HomelandSecurity.com - A Homeland Security Resource Since 2000 » Site Topics

US to leave Mexican border crossing to rangers

admin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 12:34:54 +0000

“The bloody drug war in Mexico shows no sign of relenting. Neither do calls for tighter border security amid rising fears of spillover violence.
This hardly seems a time the U.S. would be willing to allow people to cross the border legally from Mexico without a customs officer in sight. But in this rugged, remote West Texas terrain where wading across the shallow Rio Grande undetected is all too easy, federal authorities are touting a proposal to open an unmanned port of entry as a security upgrade.”

(The Associated Press: US to leave Mexican border crossing to rangers)

25,000 TSA Security Breaches Since 2001

admin — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 12:14:59 +0000

“The Transportation Security Administration has suffered more than 25,000 security breaches in U.S. airports in the past ten years, a House subcommittee on National Security is expected to report today.

The subcommittee, which is under the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform and is scheduled to hold a hearing today on TSA oversight, totaled the breaches after reviewing Department of Homeland Security documents on travel starting two months after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks. “

Source: 25,000 TSA Security Breaches Since 2001: Government Report – ABC News

Cancer in TSA Employees Rises as the TSA Ignores the Problem

admin — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 11:43:54 +0000

“As if the Fourth Amendment and groping/naked body scans weren’t big enough problems for the new TSA regulatory searches, new information obtained under the Freedom of Information Act shows a rise in cancer among TSA employees operating the body scanner machines and the TSA’s attempt to cover up the scary reality of how unsafe these machines are. “

Source: Cancer in TSA Employees Rises as the TSA Ignores the Problem – Technorati Politics

The Projected Al Qaeda Use of Body Cavity Suicide Bombs Against High Value Targets

admin — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 02:34:10 +0000

“Dr. Robert J. Bunker has been working for the last few years on assessing the potential use of body cavity bombs (BCB) or body cavity suicide bombs (BCSB) as a variation of suicide bombing tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs).1 Sadly or on the indications and warning (I&W) side fortunately, it seems by careful analysis of transactions and signatures, trends and potentials, and capabilities and intentions (i.e., the Transaction Analysis Cycle)2 Dr. Bunker has forecast a terrorist innovation”

Source: The Projected Al Qaeda Use of Body Cavity Suicide Bombs Against High Value Targets :: GroupIntel

Pilots and passengers rail at new airport patdowns

admin — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 17:06:07 +0000

“Stepped-up security screening at airports in the wake of foiled terrorism plots has provoked an outcry from airline pilots and travelers, including parents of children who say they are too intrusive.

With the busiest holiday travel season nearing, fliers face long security lines and new rigorous patdown checks begun in recent weeks aimed at discovering hidden explosives. As a result, some travelers are questioning whether to fly at all.

The Transportation Security Administration has ramped up airport security after two plots by al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula. A Nigerian man hid a bomb in his underwear last Christmas and the group tried to send package bombs via U.S. cargo carriers but none of the explosives detonated.”

(Source: Pilots and passengers rail at new airport patdowns | Reuters)

Social Network Surveillance by Feds in Spotlight

admin — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 20:29:53 +0000

“A Freedom of Information Act request by privacy watchdogs revealed the Department of Homeland Security surveilled social networks during President Obama’s inauguration as well as an effort to use social networks to investigate citizenship petitions.”

(Source: Social Network Surveillance by Feds in Spotlight – Security from eWeek)

Indians grab maximum number of H-1B visas

admin — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:39:34 +0000

“Indian professionals grabbed one-third of the H-1B visas in 2009, even as there was a slump for the most coveted US work visas in the past two years.

For the second year in running, there appears to be a low key response to the US HS-1B visas with only 24,200 applications being received until July 2.

The US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has received some 10,400 applications against the Congressional cap of 20,000 for individuals with advanced degrees. “

(Source: Indians grab maximum number of H-1B visas – India – The Times of India)

Arizona governor signs immigration bill

admin — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 03:13:51 +0000

“Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer signed a bill Friday that requires police in her state to determine whether a person is in the United States legally, which critics say will foster racial profiling but supporters say will crack down on illegal immigration.

The bill requires immigrants to carry their alien registration documents at all times and requires police to question people if there is reason to suspect that they’re in the United States illegally. It also targets those who hire illegal immigrant day laborers or knowingly transport them.

The Republican governor also issued an executive order that requires additional training for local officers on how to implement the law without engaging in racial profiling or discrimination.

‘This training will include what does and does not constitute reasonable suspicion that a person is not legally present in the United States,’ Brewer said after signing the bill.

‘Racial profiling is illegal. It is illegal in America, and it’s certainly illegal in Arizona,’ Brewer said.”

(Arizona governor signs immigration bill – CNN.com)

It’s Time for TSA 2.0: Let General Harding Focus on Operations

admin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 13:20:07 +0000

What the TSA needs now is a good makeover; hopefully Major General (retired) Robert Harding is going to be the one to bring in the new broom . TSA has languished for years under a cloud of mistakes, errors and just plain carelessness with respect to their public image and their overall effectiveness. Most recently, a disgruntled TSA worker injected a virus into the computer server containing the Terrorist Screening Database; news reports indicate this part of the system contains the no-fly list.

Last year in Philadelphia, a TSA officer required the 4-year-old disabled son of a local law enforcement officer to remove his leg braces to pass through screening. TSA later admitted this was in violation of their regulations, which, by the way, TSA mistakenly posted online some months ago. These regulations, the Screening Management Standard Operating Procedures manual, initially had critical portions blacked-out . Unfortunately, it proved very easy to remove their blockages, giving anyone access to this very sensitive information. The list goes on.

It is time for Secretary Napolitano to take full responsibility for this critically important public contact portion of DHS by assuming the public face of TSA. Bring in the retired U.S. Army major general and let him do what he does best; run an operation efficiently and effectively while the Secretary meets the press and Congress.

After all, the question of whether the TSO’s are permitted to seek collective bargaining really is not a decision of the assistant secretary. It belongs squarely with the Cabinet Secretary, and she is the only one able to give Sen. DeMint the answers he is demanding .

Generals lead by implementing policies set down by their civilian leadership. They are take-charge experts, not politicians. It is long past time we let the professionals do their jobs and expect the politicos to do theirs.

This process is clearly already underway. In January this year, Sec Napolitano traveled to Europe to meet with representatives of the international airline community. Clearly she sees the need for senior leadership in overseeing aviation security. I will be pleased to see TSA under the operational leadership of Bob Harding while Sec Napolitano takes over as the public persona of the organization.

By Kevin McCarthy

Daniel Rubin: Another case of TSA overkill

admin — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 14:28:10 +0000

“Just when I thought I was out of the Transportation Security Administration business for a few columns, they pull me back in.

Did you hear about the Camden cop whose disabled son wasn’t allowed to pass through airport security unless he took off his leg braces?

“

(Daniel Rubin: Another case of TSA overkill | Philadelphia Inquirer | 02/15/2010)