Policy
House bill would enhance sentencing guidelines for repeat offenders of immigration crimes
Sentencing guidelines would be strengthened for new crimes committed by undocumented immigrants who were previously convicted of unlawful entry to the country under a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday. The Peter, Ellie and Grayson Victims of Illegal Criminal Entry... Read More »
DHS S&T awards nearly $190,000 to London-based effort to improve International Screening Process
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) awarded this week $189,863 to a London startup for efforts to improve the international passenger screening process. The funds were pulled from the S&T’s Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP), which... Read More »
GAO report finds mixed results on DOD compliance with fiscal requirements related to business systems
A recent Government Accountability Office (GAO) report found that the Department of Defense (DOD) has made progress in complying with provisions for managing its defense business systems but still needs to take additional actions. The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year... Read More »Senators propose updates to authorizations for use of military force against terror organizations
U.S. Sens. Bob Corker (R-TN) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) introduced Monday legislation to update the authorizations for use of military force (AUMFs) against non-state terrorist groups abroad. The bill, cosponsored by Sens. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Chris Coons (D-DE, Todd Young (R-IN), and Bill Nelson... Read More »
NIST releases first major update to cybersecurity framework
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) released the first major overhaul of its Framework for Improving Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity on Monday, which reflects feedback collected over the last two years. Also known as the... Read More »
House bill would require plan to bolster military biodefense readiness, research
The U.S. Department of Defense would be directed to draft a plan outlining specific steps to enhance U.S. military biodefense readiness, response, and research under a bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives on April 12 in response to evolving threats around the world. Introduced... Read More »
Senators urge action against North Korea-Syria chemical weapons
A group of U.S. Senators recently called on the Trump Administration to take action to stop a “Syria-North Korea sanctions evasion scheme and North Korean efforts to advance Syria’s chemical weapons technology.” Sens. Ted Cruz (R-TX), John Cornyn (R-TX), David Perdue (R-GA), Cory Gardner... Read More »
DHS releases 2018 Mobile Security Research and Development Program Guide
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) recently released its 2018 Mobile Security Research and Development (R&D) Program Guide, which introduces the program’s technology projects, goals, and objectives. The Mobile Security R&D Program aims to address... Read More »
Survey reveals American majority favors increased biosecurity funding
In a new nationwide survey released by the Alliance for Biosecurity on Monday, 73 percent of the 1,612 Americans polled said they would support a congressional decision to increase funding to address biosecurity needs and capabilities. The survey comes as Congress faces a looming Sept. 30... Read More »
Members of Congress commend, deride U.S. airstrikes in Syria
The Trump Administration’s decision to target Syrian chemical weapons facilities on Friday has been applauded by Republican lawmakers as a key step in upholding prohibitions on chemical weapons and has been criticized by Democratic lawmakers as “reckless” and potentially illegal. U.S.... Read More »
DEA fugitive on FBI’s Top Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) recently added to its Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list Rafael Caro-Quintero, who is wanted for his alleged involvement in the 1985 kidnapping and murder of Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) Special Agent Enrique Camarena Salazar aka “Kiki.” Caro-Quintero... Read More »
Nuclear Threat Initiative welcomes new leadership
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI) announced recently several leadership changes within the organization. Former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Michael Mullen and Nathalie Tocci, director of the Istituto Affari Internazionali in Italy, joined the organization's Board of... Read More »
Heads of NCBs Conference focuses on technological, strategic innovation in law enforcement
The 14th annual Heads of National Central Bureaus (NCBs) Conference held this week focused on the role NCBs play in supporting technological and strategic innovation in law enforcement. Attending the three-day meeting, 295 senior police officials from 145 countries explored the theme “NCBs:... Read More »
Senators call for support for COPS hiring grants in fiscal year 2019 budget
A bipartisan group of 41 senators called for at least $225.5 million in funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Hiring Program in the fiscal year 2019 federal budget on Wednesday. Hiring grants administered through the COPS program can be used by state, local and tribal law... Read More »
House advances bill to crack down on human trafficking through financial system
The U.S. House of Representatives advanced legislation on Tuesday that would help financial institutions and law enforcers identify human traffickers using the financial system. The End Banking for Human Traffickers Act, H.R. 2219, would add the secretary of the treasury to the President's... Read More »
United States removes travel restrictions placed on Chad
President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the Republic of Chad has raised its security standards to meet baseline U.S. national security requirements and that the United States would remove travel restrictions placed on the country, effective April 13. As a result of the removal, Chad... Read More »
OPCW to address Douma chemical weapons allegations
The Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) will embark upon a mission to Douma, as a means of addressing chemical weapon allegations. Officials said the OPCW Technical Secretariat has requested the Syrian Arab Republic make the necessary arrangements for such a deployment.... Read More »
Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force highlights importance of speed, innovation
