Policy
Border patrol agents in Laredo help seize drug shipment from Mexico
The Laredo Sector Border Patrol Foreign Operations Branch (FOB), working with the Government of Mexico (GoM), prevented a large shipment of narcotics from entering the United States last week. Border Patrol agents with the Foreign Operations Branch, along with officials from the Mexican... Read More »
Oakland airport to utilize passenger screening dogs
In anticipation of what is projected to be the busiest summer travel season ever nationwide, the Oakland International Airport will be using highly visible canines specially trained to detect explosives and explosive components. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Alameda County... Read More »
Reps. Langevin, King, McCaskill introduce legislation to fight opioid trafficking
U.S. Reps. James Langevin (D-RI) and Peter King (R-NY) and Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) recently introduced the Joint Task Force to Combat Opioid Trafficking Act. The bill would enable Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create a Joint Task Force to improve coordination of the interdiction... Read More »
Senate bill aims to advance DoD research into brain injury treatment, prevention
The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) would have a greater capacity to track and prevent exposure to blasts that can leave service members with traumatic brain injury (TBI) under a bipartisan bill introduced in the U.S. Senate on Friday. Introduced by U.S. Reps. Joni Ernst (R-IA) and Elizabeth... Read More »
Amendment to NDAA would require reports on foreign influence over Trump, associates
The director of national intelligence would be required to report on efforts by foreign governments, individuals or entities to bribe President Trump, the Trump family or Trump Administration officials under an amendment to the fiscal year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) introduced... Read More »
House bill would establish “Border Wall Trust Fund” to accept public donations
The U.S. Department of Treasury would be authorized to create a “Border Wall Trust Fund” to accept public donations for the planning, design, construction or maintenance of a southern border wall under legislation introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Friday. Introduced by U.S.... Read More »
Mock Clade X pandemic decimates human population; denotes global pre-planning needs
The lack of both a protective vaccine and a proactive worldwide plan for tackling the spread of a catastrophic global pandemic resulted in the death of 150 million people across Earth during the recent Clade X simulation exercise hosted by the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. And minus... Read More »
Growing resistance to antifungal drugs threatens health, food security worldwide
People around the world are becoming more resistant to antifungal treatments, and according to researchers from Imperial College London and the University of Exeter, the end result could be increased outbreaks of disease and food shortages. Improvements must be made to how existing drugs are... Read More »
U.S. Customs and Border Protection introduces app for reporting small vessel entry in Florida
U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) recently launched its Reporting Offsite Arrival – Mobile (ROAM) app, which operators of small vessels can use to report their entry into Florida. To use the app, travelers input their biographic, conveyance and trip details and submit their trip for... Read More »
House approves four bills stepping up protections, support for law enforcers
The U.S. House of Representatives approved four bills last week that would take steps to enhance protections for law enforcement officers through stricter penalties, additional resources and improved collaboration with local communities. The Protect and Serve Act, H.R. 5698, aims to prevent... Read More »
NTI experts to focus on Global Health Security Index at 71st World Health Assembly
Government officials and health experts from around the world will attend the 71st World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva this week, where the Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) will give presentations on the importance of health and security and the Global Health Security (GHS) Index. NTI experts... Read More »
INTERPOL information database inquiries jump 200 percent
Use of the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) global databases has been on the rise in recent years amid growing threats of terrorist attacks in Europe, with inquiries to stolen and lost travel documents data increasing by more than 200 percent since 2014. Delegates recently... Read More »
IAEA calls for nuclear emergency communication ideas from students, young professionals
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) is calling on students and young professionals from around the world to offer new ideas regarding communication around nuclear and radiological emergencies. Calling the effort the “Young Innovative Communicators Competition,” participants must... Read More »
Houston CBP post receives new leadership
In the wake of being recently tapped Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Port Director at George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Raymond S. Polley is embracing his new post. “Houston is a great place to be,” Polley said. “I am very happy to be here and look forward to working with the... Read More »
OPCW fact-finding mission determines chlorine likely used in Saraqib, Syria
An Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) Fact-Finding Mission (FFM) reported Wednesday that it determined chlorine was likely used as a chemical weapon in Saraqib, Idlib Governorate, Syrian Arab Republic, on Feb. 4. The FFM concluded that chlorine was released from... Read More »
TSA prepares for busiest summer travel season on record
With 243 million travelers expected to pass through Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoints across the country from Memorial Day to Labor Day, TSA has already taken steps to increase screening capabilities and to rollout enhanced screening procedures. TSA has increased... Read More »
Sen. Young calls new Authorization of Use of Military Force a ‘necessary legal update’
During a U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Wednesday, U.S. Sen. Todd Young (R-IN) advocated for support of a bipartisan resolution that would update the current Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMF) passed in 2001 and 2002 to include al-Qaeda, the Taliban, and ISIS.... Read More »
