Blumenthal Questions DHS Secretary on the Future of Plum Island, Reuniting Families Separated at the Border, & NIL Rules for International Student Athletes

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee, questioned Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Alejandro Mayorkas on efforts to preserve Plum Island, reunite children who were separated from their parents at the border under the Trump administration, reform visa rules for international students who are prohibited from benefitting from their name, image, and likeness (NIL), and other issues facing the Department.

Preserving Plum Island

Blumenthal questioned Mayorkas on efforts to preserve Plum Island, which is home to many endangered and vulnerable species and two locations on the National Register of Historic Places. The island currently hosts a DHS facility which is being relocated to Kansas. Last August, Blumenthal called on the Biden administration to permanently protect the island from development.

“I'd like your commitment that DHS will commit to working with me and my colleagues to find a long-range conservation outcome for Plum Island. Particularly, if possible, it would be designated a national wildlife preserve of some kind, either national park or similarly designated so that it can be preserved,” said Blumenthal.

“Senator, you have my commitment,” said Mayorkas.

Reuniting Families Separated at the Border

Blumenthal questioned Mayorkas on the Department’s efforts to reunite children and parents who were separated at the border under the Trump administration’s family separation policy.

“I read recently about the very substantial numbers of children who are still separated from their families. They were separated as part of a Trump administration policy that struck me, and I think the entire nation, as cruel and unfounded. And yet, they are still unable to rejoin their families,” said Blumenthal. “What is being done to reunite them?”

“We have reunited more than 600 children with their families,” Mayorkas responded. “This is an effort that we are not undertaking alone as a government. We are working with the nonprofit organizations that began to identify separated families before we assumed office in January of 2021. They're doing extraordinary work. We will not cease doing this work until we complete the task of reuniting the separated families.”

Reforming NIL Rules for International Student Athletes 

Blumenthal followed up with Mayorkas about efforts to reform visa rules that prevent international student athletes from benefitting from NIL. Blumenthal also questioned Mayorkas about this effort last month, citing the unfair restrictions facing athletes like UConn’s Adama Sanogo and Aaliyah Edwards.

“He is unable to realize any benefits from his great performance, his really enormous contribution to the team,” Blumenthal said of Sanogo. “And that is because of a rule that I think you said you are going to review very, very soon. Have you reviewed it and what was your conclusion?”

“Senator, I have directed the review of that rule because of the concern that you expressed. I will have to circle back with my colleagues and report back to you with our status,” said Mayorkas. “We will deal with it with due urgency, because we do owe you a response and I understand the predicament it places on athletes, such as the one you mentioned.”

Resettling Afghan Refugees

As 88,000 Afghan refugees near the end of their two-year parole status in the United States, Blumenthal questioned Mayorkas on the Department’s permanent resettlement efforts and urged the Secretary to support the Afghan Adjustment Act to allow for additional vetting and applications for permanent legal residency.

“The Afghan Adjustment Act, which I strongly support, would address the anomalous situation of this Afghan refugees. Our former translators and guards, security people who worked with us put their lives on the line and have been brought to this country in a parole status, which unfortunately now is ending. I'm urging you to extend the parole status of Afghan evacuees and do it enough time to advance the expiration of that status to avoid uncertainty and anxiety…They live in this world of immigration status where it’s difficult for them to make plans, to get jobs, and even to even get housing” said Blumenthal.

“Operation Allies Welcome, which we alleged in a coordinated effort across the government, is a great source of pride for us to bring to safety in the United States individuals who stood alongside our armed forces in Afghanistan,” said Mayorkas. “We support the Adjustment Act and we are indeed looking at the period of parole, its upcoming expiration, and whether indeed that should be extended.”

Aiding Puerto Rico’s Response to Natural Disasters

Blumenthal asked Mayorkas about the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) response to natural disasters in Puerto Rico, such as Hurricanes Maria and Fiona. Last year, Blumenthal and Murphy led a letter to FEMA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Department of Energy calling on the agencies to reconstruct the energy infrastructure with long-term solutions that promote sustainability.  

“Do you commit to ensuring that FEMA will rebuild that infrastructure on the island of Puerto Rico with renewable resources and resiliency in mind?” asked Blumenthal.

“Senator I do. I know that FEMA administrator Criswell traveled to Puerto Rico with Jennifer Granholm, the Secretary of Department of Energy. And I've spoken with Governor Pierluisi of Puerto Rico and you have my commitment,” said Mayorkas.

Video of Blumenthal and Secretary Mayorkas’ exchange can be found here. A transcript is available below. 

