| "Allowing a suspected terrorist who crossed the border illegally to roam freely in our country, even after being flagged as a threat by the FBI, is the Biden Administration's dangerous immigration policy in a nutshell. Americans and Iowans deserve answers for how this happened, and accountability to ensure suspected terrorists aren't released into our communities again. The Biden Administration must reverse course and prioritize securing our border.” -Congresswoman Ashley Hinson
Background:
Last week, Congresswoman Hinson questioned Acting ICE Director Tae Johnson on the Administration's catch and release policies. Acting Director Johnson confirmed to Rep. Hinson that the Administration believes it is "more appropriate" to release some illegal immigrants into the country than to detain them.
The full text of the letter can be found below:
Dear Acting Director Johnson, Commissioner Magnus, and Director Wray:
I write today with grave concern over the state of our southern border, concern with the policies of this Administration, and concern for the security of our country. On May 23, 2022, it was reported that Isnardo Garcia-Amado, an individual on the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Terrorism Watchlist, had been released into the country by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). According to these same reports, he was in the country for two weeks after it was known he was on the watchlist before being arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
This failure in communication and action is flat out unacceptable. Garcia-Amado should have never been let into the country in the first place - he immediately should have been considered a threat to national security and detained for deportation. The Administration’s failure to properly vet and detain him endangered Americans. Since President Biden came into office, he has refused to enforce our laws. DHS issued enforcement priorities, leading to a sharp decrease in deportations from ICE, while he reinstated catch and release – criminals have been allowed to stay because this Administration has turned a blind eye. This is a direct consequence of bad policy foist upon agents by this Administration – priorities and policies that are endangering Iowans and all Americans.
This situation was easily avoidable, and that is the worst betrayal to the American people. This Administration has refused to use all its available detention resources and instead requests cuts to its ICE budget in the middle of a crisis at its border. If this Administration used the tools available – tools Congress has provided – we very likely would not be in this situation. The same could be said if the laws on the books were enforced.
Circumstances like this demand answers and accountability, and a situation like this should not be allowed to happen again. As such, I respectfully request answers to the following questions within the next 30 days:
1. Why was Isnardo Garcia-Amado released into the interior and under what authority?
2. How many migrants/aliens on the Terrorist Screening Database (TSDB) have been released, and how many such individuals have yet to be re-arrested?
3. Why did ICE take two weeks to arrest Garcia-Amado after the FBI flagged him?
4. Why did ICE need authorization to arrest Isnardo Garcia-Amado after he had been flagged by the FBI? Was this a matter of ICE agents awaiting authorization under the prioritization guidance?
5. Was Isnardo Garcia-Amado considered a threat to national security, upon initial encounter and processing, under the enforcement priorities outlined by ICE?
6. If so, why did ICE wait before taking enforcement actions?
7. Was Isnardo Garcia-Amado identified as being on the Terrorism Watchlist before he was released into the interior?
8. If so, why was he still released?
9. How many individuals on the TSDB have been released into the interior since February 2021?
10. How many individuals on the TSDB have been released into the interior and later detained by ICE or other law enforcement?
11. How many times has an individual been flagged in the TSDB yet not been promptly arrested?
I look forward to prompt answers to these questions and I thank you for your attention to this matter. Should you have any questions, please contact my office at (202) 225-2911.
Sincerely,
Ashley Hinson
Member of Congress
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