Grassley Seeks Briefings on Security Threats Relating to Migrant Caravan
WASHINGTON
– Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) sought
briefings from the Departments of State and Homeland Security on potential national
security threats relating to the migrant caravan headed toward the southern
border in a letter this week.
In
his letter, Grassley specifically seeks updated background details about the
individuals in the caravan, including the criminal histories or gang affiliation
of any migrants in the caravan.
“…it is important that the Committee is briefed on
details on the makeup of the caravan including any potential national security
threats that reportedly exist among the members. According to information
obtained by my office, several members of the first caravan have significant
criminal histories, including assault and sexual misconduct against a child,
and membership in the MS-13 gang,” Grassley wrote.
“Further, the Department of Homeland Security recently reported that several
hundred members of the second caravan clashed with Mexican federal police
throwing rocks, glass bottles, and even fireworks at Mexican officers in a
seemingly criminal altercation.”
Full text of Grassley’s
letter to Secretaries Pompeo and Nielsen follows.
October 30, 2018
VIA
ELECTRONIC SUBMISSION
The Honorable Kirstjen Nielsen
Secretary
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528
The
Honorable Mike Pompeo
Secretary
U.S.
Department of State
Washington,
D.C. 20520
Dear
Secretaries Nielsen and Pompeo:
The Committee continues to monitor and assess the approximately
6,000 member caravans traveling to the United States southern border from the
Northern Triangle. As the first caravan is reportedly 1-2 days from the United
States, it is important that the Committee is briefed on details on the makeup
of the caravan including any potential national security threats that
reportedly exist among the members. According to information obtained by my
office, several members of the first caravan have significant criminal
histories, including assault and sexual misconduct against a child, and
membership in the MS-13 gang. Further, the Department of Homeland Security
recently reported that several hundred members of the second caravan clashed
with Mexican federal police throwing rocks, glass bottles, and even fireworks
at Mexican officers in a seemingly criminal altercation.
Information on these groups will help the Committee address the
needs of vulnerable asylum-seekers who need humanitarian relief and those Homeland
Security officials tasked with processing people at our border, while preventing
the entry of caravan members who are national security threats, such as members
of transnational criminal organizations.
Therefore, please provide a briefing by the DHS Human
Smuggling Cell and the State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs,
as well as current details on the number of migrants in both caravans who have
expressed a desire to seek asylum in the United States, the number of migrants
who have sought asylum in Mexico, and the country of origin, criminal history,
and age of all caravan members who have been encountered by the Mexican
National Institute of Migration.
Thank you for your attention in this important matter. Should you have any questions, please contact
Katherine Nikas or Aakash Singh of my Committee staff at 202-224-5225.
Sincerely,
Charles
E. Grassley
Chairman
Committee
on the Judiciary
cc:
Dianne Feinstein
Ranking Member
Committee on the Judiciary
-30-
