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• H. Rept. 116-720: Legislative and Oversight Activities of the Committee on Homeland Security, 116th Congress, January 2, 2021

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  From the Overview: "The Committee on Homeland Security met on January 30, 2019, for an organizational meeting for the 116th Congress under the direction of Chairman Bennie G. Thompson of Mississippi. The Committee Membership was set at 31 Members with 18 Democrats and 13 Republicans. Subsequently, the Committee Membership was updated to 32 Members with 18 Democrats and 14 Republicans. The Committee established six subcommittees: The Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations; the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Innovation; the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery; the Subcommittee on Intelligence and Counterterrorism; the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability; and the Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021-01-02
• Southwest Border: DHS and DOJ Have Implemented Expedited Credible Fear Screening Pilot Programs, but Should Ensure Timely Data Entry, Report to Congressional Requesters

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  From the Highlights: "Individuals apprehended by DHS and placed into expedited removal proceedings are to be removed from the U.S. without a hearing in immigration court unless they indicate a fear of persecution or torture, a fear of return to their country, or express an intent to apply for asylum. Asylum officers conduct such 'fear screenings,' and EOIR [Executive Office for Immigration Review] immigration judges may review negative USCIS [U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services] determinations. In October 2019, DHS and DOJ [Department of Justice] initiated two pilot programs to further expedite fear screenings for certain apprehended noncitizens. GAO [Government Accountability Office] was asked to review DHS's and DOJ's management of these pilot programs. This report examines (1) actions DHS and EOIR took to implement and expand the programs along the southwest border, and (2) what the agencies' data indicate about the outcomes of individuals' screenings and any gaps in such data."

  United States. Government Accountability Office

  2021-01
• Children in CBP Custody: Examining Deaths, Medical Care Procedures, and Improper Spending, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, July 15, 2020

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  This is the July 15, 2020 hearing on "Children in CBP [U.S. Customs and Border Protection] Custody: Examining Deaths, Medical Care Procedures, and Improper Spending", held before the House Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Bennie G. Thompson: "The committee is convening today to examine 3 critical related and deeply troubling issues: The terrible death of young children in the custody of Customs and Border Protection; CBP's failure to consistently implement the revised medical screening procedures it adopted after children died in its custody; and CBP's improper expenditure of the emergency funds appropriated by Congress for the care of migrants." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Fiona S. Danaher, Roger A. Mitchell, Jr., Joseph V. Cuffari, and Rebecca Gambler.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• H. Doc. 117-15: Termination of Emergency with Respect to the Southern Border of the United States and Redirection of Funds Diverted to Border Wall Construction, February 15, 2021

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  This document is a Congressional communication from President of the United States, Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on the "Termination of Emergency with Respect to the Southern Border of the United States and Redirection of Funds Diverted to Border Wall Construction." From the Proclamation: "Like every nation, the United States has a right and a duty to secure its borders and protect its people against threats. But building a massive wall that spans the entire southern border is not a serious policy solution. It is a waste of money that diverts attention from genuine threats to our homeland security. My Administration is committed to ensuring that the United States has a comprehensive and humane immigration system that operates consistently with our Nation's values. In furtherance of that commitment, I have determined that the declaration of a national emergency at our southern border in Proclamation 9844 of February 15, 2019 (Declaring a National Emergency Concerning the Southern Border of the United States), was unwarranted. It shall be the policy of my Administration that no more American taxpayer dollars be diverted to construct a border wall. I am also directing a careful review of all resources appropriated or redirected to construct a southern border wall."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Examining DHS's Management of Trusted Traveler Programs, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, September 30, 2020

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  This is the September 30, 2020 hearing on "Examining DHS's Management of Trusted Traveler Programs," held before the House Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Kathleen M. Rice: "We are convening today in our continued effort to understand why this committee received inaccurate and misleading testimony from the DHS regarding its decision to ban residents of New York State from Trusted Traveler Programs like Global Entry." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Robert E. Perez.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Oversight of ICE Detention Facilities: Examining ICE Contractors' Response to COVID-19, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, July 13, 2020

