Senator Hirono Questions DEA Nominee on Government Cooperation and Resource Allocation

Nominee Questions and Background Checks

• 💡 Both nominees confirmed they have never made unwanted requests for sexual favors or committed sexual harassment or assault.
• ✅ They also confirmed they have never faced discipline or entered into a settlement related to such conduct.

Mission Drift and Resource Concerns

• 🎯 Senator Hirono expressed concern about the Trump administration pushing the Marshals Service and DEA agents to assist with immigration actions, calling it "obvious mission drift."
• ⚖️ She questioned the impact on judicial security, fugitive apprehension, and the potential for thousands of employees to take early retirement.
• ⚠️ Mr. Sorado stated that threats to judges are the top priority but acknowledged the Marshals Service has always had a footprint in immigration, primarily producing prisoners with holds from federal partners.
• 📉 He noted that in his district, early retirement offers have not yet had an impact, but he needs to investigate nationwide implications.

DEA Resource Diversion and Drug Trafficking

• 💊 The Senator questioned how diverting DEA agents from programs like HIDTA to arrest low-level immigration offenders helps fight drugs in communities.
• 🤝 Mr. Cole, not currently at DEA, acknowledged DEA's Title 8 authority to assist ICE but highlighted a recent raid that, while immigration-related, also yielded DEA members, MS-13 members, drugs, and weapons.
• 🚀 He anticipates such operations will target violent criminal illegal immigrants.

Working with the Mexican Government

• 🇲🇽 Senator Hirono raised concerns about how the nominee intends to work with the Mexican government, given past views of Mexico as a "failed state" controlled by cartels.
• 🤝 The nominee expressed encouragement regarding the new security director, Omar Hafuch, describing him as a friend of the United States willing to work with them and noting significant recent seizures of fentanyl and methamphetamine.