Dems ask DHS chief for immigration briefing

House Democrats want more details on President Trump’s immigration policies from the head of the agency that will oversee them: Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly. 

In a Monday letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) chief, Democrats said they’re “alarmed” by the administration’s aggressive approach to deportations, refugees and travelers from certain Muslim countries. They want Kelly to meet with the Democratic Caucus “in the coming weeks” to address those concerns.

“In the short time since President Trump took office, we have seen a number of alarming actions take place around immigration enforcement, refugee and travel restrictions, and other national security issues,” the Democrats wrote. 

“Because many of these fall under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security, our members would appreciate the opportunity to share the concerns raised by their constituents.”

{mosads}Signed by 141 House Democrats, the letter was spearheaded by Reps. Joseph Crowley (N.Y.), the Democratic Caucus chairman; Linda Sánchez (Calif.), the vice chairwoman; Bennie Thompson (Miss.), ranking member of the Homeland Security Committee; John Conyers (Mich.), senior Democrat on the Judiciary Committee; and Luis Gutiérrez (Ill.) and Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), who are leading voices on immigration reform.

Trump’s campaign centered on tough, law-and-order positions on illegal immigration and the fight against terrorism. And in his first weeks, the president has ventured to make good on those vows. He’s directed law enforcers at DHS to clamp down on undocumented immigrants, making virtually everyone living in the country illegally a target for deportation.

More recently, Trump signed an executive order blocking foreign travelers from six predominantly Muslim nations for 90 days, while barring general refugee admissions for 120 days. The order amended a similar travel ban that was shot down by a federal appeals court last month. 

Democrats have howled at the new policies, saying they undermine the country’s immigrant traditions without making the country any safer from terrorist threats.

“The United States has long prided itself on welcoming people in need and people of all backgrounds,” the Democrats wrote to Kelly, adding that the DHS travel ban “flies in the face of that tradition.” 

The Democrats were up in arms last month when a number of lawmakers were denied participation in a meeting with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) acting Director Tom Homan. 

In their letter, the lawmakers are requesting that Homan return to Capitol Hill with Kelly to clarify ICE’s deportation priorities. 

“[T]he lack of clear and transparent guidelines around this policy is creating mass confusion that is handicapping local law enforcement and creating great uncertainty in cities and towns,” the Democrats wrote.

“Given the rhetoric that has been used by President Trump and members of this administration, our immigrant communities are worried about what this recent activity signifies and fear greater criminalization of immigrants as well as mass deportations.” 

The Democrats also want to discuss other timely topics under the jurisdiction of DHS, including Russian hacking of the presidential election and recent threats to synagogues and other Jewish centers.