A Tennessee congressman blasted the Biden administration after it was revealed last week that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) knew that nearly 600 illegal aliens planned to travel to Middle Tennessee after they were released from detainment.
“Joe Biden’s efforts to transport illegal aliens into Franklin, Davidson County, and Mt. Juliet are reprehensible,” said Representative Andy Ogles (R-TN-05) on X. “Middle Tennessee deserves answers. That’s why I’ve sent a letter to [DHS Secretary] Mayorkas demanding responses to all my questions regarding this troubling incursion into our community.”
🚨Joe Biden's efforts to transport illegal aliens into Franklin, Davidson County, and Mt. Juliet are reprehensible. Middle Tennessee deserves answers. That’s why I’ve sent a letter to Mayorkas demanding responses to all my questions regarding this troubling incursion into our… pic.twitter.com/PBXToad4Wj
— Rep. Andy Ogles (@RepOgles) February 5, 2024
Ogles attached a lengthy letter addressed to Mayorkas.
“On Thursday, my constituents in Tennessee’s Fifth District were made aware of a DHS Transport Advisory ‘Intended Destination of Noncitizens Processed at the Southwest Border’ from September 16, 2023 (attached),” the letter said. “In that Transport Advisory, DHS noted that 573 aliens provided the Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN Core Based Statistical Area as their intended destination.”
Noting that his constituents are concerned with the news, Ogles said in the letter that he is “disappointed” with DHS’ unwillingness to be transparent on the issue of migration to his district.
Further, he noted that President Joe Biden’s DHS has an “established record of releasing millions of illegal aliens into the interior of the United States,” and he demanded answers to the following seven questions:
- Is the only way to figure out an alien’s previous criminal history by way of a voluntary answer from the alien? Please speak to the capabilities of DHS, CBP, and ICE in discovering past criminal convictions.
- Of the 573 aliens … that are coming to our Core Based Statistical Area, do you know how many of them entered the United States via a lawful port of entry? Can you report how many of that number entered the United States between ports of entry?
- To date, how many aliens of the 573 aliens have been transported to Middle Tennessee (our Core Based Statistical Area) since September 16, 2023? Can you specify the dates and locations of when these noncitizens were transported to our Core Based Statistical Area?
- How many more aliens/noncitizens have provided an intended destination to Nashville- Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin, TN since September 16, 2023? How many of those aliens have since been sent to our Core Based Statistical Area…? Where (location) and when (date) were these aliens transported to Middle Tennessee? Are there additional plans to transport additional aliens to our area?
- Who facilitates the transport of aliens into our community? Who pays for their transportation? If there are NGOs involved in the transport of aliens to Middle Tennessee, please name those organizations.
- Is it a common Department practice to notify relevant federal and state officials of such transfers?
- Are local officials contacted when aliens are transferred into their localities? Are these officials given notice prior to the arrival of the aliens, and if so, how much notice?
As reported last week by The Tennessee Star, 573 “noncitizens” from Guatemala, Venezuela, Honduras, and Mexico planned Franklin, Nashville, Davidson County, and Murfreesboro following their release from DHS custody.
The notice was dated September 16, 2023, and directed specifically to the City of Franklin.
“It is important to note that these data reflect the intended destination reported by noncitizens at the time of their initial encounters with CBP; DHS does not have a role in transporting released noncitizens to their intended destination and does not have a role in validating travel plans,” DHS said in its notice to the City of Franklin. “As a result, this information may not accurately reflect individuals who will travel to that destination, remain at that destination, or when they may arrive. With these caveats, DHS is providing these data to potential receiving cities in response to requests for planning purposes only.”
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on X / Twitter.
Photo “Andy Ogles” by Congressman Andy Ogles. Background Photo “Franklin, Tennessee, Downtown” by Ichabod.CC BY-SA 3.0.
Thank you Mr. Ogles, now Marsha and Bill Haggerty should join your effort. If not, they should leave.
Thank you Sen. Ogles!