Senate Hearing on Illegal Mining and National Security
January 1, 2020
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The Frame
The hearing examines how illegal mining activities, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, are linked to and how these operations impact U.S. national security and international human rights.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
U.S. Department of State
Agency officials provided testimony and written responses regarding international policy and security.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Agency officials provided testimony regarding investigations into transnational crime.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
Agency officials provided testimony regarding criminal investigative efforts related to illegal mining.
Last recorded activity January 1, 2020.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- The hearing was held on December 5, 2019, by the Senate Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues.
- The hearing focused on the connection between illegal mining, transnational crime, and human rights abuses.
- Senator Marco Rubio cited investigative reporting by the Miami Herald regarding illegally mined gold being transacted through South Florida.
- Witnesses included representatives from the U.S. Department of State, USAID, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
- The record includes written responses to questions submitted by Senator Benjamin L. Cardin from various agency officials.
- The record includes supplemental materials such as articles from the Miami Herald and a statement from the organization Global Witness.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of this hearing?
Who testified at this hearing?
Why It Matters
The hearing examines how illegal mining activities, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, are linked to and how these operations impact U.S. national security and international human rights.
News Coverage
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Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Use of Investigative Journalism in Oversight
The committee explicitly incorporated investigative reporting from the Miami Herald into the official record to frame the scope of the inquiry.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy20Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment10Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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