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(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 Stephen Miller’s favorite anti-immigrant Fox News talking heads. Leadership changes won’t change the fact that the Trump Administration’s cruel and abhorrent immigration policies are complete failures.” #  #  # Media contact: Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978 Read More

(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 actors in the White House are doing all they can to strong-arm the Department of Homeland Security and stand in the way of any progress or agreeable solution.  There is simply no excuse for the horrific conditions children and families are being held in at the border. While Congress works toward providing much-needed resources, leadership at all levels of the Administration must be held accountable for the gross injustices happening on their watch. CBP needs proven, Senate-confirmed leadership as soon as possible.” #  #  # Media contact: Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978 Read More

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(WASHINGTON) – Tomorrow, the Committee on Homeland Security will hold a hearing with high-ranking executives from Facebook, Twitter, and Google to examine the companies’ efforts to counter online terrorist content and misinformation. Rep. Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, released the following statement on tomorrow’s hearing: “As social media becomes more ubiquitous in our daily lives, tech companies have an obligation to ensure their platforms aren’t being misused to endanger Americans or threaten our democracy. Unfortunately, time and time again, these social media companies have shown they are not up to the task. Tomorrow’s hearing will be an important step forward in our discussions of how we can work together to safeguard social media platforms – both from terrorists spreading their hateful messages as well as other bad actors spreading misinformation to sow confusion and discord.” After the deadly white-nationalist terror attack on two New Zealand mosques, and the shooter’s concurrent live-stream of the attack, Chairman Thompson wrote to the CEOs of Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Microsoft to request a briefing on their companies’ efforts to prevent the dissemination of this type of violent content moving forward. At the briefing, the companies were unable to answer questions about resource allocation dedicated to these efforts. After several follow-up requests, Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook have failed to publicly disclose all of the requested information. WHAT: Full Committee Hearing: Examining Social Media Companies' Efforts to Counter Online Terror Content and Misinformation WITNESSES: Ms. Monika Bickert, Head of Global Policy Management, Facebook Mr. Nick Pickles, Global Senior Strategist for Public Policy, Twitter Mr. Derek Slater, Global Director of Information Policy, Google Ms. Nadine Strossen, John Marshall Harlan II Professor of Law, New York Law School WHEN: Tomorrow, Wednesday, June 26 10:00 AM WHERE: 310 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 MEDIA: Open Press The hearing will be live-streamed. #  #  # Media contact: Adam Comis at 202-225-9978 Read More

(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 nation. The United States is fully capable of handling an influx of migrants in a humane and compassionate way, but it’s become clear that the Administration has no interest in doing so. The abhorrent conditions in these facilities are a direct result of this Administration’s misguided and failed immigration policies. “While I welcome the news today that hundreds of children from one of these facilities have been transferred, no child should have been forced to live in unsanitary and dangerous conditions from the beginning.  We are still left with more questions than answers. Why are the children only being moved after media reports of their horrific detention conditions? When will these children be reunited with their families? “The Administration will have to answer for the atrocities happening at the border.  This is happening under the President’s watch. Until then, House Democrats stand ready as always to assist officials on the ground in providing humanitarian assistance.  The emergency funding bill House Democrats have put forward specifically increases funding for medical care and facility inspections. I urge my Republican colleagues to put politics aside and join us tomorrow in providing legal assistance, food, water, and medical supplies to those that need it.” #  #  # Media contact: Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978 Read More

(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 of cyber exploits. I echo that warning, and I urge CISA to assess whether it has the capacity to meet the increased demand for its services that this alert is likely to spur. Defending government networks and private sector industries will require that the full resources of the Federal government are brought to bear to complement private sector efforts. I am committed to working with CISA to ensure that it is in the position to carry out its important mission.” #  #  # Media contact: Adam Comis at (202) 225-9978 Read More

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