U.S. Senate Committee on Judiciary

10/02/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/02/2024 11:34

Grassley and Colleagues Outline Stark Consequences of Biden-Harris Failure to Follow Border Laws, Protect Whistleblowers

10.02.2024

Grassley and Colleagues Outline Stark Consequences of Biden-Harris Failure to Follow Border Laws, Protect Whistleblowers

WASHINGTON - Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) led 32 Senate and House colleagues in demanding President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris collect DNA samples from every immigrant the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) encounters, per the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005.

Legally protected whistleblowers to Grassley's office have exposed how DHS's failure to collect DNA hampers law enforcement efforts to stop violent crime. Notably, DHS missed three separate opportunities to gather DNA from the illegal immigrant who murdered Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother of five.

"It is beyond heartbreaking to know that my daughter's brutal death could have been prevented. This isn't just a bureaucratic oversight; it's a deadly failure that turned a protective measure into a hollow promise," said Patty Morin, mother of Rachel Morin. "President Biden and Vice President Harris' reckless disregard for border security puts every American family in imminent danger. How many more precious lives have to be lost before they decide to protect the people they were elected to serve?"

"Following the law, protecting whistleblowers and ensuring the safety of American citizens like Rachel Morin shouldn't be controversial," Grassley and colleagues wrote to President Biden and Vice President Harris. "The Biden-Harris administration's DHS must follow the law-the consequences are stark when they don't."

Read the full letter HERE.

Background:

The DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005 requires federal law enforcement to collect DNA from every individual Customs and Border Protections (CBP) arrests, charges, convicts or detains. Yet, per whistleblower disclosures to Grassley's office, DHS has collected DNA samples from fewer than approximately 40 percent of the more than 10 million known illegal immigrants who have entered the country during the Biden-Harris administration.

Whistleblowers additionally revealed to Grassley that a CBP official who recently visited major border facilities in Arizona and California did not observe any DNA collection taking place. As a result of disclosing DHS's failures to Congress, whistleblowers have suffered long-term, severe retaliation.

Joining Grassley on the letter are House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green (R-Tenn.), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), as well as Sens. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Thune (R-S.D.), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Roger Marshall (R-Kans.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.) and Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.).

Additional House co-signers include Reps. Tom McClintock (R-Calif.), Chip Roy (R-Texas), Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.), Lance Gooden (R-Texas), Barry Moore (R-Ala.), Troy Nehls (R-Texas), Michael Rulli (R-Ohio), Wesley Hunt (R-Texas), Clay Higgins (R-La.), Michael Guest (R-Miss.), Dan Bishop (R-N.C.), August Pfluger (R-Texas), Mike Ezell (R-Miss.) Anthony D'Esposito (R-N.Y.) and Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.).

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