Advanced search    Help

Clear all search criteria

Only 2/3! You are seeing results from the Public Collection, not the complete Full Collection. Sign in to search everything (see eligibility).

• Honduran-U.S. Relations [Updated September 25, 2008]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This Congressional Research Service (CRS) report discusses the current political and economic conditions in Honduras, and relations with the United States including trade, foreign assistance, military presence, migrations issues, drug and human trafficking, port security. "The Central American nation of Honduras, one of the hemisphere's poorest countries, faces significant challenges in the areas of crime, human rights, and improving overall economic and living conditions. […] Among the country's development challenges are a poverty rate over 70%, high infant mortality, and a significant HIV/AIDS epidemic. Despite these challenges, increased public spending on health and education have reaped significant improvements in development indicators over the past decade. […] The country has enjoyed 26 years of uninterrupted elected civilian democratic rule. […] The United States has a close relationship with Honduras, characterized by an important trade partnership, a U.S. military presence in the country, and cooperation on a range of transnational issues, although there have been some recent strains in relations in light of President Zelaya's move toward closer relations with Venezuela. Honduras is a party to the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). There has been extensive cooperation with Honduras on port security. […] Honduras will also be receiving at least $7.3 million in FY2008 supplemental assistance funding under the Administration's Mérida Initiative designed to boost the region's capabilities to interdict the smuggling of drugs, arms, and people and also support a regional anti-gang strategy (P.L. [Public Law] 110--252). For FY2009, the Administration has requested almost $53 million in assistance for Honduras, and the country would also receive a portion of the $100 million requested for Central America for continuation of the Mérida Initiative."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Sullivan, Mark P.; Meyer, Peter J.

  2008-09-25
• EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 21 Issue 40, October 7, 2021

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center's (EMR-ISAC) InfoGram is a weekly publication of information concerning the protection of critical infrastructures relevant to members of the Emergency Services Sector. This issue includes the following articles: "NVFC [National Volunteer Fire Council] and IAFC [International Association of Fire Chiefs] release update to Lavender Ribbon Report on 11 best practices to prevent firefighter cancer"; "DHS S&T [Science and Technology Directorate] field tests FirstNet push-to-talk app for communications interoperability among DHS components and first responders"; "FEMA releases major update to Comprehensive Preparedness Guide 101, final webinar on Oct. 13"; "REMINDER: Deadline to request FEMA Exercise Support is Nov. 1"; "Blockchain technology could provide secure communications for robot teams"; "Coinbase says hackers stole cryptocurrency from at least 6,000 customers;" "DHS issues roadmap to help organizations prepare for quantum computing threat"; "Conti gang threatens to dump victim data if ransom negotiations leak to reporters"; and "GAO [Government Accountability Office] flags six agencies on telework security measures."

  Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)

  2021-10-07
• Central America's Northern Triangle: Challenges for U.S. Policymakers in 2021 [Updated May 13, 2021]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Document: "El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras, located in the Northern Triangle region of Central America, have long struggled with high levels of poverty and inequality, widespread insecurity, and fragile democratic institutions. Already-difficult living conditions have worsened over the past year due to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and two hurricanes. The International Monetary Fund estimates [hyperlink] the Salvadoran economy contracted by nearly 8.6% in 2020 and the Honduran and Guatemalan economies contracted by 8.0% and 1.5%, respectively. Nearly 1 million [hyperlink] Salvadorans, 3.1 million [hyperlink] Hondurans, and 3.7 million [hyperlink] Guatemalans are contending with crisis or emergency levels of food insecurity. Although the pandemic and government lockdowns initially disrupted criminal activities, reports suggest [hyperlink] domestic violence increased and gangs and illicit trafficking groups quickly adapted to the changed circumstances. Amid these challenges, the Northern Triangle governments have sought to undermine [hyperlink] anti-corruption efforts, weaken [hyperlink] judicial independence, and consolidate power [hyperlink], in the view of many analysts."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Meyer, Peter J.