Gen. Stephen Wilson, vice chief of staff of the Air Force, spoke this week at the 2018 Future of War Conference in Washington, D.C., where he emphasized the importance of speed, connectivity, and innovation for future war. Wilson said that the Air Force must be able to quickly collect and... Read More »
Monthly terror threat assessment underscores fight against ISIS, homegrown terrorists
With the Iraqi government reclaiming control of more territory from ISIS, the focus has shifted to processing more than 19,000 individuals being held on terror-related charges, according to the April Terror Threat Snapshot released by the U.S. House Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday. The... Read More »
Senate bill would establish privacy bill of rights for American consumers
As Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified on Capitol Hill on Tuesday about the company’s policies related to user data, a bill was introduced in the U.S. Senate to establish a privacy bill of rights to protect the personal information of America’s online consumers. U.S. Sens. Edward Markey... Read More »
Santa Teresa border wall work underway
Officials said construction for a border wall replacement in Santa Teresa with new bollard style wall is underway. The existing barrier will be replaced with an 18- to 30-foot high bollard-style wall, officials noted, referencing the contract, which Customs and Border Protection (CBP) awarded to... Read More »
RAND study examines how U.S. can improve tactics to counter political warfare
The RAND Corporation recently released a study that explores modern political warfare and offers recommendations for how the U.S. government and its allies can counter these types of actions by adversaries. Political warfare refers to measures that do not fit the definition of conventional... Read More »
Lawmakers oppose inclusion of social media ‘scraping’ in ICE extreme vetting initiative
Democratic leaders of the U.S. House Homeland Security called on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Friday to abandon plans to include social media scraping in an “extreme vetting” initiative for visa applicants. In a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, the... Read More »
F-35B Lightning II aircraft arrives at U.S. Central Command
The F-35B Lightning II aircraft recently arrived at U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on MacDill Air Force Base in Florida for a two-day visit to inform CENTCOM leadership about the capabilities and limitations of the F-35B platform. The aircraft is fully operational and ready for combat. It will... Read More »
DSI’s Border Security Summit to discuss border protection, advance intelligence capabilities
The 2018 Border Security & Intelligence Summit, presented by the Defense Strategies Institute, will provide an open forum for the discussion of initiatives in action that strengthen U.S. border protection and advance the development of intelligence capabilities. The summit, titled “Enhancing... Read More »
DoJ seizes control of Backpage.com, hands down indictments related to sex trafficking
The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) seized control of Backpage.com and indicted seven individuals on Friday amid allegations that the online classifieds website has facilitated human sex trafficking for years. After leading a two-year investigation into Backpage.com, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman... Read More »
Syria chemical attack condemned by President Trump, Sen. McCain
A suspected chemical weapons attack by the Asaad regime last week has been condemned by U.S. President Donald Trump, who also called out Russia and Iran for backing Asaad. “Many dead, including women and children, in mindless chemical attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and... Read More »
Measure seek to bolster civil defense preparedness
Reps. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) and Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI) recently introduced a bill designed to strengthen civil defense preparedness in Hawaii and across the country. Gabbard and Hanabusa said the Civil Defense Preparedness Act of 2018 would expand existing Department of Homeland Security (DHS)... Read More »
Delaware to receive $3 million to enhance election security
Rhode Island will receive $3 million in support from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to update elections equipment, reinforce cybersecurity measures and enhance overall election security, U.S. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) announced on Friday The funds are part of the $380 million in... Read More »
Sen. Portman highlights need for continued U.S. support following trip to Ukraine
Following a recent visit to Ukraine, U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) called on Wednesday for continued U.S. support after witnessing Russian aggression in Eastern Ukraine first-hand. Portman, the co-chairman of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, visited Ukrainian military positions and was briefed by... Read More »
Lawmakers call on FCC to investigate fake cell towers in Washington, D.C.
In response to reports that foreign actors may have placed surveillance equipment around Washington, D.C., that mimics cellular towers, Democratic leaders of the U.S. House of Representatives called on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to crack down on Wednesday. The cell-site... Read More »
Global Entry endeavor reaches milestone
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officials said its flagship Trusted Traveler Program, Global Entry, has eclipsed the five million member milestone. CBP personnel said Global Entry provides expedited clearance for pre-approved, low-risk travelers upon arrival in the United States. As of... Read More »
DHS drill leads to formation of Virtual Operation Support Team in Washington state
As part of a simulation last year, digital disaster services volunteers from Whatcom County, Washington, and the Township of Langley, British Columbia, Canada, practiced discerning fact from fiction online to keep responders informed during the hypothetical eruption of Mt. Baker, an active volcano... Read More »
Democratic committee leaders renew call for congressional review on election security
Democratic leaders of the U.S. House Science, Space and Technology Committee formally called for a congressional review of election security on Wednesday for the third time since January. In a letter to U.S. Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX), the chairman of the committee, U.S. Reps. Eddie Bernice... Read More »