Press Releases
Court Rules Trump-Vance Administration Cannot Block Members of Congress From Conducting Oversight at Federal Immigration Detention Facilities
Washington, D.C. — Just now, a federal court temporarily stopped the Trump-Vance administration’s policy blocking Members of Congress from unannounced oversight visits to federal immigration detention facilities today. The decision restores Congress’s ability to conduct real-time oversight of how the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detain individuals — including U.S. citizens — and spend billions in taxpayer dollars, while the case … Continue Reading
December 17, 2025
Meeks, Smith, Himes, Thompson, Crow & Omar Issue Statement Following House War Powers Resolution Vote
Washington, DC - Representatives Gregory W. Meeks (D-N.Y.), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Adam Smith (D-Wash.), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee; Jim Himes (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Bennie G. Thompson (D-Miss.), Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee; Jason Crow (D-Colo.), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations; and Ilhan … Continue Reading
December 12, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Kristi Noem Attempting to Subvert a Federal Court Order to Cancel TSA’s Union Contract
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement: “Secretary Noem’s announced cancellation of TSA’s union contract is a blatant attempt to sidestep an injunction. Her continued defiance of court orders is abhorrent. The judicial branch must make clear that following court orders is not optional. The Trump administration’s treatment of the men and women at TSA who keep our skies secure continues to be … Continue Reading
December 10, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Provision Allowing Unchecked DHS Surveillance Slipped into NDAA
December 10, 2025 (WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement opposing the Trump Administration’s counterdrone proposal being slipped in the National Defense Authorization Act text at the last minute. Most troublingly, it would waive wiretapping prohibitions for the Department of Homeland Security while carrying out counterdrone operations across any of its missions - including immigration … Continue Reading
November 20, 2025
Thompson Statement on Coast Guard Under Trump No Longer Classifying Swastikas & Nooses as Hate Symbols
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news reports the U.S. Coast Guard - part of the Department of Homeland Security - will no longer classify swastikas, nooses as hate symbols: "The Coast Guard's apparent new harassment policy, which could allow for the display of swastikas and nooses, is vile and horrific. Swastikas and nooses aren't 'potentially divisive'; they are longstanding and … Continue Reading
November 18, 2025
Meeks, Smith, Himes, Thompson, Crow, Omar Introduce War Powers Resolution to Block the Trump Administration's Boat Strikes
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, joined Reps. Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; Adam Smith (D-WA), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee; Jim Himes (D-CT), Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Jason Crow (D-CO), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations; and Ilhan Omar (D-MN) … Continue Reading
November 17, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Resignation of Disastrous Acting FEMA Head David Richardson
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the resignation of David Richardson, Trump’s acting head of FEMA: “David Richardson never should have led FEMA. For months, I have urged the Trump administration to nominate a qualified leader because the country deserves a FEMA Administrator with real experience - as required by Federal law - not someone learning on the job. “Every day that this … Continue Reading
October 18, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Kristi Noem Buying Luxury Jets With Taxpayer Money During the Republican Shutdown for Her Personal Use
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem buying multiple Gulfstream luxury jets with $172 million in taxpayer money for her personal use: “Secretary Noem spending almost $200 million on multiple luxury jets for her to travel around the world for more photo-ops is wholly inappropriate. The fact that she’s doing it during a Federal government shutdown … Continue Reading
October 08, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson & Kennedy Statement on the Trump Administration Deliberately Withholding Billions in Recovery Funds Meant for States
October 8, 2025 (WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, released the following statement on reporting that the Trump Administration deliberately withheld $11 billion in FEMA disaster reimbursements meant for States to mask shortfalls in the agency’s disaster fund and avoid asking Congress for additional emergency funding. “Yet … Continue Reading
October 07, 2025
Ranking Members Thompson, Magaziner, and Correa Condemn Trump Administration for Diverting Counterterrorism Resources to Suppress Free Speech
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Seth Magaziner (D-RI), Ranking Member of the subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, and Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Border Security & Enforcement, released the following statement on news reports that the Trump Administration used a transnational crime and counterterrorism unit to secretly target people practicing free speech: “The … Continue Reading
