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 […]
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 […]
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, […]
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 […]