Johnson requests information on DHS citizenship error

U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) requested information on Monday from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) after reports of at least 858 individuals mistakenly being granted citizenship despite being deemed ineligible.

The error occurred due to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) failing to digitize approximately 148,000 fingerprint records for aliens with final deportation orders into the Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT).

“This failure represents a significant risk to America’s national security as these naturalized individuals have access to serve in positions of public trust and the ability to obtain security clearances,” Johnson said. “During multiple hearings before my committee, DHS and State Department officials insisted that IDENT served as an effective tool to make determinations on the criminal history of an individual for national security purposes. But this report indicates that IDENT is missing key information, and has been for some time.”

Johnson’s concerns were reiterated by some of his senate colleagues, including U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).

“At a time when radical Islamic terrorism is a growing threat to our country, this report reinforces the need for a modern, state-of-the-art system that works, and a real commitment to keeping Americans safe from those seeking to break our laws or harm our citizens,” Rubio said. “Our country cannot fulfill its promise in this new century with an obsolete immigration system from the last century, and a federal government that fails in its basic responsibilities.”

DHS has yet to issue a formal response to Johnson’s request.