(WASHINGTON, D.C.) –Congressman Scott DesJarlais (R-TN-04) authored a letter to Department of Homeland Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas expressing concern after a recent letter to the City of Franklin from his department surfaced notifying the municipality that 573 migrants had declared their intent to relocate to Middle Tennessee.  

DesJarlais questioned Mayorkas on why DHS would release migrants who have been processed for expedited removal. 

“As Fentanyl deaths, human trafficking, and other violent crimes are on the rise due to your blatant disregard for following immigration laws on the books and leaving our border unsecure, it is of great concern to know that per your letter you are releasing “noncitizens who have been processed for expedited removal.” If these migrants have been processed for expedited removal, why are they being released?” He wrote.

The Tennessee congressman noted that under the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, DHS is required to immediately remove illegal aliens who fail to produce proper documentation or attempt to falsify information to gain entry into the U.S.

“How can a migrant without documentation or who makes fraudulent claims be properly screened and vetted? This is a serious and egregious national security risk posed to our Tennessee citizens who may encounter illegal migrant criminals unknowingly,” DesJarlais said in his letter.

Rep. DesJarlais said, “The letter that DHS sent to the City of Franklin raises more questions than it answers. Our federal, state and local leaders need to know, if there are unaccompanied minors that could be in danger, what sort of potential taxpayer resources are these migrants going to require, and how many more are on the way since this letter was sent. It’s also critical to ensure that those with reporting requirements are showing up to their court dates and regularly reporting their whereabouts to DHS. Most importantly, we need to get to the bottom of why DHS themselves said that some of the migrants released have already been processed for expedited removal.”

Rep. DesJarlais concluded the letter with asking Mayorkas a comprehensive series of questions about the 573 migrants who have declared their intent to make their way to Middle Tennessee. 

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 Congressman DesJarlais’ full letter to Secretary Mayorkas can be found here.