Vote “Yes” on Udall Amendment #1691: Strengthens Security Border Oversight Task Force with Subpoena Authority
Recipient: U.S. Senate
View the PDF of this letter here.
Dear Senator:
On behalf of The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, we urge you to support Senator Tom Udall’s Amendment #1691, which provides needed subpoena authority to the Department of Homeland Security Border Oversight Task Force to ensure effective oversight and accountability of the expanded border patrol operations. The inclusion of the Hoeven-Corker amendment in S.744, which doubles border patrol agents and fencing along the border, demands a strong accountability and oversight mechanism. Therefore, strengthening the DHS Border Oversight Task Force with subpoena authority is more crucial than ever before.
The proposed DHS Border Oversight Task Force is an essential part of the bipartisan ‘Border Security, Economic Opportunity and Immigration Modernization Act of 2013.’ This Task Force seeks to safeguard the civil rights and civil liberties of all people residing along United States borders. Composed of stakeholders ranging from business representatives to Border Patrol agents along the Northern and Southern borders, this Task Force is based on the belief that experts who live, work, govern, protect and research quality of life along our borders can be a valuable resource to Congress and DHS. Incorporating the expertise of the Task Force is essential to ensuring that border security strategies meet their stated goals while protecting the Constitutional rights of all who live along the borders. This Task Force would help to ensure that the needs and experiences of diverse local border communities are taken into account in assessing border enforcement policies.
For the Task Force to be effective, it must be able to compel Administration officials to provide relevant testimony and records in a timely fashion. By granting it subpoena power similar to those found in the Republican-sponsored DHS Accountability Act passed by the House of Representatives in the 112th Congress, the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and the 9/11 Commission, the Task Force would be well-positioned to provide Congress with accurate and informed recommendations to improve the effectiveness and accountability of our border security system.
Therefore, The Leadership Conference urges you to support Senator Tom Udall’s Amendment #1691. If you have any questions, please contact June Zeitlin, Senior Policy Counsel at [email protected] or 202-263-2852.
Sincerely,
Wade Henderson
Presdident & CEO
Nancy Zirkin
Executive Vice President