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  This is the July 13, 2020 hearing on "Oversight of ICE [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] Detention Facilities: Examining Ice Contractors' Response to COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019]," held before the House Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Kathleen M. Rice: "Today this subcommittee meets to examine the response to COVID-19 by 4 of the private contractors responsible for managing facilities in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention network. As coronavirus cases continue to spike Nation-wide, we must ensure that the contractors our Government relies on are taking every step they can to minimize the spread of COVID-19 among workers and detainees. For fiscal year 2020, Congress appropriated approximately $3.1 billion for more than 45,000 single adults and family ICE detention beds and other custody operations. Over 80 percent of these beds are operated daily by private contractors, some of whom are at this hearing today. That is a large amount of taxpayer money, which is funding a historically high number of detention beds, and it demands oversight and accountability." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Damon T. Hininger, George C. Zoley, Scott Marquardt, and Rodney Cooper.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Strengthening Security and the Rule of Law in Mexico, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, and Trade of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, January 15, 2020

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  This is the January 15, 2020 hearing on "Strengthening Security and the Rule of Law in Mexico," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, and Trade of the Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Albio Sires: "'Strengthening Security and the Rule of Law in Mexico,'" will focus on U.S. policy toward Mexico, U.S. Security Assistance programs, and Mexico's progress in strengthening its justice sector institutions, combating corruption and protecting human rights. [...] Mexico's homicide rate has increased by 30 percent over last year's, reaching its highest level in decades. Meanwhile, targeted attacks against journalists, human rights defenders, and local public officials have continued. During just one week in August, three journalists were killed. Murders of journalists and human rights defenders, like most homicides in Mexico, are rarely solved. In fact, the majority of crimes are never even reported, due to citizens' lack of faith in the justice system. [...] I believe that Mexico and the United States have a shared responsibility to reduce violent crimes and improve quality of life for those living on both sides of the border. The U.S. Government must address issues within our own country that are helping to fuel cartel violence." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: David Shirk, Maureen Meyer, and Richard G. Miles.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Part 1: Protecting the Reliability of the U.S. Medical Supply Chain During the COVID-19 Pandemic, Hearing Before the Committee on Finance, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, July 28, 2020

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  This is the July 28, 2020 hearing on "Part 1: Protecting the Reliability of the U.S. Medical Supply Chain During the COVID-19 Pandemic," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. From the opening statement of Chuck Grassley: "Today, we will hear from witnesses who represent the Office of Procurement, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement]'s Homeland Security Investigations. [...] [W]e must come together to address vulnerabilities in our Nation's supply chain. I hope today we can have a good-faith discussion so that we can better understand what we as a Congress need to do to protect America's front-line workers." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Soraya Correa, Thomas F. Overacker, and Steve Francis.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Non-Governmental Organization Perspective on the Southwest Border, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, April 28, 2021

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  This is the April 28, 2021 hearing on "Non-Governmental Organization Perspective on the Southwest Border," held before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Government Operations and Border Management of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. From the opening statement of Kyrsten Sinema: "Right now our nation confronts a crisis at our Southwest Border. Since the beginning of 2021, we have seen an unprecedented surge of migrants arrive at the border. [...] Non-government organizations [NGO's] play a critically important role in managing the ongoing influx. Their efforts to provide migrants with basic assistance, including food, shelter, and travel aid, is a key link in the ongoing effort to ensure migrants are treated fairly and our communities can successfully manage this crisis. Without these NGO's, Arizona, our border States, our nations, and the migrants themselves would be worse off. This is why I worked with my colleagues to include $110 million in funding in the last COVID [coronavirus disease] package to provide NGO's and border communities with additional resources to assist migrants and protect our communities. I look forward to hearing directly from the International Rescue Committee and Annunciation House about how Congress and the administration can improve its efforts to communicate and coordinate with NGO's, and it is critical that Congress hear directly from NGO's about the challenges they face, so it can craft solutions that make sense for everyone impacted by this crisis." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Ruben Garcia, Beth Strano, and Joshua Jones.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Enhancing Border Security: Addressing Corruption in Central America, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, June 11, 2021

