Press Releases
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
July 20, 2020
Smith, Thompson, Nadler Joint Statement on Trump Administration’s Action in Portland
(WASHINGTON) - Reps. Adam Smith (D-WA), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, and Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, today issued the following statement after the Trump Administration continued to use violent tactics against protestors in Portland, Oregon. "Our nation is at a crossroads, and as Americans across the country exercise their First Amendment rights, the Trump … Continue Reading
July 17, 2020
Thompson: Administration’s Violent Actions in Portland are an Un-American Affront to Democracy
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement the Department of Homeland Security's involvement in the Trump Administration's actions in Portland Oregon, including arresting citizens in unmarked vehicles: "The Department of Homeland Security's involvement in the Trump Administration's violent and blatantly political actions in the City of Portland are un-American and an affront to Democracy and must be … Continue Reading
July 16, 2020
Thompson: Watchdog Report Tells Us Trump’s Wall Was Never About Security
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) report out today on U.S. Customs and Border Protection's mismanagement and poor planning of President Trump's border wall construction. "It's clear from this report that CBP's main priorities are to maximize wall construction and to please the President in the run up to the … Continue Reading
July 15, 2020
Thompson: Report on Child Deaths in CBP Custody Shows CBP Has Not Prioritized Migrant Care – with Tragic Results
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report he requested out today on the tragic deaths of two children in Customs and Border Protection care in 2018. Through their investigation, the GAO found that CBP has misspent emergency funds meant for migrant medical care, does not properly train its employees on the medical needs of children, and does not … Continue Reading
July 10, 2020
Homeland and Oversight Chairs Issue Statement on Coast Guard’s Refusal to Appear for Public Hearing
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, issued the following statement on U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Karl Schultz's refusal to appear for a public hearing: "At a time when people across this country are coming together to confront systemic racism, it is deeply disappointing that the Coast Guard's Commandant, Admiral Karl Schultz, has … Continue Reading
July 07, 2020
Thompson, Rice Statement on the Trump Administration’s Cruel New Policy Forcing International Students to Leave the U.S.
(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, released the following statement on news the Trump Administration plans to bar international students from the country if their school's classes are online: "The Trump Administration has yet again announced a new policy that will damage the economy, harm U.S. institutions, and do … Continue Reading
July 02, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on the Administration’s ‘Runway to Recovery’ Aviation Plan
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Administration's new national strategy from the Departments of Homeland Security, Transportation, and Health & Human Services with recommendations on recovery for the nation's airlines and airports: "I am pleased that the Trump Administration took our advice to create an interagency working group to plan for the future of the country's aviation … Continue Reading
June 30, 2020
Homeland Security Committee Releases Report on Oversight of Federal Coronavirus Response
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, released a majority staff report detailing how the Committee has worked to respond to the coronavirus pandemic facing our nation. The Committee kicked off its oversight effort with three hearings on coronavirus in March. After social distancing protocols took effect, the Committee continued its robust oversight of the Trump Administration's preparedness and response activities. Since March, … Continue Reading
June 23, 2020
Thompson Statement on Trump’s Extreme Immigration Restrictions
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news President Trump is extending limits on worker visas through 2020, greatly restricting immigration to the country. "Once again the Trump Administration is using the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to further extreme anti-immigrant policies. Stopping immigrants from legally coming to this country serves no real economic or public health purpose and … Continue Reading
June 18, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on Supreme Court DACA Decision
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news that the Supreme Court has upheld the DACA program, ruling that President Trump broke the law when he tried to end the program. "I am overwhelmingly pleased that the Supreme Court ruled that President Trump indeed broke the law when he tried to cruelly end the DACA program without reason. While we must do more to protect Dreamers, they can rest assured … Continue Reading
June 16, 2020
Murder Suspect in FPS Shooting Death in Oakland Linked to Right Wing Extremism
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news that prosecutors have filed federal charges following the murder of an officer of the Federal Protective Service (FPS), part of the Department of Homeland Security: "I am relieved to hear news that Federal prosecutors have filed murder charges in the tragic shooting death in Oakland last month of David Patrick Underwood, a Federal Protective Service … Continue Reading
June 11, 2020
GAO: CBP Broke the Law When it Spent Emergency Funds on Dirt Bikes and Dog Food Instead of on Migrant Care
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement after the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a decision that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) violated the law when it used funds in the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Humanitarian Assistance and Security at the Southern Border Act, 2019 (H.R. 3401). The legislation contained line item appropriations of $112 million … Continue Reading
June 05, 2020
Oversight and Homeland Chairs Issue Statement on DHS IG Report Confirming Findings in Joint Investigation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney, the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson, the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Jamie Raskin, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, and Rep. Lou Correa, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, issued this statement following a report issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (IG) on the U.S. Coast … Continue Reading
May 30, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on Reports of Right-Wing Extremists Joining Protests to Sow Chaos
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on reports that right-wing extremists and white nationalists are joining protests to sow chaos and incite violence: "It is deeply troubling to see media reports and statements from state officials indicating that right wing extremists and white nationalists are joining protests across the country to purposely worsen tensions and sow chaos. I have asked the … Continue Reading
May 29, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on Trump’s Tweets Stoking Violence
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President Trump's tweets last night that were flagged by Twitter for glorifying violence. "The President's late-night tweets were disgusting and dangerous. He will try again to walk them back, but the American people know what he did and Twitter is right to have flagged his tweets. He knew exactly what he was doing and did it on purpose. He took the … Continue Reading
May 28, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on Trump’s Social Media “Executive Order”
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President Trump's Executive Order directed at social media companies: "It's a sad day when an Executive Order is used as a tool for political grievance after the President's ego gets bruised. Nothing in the Executive Order is about substantive policy and it is just another reflection of his failure to lead the country through the coronavirus pandemic. … Continue Reading