  2021-05-13
• Mexico's Drug-Related Violence [May 27, 2009]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "Drug-related violence in Mexico has spiked in recent years as drug trafficking organizations (DTOs) have competed for control of smuggling routes into the United States. [...] President Felipe Calderón... [has] made battling the Mexican drug trafficking organizations a top priority. [...] In response to the government's crackdown, the DTOs have responded with escalating violence. [...] The government's intensified campaign against the DTOs resulted in changes in the structure of these criminal organizations. The seven major DTOs in Mexico have reconfigured. The fracturing of some of the most powerful drug trafficking syndicates and the reemergence of once powerful DTOs have led to bloody conflict within and among the DTOs. [...] In October 2007, [the U.S. and Mexico] announced the Mérida Initiative to combat drug trafficking, gangs and organized crime... To date, the U.S. Congress has appropriated a total of $700 million for Mexico under the Mérida Initiative. The program, which combines counternarcotics equipment and training with rule of law and justice reform efforts, is still in its initial stages of implementation. [...] This report examines the causes for the escalation of the violence in Mexico. It provides a brief overview of Mexico's counterdrug efforts, a description of the major DTOs, the causes and trends in the violence, the Calderón government's efforts to crackdown on the DTOs, and the objectives and implementation of the Mérida Initiative as a response to the violence in Mexico."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Beittel, June S.

  2009-05-27
• Measuring Violence-Related Attitudes, Behaviors, and Influences among Youths: A Compendium of Assessment Tools - Second Edition

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "This compendium provides researchers and prevention specialists with a set of tools to assess violence-related beliefs, behaviors, and influences, as well as to evaluate programs to prevent youth violence. If you are new to the field of youth violence prevention and unfamiliar with available measures, you may find this compendium to be particularly useful. If you are an experienced researcher, this compendium may serve as a resource to identify additional measures to assess the factors associated with violence among youths. [...] Several measures to assess peer, family, and community influences have been added to the compendium. Many of these measures are from the major longitudinal and prevention research studies of youth violence being conducted in the United States. Most of the measures in this compendium are intended for use with youths between the ages of 11 and 24 years, to assess such factors as serious violent and delinquent behavior, conflict resolution strategies, social and emotional competencies, peer influences, parental monitoring and supervision, family relationships, exposure to violence, collective efficacy, and neighborhood characteristics. The compendium also contains a number of scales and assessments developed for use with children between the ages of 5 and 10 years, to measure factors such as aggressive fantasies, beliefs supportive of aggression, attributional biases, prosocial behavior, and aggressive behavior. When parent and teacher versions of assessments are available, they are included as well." Assessments on gang attitudes are also included.

  National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (U.S.)

  2005
• El Salvador: Political, Economic, and Social Conditions and Relations with the United States [Updated January 3, 2007]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Summary: "Tony Saca, a businessman from the conservative National Republican Alliance (ARENA) party, was inaugurated for a five-year presidential term in June 2004. President Saca is seeking to promote trade-led economic growth, combat gang violence, and improve El Salvador's public finances. His ARENA party is the largest party in the legislature but lacks a majority and generally relies on support from small parties to enact legislation. Saca's agenda is facing continued opposition from the leftist Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front (FMLN), the second largest party in the legislature. In 2006, despite tough anti-crime legislation, there were reportedly 3,671 homicides in El Salvador, the same as in 2005. In February 2006, the Bush Administration extended the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) of eligible Salvadoran migrants living in the United States until September 9, 2007. On March 1, 2006, El Salvador became the first country in the region to implement the Dominican Republic-Central America-United States Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). In late November 2006, El Salvador signed a five-year, $461 million compact with the Millennium Challenge Corporation for development of its impoverished northern border region. This report will be updated periodically."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Seelke, Clare Ribando

  2007-01-03
• Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session, March 25, 2009