U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal:  Thank you, Senator Peters. Thank you for being here, Mr. Secretary. When we were last together before the Judiciary Committee, I asked about name, image and likeness benefits for international students here on visas. The prime example at the University of Connecticut is Adama Sanogo who helped the Huskies clinch the national championship. Yet he is unable to realize any benefits from his great performance, his really enormous contribution to the team. And that is because of a rule that I think you said you are going to review very, very soon. Have you reviewed it and what was your conclusion?

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas: Senator, I have directed the review of that rule because of the concern that you expressed. I will have to circle back with my colleagues and report back to you with our status. I'm sorry I don't have that information this morning.

Blumenthal: Can you commit that it will be in a week? Ten days?

Mayorkas: We will deal with it with due urgency because we do owe you a response, and I understand the predicament it places on athletes, such as the one you mentioned.

Blumenthal: Thank you. I read recently about the very substantial numbers of children who are still separated from their families. They were separated as part of a Trump administration policy that struck me, and I think the entire nation, as cruel and unfounded. And yet, they are still unable to rejoin their families. I know you have a task force that is looking at this issue. Can you give us a number as two children who remain separated from their families or parents and what is being done to reunite them?

Mayorkas: Senator, this, the policy of the prior administration to separate children from their parents was one of the most heinous policies in our recent memory, most certainly. Very proud of the work of the Family Reunification Task Force which I'm honored to lead. We have reunited more than 600 children with their families. I do not have now, with my disposal, the precise number of children who are separated that still need to be reunited. This is an effort that we are not undertaking alone as a government. We are working with the nonprofit organizations that began to identify separated families before we assumed office in January of 2021. They're doing extraordinary work. We will not cease doing this work until we complete the task of reuniting the separated families.

Blumenthal: How many remain to be reunited?

Mayorkas: I'll have to circle back with you, Senator, to provide that information to you.

Blumenthal: I would appreciate that. On an issue of local concern, but I think also should be national concern, you may be familiar with Plum Island, a really, very, rare resource in Long Island Sound. It has been used for the Plum Island Animal Disease Center. It's also home to pristine beaches, miles of natural shoreline, critical habitat for hundreds of plants and animals. It's a DHS facility and it's being relocated to Kansas. I'd like your commitment that DHS will commit to working with me and my colleagues to find a long-range conservation outcome for Plum Island. Particularly, if possible, it would be designated a national wildlife preserve of some kind, either national park or similarly designated so that it can be preserved.

Mayorkas: Senator, you have my commitment.

Blumenthal: Thank you. The Afghan Adjustment Act, which I strongly support, would address the anomalous situation of this Afghan refugees. Our former translators and guards, security people who worked with us put their lives on the line and have been brought to this country in a parole status, which unfortunately now is ending. I'm urging you to extend the parole status of Afghan evacuees and do it enough time to advance the expiration of that status to avoid uncertainty and anxiety. Is this something that you have under consideration?

Mayorkas: Senator, it certainly is. Operation Allies Welcome, which we alleged in a coordinated effort across the government, is a great source of pride for us to bring to safety in the United States individuals who stood alongside our armed forces in Afghanistan. We support the Adjustment Act and we are indeed looking at the period of parole, its upcoming exploration, and whether indeed that should be extended.

Blumenthal: There are, as you know, more than 88,000 Afghans evacuated, flown out of the country, and resettled in the United States. About 90% of them were granted parole for only two years and so they live in this world of immigration status where is difficult for them to make plans, to get jobs, and even to even get housing. And so, the sooner you can extend that parole status the better, as I'm sure you understand.

Mayorkas: I most certainly do, Senator.

Blumenthal: Let me ask you about FEMA's disaster response in Puerto Rico. Tens of billions of dollars have been obligated to Puerto Rico to rebuild and repair the island after the recent devastating hurricanes. Hurricane Maria in 2017 involved FEMA allocating about $28 billion, yet Hurricane Fiona last year still left thousands of Puerto Ricans without power for days. In October, Senator Murphy joined me in a letter to FEMA, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Energy urging these agencies to work together and with the government of Puerto Rico and its relevant institutions to rebuild Puerto Rico with long-term resilient infrastructure. Puerto Rico has no representation in the United States Senate. So, speaking on behalf of Puerto Rico, but really all of America I think, on behalf of fellow Americans, do you commit to ensuring that FEMA will rebuild that infrastructure on the island of Puerto Rico with renewable resources and resiliency in mind?

Mayorkas: Senator I do, I know that FEMA administrator Criswell traveled to Puerto Rico with Jennifer Granholm, the Secretary of Department of Energy. And I've spoken with Governor Pierluisi of Puerto Rico and you have my commitment.

Blumenthal: Thank you very much, Mr. Secretary.

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