Mil News US HOMELAND Security in the news

[rtomedic]

Five Myths About The U.S.-Mexico Border
Myth No. 1

The border is out of control.

Trump has worked with border-state governors to deploy National Guard troops to the region, adding literal boots on the ground to the other military metaphors used to describe the situation: Attorney General Jeff Sessions, during a visit to El Paso, declared the border “ground zero,” a “beachhead against the cartels,” echoing retired Gen. Barry McCaffrey’s 2011 “strategic military assessment,” which described conditions along the border as “tantamount to living in a war zone .” The White House calls the border porous, saying that “with our current laws and resources, we cannot stop illegal aliens from crossing,” and polls show that most Americans think the border is not secure.

Such language suggests high levels of violence in U.S. border communities, but FBI statistics I have analyzed for a forthcoming report for the Mexico Institute show that from 2011 to 2015, all but one of the 23 U.S. counties along the border had violent-crime rates lower than the national average for similar counties, a finding that echoes previous analyses.

In some ways, the border is porous — more than 300,000 people were apprehended last year for crossing into the country illegally. But what does it mean to have a secure border? The number of ...MORE

https://inhomelandsecurity.com/5-my...-myths-mexico-border&utm_campaign=20180507IHS

 

[rtomedic]

Trump Nominee Haspel's CIA Past Divides US Senators
U.S. senators considering President Donald Trump's pick to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, current acting Director Gina Haspel, are divided between those who see involvement in the CIA's past detainee interrogation program as a disqualifying stain on her record and those willing to overlook or move past it.

One Republican and dozens of Democrats have declared opposition to Haspel or deep skepticism about her nomination before Wednesday's confirmation hearing at the Senate Intelligence Committee.

Opponents have decried the nominee's oversight of a secret CIA facility in Thailand where detainees were subjected to waterboarding and other forms of enhanced interrogation in the years after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on America.Many legal scholars view waterboarding as torture under international law. ...MORE

https://www.globalsecurity.org/inte...508-voa01.htm?_m=3n.002a.2286.ph0ao0037n.23sb

 

[rtomedic]

DHS New NTAS Bulletin: A Vigilant ‘YOU’ is One of Our Greatest Assets
Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen has reissued the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin pertaining to the terror threat to the U.S. homeland.

After carefully considering the current threat environment, as well as input from the Department’s intelligence and law enforcement partners, Secretary Nielsen determined it is necessary to extend the NTAS Bulletin at this time.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen M. Nielsen
Terrorist groups continue to inspire, enable, and direct their followers to spread chaos using homemade weapons and by striking soft targets and crowded places.

They also remain focused on conducting more sophisticated attacks using conventional weapons as well as new technologies and tactics.
DHS is committed to staying a step ahead of our enemies, and an informed and vigilant public remains one of the Department’s greatest assets in protecting the homeland. ...MORE WITH VIDEO

https://americansecuritytoday.com/dhs-new-ntas-bulletin-vigilant-one-greatest-assets/

 

[rtomedic]

Trump and San Diego Officials Disagree Over Alleged Border Wall Request
Expanding the fencing along the U.S.-Mexico border has been a hallmark of the Trump administration since the early days of the president’s campaign. The current border fence covers approximately 653 miles of border length in various sections, and most of the San Diego sector’s 60 miles of it is fenced. Despite the additional miles of secondary fence in the sector, President Trump said on May 9 he would proceed with plans to augment border fencing in San Diego at the request of county officials. However, hours later, a San Diego County spokesman told KPBS that the county has not made any such request.

Specifically, according to Reuters, Trump said to reporters at the White House on May 9, “San Diego has asked us to go forward with their section of the wall in California and rather than not doing that and letting them lobby for us with Governor Brown we decided to do it.” Then San Diego County spokesman Michael Workman told KPBS, “This county has taken no action with regard to the wall.” In response to questions about the County’s statement, a White House official told KPBS on background that the president might have been referring to some San Diego ...MORE

https://inhomelandsecurity.com/trum...an-diego-border-wall&utm_campaign=20180511IHS

 

[rtomedic]

DHS on the FY 2019 President’s Budget for DHS
The men and women of DHS are exceptional and dedicated professionals who are on watch 24 hours a day, 365 days a year protecting Americans from threats by land, sea, air, and in cyberspace, while also promoting our Nation’s economic prosperity.

They work tirelessly to strengthen the safety and security of our Nation from persistent and emerging dangers, including terrorists, transnational criminal organizations, rogue nation states, and natural disasters.

The FY 2019 Budget request provides funding to advance core DHS missions.

