SubscribeU.S. to Insist That Travel Industry Get Fingerprints
April 22, 2008
“The U.S. government today will order commercial airlines and cruise lines to prepare to collect digital fingerprints of all foreigners before they depart the country under a security initiative that the industry has condemned as costly and burdensome.” (Washington Post)
Airport screeners to get more security training
April 21, 2008
“Airport screeners are about to get new security training designed to help them think creatively about possible threats _ including those they have never thought of.
“We have to prepare for attacks that don’t fit our procedures,” such as the traveler who stuffed a block of cheese wrapped in wire into a checked bag, Transportation Security Administration Kip Hawley told reporters Friday.” (Washington Post)
On the border with Michael Chertoff
April 19, 2008
“The Homeland Security secretary is the point man for White House efforts to stop illegal immigration. He has an ambitious agenda — and a stubborn streak to match.” (LA Times)
US homeland security chief says terror groups recruiting Western Europeans
April 17, 2008
“Terrorist groups are believed to be actively recruiting Western Europeans for possible attacks in Europe, or to use the continent as a springboard for strikes in the United States, the U.S. Homeland Security chief said Tuesday.” (International Herald Tribune)
U.S. to Expand Collection Of Crime Suspects’ DNA
April 17, 2008
“The U.S. government will soon begin collecting DNA samples from all citizens arrested in connection with any federal crime and from many immigrants detained by federal authorities, adding genetic identifiers from more than 1 million individuals a year to the swiftly growing federal law enforcement DNA database.” (Washington Post)
TSA may begin air passenger background checks in 2009
April 17, 2008
“The Homeland Security Department plans to begin a controversial airline passenger screening program as early as January — as long as it can win over skeptical lawmakers.
The department’s Transportation Security Administration plans to take over the responsibility for screening passengers against government terrorist watch lists beginning in 2009, TSA Administrator Kip Hawley told the House Homeland Security Transportation Subcommittee Tuesday.” (GovExec)
NRC to expand radioactive materials tracking system
April 15, 2008
“The Nuclear Regulatory Commission wants to significantly expand the number and type of radioactive materials the agency will track in a Web-based system under development.
The National Source Tracking System, which is to be fully implemented by Jan. 31, 2009, originally was conceived in late 2006 to account for the actions of 1,350 radioactive materials licensees who possess some of the most dangerous material from a security standpoint.” (GovExec)
Fight over border fence environmental waivers could reach Supreme Court
April 15, 2008
“The U.S. Supreme Court may get a chance to join the fractious debate over building fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border.
A legal challenge by two environmental groups seeking to limit enhanced Department of Homeland Security powers to suspend more than 30 laws to build the fence is gathering support in Congress.” (Dallas Morning News)
Doctor withheld information on foiled Glasgow bomb attacks
April 14, 2008
“A doctor whose brother died after staging a failed suicide car bombing at Glasgow airport pleaded guilty Friday to withholding information from police about that and two other attacks.” (AFP)
Border Patrol tries to lure retired troops
April 14, 2008
“The Border Patrol, scrambling to hire thousands of agents by the end of the year, is taking its recruiting efforts overseas to try to enlist military veterans as they leave their tours of duty.
Two teams of agency officers just returned from visiting six U.S. military bases in Germany where they persuaded nearly 100 veterans to apply to join the Homeland Security Department as border agents.” (USA Today)
