Correspondence
Chairman Thompson Writes GSA Head Emily Murphy on the National Security Implications of Her Failure to Begin the Required Transition Process
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Emily Murphy, Administrator of the Government Services Administration (GSA), regarding the national security implications of her continuing failure to recognize the results of the 2020 Presidential election and ascertain Joe Biden as the President-elect of the United States. "With each passing day, GSA's failure to ascertain the election is preventing President-elect Biden's … Continue Reading
November 13, 2020
Former DHS Secretaries and Homeland Security Chairs Agree: It’s Time to Consolidate Congressional Homeland Security Jurisdiction
(WASHINGTON) - House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) was joined by two former Chairmen of the Committee, Reps. Peter T. King (R-NY) and Michael T. McCaul (R-TX), in sending a bipartisan letter to House leadership to urge them to support the expansion of the Committee's black letter jurisdiction to ensure it has the jurisdiction necessary to fully authorize the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The 9/11 Commission's recommendation to create a "single, … Continue Reading
November 12, 2020
Oversight and Homeland Security Committees Demand ICE Cease Deportations of Victims and Witnesses Alleging Medical Mistreatment at Detention Facilities
(WASHINGTON) - Today, senior Members of the Oversight and Reform and Homeland Security Committees sent a letter to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demanding compliance with its policy against deporting witnesses and victims in ongoing investigations as the Committees are investigating allegations of medical mistreatment at Irwin County Detention Center (ICDC). Today's letter was signed by Committee on Oversight and Reform Chairwoman Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney; Committee on Homeland … Continue Reading
November 10, 2020
Chairman Thompson Demands DHS Ensure Records are Preserved
(WASHINGTON) - 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 to make clear the Committee's expectation that - given the Department's history of withholding documents from the Committee, defying lawful subpoenas, and improperly stymying Congressional oversight and investigations - DHS must preserve, in accordance with the Federal Records Act and all applicable Federal laws, all … Continue Reading
November 04, 2020
Chairman Thompson Seeks Information Regarding Death of Border Patrol Agent in New Mexico
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regarding the circumstances of the death of Border Patrol Agent Johan Mordan in New Mexico in June. Tragically, according to CBP, Border Patrol agents lost communications with Agent Mordan prior to his death and he was eventually found unresponsive lying on a trail, unable to be revived. The Committee is seeking specific information on Agent … Continue Reading
October 13, 2020
Thompson, Bass to ICE: Stop Deportation Flight to Cameroon Now
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, and Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA), Chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, sent a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demanding it stop its plans to deport over 200 Cameroonian asylum seekers. Recent allegations have been raised that some of these individuals were coerced into signing documents effectuating their removal. Questions about the validity of travel documents have … Continue Reading
October 10, 2020
Committees Demand that ICE Stop Stonewalling Detainee Medical Abuse Investigation
(WASHINGTON) - Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Oversight and Reform Committee, Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations Subcommittee, and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Chairman of the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee, sent a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) demanding that the agency stop stonewalling the Committees' … Continue Reading
October 07, 2020
Nadler, Thompson & Maloney Request DOJ, DHS IGs Investigate Deployment of Border Patrol Snipers at Funeral for George Floyd
(WASHINGTON) - In response to reports that FBI surveillance aircraft and U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) personnel, including sniper teams, were deployed to Pearland, Texas to surveil the funeral service of George Floyd, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), and Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY) sent a letter requesting that the … Continue Reading
October 02, 2020
Thompson, Underwood, Rose Demand DHS Talking Points Defending Kyle Rittenhouse
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Homeland Security Committee Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Vice Chairwoman Lauren Underwood (D-IL), and Intelligence and Counterterrorism Subcommittee Chairman Max Rose (D-NY) sent a letter to the Honorable Chad Wolf of the Department of Homeland Security demanding documents related to disturbing media reports alleging that DHS officials were directed to make public comments sympathetic to Kyle Rittenhouse, who has been charged with first-degree intentional homicide, … Continue Reading
September 25, 2020
Thompson, Rose, Slotkin Write FBI on Domestic Terrorism Investigations
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Max Rose (D-NY), Chairman of the Intelligence & Counterterrorism Subcommittee, and Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) sent a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray to seek more information on the FBI's open investigations related to domestic terrorism, particularly related to white supremacist extremism and militia extremism. Last week, Director Wray testified before the Committee that the … Continue Reading
September 24, 2020
Chairman Thompson to DHS: Did the Department Downplay COVID-19 Like President Trump?
