Congressman Cohen Asks a Third Time for ICE Policies and Priorities

WASHINGTON - Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-9) wrote to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for a third time Tuesday seeking answers about the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's policies and priorities and the accuracy of its public statements about them.

Congressman Cohen said that the department's stated goal of deporting "the worst of the worst" - those convicted of murder, rape or sexual abuse of children -- doesn't appear to be the practice since only 8 percent of detainees by one estimate have ever been convicted of violent crimes. "I find your rhetoric misleading," the letter says in part.

Congressman Cohen said he returned to Washington after the August recess to discover that the longtime maintenance man in his building had been arrested by ICE. Residents and others have raised more than $56,000 in a GoFundMe campaign for his legal assistance and his family's support.

"To the best of my knowledge, and that of many of my neighbors, he was never involved in any criminal activity -- simply a hard-working man trying to support his American citizen children. There when I left, gone when I came back," the letter says.

Congressman Cohen reiterated his questions in letters dated February 13 and March 28,for which he has not received a reply, asking for the number of unauthorized immigrants ICE has apprehended since January 20 and how many of those were convicted of crimes and in what jurisdictions.

See the entire letter here.

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