Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz on Thursday demanded answers from Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) over an illegal immigrant accused of killing a constituent in Florida, after the agency initially ignored the congressman’s request.
The Daily Caller first obtained the letters Gaetz sent to ICE and the agency’s response, which did not include answers to any of his questions regarding the illegal immigrant, Byron Pineda, 33, who is accused of hitting a 21-year-old motorcyclist in Escambia County in February.
Gaetz originally sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and ICE Director Patrick Lechleitner, calling for answers over Pineda being jailed. On March 8, ICE’s Office of Congressional Relations Acting Assistant Director Sean Hackbarth responded to Gaetz without the information and demanded that the congressman obtain a privacy waiver signed by Pineda in order to review the records of his arrests. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Rep. Matt Gaetz Introduces Legislation To Cover Pay For Service Members If Government Shuts Down)
“I write today in response to your March 8th letter to me, related to my February 22, 2024, inquiry about Brian Pineda. While I support the mission of your component, and DHS more generally, and strive to maintain a positive working relationship, your response is wildly inappropriate,” Gaetz wrote in the letter. “The quick turnaround suggests that perhaps the response was in error, because it is both legally inappropriate and tone-deaf to recommend that a member of Congress seek a Privacy Act waiver from an illegal alien who murdered a constituent of mine. So I am giving you a second chance for response.”
GAETZ ASKS THESE QUESTIONS AGAIN IN HIS FOLLOW-UP LETTER:
- How did Byron Pineda enter our country?
- Why has Byron Pineda been allowed to remain in our country?
- For what crimes or reasons is Byron Pineda wanted by ICE?
- How promptly will Byron Pineda be deported if convicted in Florida?
READ THE LETTER HERE:
(DAILY CALLER OBTAINED) — … by Henry Rodgers
GAETZ ORIGINAL LETTER:
(DAILY CALLER OBTAINED) — … by Henry Rodgers
ICE’S RESPONSE:
(DAILY CALLER OBTAINED) — … by Henry Rodgers
THE WAIVER SENT BY ICE:
(DAILY CALLER OBTAINED) — … by Henry Rodgers
Gaetz is a member of the House Judiciary Committee which has jurisdiction over immigration policies and crime. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Matt Gaetz Introduces Bill To Protect States’ Right To Defend Southern Border)
In February, Gaetz introduced legislation that would codify states’ rights to defend the southern border. The bill would specifically prohibit federal officers from removing barbed wire or any other barriers set up by state governments within 25 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. It is a House companion bill to legislation introduced by Republican Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance in January.
The U.S. has recently seen several, high-profile murders allegedly at the hand of illegal immigrants, most notably the murder of Laken Riley, a nursing student from Georgia.
During President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address, the president botched Riley’s first name, referring to the victim as “Lincoln” instead of “Laken.” He also called Riley’s murder suspect an “illegal,” however he later expressed regret for using the term.
Riley’s mom, Allyson Phillips, subsequently slammed Biden for incorrectly pronouncing her daughter’s name under a Facebook post praising the Laken Riley Act, which would target criminal illegal immigrants.
“Biden does not even KNOW my child’s name – it pathetic! If you are going to say her name (even when forced to do so) at least say the right name!,” Phillips said.