• It sustains and strengthens our most critical programs and capabilities and places emphasis on protecting our nation from terrorism and countering threats

• Securing and managing our borders and enforcing our immigration laws

• Preserving and upholding the nation’s prosperity and economic security

• Securing cyberspace and critical infrastructure; and

• Strengthening homeland security preparedness resilience

• DHS will also build a culture of efficiency on the foundation of agency reform efforts to ensure accountable, effective, and efficient operations

The FY 2019 President’s Budget for DHS requests $47.5 billion in net discretionary funding and an additional $6.7 billion for the Disaster Relief Fund (DRF) for response and recovery to major disasters ...MORE WITH VIDEO

https://americansecuritytoday.com/dhs-fy-2019-presidents-budget-dhs-learn-videos/

 

[rtomedic]

Italian National Convicted of Weapons Trafficking Removed by ICE
Giovanni Zannoni, 35, an Italian national, and member of the Italian military, convicted of weapons trafficking was returned to his home country Tuesday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) deportation officers.

This is following a joint investigation by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in New York and the Department of Defense, Defense Criminal Investigative Service, Northeast Field Office (DCIS) which led to a guilty plea and subsequent sentencing.

ERO deportation officers escorted Zannoni, who was removed from the United States via a commercial flight.

Zannoni was transferred into the custody of Italian law enforcement authorities upon arrival in Milan.
In May 2017, Zannoni, entered the United States under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) with authorization to remain in the United States until August 2017. ...MORE

https://americansecuritytoday.com/italian-national-convicted-weapons-trafficking-removed-ice/

 

[rtomedic]

MA ISIS Supporter Pleads Guilty to Terrorism
Alexander Ciccolo, aka, Ali Al Amriki, 25, of Adams, Massachusetts, pleaded guilty today in connection with a plot to engage in terrorist activity inspired by and in the name of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS or ISIL), a designated foreign terrorist organization.
Ciccolo pleaded guilty to:

• One count of attempting to provide material support to ISIS
• One count of attempting to use weapons of mass destruction
• One count of being a convicted person in possession of firearms, and
• One count of assaulting a nurse during a jail intake process by use of a deadly weapon causing bodily injury

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. AttornHomegrown violent extremists pose a serious danger to innocent Americans,” said Assistant Attorney General Demers.
“Not only did Ciccolo admit to supporting ISIS, but he also collected weapons and explosives in order to further its goal: the murder of Americans.”
“Thanks to the hard work and collaboration of all involved, his plans were thwarted.”
“Today’s successful outcome is proof that we will not waver in our commitment to hold accountable those who break our laws and put American lives at risk.”
ey Andrew E. Lelling for the District of Massachusetts, and Special Agent in Charge Harold H. Shaw of the FBI’s Boston Field Division announced the plea.
U.S. District Court Judge Mark G. Mastroianni accepted the plea and scheduled sentencing for Sept. 5. ...MORE WITH VIDEO

https://americansecuritytoday.com/ma-isis-supporter-pleads-guilty-terrorism-learn-multi-video/

 

[rtomedic]

FBI: Keep Your Kids Safe from Cyber Predators & Bullying
Building a digital defense to protect your kids as they head back to school with cell phones.
Summer is about to begin, and it’s time to fill up their time before another school year.

And, if your kids are hanging at home with a cell phone tucked in their pockets, they are not alone.

More and more
It’s a great way for you to keep in touch with your student through the day… and, should you so desire, there are plenty of apps to help you keep track of your kid’s movements minute by minute.
But, parents and kids alike need to recognize the risks that come bundled with that device, too.
Here are some basic phone tips to keep your child safe with Cell Phones:

• The phone should default to a locked setting.
  • The only people who should have that access code are the child and the parent.
• Beyond that, parents should know every password to every device and every password to every app on that device.
  • Sure you want your kids to have some privacy as they grow up, but they are still kids.

kids are getting phones by the time they enter middle school—and some are toting their phones through ...MORE WITH VIDEO

https://americansecuritytoday.com/fbi-keep-kids-safe-cyber-predators-bullying-multi-video/


FBI Offering $1,000 for Information on Unknown Bluff, Utah Murder Suspect
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of an unknown suspect accused of a fatal shooting.

On April 14, 2016, at around 6:00 p.m., 31-year-old Antonio Montowine was shot and killed by the unknown suspect near Bluff, Utah, on the Navajo Nation reservation.

Hair Black and gray, worn short on the sides and “faded” at the top - Height Approximately 5’6″ to 5’8″ - Weight Approximately 150 to 170 pounds - Build Medium - Sex Male - Race Native American

The unknown suspect wore prescription transition lens glasses. He wore a blue and brown plaid shirt.

Details:
On April 14, 2018, at approximately 6:00 p.m., 31-year-old Antonio Montowine was shot and killed by an unknown suspect on the side of County Road 443/Indian Route 5060, approximately 2.5 miles from Highway 191 south of Bluff, Utah, on the Navajo Nation reservation.
The unknown suspect exited a white, newer-model, four-door pickup truck with “4×4” on the side, shot Montowine, then re-entered the vehicle and left the area. ...MORE

https://americansecuritytoday.com/fbi-offering-1000-information-unknown-bluff-utah-murder-suspect/

 

[rtomedic]

Facial Recognition to Aid in Border Security this Summer
The week after the 2016 election, drivers exiting the United States at the Nogales border crossing would have noticed something out of the ordinary.

