DHS is under scrutiny from Grassley over 'alarmingly low' DNA testing for illegal immigrants.

Senator Chuck Grassley, a Republican from Iowa, is demanding explanations from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) regarding new data indicating that only a small percentage of DNA samples from illegal immigrants are being sent to the FBI for analysis.

Grassley wrote to CBP Commissioner Miller and Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas, stating that his office has received whistleblower information regarding CBP's DNA collection practices on immigrants at the northern and southern borders.

He wrote that in the first three quarters of FY23, the FBI received an alarmingly low percentage of DNA samples.

In Q1 of FY23, there were 865,333 migrant encounters, and 347,231 DNA samples were received by the FBI, which is about 40% of the total number of encounters.

In Q2, only 31.21% of the FBI received data, while in Q3, the number increased to 37%. He stated that he had previously requested FY 23 data but had not received it.

"The continued failure of CBP and DHS to collect DNA on illegal immigrants is deeply concerning, as it weakens our justice system and empowers criminals to illegally cross our border, jeopardizing American lives."

The Justice Department broadened the number of people who can be fingerprinted under the 2005 DNA Fingerprint Act in 2020, but there are still exemptions for under 14-year-olds and those who already have a DNA profile, according to a recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.

The government has been grappling with a shortage of test kits, and Republicans have brought attention to a reported 15-month backlog on DNA testing.

Grassley points to various reports demonstrating that DNA matches have linked illegal immigrants to crimes, including unsolved cases, despite what he considers inadequate DNA efforts by federal authorities.

Grassley requests specific information in his letter, including whether Jose Antonio Ibarra, who was charged for the murder of a Georgia student and is an illegal immigrant released into the U.S. last year, had ever undergone a DNA sample.

Fox contacted CBP and DHS to request data for Q4 and FY 24, as well as additional plans to implement the DNA Fingerprint Act.

As illegal immigration is set to be a top issue in 2024, both President Biden and former President Trump recently visited the southern border in Texas, with polling indicating it is a major concern for voters.

According to CBP sources, over 21,000 migrant encounters have occurred in the past 72 hours, with Tucson Sector being the busiest with more than 5,400. This surge is consistent with traditional patterns as numbers increase during the Spring, but the magnitude of the surge suggests it will be significant.

Planet Chronicle' Griff Jenkins contributed to this report.