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  This is the June 11, 2021 hearing on "Enhancing Border Security: Addressing Corruption in Central America," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of J. Luis Correa: "This hearing will explore how weak governing systems are exploited by corrupt actors to stifle development and maintain the status quo. Corruption diverts aid money away from those that need it the most while obscuring the government's actions through layers of red tape and unclear policy. The effects are felt by everyone." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Shannon O'Neil, J. Welby Leaman, Claudia Umana Araujo, and Matthew M. Rooney.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Unaccompanied Children at the Border: Federal Response and the Way Forward, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, June 10, 2021

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  This is the June 10, 2021 hearing on "Unaccompanied Children at the Border: Federal Response and the Way Forward," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Nanette Diaz Barragan: "The subcommittee is meeting to hear Federal Government perspectives on addressing the challenge of unaccompanied children arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border. Today's hearing is a follow-up to this subcommittee's April hearing. We examined the care of unaccompanied children in Federal custody and received recommendations from non-governmental stakeholders on the way forward." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: David Shahoulian, Benjamine "Carry" Huffman, Katherine Dueholm, and Patrick J. Lechleitner.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Unaccompanied Children at the Border: Stakeholder Perspectives on the Way Forward, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, April 27, 2021

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  This is the April 27, 2021 hearing on "Unaccompanied Children at the Border: Stakeholder Perspectives on the Way Forward," held before the House Subcommittee on Border Security, Facilitation, and Operations of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Nanette Diaz Barragan: "The challenge posed by children arriving at our border is not new. Unaccompanied children from Mexico, Central America, and elsewhere have long sought refuge in the United States. This is also not the first time we have seen increased numbers of unaccompanied children at our Southern Border. There were similar increases in 2014 and 2019. [...] Migrant children are undertaking the arduous, dangerous journey because conditions at home are so dire. Many hope to reunite with family living in the United States. [...] The increased number of child migrants is certainly a challenge, but the U.S. Government must provide these children with protections guaranteed to them under law." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Robert Garcia, Jennifer Podkul, and Lora Ries.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Border Security--2019, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session, April 4, April 9, June 26, July 17, July 30, and November 13, 2019

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  This is the April 4, April 9, June 26, July 17, July 30 and November 13, 2019 hearings on "Border Security--2019," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. From the opening statement of Gary C. Peters: "I appreciate the Chairman's focus on obtaining accurate, timely data on migration and border security. Certainly, few issues that we face today are as complex as this one or as controversial. Far too often, harmful rhetoric drowns out reasonable dialogue, and I hope that this hearing can cut through that rhetoric and let us focus on the facts. The situation on our Southern Border, in Mexico, and throughout the Northern Triangle is dynamic. [...] The reality is that much of our current infrastructure was built to address the challenges of the 1990s and early last decade when the majority of unauthorized border crossings were single men seeking economic opportunity. That is not what the statistics show us today, and it is not what our staff saw during a bipartisan delegation to the Southern Border last month. Overwhelmingly, they saw families from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. They saw parents with children. They saw children who had made the journey to the border without their parents. They saw our hardworking law enforcement officers, public servants, volunteers, and civic leaders doing their best to manage what is certainly a very difficult situation." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mark A. Morgan, John Daniel Davidson, Andrew Selee, Rodolfo Karisch, Randy Howe, Timothy Tubbs, Jonathan White, Greg Cherundolo, Brian S. Hastings, Gregory Nevano, Karen Tandy, Jayson Ahern, Leon Fresco, Sharon W. Cooper, Jennifer L. Costello, Kenneth T. Cuccinelli, Derek N. Benner, and James McHenry.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• State of Diversity and Inclusion in Europe: Race, Rights, and Politics, Hearing Before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session, September 11, 2019