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the opening statement of Patrick J. Leahy: "Today, we welcome back to the Committee Director Mueller of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, no stranger to this Committee. It is now 6 months since our last FBI [Federal Bureau of Investigation] oversight hearing, and we will soon hold an oversight hearing with Secretary Napolitano, and then with Attorney General Holder, who had his confirmation hearing before us 2 months ago. So we will talk about the effectiveness of the Federal Bureau of Investigation in carrying out its critical missions to keep us secure while upholding the rule of law. [...] Now, during this hearing we will discuss, as we always do, the good and the bad: how the FBI worked to clear the backlog in name checks for immigration and voting purposes; how the FBI has improved its crime lab testing; but also which problems remain; and the expiring provisions of the PATRIOT Act. In the area of violent crime [including gangs], there are disturbing signs that crime rates may increase significantly in response to the financial crisis, and we will talk about that." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Patrick J. Leahy, Arlen Specter, Robert S. Mueller, III, M. Faith Burton, Patrick Dugan, Charles E. Grassley, and Vincent G. Heintz.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2009
• Border Corruption: Assessing Customs and Border Protection and the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General's Office Collaboration in the Fight to Prevent Corruption, Hearing Before the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery and Intergovernmental Affairs of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session, June 9, 2011

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the opening statement of Mark L. Pryor: "We are going to examine the progress of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in preventing corruption in its workforce as well as the work of the Inspector General's office at the Department of Homeland Security in investigating and prosecuting those individuals who have been accused of corruption. Securing the United States' borders is a constant struggle for the residents of the border States and for the government officials who represent them. The Mexican cartels dominate drug trafficking into the United States. Their operations and methods are sophisticated, ruthless, and well funded. Their notorious presence and power in Mexico is made possible by bribery and corruption, intimidation, paramilitary force, and murder. […] We must continue to do everything that we can to disrupt and prevent these gangs from penetrating our communities. That is why I am pleased that last year the Congress passed and the President signed the Anti-Border Corruption Act of 2010. This bill is designed to complement CBP's Workforce Integrity Plan and prevent rogue border agents from being hired and retained. […] Hiring new Border Patrol agents will help secure our borders only if these agents are truly committed to protecting our country. […] Another area of interest today is the ongoing concern about the lack of true collaboration and information sharing between CBP and the Inspector General's office when it comes to investigating alleged acts of corruption. Fighting corruption is vital to protecting our borders and securing our communities. We must aggressively attack and investigate these cases if we are going to end corruption within the U.S. law enforcement agencies. However, we must conduct these investigations in an efficient and collaborative way that leads to results in the quickest way possible." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mark L. Pryor, Rand Paul, Alan D. Bersin, and Charles K. Edwards.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2011
• Review of the President's Emergency Supplemental Request, Hearing Before the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, July 10, 2014

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This testimony compilation is from the July 10, 2014 hearing on "Review of the President's Emergency Supplemental Request" held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations. From the opening statement of Barbara A. Mikulski: "The purpose of today's hearing is to examine the President's emergency request for funding of $3.7 billion to address the crisis of children from Central American crossing our Southwestern border by the thousands. Their situation is extremely dire. The United States has both a security and moral obligation to help resolve this emergency. These children are seeking refuge from organized crime, gangs and human traffickers who are exploiting and profiting from human misery and desperation in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. The President's emergency request totals $3.7 billion for caring for the humanitarian needs of the children, detention and enforcement at the border, identifying their legal status under our rule of law, robust deterrence in children's home countries by breaking down and prosecuting organized crime syndicates of smugglers and traffickers, conducting a massive education campaign warning Central America families about the dangers and false hopes of the journey, and guiding Central American countries' institutions for repatriation and reintegration of deportees." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Jeh Johnson, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Thomas A. Shannon, and Juan P. Osuna.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Appropriations

  2014-07-10
• Combating Human Trafficking: Federal, State, and Local Perspectives, Hearing Before Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, September 23, 2013

