Milwaukee City Wire

U.S. Senator Ron Johnson from Wisconsin, alongside Senator Chuck Grassley from Iowa and 32 other Republican colleagues, have sent a letter urging President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to enforce the collection of DNA samples from all immigrants encountered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This demand is in accordance with the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005.

The letter highlights a missed opportunity by DHS to collect DNA from an illegal immigrant who was later involved in the murder of Rachel Morin, a Maryland mother of five. The lawmakers wrote, "Compliance with the DNA Fingerprint Act could’ve played a role in assisting law enforcement in the Rachel Morin case. Victor Antonio Martinez-Hernandez, the Salvadoran gang member that allegedly raped and killed Rachel Morin, and who also was linked to the murder of a young woman in El Salvador, crossed the border four separate times."

They emphasized that following legal procedures and protecting whistleblowers are crucial for ensuring public safety. "Following the law, protecting whistleblowers and ensuring the safety of American citizens like Rachel Morin shouldn’t be controversial. The Biden-Harris administration’s DHS must follow the law—the consequences are stark when they don’t," they continued.

Senators Rick Scott, Mike Crapo, John Thune, Jim Risch, Marco Rubio, Tim Scott, Ted Cruz, Steve Daines, Mike Braun, Josh Hawley, Roger Marshall, Eric Schmitt and Pete Ricketts joined Johnson and Grassley in this initiative.

In addition to these senators, several House representatives co-signed the letter. Among them were House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green.

The full text of their letter is available for public access.