East Idaho Times

U.S. Senators Jim Risch and Mike Crapo, both from Idaho, have joined Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa and 31 other congressional colleagues in urging President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to enforce the collection of DNA samples from all immigrants encountered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This demand aligns with the requirements set forth in the DNA Fingerprint Act of 2005.

The lawmakers expressed their concerns in a letter to President Biden and Vice President Harris, stating: “Following the law, protecting whistleblowers and ensuring the safety of American citizens like Rachel Morin shouldn’t be controversial.” They emphasized that adherence to this law is crucial for public safety.

The DNA Fingerprint Act mandates federal law enforcement agencies to collect DNA from every individual arrested, charged, convicted, or detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Whistleblowers have reported that DHS's failure to collect DNA has hindered efforts to combat violent crime. The department reportedly missed three opportunities to gather DNA from an illegal immigrant who later murdered Rachel Morin, a mother of five from Maryland.

Patty Morin, Rachel’s mother, commented on her daughter's death: “It is beyond heartbreaking to know that my daughter’s brutal death could have been prevented. This isn’t just a bureaucratic oversight; it’s a deadly failure that turned a protective measure into a hollow promise.” She criticized the administration's approach to border security, questioning how many more lives need to be lost before action is taken.

Other senators supporting this initiative include Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Rick Scott of Florida, John Thune of South Dakota, Marco Rubio also from Florida, Tim Scott of South Carolina, Ted Cruz of Texas, Steve Daines of Montana, Mike Braun of Indiana, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Eric Schmitt also from Missouri and Pete Ricketts from Nebraska.