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This is the September 23, 2013 hearing on "Human Trafficking" held before the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. From the opening statement of Thomas R. Carper: "Human trafficking has been described as modern-day slavery. This is because its victims are forced to work, including as prostitutes or in sweatshops, against their will. Trafficking victims may not be physically imprisoned, but they are trapped in often hellish conditions through physical or mental coercion that makes escape impossible, or at least seem impossible. It's easy to think of human trafficking as something that happens somewhere else -- in countries far away from ours that are suffering through war and poverty. Sadly, human trafficking is a real and growing problem all over the world, including here at home. And it can be invisible unless officials and citizens alike are trained to recognize the tell-tale signs. By some measures human trafficking is the second most significant criminal enterprise in the world, generating an estimated $32 billion in revenue. That is simply stunning. The statistics for one type of human trafficking, prostitution, are particularly shocking. I'm told that, every year, more than 100,000 children in the United States are forced into prostitution. The average age of entry into prostitution is 13 years old. In fact, I understand that there have been reports of teenage girls forced to work as prostitutes by gangs and literally branded with tattoos to mark them as property." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Thomas R. Carper, Jeff Chiesa, Heidi Heitkamp, Alice C. Hill, James A. Dinkins, Anne Gannon, Joseph S. Campbell, John J. Farmer, Jr., Suzanne Koepplinger, Lisa Brunner, and Daniel Papa.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• CDBG-CV Community Violence Intervention Quick Guide

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Introduction: "Many communities across the country have seen a rise in homicides and gun violence in the wake of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. From increases in gang-related violence to higher rates of domestic violence, researchers and journalists have identified various ways in which community violence has been exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. [...] While the pandemic has exacerbated contributing factors to community violence, the root causes can be traced to decades of disinvestment and economic isolation in certain communities, disproportionately impacting Black and Hispanic neighborhoods. HUD [Department of Housing and Urban Development] has made billions of dollars available to help communities prepare for, prevent, and recover from the impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. These funds can also be leveraged to address the causes of community violence and help build stronger, safer, more equitable, and ultimately more resilient communities. This quick guide identifies evidence-based strategies to mitigate and reduce community violence and provides suggestions on how such activities could be funded with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) or Community Development Block Grant CARES [Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security] Act (CDBG-CV) resources."

  United States. Department of Housing and Urban Development; United States. Office of Community Planning and Development

  2021-09-02?
• Review of the President's Emergency Supplemental Request for Unaccompanied Children and Related Matters, Hearing Before the Committee on Appropriations, United States Senate, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, Special Hearing July 10, 2014-- Washington, DC

