Government
U.S. Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Cory Gardner (R-CO) introduced a bill last week to help state, local, and tribal governments to identify, detect, protect, respond and recover from various cyber threats.
The State Cyber Resiliency Act establishes a cybersecurity grant program to provide the... Read More »
According to a recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has made progress in planning for a biometric air exit system and reporting traveler overstays, but certain challenges have persisted in its efforts.
GAO conducted the... Read More »
Fifteen member states of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) took part in a training course last month aimed at preparing each member in handling emergency response to chemical incidents.
The course was held in Colombo, Sri Lanka from Feb. 6-10 and was the fifth... Read More »
Utah’s Davis Chamber of Commerce recently named BAE Systems Air Force Strategic Programs at the Hill Air Force Base as its Innovation Business of the Year at its annual awards banquet.
The award is given to businesses that “demonstrate the ability to drive innovation in their business... Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework, Assessment, and Auditing Act of 2017 (H.R. 1224) this week, which examines the cybersecurity capabilities of various federal agencies and requires regular audits of their... Read More »
A panel of counterterrorism experts told lawmakers on Tuesday of a growing threat of domestic terrorism that appears to be coming over the Internet from overseas affiliates of ISIS, al-Qaida and other jihadist groups.
Thomas Joscelyn, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies,... Read More »
The U.S. House Judiciary Committee scheduled a hearing, set for Mar. 1, to examine Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a provision that allows government entities to collect the communications of foreign terrorist seeking to harm the United States.
The committee said the... Read More »
U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the San Diego Sector recently apprehended a known Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) gang member after he was spotted illegally crossing the border near Potrero, California.
The incident began as agents responded to report of a suspected illegal border crossing near... Read More »
A group of Democratic senators recently criticized a reported plan by the Trump Administration that aims to reorganize U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) efforts on countering violent extremism of all types to instead focus its efforts solely on Islamic extremism.
The group includes... Read More »
According to a recent report by the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) needs to strengthen its data collection practices related to the use of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and aerostats.
The study was commissioned by the Department of Homeland... Read More »
In the wake of President Trump’s Executive Order regarding interior enforcement of the nation’s immigration laws, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently released a “fact sheet” aimed at providing clarity to the order as enforcement is carried out.
The Executive Order,... Read More »
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to the Dennis DeConcini Crossing at the Port of Nogales recently arrested a Mexican national after finding approximately $460,000 worth of heroin in the gas tank of his motorcycle.
The incident occurred as officers referred a 32-year... Read More »
U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Douglas Station in Arizona recently seized two bundles of marijuana after being catapulted across the border from Mexico.
The incident occurred on Feb. 10 as agents patrolling an area just east of the Douglas Port of Entry observed several individuals... Read More »
U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the El Centro Sector recently arrested a previously-deported aggravated felon who was convicted of homicide last week.
The incident began as agents observed two men walking north from the Calexico International Border Fence in an open desert area. Agents... Read More »
U.S. Border Patrol agents assigned to the Joint Targeting Team - South in Eagle Pass, Texas recently discovered a stash house where 11 undocumented migrants were being hidden for human smuggling.
The discovery occurred on Feb. 7 as Border Patrol agents, with assistance from the Maverick County... Read More »
According to a recent report conducted by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the U.S. Departments of Defense (DOD), Health and Human Services (HHS) and Homeland Security (DHS) should use existing coordination mechanisms to improve their response capabilities in the event of an outbreak of... Read More »
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers recently seized more than $1.6 million worth of methamphetamine and marijuana in two separate incidents.
On Feb. 3, officers assigned to the World Trade Bridge referred a 2015 Freightliner M2 truck for a more thorough secondary inspection. After... Read More »
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations unit, along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the Saint Clair County Sheriff’s Office, and the U.S. Coast Guard recently launched a new security initiative called the Port Huron Border Enforcement Security Task... Read More »
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents stationed at the Brownsville and Matamoros International Bridge recently intercepted a large shipment of alleged methamphetamine, street valued at more than $3.7 million.
On Feb. 7, a 21-year old female U.S. citizen attempted to enter the country... Read More »
Border Patrol agents stationed in southern New Mexico recently stopped two human smuggling attempts during separate incidents.
Late on Feb. 3, Border Patrol agents observed several individuals use a ladder to climb over a border fence near Sunland Park, New Mexico, entering the country... Read More »
In response to a recent report by the House Homeland Security Committee on employee screening deficiencies at America’s airports, Smiths Detection, Inc. (SDI) issued a response to the report’s recommendations and announced a first-of-its-kind pilot project for employee screening at the Miami... Read More »
The U.S. House Committee on Homeland Security recently released a report on America’s airports that detailed how inconsistencies in aviation security continue to pose a threat to the public in the fight against terrorism.
The report, titled America’s Airports: The Threat From Within, is the... Read More »
The United States Marine Corps recently invested in a next-generation water purification system, called the Individual Water Purification System Block II (IWPS II), which allows troops to obtain safe, drinkable water straight from its source.
Contemporary practices involve using filters for... Read More »
Adam Segal, chair of the Council on Foreign Relations in emerging technologies and national security, recently released a report that examined the divide between the federal government and the U.S. technology sector.
“In addition to rising cybersecurity threats, the Trump Administration will... Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives recently advanced three homeland security bills to address issues related to the nation’s nuclear, transit and cybersecurity defenses.
All three bills were authored by Rep. Dan Donovan (R-NY) and advanced with bipartisan support.
The Securing Cities Act... Read More »
Three national security-related bills authored by U.S. Rep. Martha McSally recently advanced the U.S. House of Representatives.
The first bill, the CBRN Intelligence and Information Sharing Act, aims to improve information sharing practices between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)... Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives recently advanced the Counterterrorism Advisory Board Act, which aims to coordinate and integrate intelligence activities and policy related to counterterrorism within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The bill was authored by Rep. John Katko... Read More »
The U.S. House of Representatives recently advanced the Fusion Center Enhancement Act, which aims to improve communication between the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies when detecting and responding to terrorist threats.
The bill... Read More »
U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) recently called for answers regarding a U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Inspector General (IG) report that stated U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is planning to continue the use of a computer program that allowed 175 individuals to receive U.S.... Read More »
U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Chris Coons (D-DE) introduced last week a bill to establish a Senate Select Committee on Cybersecurity that would focus exclusively on cybersecurity and cyberspace issues.
Currently, more than 20 committees claim jurisdiction over cybersecurity issues between... Read More »
According to a recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) should evaluate the procedures used by the agency’s National Targeting Center (NTC) to determine its overall effectiveness at keeping high-risk travelers off of United... Read More »
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) unmanned aircraft system (UAS) Predator B returned to San Angelo Regional Airport for a 14-week deployment on Jan 17.
The first UAS deployment at a civilian airport occurred in Jan. and Feb. 2016 for a four-week... Read More »
Battelle, a nonprofit research and development institute, said the key to preparing for the rapidly growing threat of biological or chemical weapons is by developing countermeasures with technology that is tested against live agents.
Battelle’s recommendation was directed toward defense... Read More »
In response to the rapid increase in attacks on the nation’s cyber infrastructure, the Senate Armed Services Committee recently formed a new subcommittee on cybersecurity for the 115h Congress.
U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) was named as the subcommittee’s chair, while U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson... Read More »
Rep. Dennis A. Ross (R-FL) recently reintroduced the Finish the Fence Act, which would amend the Illegal Immigration and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to complete a 700-mile border fence between the United States and Mexico by Dec. 31, 2017.... Read More »
