In a recent revelation, Senator Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) has accused the U.
S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) of failing to collect DNA samples from over 60% of illegal immigrants intercepted at the country's borders in 2022.
This lapse, he alleges, has hindered federal law enforcement's ability to solve violent criminal cases.
The CBP, as per its mandate, is obligated to utilize DNA test kits on criminal arrestees and detained illegal immigrants. However, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report from May 2023 indicates that the agency only "collected samples from about 37% of the 1.7 million people it encountered" in the fiscal year 2022. The report further raises doubts about whether this figure encompasses all illegal immigrants subject to the requirement between fiscal years 2020 and 2022.
The CBP also failed to collect DNA from migrants expelled under Title 42, a health policy initiated during the pandemic era by former President Donald Trump. This policy was strengthened by the Trump administration in March 2020, aligning it with the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005, which had been largely ignored for over a decade.
In a letter addressed to the CBP and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Wednesday, Grassley cited whistleblowers who had recently "substantiated" the findings of the GAO report. He pointed out that of the 1 million DNA samples collected by the CBP between 2020 and 2022, 227 individuals were later identified in the FBI's crime scene database.
Grassley's office, based on quarterly reports from the FBI, revealed that illegal immigrants have been linked to unresolved cases, including multi-state burglaries, sexual assaults of minors, and homicides. "Clearly, collecting even minimal DNA samples of illegal immigrants has resulted in further investigative leads and potentially solving cold case crimes against American citizens," Grassley wrote in his letter to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and CBP Acting Commissioner Troy Miller.
The Senator further warned that the "CBPs low percentage of DNA collection on illegal immigrants will undermine the service of justice and allow criminals to enter the United States to commit more crimes and threatens the safety of Americans."
Grassley has demanded a response from the agencies by November 15, seeking an explanation for their failure to collect DNA samples from illegal immigrants, including those expelled under Title 42. He has also requested information on the number of samples collected and submitted to the FBI in fiscal year 2023 and how many of those were later tied to crimes.
In addition, Grassley has asked for a status report on the implementation of the GAOs recommendations, including the creation of systems to track reasons for CBP officers failures to collect DNA. Representatives for DHS and CBP have yet to respond to requests for comment.
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