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This is the July 10, 2014 hearing on "Review of the President's Emergency Supplemental Request for Unaccompanied Children and Related Matters," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations. From the opening statement of Barbara A. Mikulski: "So for today, the purpose of today's hearing is to examine the President's emergency request for the funding of $3.7 billion to address the crisis of children from Central America crossing our southwestern border by the thousands. Their situation is extremely dire. The United States of America has an obligation to deal with this emergency. These children are seeking refuge. They are seeking refuge from organized crime, despicable gangs, vile human traffickers who are exploiting and profiting from human misery and desperation, primarily in three countries-Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador. They are willing to risk their lives in order to get away from the terrible violence. The President's emergency request totals $3.7 billion for caring for the humanitarian needs of the children; detention and enforcement at the border; identifying their legal status under our rule of law; and robust deterrence in the children's home country by going after and prosecuting the organized crime syndicates, the smugglers, the coyotes, and the traffickers." "Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Barbara A. Mikulski, Richard C. Shelby, Daniel Coats, John Boozman, Sylvia Mathews Burwell, Jeh Johnson, Thomas A. Shannon, Juan P. Osuna, Patrick J. Leahy, Mary L. Landrieu, Mark Pryor, Jerry Moran, Mark Begich, Christopher A. Coons, Susan M. Collins, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Border Security and Enforcement, Detention and Custody, Screening, Ensuring Meaningful Access to Asylum, Humanitarian Relief and Due Process, Church World Service, U.S. Must Ensure Protection of Unaccompanied Children and Adequate Funding for Refugee Resettlement, Episcopal Church, Ethiopian Community Development Council, Inc., Fire Suppression Funding Solutions Partner Caucus, First Focus Campaign for Children, HIAS, Jewish Statement on Unaccompanied Children at the United States-Mexico Border, Human Rights First, International Rescue Committee, Kids in Need of Defense, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, National Immigrant Justice Center (Heartland Alliance), Forced Migration: Unaccompanied Children Flee Increasing Violence and Danger in Central America, Fair and Efficient Hearings: the Importance of Legal Counsel for Unaccompanied Children, Emergency Supplemental Request: Misguided Allocations for Enforcement and Deterrence, Retaining Critical Due Process Protections for Children in Times of Crisis: The Importance of the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection and Reauthorization Act of 2008 (TVPRA), Record of Refugee Council USA, Tahirih Justice Center, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, USCRI Data on Unaccompanied Immigrant Children, USCRI's Six Policy Solutions, and Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2017
• Building Safer Communities: The Importance of Effective Federal-Local Collaboration in Law Enforcement, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Twelfth Congress, First Session, Wilmington, Deleware, June 20, 2011

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "This is the June 20, 2011 hearing on 'Building Safer Communities: The Importance of Effective Federal-Local Collaboration in Law Enforcement' held before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Christopher A. Coons: 'The goal of this hearing is to examine how well federal and local collaboration, including both information-sharing and funding support, is working using Delaware as a model. We will examine Delaware's fusion center, which serves as the information and analysis nerve center, for information at every level that affects Delaware's public safety. We will also examine the use of joint task forces which our local police and federal partners have established to bring a merged operational focus to counterterrorism, as well as to keeping our streets safe from gangs, drugs and guns. We will also look at formal information-sharing arrangements. While Delaware's small size and the much-vaunted Delaware way of doing business have helped allow Delaware to innovate in these informal partnering arrangements, they can also serve, I believe, as models for States of any sizes.' Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Mark Brunswick, James Burch, Robert Coupe, Drewry Fennell, James Hosfelt, Richard McFeely, and James Nolan."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2012
• EMR-ISAC: InfoGram, Volume 21 Issue 25, June 24, 2021

  Show summary     Open resource [html]     (open full abstract)

  The Emergency Management and Response Information Sharing and Analysis Center's (EMR-ISAC) InfoGram is a weekly publication of information concerning the protection of critical infrastructures relevant to members of the Emergency Services Sector. This issue includes the following articles: "Resources from USFA [United States Fire Administration] and IAFF [International Association of Fire Fighters] on mitigating heat stress with firefighter rehabilitation"; "FICEMS [Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Medical Services] releases Telemedicine Framework for EMS [emergency medical services] and 911"; "FEMA releases NIMS [National Incident Management System] Incident Complexity Guide"; "ISAC National Webinar: Incident Response Tabletop - Working with law enforcement and insurers when responding to cyber incidents"; "CISA [Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency] collaborating with White House on forthcoming zero-trust strategy"; "MITRE adds D3FEND countermeasures to ATT&CK framework"; "Average time to fix critical cybersecurity vulnerabilities is 205 days: report"; "Ransomware attacks decline as gangs focus on lucrative targets"; "Tulsa warns of data breach after Conti ransomware leaks police citations."

  Emergency Management and Response-Information Sharing and Analysis Center (U.S.)

