John M. wrote on Jul 25
th, 2017 at 10:12pm:
Rubio, Nelson and the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs will be hearing from me soon. Promise
It is done.
I urge you all to copy and paste this message to your individual senators and the HSGAC @
https://www.hsgac.senate.gov/contact/committee Sirs,
It has come to my attention that Senate Bill S.1560 has been referred to the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee for review.
It is extremely important that the following issue be addressed before all else, concerning this Bill:
SEC. 3.
(a)
Applicants.—Beginning not later than 30 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security—
(1) shall require that polygraph examinations are conducted on all applicants for law enforcement positions; and
(2) may not hire any applicant for a law enforcement position who does not pass a polygraph examination.
(b)
Targeted Polygraph Reinvestigations—Beginning not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security, as part of each background reinvestigation, shall administer a polygraph examination to—
(1) every CBP law enforcement employee who is determined by the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security to be part of a population at risk of corruption or misconduct, based on an analysis of past incidents of misconduct and corruption; and
(2) every ICE law enforcement employee who is determined by the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security to be part of a population at risk of corruption or misconduct, based on an analysis of past incidents of misconduct and corruption.
(d)
Random Polygraph Reinvestigations—Beginning not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall—
(1) randomly administer a polygraph examination each year to at least 5 percent of CBP law enforcement employees who are undergoing background reinvestigations during that year and have not been selected for a targeted polygraph examination under subsection (b)(1); and
(2) randomly administer a polygraph examination each year to at least 5 percent of ICE law enforcement employees who are undergoing background reinvestigations during that year and have not been selected for a targeted polygraph examination under subsection (b)(2).
The Bill forbids the CBP and ICE from hiring an individual who fails the polygraph examination, but fails to address the issue of what to do with an existing law enforcement official that does not pass a polygraph examination. Even DOD regulations state that no unfavorable administrative actions shall be taken based solely on the results of the polygraph examination.
Answering this question is crucial to ensure that abuse and corruption don’t take place in the Customs and Border Patrol and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement like they have at the Defense Intelligence Agency.
I urge you to raise this issue with the committee as individual and civil rights are at stake.
Very Respectfully,