Press Releases
Chairman Thompson Demands DHS Not Play Politics, Endanger Lives in Trump Effort to Deny Federal Funds to NYC, Seattle, Portland
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to the Honorable Chad Wolf of the Department of Homeland Security demanding he not act on the Department of Justice's improper designation of New York City, Portland, and Seattle as "anarchist jurisdictions." Withholding federal funds for political reasons would mean these cities would be without critical homeland security funding used to prevent, prepare for, protect against, … Continue Reading
September 21, 2020
Homeland Security Committee Releases Staff Report Finding ICE Facilities Fail to Meet Basic Standards of Care
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released a majority staff report finding that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) fails to conduct proper oversight of migrant detention facilities, leaving deficiencies unidentified and uncorrected, and that ICE facilities frequently fail to meet basic standards of care. One year ago, Chairman Thompson commenced an investigation into the conditions of confinement at ICE … Continue Reading
September 15, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on Whistleblower Complaint Alleging ICE Detention Center Medical Neglect, Unsanitary Conditions
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement regarding a whistleblower complaint from a nurse at an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility run by LaSalle Corrections in Georgia alleging medical neglect, unsanitary conditions, a lack of COVID-19 precautions, and the performance of hysterectomies without informed consent on detained women. "The allegations put forth in this whistleblower complaint … Continue Reading
September 11, 2020
Chairman Thompson Subpoenas Chad Wolf After Refusal to Testify
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, issued a subpoena to The Honorable Chad Wolf of the Department of Homeland Security for a September 17 public hearing on threats facing the homeland. Since June, the Committee has engaged with DHS to secure the participation of Mr. Wolf, along with the FBI Director and the National Counterterrorism Center Director, for this hearing. Although DHS committed to Mr. Wolf testifying on September … Continue Reading
September 11, 2020
Thompson Statement Marking 19 Years Since the September 11 Terror Attacks
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement commemorating the nineteenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks: "On this day nineteen years ago, our country faced the deadliest act of terror in our nation's history. As we reflect on the almost 3,000 lives lost on that fateful day, we also remember the first responders who sacrificed their lives in the hope of saving others. Today we also honor … Continue Reading
September 09, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on DHS Whistleblower Allegations
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the numerous disturbing allegations in the whistleblower complaint filed by Department of Homeland Security official Brian Murphy: "The whistleblower complaint filed by Brian Murphy is a damning - but wholly unsurprising - indictment of the Trump Administration and officials at the Department of Homeland Security. As Chad Wolf and Ken Cuccinelli - who are … Continue Reading
September 03, 2020
Chairman Thompson: Trump Administration Continues to Politicize Homeland Security and Law Enforcement, Ignore Right-Wing Domestic Terrorism Threat
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Trump Administration's continued failure to confront the threat from right-wing domestic terrorism, while politicizing the Departments of Homeland Security and Justice: "The evidence is clear: right-wing domestic terrorism is the most pressing violent threat facing the country. Not only have Trump Administration officials - including Chad Wolf and Bill … Continue Reading
September 01, 2020
Thompson Statement on National Preparedness Month
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on National Preparedness Month, which starts today: "Every year, National Preparedness Month serves as a key opportunity to create or review your emergency plans, re-stock your emergency kits, and spread awareness within your communities-especially as the ongoing coronavirus pandemic will require us to adjust our disaster plans. As our Nation continues to … Continue Reading
August 25, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on Trump Plan to Nominate Chad Wolf as Homeland Security Secretary
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news President Trump announced he plans to nominate Chad Wolf to be Homeland Security Secretary. Recently, the Government Accountability Office released a legal decision determining that Mr. Wolf was illegally appointed to the position of Acting Secretary. "It has taken President Trump far too long - over 500 days - to nominate someone to permanently run … Continue Reading
August 21, 2020
Thompson and Maloney Release Statement After GAO Reaffirms Decision that Trump’s Top DHS Appointments Were Illegal
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reaffirmed its August 14 decision regarding President Donald Trump's illegal appointments of Chad Wolf as the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security and Ken Cuccinelli as the Senior Official Performing the Duties of Deputy Secretary. Previously, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, requested GAO … Continue Reading