(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 requesting documents regarding the Department's briefings with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the beginning days of the coronavirus pandemic. The Committee is investigating what the Department knew about the COVID-19 threat and when, if the Department downplayed the threat, and what measures to … Continue Reading
September 24, 2020
Chairman Thompson Inquires on ICE Contracts Awarded to Company Employing Chad Wolf’s Wife
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to Tony Pham of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement expressing his concerns regarding reports that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) awarded millions of dollars in contracts to Berkeley Research Group, the company where Mr. Chad Wolf's wife is employed, after he rejoined the Department in 2017. In the letter, Chairman Thompson requests the complete contract files for … Continue Reading
September 22, 2020
Chairman Thompson Urges Senate Committee to Oppose Chad Wolf Nomination Ahead of Tomorrow’s Hearing
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman and Ranking Member regarding tomorrow's hearing to consider the nomination of the Honorable Chad Wolf to be Secretary of Homeland Security. In the letter, Chairman Thompson outlines instances Mr. Wolf repeated failed to comply with Constitutionally mandated oversight, which include unanswered requests … Continue Reading
September 21, 2020
Homeland Security and Oversight Committees Commence Investigation into ICE Medical Whistleblower Complaint, Request Documents from ICE, LaSalle, Irwin County Detention Center
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Carolyn B. Maloney (D-NY), Chairwoman of the Oversight and Reform Committee, Rep. Kathleen Rice (D-NY), the Chairwoman of the Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations Subcommittee, and Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), the Chairman of the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee, sent a letter to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), LaSalle Corrections, and the Irwin County … Continue Reading
September 18, 2020
Thompson and Rice Schedule Hearing on Trusted Traveler Program Investigation, Demand DHS’ Full Compliance on Outstanding Document Request
(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, sent a letter to the Honorable Chad Wolf of the Department of Homeland Security demanding DHS' and U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) compliance with the Committee's ongoing investigation into the Department's decision to summarily single out and ban New York residents from … Continue Reading
September 02, 2020
Thompson, Rose Demand Documents from DHS on Withheld 2020 Campaign Interference Intelligence Report, Request Watchdog Investigation
(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 & Counterterrorism, sent letters to the Department of Homeland Security - as well as the DHS Office of the Inspector General - regarding a news report suggesting DHS officials may have inappropriately withheld an Office of Intelligence and Analysis intelligence bulletin warning law enforcement partners-with "high … Continue Reading
August 27, 2020
Thompson, Maloney Urge DHS IG Review Homeland Security Actions Under Wolf, Cuccinelli
(WASHINGTON) - Today, 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, sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General Joseph Cuffari urging his office to expeditiously review the matters referred to it by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in its August 14 legal decision determining that the appointments of Chad Wolf as the Acting Secretary … Continue Reading
August 27, 2020
Thompson and Rice Write CBP Questioning Border Wall Contract with Fisher
(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, sent a letter to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regarding its recent contract award for border wall construction to Fisher Sand & Gravel Company after it decided to begin awarding its own contracts for select border wall projects, rather than through the Army Corps of … Continue Reading
August 26, 2020
Chairman Thompson Requests Investigation into Chad Wolf for Hatch Act Violation
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to the Office of Special Counsel to request the office investigate Department of Homeland Security official Chad Wolf for an apparent Hatch Act violation after he participated in the Republican National Convention last night. Mr. Wolf, who was illegally appointed to his position, has a pattern of politicizing the Department's non-partisan, national security mission. Letter … Continue Reading
August 24, 2020
Chairman Thompson Demands Documents from DHS on Interactions with We Build the Wall
(WASHINGTON) - Today, Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) seeking documents regarding interactions between DHS-including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and all other component agencies-with We Build the Wall, including interactions regarding projects built by Fisher Sand and Gravel Co. and any of its subsidiaries in Sunland Park, New Mexico, and Mission, Texas, in 2019. In the … Continue Reading