Press Releases
Homeland Security and Oversight Committee Leaders Issue Statement After Classified Briefing on Cyber Attack on Government Systems
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security; Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform; Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation, and Rep. Stephen F. Lynch (D-MA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on National Security, released the following statement after their Committees received a classified briefing from the … Continue Reading
December 04, 2020
Thompson Statement on Reelection as Committee on Homeland Security Chair
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), released the following statement after being reelected as Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security for the 117th Congress: "It is an incredible honor to be reelected as Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee for the 117th Congress. From tackling the coronavirus and countering the rise of domestic terrorism, to continuing to secure our election systems and fixing the Trump Administration's border security failures, our country … Continue Reading
November 25, 2020
Chairs Thompson and Maloney Announce Subpoena Regarding Allegations of Mistreatment at Irwin County Detention Center
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), the Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), the Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, announced the issuance of a subpoena to LaSalle Corrections for documents regarding disturbing allegations of mistreatment at the Irwin County Detention Center (ICDC), a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility operated by LaSalle. Dawn Wooten, a nurse at the facility, has alleged that … Continue Reading
November 23, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on President-Elect Biden’s Plan to Nominate Alejandro Mayorkas to Lead DHS
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news President-elect Biden plans to nominate Alejandro Mayorkas to be Homeland Security Secretary: "I commend President-elect Biden for his pick of Alejandro Mayorkas to be the next Secretary of Homeland Security. He is a seasoned leader and veteran of DHS who will undoubtedly be ready on Day One. His immigration and cybersecurity experience, together with … Continue Reading
November 17, 2020
Chairs Thompson and Underwood Statement on Trump Firing Chris Krebs
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL), Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, & Innovation, released the following statement after President Trump, in a series of false tweets flagged by Twitter, fired Chris Krebs, Director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA): "The President's decision to fire Director Krebs makes America less … Continue Reading
November 17, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on DHS’s Latest Attempt to Legitimize Chad Wolf’s Role and Actions
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement after the Department of Homeland Security initiated a series of convoluted legal maneuvers to again attempt to validate Chad Wolf's role as Acting Homeland Security Secretary and legitimize his official actions. On Saturday, a Federal court again ruled that he was illegally appointed to his position. "DHS's latest legal gymnastics won't change the fact that … Continue Reading
November 14, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on Federal Judge Ruling Chad Wolf Illegally Appointed, Invalidating DACA Suspension
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news a Federal judge has ruled that Chad Wolf was unlawfully appointed to his position at the Department of Homeland Security - invalidating his DACA suspension. "Yet another Federal judge has ruled agreeing with the Government Accountability Office's decision that Chad Wolf was illegally appointed to his position as Acting Homeland Security Secretary and … Continue Reading
November 13, 2020
Chairs Thompson, Maloney, Correa, and Raskin Announce Coast Guard Has Made Sweeping Policy Changes After Joint Committee Report
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Committee on Oversight and Reform, Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA), Chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security, and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Chairman of the Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, announced that they have received notice from the U.S. Coast Guard Commandant … Continue Reading
November 12, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on Reports Trump May Fire Top Cybersecurity Leadership
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on news reports President Trump may be forcing leadership changes at the Department of Homeland Security and its Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency: "For four years, the President has gone to great lengths to dismiss foreign threats to our elections. Despite repeated warnings from the Intelligence Community, the President has mocked concerns … Continue Reading
November 03, 2020
Watchdog: DHS Improperly Deployed Officers and Agents to Task Force
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on a Management Alert issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) that found DHS improperly stood up its so-called "Protecting American Communities Task Force" this summer. "This emergency Management Alert warns that the DHS did not comply with the law when it created and deployed - for political reasons - a … Continue Reading
October 22, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on President Trump Politicizing the Federal Civil Service
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President Trump's new executive order to politicize the Federal Civil Service and cause thousands to lose workforce protections: "President Trump's executive order to politicize the Federal Civil Service serves no purpose other than his short-sighted political desire to rid the Federal government of policy experts who disagree with him in order to further … Continue Reading
October 09, 2020
Chairman Thompson Subpoenas DHS For Trusted Traveler Documents
(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 documents and communications regarding the Department’s decision to summarily single out and ban New York residents from DHS Trusted Traveler programs, including Global Entry. The subpoena also demands documents relating to inaccurate or misleading information that the Administration provided to … Continue Reading
October 09, 2020
Chairman Thompson: Planned Attack in Michigan Highlights the Consequences of President Trump’s Dangerous Inaction on Domestic Terrorism
(WASHINGTON) – Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the below statement after militia extremists were arrested in Michigan on domestic terrorism-related charges. The right-wing, anti-government accelerationists wanted to kidnap the Governor of Michigan, overthrow the state government, and start a civil war. “It is clear from what we have seen in recent years and from what government officials and experts have … Continue Reading
October 05, 2020
Chairman Thompson Statement on Trump’s Disregard for Health of Public, Secret Service
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on President Trump's reckless actions and his continued disregard for the health and safety of the public and those around him, including the Secret Service: "The President has spent the year downplaying the coronavirus and denying its danger. His actions over the past few weeks show that - even with his own illness, so many of his staff infected, and 210,000 … Continue Reading
October 01, 2020
Chairman Thompson Urges House Rules Changes to Streamline Homeland Security Jurisdiction
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, testified before the House Rules Committee in favor of long-overdue changes to the House of Representative's Rules to give the Committee on Homeland Security primary jurisdiction over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). During the Member day hearing, both Republicans and Democrats expressed openness to revisiting House Rule X and considering jurisdictional changes for the next Congress … Continue Reading
September 25, 2020
Underwood Appointed Chair of Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation Subcommittee
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL) was appointed by House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) to be Chair of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation, effective Friday, September 25, 2020. Underwood currently serves as the Vice Chair of the Homeland Security Committee. "Our nation faces homeland security threats that endanger not only the lives of Americans, but the foundation of the democracy we hold dear. As … Continue Reading
September 21, 2020
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