{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-to-mayorkas-your-job-is-to-protect-our-borders-not-interrogate-our-allies", "Cotton to Mayorkas: Your Job is to Protect Our Borders, Not Interrogate Our Allies", "2024-06-20", "2024", "2024-06", "Republican", "Senate", "AR", "Tom Cotton", "C001095", "www.cotton.senate.gov", "cotton", "https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases", "scraper", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\n\nContact: Caroline Tabler or Patrick McCann (202) 224-2353\n\nJune 20, 2024\n\nCotton to Mayorkas: Your Job is to Protect Our Borders, Not Interrogate Our Allies\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2014 Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) today sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about reports of DHS agents asking Israeli citizens applying for U.S. residence questions about their time in the Israel Defense Forces. The reported questions go beyond previous standard inquiries of applicants.\n\nIn part, Senator Cotton wrote:\n\n\u201cIf true, this Administration is expending a disgraceful amount of time, energy, and resources in a thinly veiled attempt to \u2018prove\u2019 IDF members have committed hypothetical war crimes. Meanwhile, millions of illegal immigrants, thousands of gang members, and an unknown number of terrorists have flooded across our border.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter may be found here and below.\n\nJune 20, 2024\n\nThe Honorable Alejandro Mayorkas\n\nSecretary\n\nDepartment of Homeland Security\n\nWashington, D.C. 20528\n\nDear Secretary Mayorkas:\n\nI write regarding disturbing reports that the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services is subjecting Israeli citizens to undue scrutiny of their military service. If true, this is yet another example of the administration\u2019s prejudicial treatment of Israel and its citizens.\n\nDepartment of Homeland Security (DHS) agents are reportedly asking Israelis applying for permanent U.S. resident status detailed questions about their time in the Israeli Defense Forces that go far beyond previous standard inquiries.\n\nIf true, this Administration is expending a disgraceful amount of time, energy, and resources in a thinly veiled attempt to \u201cprove\u201d IDF members have committed hypothetical war crimes. Meanwhile, millions of illegal immigrants, thousands of gang members, and an unknown number of terrorists have flooded across our border.\n\nYour time should be spent protecting our borders, not interrogating our allies.\n\nPlease provide the following information no later than July 1, 2024:\n\nProvide a list of the questions that Israeli applicants for admission to the U.S. are asked about their military service, both in their initial application and any follow up interviews. Provide a detailed explanation for any changes made to these questions after October 7, 2023.\n\nHow many Israeli applicants for permanent residence with prior Israeli military service have been approved for entry to the U.S. since October 7, 2023? How many applicants have been denied?\n\nHow many applications for permanent residence for individuals with prior Israeli military service are currently in progress?\n\nThank you for your attention to this important matter.\n\nSincerely,\n\n_________________\n\nTom Cotton\n\nUnited States Senator\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-07T21:11:47Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.cotton.senate.gov/news/press-releases/cotton-to-mayorkas-your-job-is-to-protect-our-borders-not-interrogate-our-allies"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.825254876166582, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}