A new canopy had been set up over the far-right lane of the checkpoint with an ad-hoc wiring system supporting multiple DSLR cameras. The cameras were trained at the road and activated by an array of ambient light sensors, range finders, and remote speedometers.

As cars approached the turnstile, the cameras would capture a clear shot of the driver’s face through the windshield, images that researchers would later use to develop an experimental facial recognition system designed for use at the border.

Now, that system is getting ready for a more permanent installation.
In August, Customs and Border Protection will deploy a new system for scanning drivers’ faces as they leave the US, The Verge has learned.

The pilot, called the Vehicle Face System (or VFS), is planned for installation at the Anzalduas border crossing at the southern tip of Texas and scheduled to remain in operation for a full year.

The project is currently moving through the necessary privacy reviews, and it is set to be officially announced and submitted to the Federal Register in the coming months.

According to a Customs spokesperson, the purpose of the project will be “to evaluate capturing facial biometrics of travelers entering and departing the United States and compare those images to photos on file in government ...MORE WITH VIDEO

https://americansecuritytoday.com/facial-recognition-aid-border-security-summer-multi-video/


Former DIA Officer Charged with Trying to Pass Secrets to Chinese
Ron Rockwell Hansen, 58, a resident of Syracuse, Utah, and a former Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) officer, was arrested Saturday afternoon on federal charges including the attempted transmission of national defense information to the People’s Republic of China.

FBI agents took Hansen into custody while he was on his way to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in Seattle to board a connecting flight to China.

Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers, U.S. Attorney John Huber for the District of Utah, and Special Agent in Charge Eric Barnhart of the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office announced the charges.

“Ron Rockwell Hansen is a former Defense Intelligence Agency officer who allegedly attempted to transmit national defense information to the People’s Republic of China’s intelligence service (PRCIS) and also allegedly received hundreds of thousands of dollars while illegally ...MORE WITH VIDEO

https://americansecuritytoday.com/former-dia-officer-charged-trying-pass-secrets-chinese/

 

[rtomedic]

Dozens of MS-13 Members Indicted on Murder Charges
A 73-count fifth superseding indictment was unsealed on Thursday in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York in Central Islip, New York, charging two dozen members of La Mara Salvatrucha (also known as MS-13), a transnational criminal organization, with racketeering and related offenses.

This indictment adds eight additional defendants, seven of whom are in custody, and offenses in connection with the following incidents:

• The April 29, 2016 murder of Oscar Acosta in Brentwood
• The July 18, 2016 attempted murder of two suspected rival gang members in Brentwood
• The August 10, 2016 attempted murder of rival gang members in Brentwood
• The September 12, 2016 arson of two vehicles in Brentwood
• The October 10, 2016 murder of Javier Castillo in Freeport
• The October 13, 2016 murder of Dewann Stacks in Brentwood
• The December 18, 2016 assault outside Super Taco restaurant in Brentwood, and
• Conspiracy to distribute marijuana

...MORE WITH VIDEO

https://americansecuritytoday.com/dozens-ms-13-members-indicted-murder-charges-multi-video/

Woman Used Twitter to Threaten US Agent/US Service Family for ISIS
A Buffalo, Missouri, woman was sentenced in federal court on Thursday for using Twitter to transmit threatening communications against several persons, including two FBI employees and two former members of the military and their families, on behalf of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham, also known as ISIS.

Safya Roe Yassin, 40, of Buffalo, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge M. Douglas Harpool to nine years in federal prison without parole.
According to court documents, Yassin engaged in a concerted and prolonged effort to support the online activities of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).

ISIS is a foreign terrorist organization that has encouraged and taken credit for attacks against civilians throughout the world, including in the United States. ...MORE WITH VIDEO

https://americansecuritytoday.com/woman-used-twitter-threaten-us-agent-us-service-family-isis/

 

[rtomedic]

TSA Steps Up Scrutiny of Powders in Carry-On Bags
If you’re traveling by plane with more than 12 ounces of cosmetics powder, dry spices, protein mix or talcum, you may want to check it.

That’s because the Transportation Security Administration has been taking a closer look at containers of powder that fit more than the volume of a standard soda can.

If packed in a carry-on bag, such containers could be subject to extra screening or banned from the airplane cabin.

If TSA officers can’t figure out what the powder is, it may be discarded or put into checked baggage.

To cut the risk of having items thrown out, the TSA encourages passengers to put powder substances of more than 12 ounces into checked bags.

The measure is security-related, the TSA says, as improvised explosive devices still pose a threat and as substances such as fentanyl or pepper spray, if released in flight, could harm passengers. ...MORE WITH VIDEO

https://americansecuritytoday.com/tsa-steps-scrutiny-powders-carry-bags-learn-video/