  2021-06-24
• Release of Criminal Detainees by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Policy or Politics? Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, First Session, March 19, 2013

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This is the March 19, 2013 hearing on "Release of Criminal Detainees by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: Policy or Politics?," held before the House Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Bob Goodlatte: "During oral testimony at House Appropriations last week, Director Morton confirmed that the agency released 2,228 detainees from detention. Of these, 629 were criminals and 1,599 were 'non-criminals.' However, Mr. Morton did not provide a breakdown of the 'non-criminals.' We do not know how many were charged with crimes but not yet convicted, are absconders, had existing orders of removal, or are criminal gang members. Additionally, Mr. Morton did not 'think' that any of the individuals released were national security concerns. Simultaneously, DHS claimed that all the released illegal immigrants are 'low priorities' and have not committed 'serious crimes.' This is inconsistent with the fact that both Secretary Napolitano and Director Morton have repeatedly indicated that the agency detains only the 'worst of the worst' illegal immigrants in light of their inability to detain, deport, and remove all the illegal immigrants the agency encounters based on a lack of financial resources." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John Morton.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2013
• Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2009, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security of the Committee on the Judiciary, House of Representatives, One Hundred Eleventh Congress, First Session on H.R. 2289, June 9, 2009

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the opening statement of Robert C. "Bobby" Scott: "The United States is the only country on Earth that sentences children to die in prison. While other countries have abolished this practice, we continue to impose this sentence at alarming rates, and in 14 States children as young as 8 years old can be sentenced to life without parole. Currently, the United States has over 2,500 people in prison serving life sentences without parole for crimes they committed as children. For the majority of these juveniles, it was their first offense. [...] In the bill before us, we are not seeking to prohibit the incarceration of juveniles from life sentences or mandating their release. The bill simply provides that, for a juvenile sentence to life or the equivalent, a meaningful opportunity for a review and possible parole must take place. Only after serving 15 years of incarceration and then only at intervals of 3 years thereafter will juveniles be allowed a chance to show that they are worthy of parole." This hearing also discusses issues with gang violence, and the scientific differences between juvenile offenders, and adult offenders. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, Louie Gohmert, Mark William Osler, Linda L. White, Jennifer Bishop-Jenkins, Anita D. Colon, James P. Fox, Marc Mauer, and H.R. 2289, the "Juvenile Justice Accountability and Improvement Act of 2009."

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2010
• Innocence for Sale: Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking: Hearing Before U.S. House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, March 26, 2014

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This is from the March 26, 2014 hearing on "Innocence for Sale" held before the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations. From the opening statement of Bob Goodlatte: "When criminals exploit children for their own financial gain or personal pleasure, they rob them of their innocence and destroy their childhood. Pimps and the adults who purchase these services -- both more accurately referred to as 'traffickers' -- sexually exploit children through street prostitution, and in adult strip clubs, brothels, hotel rooms, and other locations. It goes without saying that no child should be subjected to this horrifying and inhumane violence. Sadly, it happens across the country every single day. The demand for the prostitution of children, and other forms of commercial sexual exploitation of minors, is steadily growing. While some traffickers are individuals working for themselves, minor sex trafficking is more often perpetrated by broader criminal syndicates or gangs that have realized it is more profitable to prostitute a child than to commit other crimes. For example, drugs can only be sold once, whereas minor children can be sold multiple times each day. Because of this growth, it is estimated that human trafficking in the United States is now a $9.8 billion dollar industry. We must work together to put this detestable industry out of business." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Bob Goodlatte, Michael Harpster, Chris Heid, Withelma "T" Ortiz Walker Pettigrew, and Donna Quigley Groman.

