Press Releases
Ten Questions for DHS on the Trump Shutdown
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following list of unanswered questions regarding the functioning of the Department of Homeland Security as a result of a lapse in appropriations. The Administration has failed to be forthcoming about the security implications of the President's shutdown on DHS, the largest federal department subject to the shutdown. During the shutdown, is TSA continuing its vital work to … Continue Reading
January 04, 2019
Chairman Thompson Lauds Election Security Inclusion in H.R. 1
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, lauded the inclusion of election security in H.R. 1, the For the People Act, introduced today by the new House Democratic Majority to establish electoral reforms, strengthen our democracy, and combat corruption. The election security provisions in H.R. 1 were originally part of the Election Security Act (H.R. 5011), authored by Congressman Thompson last year after he served as co-Chair of … Continue Reading
January 03, 2019
Chairman Thompson Statement on Bill to Fund DHS
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Continuing Resolution to fund the Department of Homeland Security: “Since the government shutdown on December 21, roughly 2.5 million holiday travelers each day have passed through airport security checkpoints staffed by Transportation Security officers who aren’t getting paid. Almost half of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency … Continue Reading
January 02, 2019
Thompson Statement on John Kelly Departing the Trump Administration
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member and incoming Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on former Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly’s departure today from the Trump Administration: “It is truly sad that John Kelly, who served the country admirably in the military, has had his reputation and service tarnished by serving President Trump both at DHS and the White House. Over the past two years, General Kelly seemed … Continue Reading
December 27, 2018
Top House Democrats Call for Preservation of Records Related to Child Deaths in CBP Custody and Announce Plans for Oversight Hearings in 116th Congress
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security, Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), Ranking Member of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Homeland Security Committee, and Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX), Chairman-Elect of the … Continue Reading
December 26, 2018
Thompson Statement on Another Death of a Child in Our Government’s Care
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the death of Felipe Alonzo-Gomez. This is the second death this month of a child in the federal government’s care at the border: “While the Department of Homeland Security is scrambling to adhere to the Trump Administration’s unilateral, radical changes to our immigration system, another young child has died while in our government's care. It's … Continue Reading
December 20, 2018
Thompson Statement on Trump Administration Forcing Asylum Seekers to Remain in Mexico
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on Trump Administration’s new policy of forcing those legally claiming asylum to remain in Mexico: “With President Trump still threatening to shut down the government and refusing to admit defeat on his completely unnecessary wall, the Administration is now hell-bent on taking out its frustration on vulnerable people fleeing violence by making our asylum … Continue Reading
December 11, 2018
Thompson: Trump Shutdown Threat Shows He Doesn’t Understand Border Security
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the President’s threat to shut down the government to blackmail Congress for wall funding: “The President is blatantly trying to blackmail Congress by threatening a shutdown to get funding for his wall. The President has a very limited and overly simplistic view of what border security is and clearly has no idea how to achieve meaningful security at … Continue Reading
December 10, 2018
DHS Inspector General: CBP Has Little to Show for Wasteful Hiring Contract
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) management alert report: CBP Needs to Address Serious Performance Issues on the Accenture Hiring Contract. In the report, the OIG says that CBP and Accenture are nowhere near where they need to be to meet hiring targets and millions have been already spent. With a goal of … Continue Reading
December 04, 2018
Thompson Statement on NRCC Hack
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news reports that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) was hacked this year: “Since 2016, election security has been a known critical issue, and in January 2017, the Intelligence Community confirmed Russia meddled in our elections and attempted to hack our democratic institutions. In their age-old routine of choosing party over … Continue Reading
November 26, 2018
Thompson: Trump’s Cruel Immigration Agenda Intended to Foment Border Chaos
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the President’s failed border security and immigration policies, now on display at the border near Tijuana: “The Trump Administration’s immigration agenda is clearly intended to foment chaos at the border. Any border security and immigration policy that results in mothers and children being gassed is not only cruel and morally reprehensible, but … Continue Reading
November 16, 2018
Thompson Statement on CISA Signed Into Law
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Act (CISA) being signed into law. Ranking Member Thompson was an original co-sponsor of H.R. 3359. “Enactment of the Cybersecurity and Information Security Agency Act makes it clear - once again - that civilian cybersecurity efforts should be led by DHS. Re-branding DHS’s cyber arm and elevating … Continue Reading
November 05, 2018
Cummings and Thompson Issue Statement on Coast Guard Investigative Service’s Seizure of Whistleblower Communications
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), the Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, issued the following statement in response to a Management Alert from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office Inspector General (OIG) entitled, “Coast Guard Investigative Service Search and Seizure of DHS OIG and Congressional Communications”: “Any … Continue Reading
November 01, 2018
Thompson Statement on the President’s Immigration Speech
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President’s fearmongering immigration speech today: “The President’s speech was a political stunt aimed at whipping up fear and xenophobia just days before the election. He and his fellow Republicans in Congress are so desperate to distract voters from their failures on everything from healthcare to foreign policy, they have sunk to new lows with … Continue Reading
October 30, 2018
Thompson: President Trump’s Latest Immigration Policies are Nothing More Than Desperate Political Stunts
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President Trump inciting fear and playing politics with immigration policy just before an election: “The President’s desperate attempts to militarize our southern border and tease out unconstitutional immigration policy are nothing more than political stunts and must be called out as such. A week before the midterm elections, it is clear President … Continue Reading
October 27, 2018
Thompson Statement on Synagogue Shooting in Pittsburgh
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the mass shooting at Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania: "Today our nation faced another act of senseless violence and hate. I join all Americans in mourning the loss of our fellow citizens. This is unfortunately yet another example of a disturbing uptick in violence and terror against our religious institutions. While we will do … Continue Reading
October 24, 2018
Thompson Statement on Politically Charged Terror Attacks
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on today’s attacks on political figures and the media: “I am thankful that those that were affected by today’s attacks acted with quick vigilance and, at the current time, no one was hurt. We thank the first responders and law enforcement for their quick response and heroism. To be clear, these attacks were acts of terrorism. We must work to counter … Continue Reading
October 17, 2018
Top Democrats Issue Statement on Trump and Pence Claims After DHS Provides Election Security Update
(WASHINGTON) — Today, Reps. Bennie G. Thompson, Elijah E. Cummings, Jerrold Nadler, Adam Smith, and Robert A. Brady, the Ranking Members of the House Committees on Homeland Security, Oversight & Government Reform, the Judiciary, Armed Services, and House Administration, issued a statement after the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provided Committee staff with an unclassified/FOUO intelligence assessment on election security issued by the DHS Cyber Mission Center on October 11, … Continue Reading
October 10, 2018
Thompson Statement on Trump Administration’s Cruel ‘Public Charge’ Proposed Rule
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on the Trump Administration’s proposed public charge immigration rule published today that could impact the lives of millions: “This proposal is shortsighted and cruel, focusing on near term political gain and the advancement of the Trump Administration’s anti-immigrant agenda over working class families across this country. This rule will punish … Continue Reading
October 10, 2018
Thompson, Vela Statement on DHS Waivers to Disregard Environmental Laws Along Border
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Filemon Vela (D-TX), Ranking Member of the Border and Maritime Security Subcommittee, released the following statement on news that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is issuing multiple waivers to disregard certain environmental laws to rush construction of border wall along the Rio Grande Valley: “The Administration is bucking its responsibility to communities in the … Continue Reading