News
Sen. McCaskill observes border patrol operations along U.S.-Mexico border in Texas
U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO), the ranking Democratic member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, recently visited the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas to observe actions that are being taken by various agencies to secure the border. McCaskill’s trip included a... Read More »UC Riverside researchers examine role of RNA molecules in mosquito egg production
A team of scientists at the University of California, Riverside, recently explored ways small regulatory RNA molecules, called microRNAs, play in the mosquito egg maturation process. The team hopes that by studying microRNAs of Aedes aegypti species mosquitos, they might be able to find ways to... Read More »
ICE agents apprehend Honduran national wanted on double murder charge
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) agents recently apprehended an at-large fugitive Honduran national who is wanted in his home country for a double murder charge. Francisco Escobar-Orellana is wanted on a 2005 arrest warrant for... Read More »
Counterterrorism experts cite threat of remote-controlled “lone wolves” at hearing
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 »Aeolus Pharmaceuticals announces launch of Phase 1 study for acute radiation exposure treatment
Aeolus Pharmaceuticals, Inc. recently announced the launch of a Phase 1 study to examine the safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics of the company’s treatment for the lung and delayed effects of acute radiation exposure, called AEOL 10150. The treatment is being developed under a $118.4... Read More »
McSally tours border security operations in Rio Grande Valley
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R-AZ) recently toured border operations sites in the Rio Grande Valley to observe the progress various border agencies are making to ensure security along the United States’ international border with Mexico. McSally’s delegation included U.S. Department of Homeland... Read More »
New vaccine provides lasting protection against multiple strains of malaria in clinical testing
According to a recent study conducted by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), an investigational malaria vaccine protected a small number of healthy adults from infection with a malaria strain different from that contained in the vaccine. Results of the Phase 1... Read More »House Judiciary Committee set to examine key provision of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
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 »
NIAID clinical trial examines new vaccine against mosquito-transmitted diseases
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) recently began a Phase 1 clinical trial to examine an investigational vaccine that provides protection against a range of common mosquito-transmitted diseases, such as Zika virus, malaria, West Nile, and dengue fever. The... Read More »MS-13 gang member apprehended after illegally crossing border in San Diego County
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 »
Democratic senators denounce DHS plan to refocus domestic counterterrorism program to ignore threats from white supremacist groups
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 »
President of Bolivia visits OPCW headquarters, discusses weapons nonproliferation
The President of the Plurinational State of Bolivia, H.E. Evo Morales recently visited the headquarters of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in The Hague, Netherlands, to discuss various issues related to the implementation of provisions of the Chemical Weapons... Read More »CBP must improve data collection practices with Predator B drone, aerostat use, according to GAO
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 »
New computer model recommends intervention strategies to stop spread of pandemic disease
In the wake of the Zika virus outbreak in the Americas and the Caribbean, a university professor recently developed a biological-behavioral-operational computer model designed to help lawmakers choose the best intervention strategies to help contain the spread of infectious diseases. Eva Lee,... Read More »
European Supervisory Authorities address EU on anti-money laundering, counter-terrorist financing initiatives and risks
The European Commission recently heard testimony from three European Supervisory Authorities (ESA) on the various problems regarding money laundering and terrorist financing affecting the European Union’s (EU) financial sector. The groups, the European Banking Authority, the European... Read More »
UTMB researchers discover how Zika virus causes microcephaly
A research team at the University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) at Galveston recently discovered the mechanisms that the Zika virus uses to change the brain’s development. A report was published in a recent issue of Stem Cell Reports. Zika virus is typically spread through the bite of... Read More »
DHS provides clarity on Trump’s Executive Order on immigration
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 »
TSA installs advanced imaging technology for security screening at Erie International Airport
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently installed the new advanced imaging technology (AIT) system at the Erie International Airport, providing an enhanced layer of security for passengers. The “state-of-the-art” AIT machine combines new automated target recognition... Read More »
CBP arrests man after finding 30 pounds of heroin in motorcycle fuel tank
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 »
Interpol holds exercise in Japan for combating cybercrime
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) recently held a three-day exercise for cybercrime investigators to develop skills in combating real crimes in cyberspace. The event, held Feb. 13-15 and hosted by the National Police Agency of Japan, saw participants from 10 countries... Read More »
New joint report highlights projects to advanced key nuclear nonproliferation objectives between the US, Russia
The Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), along with the Moscow-based Center for Energy and Security Studies (CENESS), recently released a report highlighting 50 projects that advance key nuclear nonproliferation objectives for the United States and Russia across five thematic areas. The report,... Read More »Bipartisan bill introduced in Senate to stop terrorist financing
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced last week the Stop Terrorists Operational Resources and Money (STORM) Act of 2017, which seeks to provide the president additional leverage in penalizing foreign governments that fail to stop terrorist financing. The bill was authored by Sens.... Read More »
Border agents seize bundles of marijuana catapulted near Douglas Port of Entry
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 »
Federal government must strengthen US cybersecurity capabilities, according to GAO
The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report stating that the federal government needs to strengthen its capabilities regarding cybersecurity and protecting the privacy of personally-identifiable information. GAO conducted the study to provide an overview of the... Read More »FLIR Systems awarded $50 mln contract for marine electronics systems for US Coast Guard vessels
FLIR Systems, Inc. was recently awarded an indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract worth approximately $50 million to provide marine electronics systems under the U.S. Coast Guard’s (USCG) Scalable Integrated Navigation Systems 2 (SINS-2) program. The contract covers a five-year... Read More »
Bill to track cybersecurity skills of National Guard, Reserve members introduced in House, Senate
A group of U.S. House members recently introduced the Department of Defense Emergency Response Capabilities Database Enhancement Act, which aims to require the National Guard and Reserve forces to track their members cybersecurity skills. The bill was authored by Reps. Jam Langevin (D-RI), Frank... Read More »
El Centro Border Patrol arrests previously-deported felon convicted of homicide
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 »
FLIR’s Teich to retire after more than 30 years of service
Andrew C. Teich, president and CEO of FLIR Systems, Inc., recently announced his plans to retire after 33 years in the industry. Teich will continue to serve in his current role until a successor is appointed. FLIR’s board of directors will now conduct a comprehensive search for its new... Read More »
Glagio do Brasil chooses Honeywell’s Gold Shield ballistic materials for use in protective equipment
Glagio do Brasil, a Brazilian manufacturer of protective equipment for several branches of Brazil’s law enforcement and military, recently chose Honeywell’s Gold Shield ballistic composite materials for use in ballistic protective vests for the country’s second-largest police force in Minas... Read More »
McCaul addresses TSA indictment of 12 employees for cocaine smuggling
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) recently announced the indictment of 12 current and former TSA and airport employees for smuggling approximately 20 tons of cocaine through TSA security systems at Puerto Rico’s Luis Muñoz International Airport between 1998 and 2016. The... Read More »
Border Patrol agents discover 11 undocumented migrants in Eagle Pass stash house
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 »
GAO report: DOD, HHS, DHS should use existing mechanisms to better coordinate pandemic outbreak response capabilities
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 »
Senators express concerns over DHS funding, US-Mexico border wall
A coalition of Democratic senators recently wrote a public letter to Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly, concerning the diversion of funds from key agency priorities to pay for President Donald Trump’s proposed border wall. The group includes Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Brian Schatz... Read More »