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  This is the September 11, 2019 hearing on "State of Diversity and Inclusion in Europe: Race, Rights, and Politics," held before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. From the opening statement of Gwen Moore: "This hearing today, in context, is taking place at a time when we are receiving numerous reports from Europe of hate crimes and acts of extremism, racial profiling in cities and at borders, and discrimination at work and in the schools. The OSCE [Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe] has reported close to 6,000 hate crimes in Europe over the past year[.] [...] Americans are also impacted by disparate treatment and related violence in Europe. For years we've received reports that our diverse military and diplomats serving in Europe, students studying abroad, and tourists have all been the targets of discrimination, from being refused service in restaurants, or in the worst cases being the tragic victims of hate crimes.[...] [I]ncreasingly, citizens in our democracies are turning against one another and people from other places simply because they look, pray, love, or think differently than someone else. And it's critical that we reaffirm democratic values by challenging rising prejudice and violence with strategies for inclusion." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Pierrette Herzberger-Fofana, Romeo Franz, Evin Incir, Samira Rafaela, Alfiaz Vaiya, Domenica Ghidei Biidu, Irene Appiah, Daniele Obono, and Olivier Serva.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Review of the Department of Justice's Planning and Implementation of Its Zero Tolerance Policy and Its Coordination with the Departments of Homeland Security and Health and Human Services

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  From the Executive Summary Introduction: "On April 6, 2018, then Attorney General Jeff Sessions announced that the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ, Department) had adopted a 'zero tolerance policy' for immigration offenses involving illegal entry and attempted illegal entry into the United States. The policy required each U.S. Attorney's Office (USAO) on the Southwest border to prosecute all referrals for illegal entry violations, including misdemeanors, referred by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) 'to the extent practicable, and in consultation with DHS.' [...] In July 2018, multiple members of Congress requested that the DOJ Office of the Inspector General (OIG) review the Department's role in the creation and implementation of the zero tolerance policy. The OIG conducted this review to assess the Department's planning for and implementation of the zero tolerance policy, including its internal coordination with the Southwest border USAOs, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and with DHS and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Consistent with the Inspector General Act of 1978, this review does not substitute the OIG's judgment for the judgments made by DOJ leadership regarding the substantive merits of the zero tolerance policy."

  United States. Department of Justice. Office of the Inspector General

  2021-01
• Way Forward on Homeland Security, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, March 17, 2021

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  This is the March 17, 2021 hearing on "The Way Forward on Homeland Security," held before the House Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Bennie G. Thompson: "Just as President Trump made DHS less able to carry out its mission, his failed policies also made the homeland less secure. He downplayed the threat of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], despite the warnings of doctors and scientists, left States to fend for themselves to obtain testing supplies and PPE [personal protective equipment], and failed to implement a National vaccine distribution plan. He sided with Putin and Russia over our own intelligence community, even though our adversary meddled in our elections and hacked into our computer systems. He helped fuel the rise of domestic terrorism in America and incited right-wing violent extremists to attack the United States Capitol. Americans continue to pay the price for these failures, with over half a million dead from COVID-19, experts struggling to understand the scope of the SolarWinds hack, and an unprecedented surge in domestic terrorism. Secretary Mayorkas and the 240,000 dedicated, hard-working men and women of DHS are left to deal with the mess the last administration left behind. This will be no easy task, and Congress should be focused on ensuring the Department has the resources and authorities to do so. [...] Clearly, more will have to be done to respond to this situation while upholding our values. What we must not do is return to the morally bankrupt policies of the last administration toward children. [...] For its part, the Biden administration is working to rebuild DHS, reform our Nation's homeland security policy, and address the situation at the border while upholding our values. However, it cannot be expected to repair in a matter of weeks everything President Trump destroyed over 4 years." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Alejandro Mayorkas.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Review of the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Request for the Department of Homeland Security, Hearing Before the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, June 17, 2021

