Thompson’s influence was strengthened by the fact that Democrats gained a majority in Congress earlier this month. Thompson is currently the House Committee on Homeland Security’s ranking member. He will likely ascend to the position he held previously. Thompson was the chairman of this committee from 2007 to 2011, when Democrats were last in control of Congress. Thompson’s seniority can be further emphasized by the fact that he was one of four Democrats to chair a committee during the last time that the party held power. He is still in office today. Thompson, as a ranking member, has voiced concern about the Trump administration’s approach to immigration and other homeland security matters. The chairman role places Thompson in a crucial position to examine Trump’s immigration policies. Thompson claimed that Trump used fears of Central American migrants rushing to the U.S. border as a way to get Republican voters motivated earlier this month. Thompson stated in a press release that Trump’s desperate efforts to militarize the southern border and tease unconstitutional immigration policies were nothing but political stunts. According to Thompson, “The President’s desperate attempts to militarize our southern border and tease out unconstitutional immigration policy are nothing more than political stunts and must be called out as such.” News outlets reported that House Democrats will hold hearings in the coming year on some of Trump’s most controversial policies, including his decision to criminally prosecute all border crossers and end the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program. Although legislation on immigration policy will be heard in the House Judiciary Committee first, Thompson’s committee is responsible for domestic security and oversight of the Department of Homeland Security. Its subagencies include U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Ur Jaddou (director of DHS Watch), a project of America’s Voice, stated that Thompson could conduct regular audits of agency expenditures and internal accountability. Jaddou said, “The Republicans failed really to do any substantive review. So this is the chance.” Thompson expressed concern last year after a white supremacist rally was held in Charlottesville, Va. Thompson said that he was concerned about the need to have stable leadership and resources to create a kep counterterrorism office that monitors domestic terror suspects. You know that the Ku Klux Klan was domestic terrorists. They were terrorists from the beginning, even though they claim they are Christians or patriots,” Thompson said to Mississippi Today. Jaddou suggested that Thompson might also investigate subcontracts between ICE-operated private prison operators. ICE spends more than $2 billion a year detaining immigrants. Federal inspections have raised concerns about the conditions at these facilities, including their staffing and medical care. Jaddou stated that “that could take up all of his time.” “If he wants to,” Thompson has received campaign donations from two of the largest private prison operators in the country, both of whom do business in Mississippi. CoreCivic, which operates the Tallahatchie County Correctional Facility, Tutwiler, provided Thompson with $1,500 each cycle for election years 2010. Over the summer, Tallahatchie began to house immigrant detainees. GEO Group donated $2,500 to Thompson’s campaign this year; GEO’s PAC reported $5,500 in campaign contributions in 2016. In 2010, GEO gave $2,000. Cathi Tactaquin is the executive director of National Network for Immigrant & Refugee Rights. She hopes that by addressing immigration as a problem, Democrats will counter Trump’s request for funding to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico frontier and hold fair hearings, which acknowledge that border crossings actually decreased over the past decade. Thompson is regarded by both national and local immigrant rights groups as committed to solving problems in immigrant communities. Tactaquin stated that building relationships between immigrant communities and civil rights groups, as well as groups in African American communities, is especially important in states such Mississippi. “There’s also not strong labor protects – there’s been a history both of racism and disenfranchisement.” Tactaquin stated that “he’s always been an excellent representative to stand up for immigration issues, especially as they relate to national security.” “We look forward to him playing an important role in the next Congress,” stated Bill Chandler, executive director of the Jackson-based Mississippi Immigrants Rights Alliance. “Being from Mississippi, we know him well. We also know that he is a man of great integrity who is committed to human right. We are excited about this prospect.