Johnson, Grassley raise concerns over lack of cooperation between DHS agencies

U.S. Sens. Ron Johnson (R-WI) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) raised concerns on Friday with the findings of a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) investigation into the lack of cooperation between DHS entities following the San Bernardino terror attacks.

The refusal of cooperation was first brought to the senators’ attention following a whistleblower leak.

“The report from the Office of Inspector General confirms whistleblower complaints I received about a dangerous lack of coordination between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS),” Johnson said. “The refusal to allow armed ICE agents into a USCIS facility to detain a suspected terrorist could have had tragic consequences. Congress created the DHS to unify and improve coordination among agencies in defending our homeland. What happened in the San Bernardino USCIS field office on December 3 shows that work remains. I hope Secretary Johnson and DHS leadership take this independent watchdog report to heart.”

The DHS OIG report found that USCIS improperly delayed Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents from conducting a lawful and routine law enforcement action. The agents waited approximately 30 minutes to access the USCIS building because the USCIS field office director incorrectly asserted that she had the authority to determine who could and could not enter the building. Additionally, the USCIS field office director incorrectly asserted that USCIS policy prohibited making an arrest or detention at a USCIS facility.

No decision has been made on changes to USCIS or information sharing between DHS agencies at this time.