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  This is the June 17, 2021 hearing on "A Review of the Fiscal Year 2022 Budget Request for the Department of Homeland Security," held before the House Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Bennie G. Thompson: "Overall, the Biden administration is requesting $52 billion for DHS, roughly equal to the fiscal year 2021 funding level. Though there is always room for improvement, the administration's request would provide the Department with the resources necessary to meet its diverse and ever-evolving mission. The request prioritizes funding to improve Federal cybersecurity, respond to heightened domestic terrorism threats, and enhance border capabilities. It invests in creating a fairer and more equitable immigration system, preparing local communities for the effects of natural disasters, and revitalizing the Department's research and development capabilities. It further seeks to strengthen National resiliency in these critical areas. Many of these homeland security priorities were all but ignored by the last administration. I am pleased the Biden administration is giving these matters the attention and resources they demand." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Alejandro N. Mayorkas.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2020, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, First Session, May 2, 2019

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  This is the May 2, 2019 hearing on "Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2020," held before the Subcommittee on Homeland Security of the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations. From the opening statement of Shelly Moore Capito: "We are holding this hearing in the wake of yesterday's request for supplemental appropriations to address the security and humanitarian crisis at the Southwest border. I know that the number of apprehensions of illegal border crossers continues to climb. Customs and Border Protection took more than 100,000 individuals into custody in the month of March, and we expect that number to be dramatically higher for April. Despite some who tried to call this a manufactured crisis, these are undeniably historic numbers. Yesterday's request included a $1.1 billion for the Department of Homeland Security to help address this crisis. It suggested additional resources that may be needed to humanely process and detain those who are crossing our border illegally, and to support the men and women of the Department of Homeland Security as they surge to address this crisis." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Kevin McAleenan, and Chip Fulghum.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021?
• Technology and Information Warfare: The Competition for Influence and the Department of Defense, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems of the Committee on Armed Services, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, April 30, 2021

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  This is the April 30, 2021 hearing on "Technology and Information Warfare: The Competition for Influence and the Department of Defense," held before the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems of the Committee on Armed Services. From the opening statement of James R. Langevin: "[F]oreign adversaries can target U.S. and allied citizens almost instantly without crossing physical boundaries or borders. These threats will only grow as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other technology-enabled information operations exponentially increase the speed and the scope of the danger. So according to the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence, state adversaries are employing artificial intelligence-enabled disinformation attacks to sow division in democracies and disrupt the public's sense of reality. But how to confront these national security challenges is a difficult question. So I believe the Nation must respond forcefully to deter bad actors in the information domain, invest in robust U.S. public diplomacy, and educate the public and our service members about these dangers. We must also articulate a vision for the information environment and delineate thresholds of behavior that will trigger a response. So I was sort of encouraged when the National Security Commission on Artificial Intelligence recommended that the United States develop a new strategy to counter disinformation while investing in technology to counter artificial intelligence-enabled information warfare." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Glenn S. Gerstell, Nina Jankowicz, Joseph W. Kirschbaum, and Herbert Lin.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• DHS's Efforts to Disrupt Transnational Criminal Organizations in Central America, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability of the Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, July 28, 2021

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  This is the July 28, 2021 hearing on "DHS's Efforts to Disrupt Transnational Criminal Organizations in Central America," held before the U.S. House Subcommittee on Oversight, Management, and Accountability of the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Lou Correa: "Over the last few months, this subcommittee has had the opportunity to look closely at some of the factors that push people from Central America and Mexico to leave their homes and travel to the United States border. We have heard about crippling effects of the recent natural disasters, wide-spread poverty, COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019], as well as the pervasive presence of corruption which stifles progress, economic progress, and maintains inequality. Today, I look forward to diving more deeply into some of these issues the Department of Homeland Security is working on to combat both abroad and at home, primarily violence and instability caused by transnational criminal organizations." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Francis J. Russo and John A. Condon.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• Anti-Lockdown Activity: Netherlands Country Profile