Sen. Portman advocates for new Authorization for Use of Military Force
With the current Authorizations for Use of Military Force (AUMF) to combat terrorist groups dating back to 2001 and 2002, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) advocated for a new AUMF that would preserve the president’s authority while adding congressional oversight and input. Portman said during a... Read More »
Sen. Burr introduces bipartisan bill to update U.S. bioterror, pandemics law
U.S. Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), who crafted and sponsored the nation’s original law protecting public health during man-made and natural disasters, and then took the lead on the law’s subsequent restructuring, again has commanded the next phase of reauthorizing the Pandemic and All-Hazards... Read More »
Homeland Security Department announces strategy for cybersecurity efforts
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) unveiled on Tuesday its strategy for identifying and managing national cybersecurity risk. The strategy outlines the department’s operational goals and priorities as related to its cybersecurity responsibilities. It aims to harmonize and... Read More »
New cyber brief proposes network for sharing cyber threat information with private sector
The Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) Digital and Cyberspace Policy Program recently released a new cyber brief, which argued that the U.S. government should create a classified network for sharing information on cyber threats with certain private companies. “The U.S. government and private... Read More »
Georgia lawmakers push for 16th Armored Brigade Combat Team to be based at Fort Stewart
U.S. Sens. Johnny Isakson (R-GA), David Perdue (R-GA) and U.S. Rep. Buddy Carter (R-GA) is urging the U.S. Army to station the new 16th Armored Brigade Combat Team at Fort Stewart in Georgia’s Liberty and Bryan counties. In a letter sent to U.S. Secretary of the Army Mark Esper on Tuesday, the... Read More »
Senate bill seeks to enhance UAS defense systems in national airspace
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of Justice would be given new authorities to protect critical facilities from threats posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS) under a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate this week. The Preventing Emerging Threats Act of 2018 would... Read More »
House bill would create National Office for Cyberspace to bolster government’s cyber defenses
A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives in response to plans to eliminate a White House cybersecurity coordinator position would create a National Office for Cyberspace to better coordinate cyber defense efforts across the federal government. The Executive Cyberspace Coordination... Read More »
Hill introduces bill to allow cooperation between financial institutions, law enforcement
Rep. French Hill (R-AR), recently introduced the Cooperate with Law Enforcement Agencies and Watch Act, which seeks to protect financial institutions that maintain a customer account at the request of a federal or state law enforcement agency “As a former community banker, I have dealt with... Read More »
Passport impostor intercepted at Dulles International airport
The suspicions of a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer regarding a Liberian man’s effort to enter the country resulted in exposing a fraudulent passport admission. Officials said the 25-year-old man arrived at Washington Dulles International Airport on a flight from Brussels, Belgium,... Read More »
House bill would require DHS to develop comprehensive school safety strategy
The U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would be required to draft a comprehensive strategy to enhance school security and to clarify allowable uses of schools safety grants, under a bill recently introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Introduced by U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul... Read More »
ICE doubles ongoing worksite investigations from fiscal year 2017 to 2018
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) has already doubled the number of ongoing worksite cases from fiscal year 2017 to fiscal year 2018, the agency announced on Thursday. From October to early May, HSI recorded 3,510 worksite investigations,... Read More »
NATO leading development of microwave imaging system to detect explosives, weapons
Experts from NATO member-countries will collaborate on the development of a microwave imaging system that will be able to detect explosive devices and firearms in mass transportation hubs, NATO announced on Monday. Experts from France’s Office National d'Etudes et de Recherches... Read More »
Initiatives seek to counter potential drone security threats
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) officials said the agency is working to develop initiatives designed to address potential threats posed by drones. While drones, also known as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS), possess the potential to technology to... Read More »
Senators raise concerns about Trump’s decision to freeze Syria stabilization funds
A group of U.S. Senators recently sent a letter to President Donald Trump expressing concerns about his recent decision to freeze $200 million in funding for stabilization efforts in Syria, including a possible ISIS resurgence and increased foreign influence in the region. “Providing... Read More »
Senate bill would require data collection for all immigration law stops, searches
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) would be required to establish a formal record-keeping process to document stops and searches under a bill introduced in the U.S. Senate on Friday. The Department of Homeland Security Accountability and... Read More »
Committee releases summary of report on Russian ‘meddling’ in 2016 election
Russia-linked cyber attacks targeted 18 state election systems, conducted malicious access attempts on six state voting-related websites, and gained access to “restricted elements of election infrastructure” in a handful of states during the 2016 elections, according to a U.S. Senate Select... Read More »
Senators call for formal data collection processes before expanding biometric exit system
After the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it would initiate formal rulemaking for its biometric exit program, a bipartisan pair of senators called on Friday for the agency to establish formal processes and procedures for collecting passenger data before expanding the... Read More »