President Donald Trump once again took aim at what he calls America’s “lax immigration system” Monday responding to the pipe bomb attack at the New York City Port Authority. The attack seriously injured the bomber; about four others received minor injuries. “Today’s terror suspect entered our country through extended-family chain migration, which is incompatible with […]
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Update: Rush Hour Explosion Rocks NYC Port Authority
5:01 p.m. Update: The New York Post today reported that the bomb partially detonated at New York’s Port Authority this morning was made of a combination of sugar, Christmas lights, and matches packed into a five-inch pipe. According to the report, the pipe was not packed tight enough so only the ends of the pipe […]
Saudi Arabia on Precipice of Uncertainty
Saudi Arabia is the country’s strongest Muslim ally in the Middle East. Our fight against Islamic militancy is only successful to varying degrees because allies like Saudi Arabia stand with us. Saudi Arabia’s ability and willingness to do so, however, depends on its own political stability. That stability has been not only disturbed, it’s been […]
New DHS Office to Tackle CBRN Threat to Nation
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) office Thursday, one of the first moves by new permanent Secretary of Homeland Security Kristjen Nielsen. “The CWMD Office will consolidate the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, the majority of the Office of Health Affairs [OHA], and elements of the DHS Office […]
FY2017 DHS Stats Show Increased Enforcement, Fewer Illegal Crossings
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Tuesday released statistics on immigration and Border Patrol activity for 2017, revealing a substantial drop in apprehensions for the year. DHS credited this in large part to President Trump’s efforts to secure the country’s borders. “We have seen historic low numbers this year—an almost 30 percent decline in […]
Perspective: REAL ID Act May Require Passport for Some Travelers
Nearly two million Americans board airplanes on a daily basis. The idea of needing a passport for domestic travel has likely never crossed most people’s minds – in fact only around 40 percent of Americans even have a passport – but all of that may change once we see the full enforcement of the REAL […]
Supremes Allow Trump Travel Ban During Lower Court Consideration
Although legal challenges in the lower courts continue, the Supreme Court on Monday ruled that the President Trump’s travel ban can remain in effect during this period. The two dissenting Supreme Court votes came from Justices Ruth Bader Ginsberg and Sonia Sotomayor. The ban affects travelers from eight nations, including Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, […]
Brookings Forum Tackles Middle East Complexities
The Brookings Institution this past weekend held its annual Saban Forum to discuss the Israeli-United States relationship and shed light on how decision makers and the media view the state of world affairs, particularly in the Middle East. Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the forum via video link and focused directly on Iran and […]
Airport Screening Gets Critical Focus at House Homeland Security Hearing
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mike McCaul (R-Texas) started the question period at Thursday’s hearing with acting Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Elaine Duke referring to TSA’s “failing grade” regarding airport screening. “We heard this in 2015, and now we’re in 2017,” he said. “As you know with a laptop threat, the ability to […]
Perspective: Russia, Iran Advancing in Syra at U.S. Expense
For some time now, Asia and the continued escalation of North Korea’s ballistic missile program have been the major strategic concerns of the United States. But Washington should not forget other areas of the world, especially the Middle East. As the U.S. pursues its goal of defeating ISIS, Russia and Iran are consolidating their positions […]