August 20, 2020
Thompson Statement After Bannon Charged with Fraud in Wall Campaign
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news that Steve Bannon and others - who had their own border wall built by Fisher Sand and Gravel - have been charged with embezzling public donations: "It is not surprising that Steve Bannon and others building their own border wall have been charged with embezzling public donations. There is simply not enough oversight of these types of construction … Continue Reading
August 18, 2020
Chairman Thompson: Chad Wolf Continues to Politicize DHS
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on Chad Wolf's politically charged and misleading interview on the Axios on HBO television show last night: "It is galling for Chad Wolf, who was named Acting Secretary unlawfully and continues to act illegitimately in that position, to use a primetime television appearance to attempt to rewrite history about the Trump Administration's attacks on protestors … Continue Reading
August 14, 2020
Thompson and Maloney Release GAO Decision Confirming Trump’s Top DHS Appointments Were Illegal
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a legal decision concluding that President Donald Trump's appointments to senior leadership positions at the Department of Homeland Security were illegal and circumvented both the Federal Vacancy Reform Act and the Homeland Security Act. In November 2019, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and … Continue Reading
August 06, 2020
One Year After Mississippi ICE Raids, Administration Finally Charges Employers
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement after the Trump Administration finally announced it has indicted employers and plant managers one year after the August 7, 2019 Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. "After the largest single-state ICE raid ever, I am glad that the Administration - a year later - is finally taking criminal action against employers and plant managers. However, the … Continue Reading
July 28, 2020
Thompson Statement on DHS’ Refusal to Restart DACA Program
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Department of Homeland Security still not accepting DACA applications after the Supreme Court ruled last month that the Administration couldn't end the program: "The senior leadership at the Department must stop blatantly ignoring the Supreme Court's very clear ruling and stop wasting time coming up with new and cruel ways to throw Dreamers' lives into … Continue Reading
July 25, 2020
Thompson and Rice Announce Investigation After Administration Gave Inaccurate Testimony to Congress About Political Attack on New York
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations Subcommittee, announced they are commencing an investigation into revelations that Trump’s Department of Homeland Security made false statements regarding its decision to single out and ban New York residents from Trusted Travelers programs, including Global Entry. It was later revealed … Continue Reading
July 23, 2020
Chairman Thompson Announces Hearing Next Week on DHS Police Actions Threatening Our Democracy
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced that he will convene a Congressional hearing next Friday, July 31st, on the Department of Homeland Security's police actions in Portland and how they are threatening our democracy. Last week, the Trump Administration, with the help of DHS, escalated its presence in Portland without the permission of local authorities. Dressed like troops, Federal officers apparently teargassed and … Continue Reading
July 23, 2020
DOJ & DHS IGs Launch Investigation into Trump Administration Use of Force Against Protestors After Nadler, Thompson & Maloney Demand Investigation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the Inspectors General (IG) of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced they will both launch investigations into the Trump Administration's use of violent tactics against peaceful protestors in Washington D.C., Portland, Oregon, and elsewhere around the country. The DOJ and DHS IGs announced the investigations after House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson … Continue Reading
July 22, 2020
Chairman Thompson Writes DHS, FBI, NCTC on Their Refusal to Brief the Committee
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf, FBI Director Christopher Wray, and National Counterterrorism Center Acting Director Lora Shiao on their sudden refusal to brief the Committee next week - as agreed - regarding the many threats facing the homeland. In the letter, Chairman Thompson reminds the Administration officials that subpoenas were necessary last year to … Continue Reading
July 21, 2020
Thompson: Election Officials Need More Funding to Secure the November Election
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement about the continued cyber vulnerabilities of our election systems, and the need for more election security funding for state and local election officials to protect the 2020 election: "The coronavirus pandemic has needlessly spread across the country because of President Trump's failure to protect us. And while he sends agents of the Department of Homeland … Continue Reading