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  From the Introduction: "Restrictions brought in to slow the spread of COVID-19 [coronavirus disease 2019] across the Netherlands have fuelled anger and hostility amongst the Dutch public and led to an increase in polarisation and a threat of heightened extremist behaviour. This was the assessment of PieterJaap Aalbersberg, one of the country's chief counter-terrorism officials, in a November 2020 interview with Bloomberg. He added that 'social media is the catalyst amplifying conspiracies across borders' with the common denominator being 'anti-government sentiment.' This was echoed in a more recent update in April 2021 from the Dutch national security service (AIVD) who warned of the threat from anti-government protests organised in opposition to COVID-19 measures, stating that the 'intimidation, threats or violence' present in these groups have the potential to create a 'breeding ground' for extremism."

  Institute for Strategic Dialogue

  2021
• Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for 2021, Hearings Before a Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixteenth Congress, Second Session, February 26, February 27, March 10, 2020

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  This document includes the February 26, February 27, and March 10, 2020 hearings on "Department of Homeland Security Appropriations for 2021," held before a House Subcommittee of the Committee on Appropriations. It is divided into the following four hearings: Department of Homeland Security, Members' Day, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and United States Coast Guard. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Chad Wolf, Mark A. Morgan, Karl Schultz, and Matthew T. Albence.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Fiscal Year 2020 Enforcement and Removal Operations Report

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  From the Executive Summary: "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) shares responsibility for administering and enforcing the nation's immigration laws with ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), as well as other Department of Homeland Security (DHS) component agencies, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). ICE ERO is responsible for protecting the homeland through the arrest, detention, and removal of aliens who undermine public safety or the integrity of United States immigration laws, and its main areas of focus are interior enforcement operations, management of the agency's detained population nationwide, and repatriation of aliens who have received a final order of removal. [...] This report presents ICE ERO's FY 2020 year-end statistics in the following areas: Custody and Case Management, Administrative and Criminal Arrests, ICE Detainers, and Removals."

  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

  2020-12-23?
• Lawsuits Against the Federal Government: Basic Federal Court Procedure and Timelines [Updated December 22, 2020]

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  From the Document: "Many federal laws and policy initiatives are challenged in court. In recent years, for instance, plaintiffs have brought cases challenging the Department of Homeland Security's rescission of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, the Secretary of Commerce's decision to include a citizenship question on the 2020 Census, and the President's decision to expend certain funds to construct a 'border wall.' Because the defendant in these cases is the United States or an executive official, the cases generally proceed in federal court. By understanding the procedures governing federal court litigation, legislators can consider potential outcomes, estimate timelines, and appreciate the importance of a court's ruling at a particular stage. This In Focus reviews the most common procedures that govern civil suits against the federal government, tracing the path from federal district court to the Supreme Court."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Lampe, Joanna R.

  2020-12-22
• National Maritime Domain Awareness Plan for the National Strategy for Maritime Security [December 2020]

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  From the Executive Summary: "'Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA)' is the effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of the United States. The 'Maritime Domain' is all areas and things of, on, under, relating to, adjacent to, or bordering on a sea, ocean, or other navigable waterway, including all maritime-related activities, infrastructure, people, cargo, vessels, and other conveyances. This Plan provides the context to understand the importance of MDA to maritime security and why it is imperative to enhance MDA. It will empower the U.S. Government to understand the characteristics of the current maritime domain, identify the strategic approach we seek to employ, clarify our strategic and foundational priorities, and develop an implementation plan to improve MDA that enables decision-makers to perform their responsibilities consistent with Presidential Policy Directive 18 (PPD-18) and the National Strategy for Maritime Security (NSMS). This Plan promotes sustaining favorable conditions for global maritime security and prosperity. This is accomplished through the effective understanding of the maritime domain and by improving our ability to appropriately share maritime information, including intelligence, law enforcement information, and all-source data from the public and private sectors. The concept of maritime intelligence integration serves as a foundational and, therefore, necessary priority for the effective understanding of the maritime domain."

