Press Releases
Thompson Statement on DHS Leadership Chaos
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the leadership chaos at Trump's Department of Homeland Security: "President Trump's latest leadership change only worsens the chaos at the Department. DHS is charged with keeping the nation secure, but the President is putting its leadership through a constant game of musical chairs to fit his political agenda. DHS needs to be led by qualified leaders - not … Continue Reading
June 25, 2019
Thompson Statement on Acting CBP Commissioner Sanders’ Resignation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news of the resignation of Acting U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner John Sanders: "The resignation of Acting CBP Commissioner Sanders adds fuel to the chaos at the Department of Homeland Security. CBP is clearly failing to carry out its mission given the Trump Administration's disastrous immigration policies. It is quite clear that bad … Continue Reading
June 24, 2019
Thompson Statement on Border Detention Conditions and Transfer of Migrant Children
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the numerous news reports detailing squalid migrant detention conditions and the subsequent transfer of hundreds of migrant children from a Border Patrol station: "The conditions described by lawyers, advocates, journalists, and inspectors in which migrant families are being held - including young, vulnerable children - should shock the conscience of the … Continue Reading
June 24, 2019
Thompson Statement on CISA Alert Regarding Iranian Cyber Threats
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news from the Department of Homeland Security's Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) warning of increased malicious cyber activity from Iran: "This weekend, Director Krebs issued an alert putting critical infrastructure owners and operators on notice that they need to remain vigilant in defending their networks as Iran increases its use … Continue Reading
June 13, 2019
Thompson: After Trump Comments, We Must Pass Election Security Act Now
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the need to pass election security legislation after President Trump welcomed another attack on our elections and democratic institutions. "President Trump's appalling, irresponsible statements that he would again welcome a foreign attack on our elections and democratic institutions mean Congress must act now. The Election Security Act will address the very … Continue Reading
June 10, 2019
House Passes Thompson-led Bipartisan Bill to Help Protect Synagogues, Churches, and Mosques From Terrorist Attacks
(WASHINGTON) - Today, the House passed bipartisan legislation to ensure necessary Federal support to protect the safety of non-profits at risk of terrorism, including synagogues, mosques, churches, and other places of worship. The bill, H.R. 2476, the Securing American Nonprofit Organizations Against Terrorism Act of 2019, was authored by Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security - along with Reps. Peter King (R-NY), Max Rose (D-NY), Steve Stivers (R-OH), … Continue Reading
June 10, 2019
Thompson Statement on CBP Data Breach
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news of a major privacy breach - resulting from a cyber-attack - at U.S. Customs and Border Protection: "Government use of biometric and personal identifiable information can be valuable tools only if utilized properly. Unfortunately, this is the second major privacy breach at DHS this year. We must ensure we are not expanding the use of biometrics at the … Continue Reading
June 10, 2019
Thompson Statement on Cuccinelli Appointment
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news President Trump has appointed Ken Cuccinelli as acting director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): "Mr. Cuccinelli is an anti-immigrant fringe figure that has no business leading a component that is supposed to administer our Nation's legal immigration system. Besides being a rightwing commentator, Cuccinelli is completely … Continue Reading
June 06, 2019
Chairman Thompson: DHS OIG Must Restore Confidence in its Work
(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's Office of the Inspector General's (DHS OIG) retraction of reports that inaccurately painted FEMA's disaster response efforts in a favorable light. "The Office of the Inspector General is usually a reliable resource in ensuring DHS is performing adequately and using American taxpayer dollars appropriately. But the fact … Continue Reading
June 05, 2019
Thompson: Continued Humanitarian Crisis at Border Shows Trump Policies Have Failed
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news the humanitarian crisis at the border is worsening. "These numbers are yet another sign that the Trump Administration's border security and immigration policies are abject failures. We have a full-blown humanitarian crisis, which is being exacerbated by the Administration's inhumane treatment of migrants in custody. "Democrats are ready and willing … Continue Reading
May 31, 2019
Chairman Thompson Statement on OIG Alert Detailing Dangerous Overcrowding of Migrants and Unacceptable Conditions at Border Patrol Facility
