Wisconsin News
Congressman Glen Grothman Against Suspension Of DNA Testing Of Family Units At Border
Congressman Glen Grothman, Chairman of the House Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs, is leading an investigation along with his Subcommittee colleagues into U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) recent decision to cease DNA testing of family units apprehended at the Southern border, which is set to expire next Wednesday, May 31.
Through DNA testing, CBP protects minors by identifying whether or not they are truly related to the adults claiming to be their relatives. By ending this vital program, migrant children will be at more risk of exploitation by Cartels or bad actors, even inside the United States.
The lawmakers sent a letter to Acting CBP Commissioner Troy A. Miller requesting documents, communications, and a briefing pertaining to the ending of familial DNA testing.
The letter reads as follows,
Troy A. Miller
Acting Commissioner
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
1300 Pennsylvania Ave. N.W.
Washington, DC 20229
Dear Acting Commissioner Miller:
The Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs is investigating
concerning reports that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will cease familial DNA
testing of purported family units on May 31, 2023, due to the expiration of CBP’s contract with
BODE Technologies.
CBP has contracted with BODE Technologies since 2019 to perform
rapid DNA testing services to confirm claimed family unit relationships. To assist the
Subcommittee in understanding how CBP intends to ensure the safety of vulnerable children at
risk of being exploited or trafficked, we request CBP provide documents and information, as
well as a staff-level briefing.
As you are well aware, the crisis at our southern border has reached an untenable
situation. In fiscal year 2022, over 2.76 million migrants illegally crossed our southern border
with Mexico.
In the first seven months of fiscal year 2023, U.S. Border Patrol made over 1 million encounters of illegal border crossers.
This situation is a direct result of the failed
policies the current administration has chosen to implement with respect to border security.
Such policies have aided and empowered the cartels in their human trafficking efforts, which is
particularly alarming given that 27 percent of human trafficking victims are children. Children
are subject to abhorrent conditions in their journey to the U.S. border, as recent studies have
found that nearly 60 percent of unaccompanied minors crossing the border are forced into child
pornography and drug trafficking by the cartels.
Since 2019, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials have performed familial
DNA testing on some family units to ensure the safety and security of minors and prevent them
from being exploited by adults. This testing has led DHS to detect numerous attempts of familial
fraud at the southern border.
Additionally, a DHS Inspector General report found that 1 in 10
children who underwent DNA testing were not related to the adults claiming to be relatives.
Other reports have found that as many as 3 in 10 children share no familial relation whatsoever
to the adults claiming them. Given the numerous identified cases and reports of exploitation of children in fraudulent
family units, it is alarming that CBP will cease DNA testing for family units, which is an
important tool to identify and prevent human trafficking and exploitation. To assist us in our
oversight responsibilities, please provide the following documents and information as soon as
possible, but no later than June 8, 2023:
Additionally, please make arrangements to schedule a briefing with Committee staff as
soon as possible, but no later than June 1, 2023. This briefing should include information
responsive to the following questions:
- What is CBP’s justification for allowing its contract with BODE Technologies to expire
on May 31, 2023? Was CBP’s contract with BODE Technologies considered fully
completed and are there other companies with the same technological capabilities as
BODE Technologies? - Which officials within CBP were consulted regarding this contract and which officials
made the decision not to renew the contract? Please include the name and title of each
official involved. - Did CBP engage in negotiations with BODE Technologies to extend or renew the
contract in question? If so, what were the determining factors in not renewing the
contract? Please include details regarding any meetings between CBP and BODE
Technologies including the dates meetings occurred and the officials from CBP that
participated. - Has CBP explored other options for conducting DNA testing on family units including,
but not limited to, contracting another business to perform such services, or utilizing
already established DNA collection efforts through other federal agencies? If so, what is
the current status of such exploration, and can Congress expect such an option to be
implemented in the future? - Has CBP developed an operational plan to combat cases of child smuggling and human
trafficking going forward given the lack of DNA testing for family units beyond May 31,
2023? If so, please provide detailed information regarding the plan and its expected
implementation. - How many fraudulent family unit cases did CBP identify through DNA testing in fiscal
years 2020-2022?
To schedule the briefing, arrange for the delivery of responsive documents or ask any
related follow-up questions, please contact Committee on Oversight and Accountability Majority
Staff at (202) 225-5074. Attached are instructions for producing the documents and information
to the Committee. The Committee on Oversight and Accountability is the principal oversight
committee of the U.S. House of Representatives and has broad authority to investigate “any
matter” at “any time” under House Rule X. The Subcommittee on National Security, the Border,
and Foreign Affairs has “oversight jurisdiction over the U.S. borders, national security,
homeland security, foreign operations, immigration, emergency management, and criminal
justice” under the Committee on Oversight and Accountability Rules for the 118th Congress.
We thank you for your time and attention to this matter.