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Border Security

An Ounce of Prevention: DHS Private Sector Preparedness Programs

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May 5, 2010

The attempted car bombing in Times Square and the unfolding environmental disaster in the Gulf Coast remind us of the importance of preparing for emergencies. Particularly when companies face lawsuits alleging failure to safeguard employees, customers or the community – lawsuits that are common when the unexpected occurs – companies face the question: “Should more have been done?” Two private sector preparedness programs administered by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) can help a business’s employees, customers, and community and may even limit liability.

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Enhanced Passenger Screening Requires Enhanced Airline Cooperation

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May 5, 2010

It’s unclear from news reports who precisely stopped Faisal Shahzad – the would-be Times Square bomber – from departing the United States. While his name appeared to have been added to the No-Fly list on Monday afternoon, he was still able to board an Emirates Airlines flight to Dubai. While we should be grateful for the successful conclusion of a 48-hour manhunt, the last-minute rush to prevent the plane from taking off underlines the need for close cooperation and timely communication between the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), particularly CBP, and the airlines.

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Immigration in Arizona vs North Korea: Where do you want to live?

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May 4, 2010

I recently received a rather bizarre e-mail pointing out that countries such as North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Cuba have robust border security and don’t tolerate people crossing their borders illegally. The e-mail went on to point out the generous (but inaccurately described) benefits the United States grants to people who enter our country illegally and implied that we would not have a problem with illegal entry if we just took a page from these less-than-democratic countries. While I’d like to think this was left wing satire, I’m afraid it was a serious anti-immigrant solution to the problem.

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Shippers Meet Goal for Passenger Flight Cargo Exams

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May 4, 2010

Shippers Meet Goal for Passenger Flight Cargo Exams – Business Week
U.S. shippers met a goal to inspect 75 percent of cargo such as fish and flowers traveling with checked bags on passenger flights after air-freight companies added gear to meet rules for examining all shipments.

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Oversight, Grocery Lists and Mortar Boards… Oh My

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April 28, 2010

If you wanted an example of Congressional oversight gone amuck, all you had to do was watch the April 27 hearing of DHS Secretary Napolitano in front of the Senate’s Judiciary Committee. I had hopes the hearing might possibly tackle the cumbersome issue of Congressional oversight. My hopes were quickly crushed as the hearing did not come close to dealing with this issue. Instead the hearing ended up being a potpourri of questions fired at the Secretary on the issues du jour that were on each of the Senators minds.

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Immigration Reform – An Unavoidable Collision Course

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April 26, 2010

A couple of weeks ago, right after the final Health Care Bill vote, I was asked by some friends and business colleagues what I thought the chances were for Congress to tackle immigration reform this year. I looked at them, laughed and said, “Are you kidding?” Regardless of what political prognosticators and TV pundits may say, to me this was a no-win issue for Democrats and Republicans and both sides would avoid it at all costs before November’s mid-term elections. But the Arizona Governor’s signature last week of the toughest immigration bill in the country is literally forcing the hands of both political parties to skate on perilously thin ice in an election year when it comes to their political bases.

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Arizona Takes Steps the Feds Won’t

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April 26, 2010

Last week the Arizona legislature voted for, and Governor Jan Brewer signed, a strict new anti-illegal immigration law that, among other things, requires law enforcement officers in the state to arrest people they encounter in official efforts who are illegally present in the United States. Tossing aside potential federalism issues with the state law, the fact that a state has felt the need to adopt legislation for what we all agree is a basic federal government responsibility – protecting our borders – is alarming and telling of the paralysis in Washington.

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Congress Gears up for Immigration Policy Overhaul

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April 22, 2010

Congress Gears up for Immigration Policy Overhaul – CQ Homeland Security
Congressional debate in the coming weeks is expected to center on efforts to change U.S. immigration policies. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., reached an agreement Tuesday to make immigration a top legislative priority, CQ reported.

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Rep. Kirkpatrick Impressed by SBInet Demo

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April 15, 2010

Homeland Security Today – preparedness and security news – Kirkpatrick Impressed by SBInet Demo The virtual fence project at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has gained another congressional admirer–freshman Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.), who witnessed it in operation during a recent visit to Arizona’s international border with Mexico.

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Immigration Overhaul Critical to Border Security, Think Tank Says

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April 13, 2010

Immigration Overhaul Critical to Border Security, Think Tank Says – CQ Homeland Security
Comprehensive revision of U.S. immigration law is the most important way to secure the nation’s borders, the Center for American Progress said in a report released Monday. The report, titled “Doing What Works: Doing What Works to Ensure Immigration Reform Is Complete and Comprehensive,” describes myriad problems with the Department of Homeland Security “virtual fence” program known as SBInet and the need for more manpower at the borders.

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