  National Maritime Intelligence-Integration Office (U.S.)

  2020-12-18
• S. Rept. 116-322: Southwest Border Security Technology Improvement Act of 2020, Report to Accompany S. 4224, December 14, 2020

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  From the Purpose and Summary: "The purpose of S. 4224, the Southwest Border Security Technology Improvement Act of 2020, is to analyze the technology used along the southwest border and provide Congress a better understanding of how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) makes technology decisions and what other technological solutions may be needed to improve border security, both at ports of entry and between ports of entry. If enacted, this bill will provide a comprehensive assessment of available technological advancements and how they can be better leveraged to address DHS' needs with respect to combating illegal activity and facilitating lawful trade and travel."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2020-12-14
• S. Rept. 116-312: Securing America's Borders Act of 2019, Report to Accompany S. 2162, December 14, 2020

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  From the Purpose and Summary: "This bill requires U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to hire at least 600 Border Patrol agents above attrition levels each year until the number of Border Patrol agents reaches and sustains 26,370 agents. This bill also allows CBP to hire additional support staff for Border Patrol and to utilize special hiring authorities and pay incentives for CBP officers in rural and remote locations, and requires CBP to provide Congress with quarterly reporting on Border Patrol workforce metrics. In addition, CBP must update and submit the comprehensive staffing analysis for Border Patrol mandated in the Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2014."

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2020-12-14
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Powers and Limitations: A Brief Primer [December 9, 2020]

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  From the Document: "U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), enforces federal customs and immigration laws at or near the international border and at U.S. ports of entry. Congress has established a comprehensive framework enabling CBP officers to inspect, search, and detain individuals to ensure their entry and any goods they import conform to these governing laws. That authority is not absolute. The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution prohibits government searches and seizures that are not reasonable. While the government has broader latitude to conduct searches at the border than in the interior of the United States, these searches must still satisfy Fourth Amendment requirements. This Legal Sidebar briefly explains CBP's customs and immigration enforcement powers and the constitutional limitations to that authority."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Smith, Hillel R.

  2020-12-09
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection: Strategy 2021-2026

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  From the Executive Summary: "The updated 'CBP [Customs and Border Protection] Strategy 2021-2026' introduces new Mission and Vision statements that describe our commitment to a safer and more prosperous nation and a set of Enduring Mission Priorities that describe our core missions in a succinct and meaningful way. The Strategy remains committed to a set of twelve Strategic Objectives as the key areas where CBP will focus its efforts and lays out specific activities and outcomes that must be achieved. [...] The 'CBP Strategy 2021-2026' also introduces the Enduring Mission Priorities which describe the reasons CBP exists as an agency and how we prioritize our responsibilities. The events driving the creation of the Department of Homeland Security led to the inclusion of 'Countering Terrorism,' and one of CBP's primary missions will always be protecting the Homeland from future terrorist attacks. A more recent focus of CBP, which increases in prominence every year, is 'Combat Transnational Crime.' CBP will also continue to focus on its core functional missions of 'Securing the Border,' 'Facilitating Travel' and 'Facilitating Trade and Protecting Revenue.'"

  U.S. Customs and Border Protection

  2020-12
• National Maritime Cybersecurity Plan to the National Strategy for Maritime Security

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  From the Introduction: "This plan articulates how the United States government can best buy down the potential catastrophic risks to national security and economic prosperity caused by MTS [Maritime Transportation System] operators' increasing reliance on IT [information technology] and OT [operational technology], while still promoting maritime commerce efficiency and reliability. The National Maritime Cybersecurity Plan (Plan) for the National Strategy for Maritime Security (NSMS) integrates cybersecurity into the NSMS's principles of: (1) Freedom of the seas; (2) Facilitation and defense of commerce to ensure the uninterrupted flow of shipping, and (3) Facilitation of the movement of desirable goods and people across our borders, while screening out dangerous people and material."

  United States. White House Office

  2020-12