chairs Urge Trump Administration to Rescind Child Migrant Information-Sharing Memo
(WASHINGTON) - Today, several House committee and subcommittee chairpersons sent a letter to the Trump Administration urging it to rescind a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) requiring information about sponsors for migrant children be shared by HHS with DHS, where the information is then used to deport a child's family and loved ones. The MOA has negatively impacted the ORR shelter system and possibly contributed to the current prolonged detention of child migrants in overcrowded, squalid … Continue Reading
June 27, 2019
Chairmen Thompson, Engel, and Nadler Call on Trump to End Unlawful Safe Third Country Negotiations
(WASHINGTON) Representatives Bennie Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary, and today expressed their strong opposition to the negotiation of safe third country agreements with Guatemala and Mexico and explained that these accords would be contrary to U.S. law since the countries do not have adequate asylum and … Continue Reading
June 18, 2019
Nadler, Cummings, Thompson Question Legal Basis for Appointment of Ken Cuccinelli as Acting Director of USCIS
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Oversight and Reform Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) sent a letter to Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan demanding a full explanation regarding the appointment of Ken Cuccinelli to serve as Acting Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Full text of the letter is available here and below: Dear Acting Secretary McAleenan: We … Continue Reading
June 04, 2019
Chairman Thompson Demands Answers After Reports of Child Migrants Being Left in Vans Overnight
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to the John Kelly, Acting Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security, and Joanne Chiedi, Acting Inspector General of the Department of Health and Human Services, demanding they investigate reports of child migrants being left in vans overnight while awaiting reunification with their families. Letter text: Dear Acting Inspectors General Kelly and Chiedi: Late … Continue Reading
May 03, 2019
Homeland Security Democrats Urge TSA to Continue to Allow Collective Bargaining for its Frontline Workforce
(WASHINGTON) - All 18 Democrats on the House Committee on Homeland Security, led by Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) and Transportation and Maritime Security Subcommittee Chairman Lou Correa (D-CA), sent a letter to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator David Pekoske urging him to continue to allow collective bargaining for TSA employees. At the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security's budget hearing on April 9th, Administrator Pekoske refused to commit to … Continue Reading