October 02, 2025
Ranking Members Thompson, Kennedy Statement on DHS Delaying and Slashing Counterterrorism Funding for Blue States and Cities
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Tim Kennedy (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, issued the following statement condemning the Department of Homeland Security’s decision to slash millions in counterterrorism, law enforcement, and disaster preparedness grant funding for blue states and cities after delaying them for months: “The Trump administration is at it again: … Continue Reading
October 01, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Republicans and Donald Trump Shutting Down the Government While Lying About Immigrants
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President Trump and Congressional Republicans forcing a Federal government shutdown - and lying about immigrants - instead of protecting healthcare for millions of American families. “Congressional Republicans and President Trump have shut down the Federal government because they refuse to negotiate on anything and are all too excited to jack up healthcare … Continue Reading
September 25, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump’s Missing in Action FEMA Head
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on media reports that the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) ‘Acting’ Administrator was unreachable in the aftermath of the deadly Texas floods in July: “The tragic loss of more than 130 lives in Texas underscores the absolute necessity of swift and competent federal disaster response. The Washington Post’s reporting that David Richardson, the … Continue Reading
September 22, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump Incorrectly Designating ‘Antifa’ as a Domestic Terrorism Organization
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on President Trump’s Executive Order designating ‘Anifa’ as a domestic terrorist organization. “Designating Antifa - which has no defined organizational structure or leadership - as a domestic terrorism organization is not only incorrect, it serves no purpose other than an excuse for the Trump administration to stifle dissent, investigate anyone - or any … Continue Reading
September 19, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson: GAO Confirms DHS Breaking Federal Law by Failing to Distribute Grant Funds
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the U.S. Government Accountability Office issuing a determination that the Department of Homeland Security violated federal law when it withheld grant funds for states, local governments, and nonprofits: “The Government Accountability Office decision is clear: the Trump administration is in violation of federal law for failing to distribute funds to … Continue Reading
September 16, 2025
Dem Leaders of National Security Committees Respond to Second U.S. Military Strike Off the Coast of Venezuela
WASHINGTON) - Reps. Adam Smith (D-WA), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Committee; Jim Himes (D-CT), Ranking Member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence; Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee; and Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security; released the following statement in response to President Trump announcing a second U.S. military strike off the coast of Venezuela. “Yesterday, … Continue Reading
September 11, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Remembers 9/11 Attacks, Will Travel to Ground Zero Today
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, attacks. Ranking Member Thompson will also co-lead a bipartisan site visit to Ground Zero and the 9/11 Memorial Museum in New York City today. “Today we mark the 24th anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack in our nation’s history by traveling in a bipartisan capacity to Ground Zero and the 9/11 … Continue Reading
August 29, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Trump’s Dangerous Revocation of Secret Service Protection for Vice President Harris
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement after reports that President Trump abruptly stripped former Vice President Kamala Harris of her Secret Service protection without justification. This unprecedented decision comes at a time of heightened political threats against elected leaders and raises serious concerns about retaliation and the safety of former officials. “Donald Trump suddenly … Continue Reading
August 28, 2025
Ranking Member Thompson Statement on Minneapolis School Shooting
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the tragic shooting at a Catholic school in Minneapolis - and what must be done: “The school shooting in Minneapolis is a terrible and senseless tragedy and my prayers are with the victims, their families, and the people of Minnesota. Violence and hate have no place in this country. “To be clear, there is much the Federal government can do - and must … Continue Reading
August 15, 2025
Ranking Members Thompson and McIver Slam Secretary Noem for Living Rent Free in Waterfront Military Home
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, issued the following statement slamming Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem over troubling reports that she is living rent-free in the official residence of the Coast Guard Commandant. "If Secretary Noem is living rent-free in military housing, she should be ashamed. Reports … Continue Reading