(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's (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) management alert released today with photos and findings detailing a dangerous overcrowding of single adults at the El Paso Del Norte Processing Center: "The photos in this report make it clear that DHS has completely and utterly failed at handling the humanitarian crisis at … Continue Reading
May 29, 2019
Chairman Thompson Statement on Conclusion of Mueller Investigation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the conclusion of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation: "Robert Mueller's parting remarks to the American people were a warning. After more than two years of honorable service as Special Counsel, he painted a disturbing picture of Russian efforts to interfere in our 2016 elections and rightfully observed that the issue deserves the attention of … Continue Reading
May 26, 2019
Chairman Thompson: Spread of Doctored Videos Shows We Must Do More to Secure Our Elections and Stop Fake News
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the need to improve election security and stop the propagation of fake news: "Doctored videos like this are not only vile, partisan trash, they are a sad omen of what is to come in the 2020 election season. When it comes to preventing election interference and the propagation of fake news, the Administration has failed to lead and Republicans in Congress … Continue Reading
May 02, 2019
Thompson, Richmond Statement on Cyber Workforce Executive Order
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA), Chairman of the Committee's Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Innovation Subcommittee, released the following statement on news the President signed an Executive Order directing the federal government to strengthen the nation's cybersecurity workforce: "We have known for some time that the national and global demand for skilled cybersecurity … Continue Reading
May 02, 2019
Thompson, Rose: Social Media Companies Must be Transparent About Efforts to Counter Terrorism
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Max Rose (D-NY), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism, released the below statement on the status of a letter the subcommittee sent to members of the Global Internet Forum to Counter Terrorism (GIFCT) - Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Microsoft - requesting their budgets to prevent the spread of online content from terrorists and extremists. The request … Continue Reading
May 01, 2019
Chairman Thompson Statement on the Emergency Supplemental Budget Request
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President Trump's emergency supplemental request to Congress to appropriate an additional $4.5 billion toward border efforts: "House Democrats understand that there is a humanitarian crisis at the border, and we stand ready and willing to provide necessary resources to help fix this challenge and alleviate the suffering of thousands. But this crisis … Continue Reading
May 01, 2019
Velázquez, Thompson, Grijalva on HUD Interference in Puerto Rico Probe
(WASHINGTON) Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), the Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, and Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), the Chairman of the Natural Resources Committee, and Rep. Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY) issued the following statement regarding news reports that the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) may have impeded an Inspector General review of whether the agency delayed hurricane relief to Puerto Rico: "We've seen time and again Donald Trump's … Continue Reading
April 25, 2019
GAO Report: DHS, FEMA Disaster Recovery Contracting Process Needs Major Fixes
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, announced the release of a new Government Accountability Office (GAO) report he requested on the DHS and FEMA contracting process for disaster recovery efforts. The report, entitled "Actions Needed to Improve the Use of Post-Disaster Contracts to Support Response and Recovery" found that: The contracting process for post-disaster recovery efforts lacks transparency due to "inconsistent … Continue Reading
April 18, 2019
Chairman Thompson Statement on the Redacted Mueller Report Release and the State of Election Security
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on redacted Mueller report: "The heavily redacted version of the Mueller report lays out in greater detail Russia's interference in the 2016 election and the involvement of Trump campaign officials. I am disturbed that the report itself - even in its redacted form - is inconsistent with the Attorney General's summary of it. To me, that only makes the case … Continue Reading
April 12, 2019
Chairman Thompson: Trump Plan to Use DHS As Political Weapon Shows Administration’s Depraved Immigration Agenda Is Not About Security
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news the Trump Administration proposed releasing migrants into targeted cities as political payback: "The fact that this idea was even considered - not once but twice - serves as a reminder that the Trump Administration's reckless immigration agenda is not about keeping the country safe, but about partisan politics and wantonly inflicting cruelty. … Continue Reading