Lawmakers urge Biden-Harris administration to enforce DNA collection under immigration law

This week, Congressman Michael McCaul of Texas, along with Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa and 31 other lawmakers, called on President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to comply with federal immigration laws by collecting DNA samples from every immigrant encountered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This request is in accordance with the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005.

Whistleblowers have revealed that DHS's failure to collect DNA has hindered law enforcement's ability to combat violent crime. The department reportedly missed three opportunities to gather DNA from an illegal immigrant who was later involved in the murder of Rachel Morin, a mother from Maryland.

The lawmakers stated, "Following the law, protecting whistleblowers and ensuring the safety of American citizens like Rachel Morin shouldn’t be controversial." They further urged that "the Biden-Harris administration’s DHS must follow the law—the consequences are stark when they don’t."

The DNA Fingerprint Act mandates federal law enforcement agencies to collect DNA from immigrants arrested or detained by Customs and Border Protection. However, according to whistleblower reports, DHS has only collected samples from less than 40 percent of the estimated 10 million illegal immigrants who have entered during the current administration.

Among those supporting this initiative are several members of Congress including House Committee on Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan and House Committee on Homeland Security Chairman Mark Green. Senators such as Ron Johnson and Rick Scott also co-signed the letter urging compliance with existing laws.