In a letter to Customs and Border Protection (CBP) acting Commissioner Troy Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is calling for answers regarding new data he says shows an “alarmingly low” percentage of DNA samples of illegal immigrants being received by the FBI.
The Republican’s letter cites whistleblower data his office has received related to DNA collection practices of immigrants arriving at the northern and southern border conducted by the CBP.
“Those disclosures show that in the first three quarters of FY23, FBI received an alarmingly low percentage of DNA samples,” Grassley wrote.
“Given the record number of illegal crossings, CBP encounters, and ICE detainees with prior criminal records, CBP and DHS’s continued failure to collect DNA on illegal immigrants is deeply concerning,” he said. “This failure weakens our justice system and empowers criminals to illegally cross our border, jeopardizing American lives.”
Fox News reports on the statistics which Grassley cites: “in Q1 of FY23, there were 865,333 migrant encounters, and 347,231 DNA samples were received by the FBI — about 40%… In Q2, just 31.21% were received by the FBI and in Q3 that number was 37%.”
Grassley cites a number of reports that show examples of crimes illegal immigrants have been connected to via DNA matches, including unsolved cases, even with what he called “insufficient” DNA efforts by federal authorities.
CBP sources told Fox News on Monday that there have been more than 21,000 migrant encounters in the past 72 hours, with Tucson Sector being the busiest with more than 5,400. It’s in line with traditional surges as numbers increase as the Spring arrives, but the numbers suggest it is going to be a significant surge.
In his letter, Grassley also requests data for Q4 and for FY 24 so far, as well as additional plans to implement the DNA Fingerprint Act.
