On Sunday, the American Freedom Defense Initiative (AFDI) hosted a “Muhammad Art Exhibit and Cartoon Contest,” and two gunmen opened fire on the event. Violence is never OK, and this kind of inflammatory activity actually perpetuates the threat from violent extremism. AFDI is not blameless in their rhetoric.
Members of Congress recently re-introduced the Residue Entries and Streamlining Trade (REST) Act, and at issue were requirements on getting empty containers back into the United States. CBP should be applauded for a policy on delaying these additional requirements.
Fans of the space epic Star Wars are eagerly awaiting the release of the next installment in the film, but there is already a real-life battle in space, and the U.S. government is looking to the private sector for help. Defense Sec. Ash Carter recently spoke of a “GPS of Things.” What is that and what does it mean for the future of warfare and commerce?
Rumors have been swirling around the homeland security community for the past three weeks that U.S. Coast Guard Vice Admiral Pete Neffenger would be named to lead the Transportation Security Administration. Today, the White House made it official.
The infamous Tommy-gun toting John Dillinger was once asked why he robbed banks. He responded, “Because that’s where the money is.” That simple logic is similar to the thinking of government leaders, like DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson, who are looking to California as a vault holding a priceless commodity—a high-tech workforce.
Given the growing threat of ISIS recruitment, the Department of Homeland Security Science and Technology Directorate sponsored a field study to reveal the terrorist group’s actions in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. Lead investigators Dr. Erroll Southers and Justin Hienz present the results from their fieldwork in a new study, “Foreign Fighters: Terrorist Recruitment and Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Programs in Minneapolis-St. Paul.”
U.S. Attorney Andrew Luger recently announced the arrest of six individuals who conspired to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State. There is a persistent recruitment threat in the Somali community in Minnesota. Why is ISIS so effective in recruiting there?
The U.S. Senate has confirmed Russell Deyo to be the Department of Homeland Security’s Under Secretary for Management on April 16, after leaving Deyo’s nomination hanging for months. On a vote of 95-2, Senators finally filled the remaining major DHS leadership position. It’s about time.
On the eve of the second anniversary of the Boston Marathon bombing, Juliette Kayyem and WGBH radio have launched a new Podcast, “Security Mom,” offering a fresh take on the nation’s homeland security conversation.
Homeland security is paramount, but facilitating trade should not be far behind and a part of this is customer service. Homeland security and good customer service should be considered complimentary and result in an even safer travel environment.
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