  United States. Government Printing Office

  2014
• El Salvador: Authoritarian Actions and U.S. Response [Updated December 23, 2021]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Document: "On December 9, 2021, the Department of the Treasury announced [hyperlink] sanctions against Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele's chief of staff for corruption associated with a massive pandemic-related procurement scandal. Treasury sanctioned two other officials [hyperlink] the previous day, for providing illicit favors to the Treasury-designated Mara Salvatrucha 13 (MS-13) [hyperlink] gang during covert negotiations. These sanctions actions, taken pursuant to Executive Order 13818 (Global Magnitsky sanctions [hyperlink]), build on U.S. responses to democratic backsliding in El Salvador. In May 2021, Bukele's legislative allies dismissed five justices on the constitutional chamber of the supreme court and the attorney general and replaced them with political allies. Increasing concerns about corruption and authoritarianism in El Salvador among some Members of Congress could influence U.S. foreign assistance provided to the country."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Seelke, Clare Ribando

  2021-12-23
• President's Authority to Use the National Guard or the Armed Forces to Secure the Border [April 19, 2018]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "President Trump's recent announcement and memorandum to the Attorney General and the Secretaries of Defense and Homeland Security regarding the possibility of deploying the military to help guard the U.S.Mexican border against aliens entering the country unlawfully as well as to stop the flow of drug and gang activity raise questions regarding his statutory or constitutional authority to do so. The answer may depend on which troops are sent and the role they will play. This sidebar addresses the legal authorities for the President to use the National Guard or the armed forces to assist in securing the southwestern border."

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Elsea, Jennifer

  2018-04-19
• Policy Recommendations on Haiti for the Biden Administration, Hearing Before the Committee on Foreign Affairs, House of Representatives, One Hundred Seventeenth Congress, First Session, March 12, 2021

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This is the March 12, 2021 hearing on "Policy Recommendations on Haiti for the Biden Administration," held before the U.S. House Committee on Foreign Affairs. From the opening statement of Gregory Meeks: "It has been more than 11 years since Haiti suffered the devastating earthquake that killed hundreds of thousands, displaced more than a million people, and cost billions of dollars in damage. I am grateful that there is a continued U.S. assistance to Haiti, and I am inspired by the resilience of the Haitian people. We must sadly recognize that the situation in Haiti has continued to deteriorate in the decades since the earthquake. [...] Today, Haiti faces a multi-pronged crisis. President Moise has ruled by decree for 14 months. Top government officials have been sanctioned by the U.S. Government for committing human rights violations. And Haitian parents are afraid to send their children to school or travel to work, not just because of the pandemic, but because kidnappings and gang violence has spiraled out of control. [...] How the United States responds to these challenges early on will play a pivotal role in establishing buy-in and trust from Haitian civil society and the Haitian people at large." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Emmanuela Douyon, Guerline Jozef, Rosy Auguste, and Pamela W. White.

  United States. Government Publishing Office

  2021
• FY2022 NDAA: Extremism in the Military [Updated January 5, 2022]

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  From the Background: "Government agencies and other experts have warned of an increasing threat of domestic violent extremism [hyperlink] in the United States, efforts by supremacist and anti-government extremist groups to recruit those with military experience, and evidence of military-affiliated personnel membership and participation [hyperlink] in these groups' activities. Extremist [hyperlink] and supremacist [hyperlink] activity among military-affiliated personnel has been the subject of several congressional hearings and legislative proposals over the past few years. This issue received further attention following revelations [hyperlink] that several alleged perpetrators of crimes at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, had military backgrounds. In response, the Department of Defense (DOD) increased efforts to address these issues. In February 2021, Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III issued an order [hyperlink] for a 60-day DOD-wide stand down to address and discuss issues related to extremism followed on April 9 by the establishment of a working group to counter extremism. DOD released the Countering Extremist Activity Working Group [hyperlink] (CEAWG) report in December 2021, along with an updated DOD instruction on 'Handling Protest, Extremist, and Criminal Gang Activities Among Members of the Armed Forces [hyperlink]' that defines both 'extremist activities' and 'active participation.' Other federal government initiatives are detailed in the National Security Council's June 2021 'National Strategy for Combatting Domestic Terrorism [hyperlink].' Several provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 (FY2022 NDAA), enacted on December 27, 2021, seek to enhance oversight, awareness, and disciplinary authorities related to servicemember support for or participation in extremist activities[.]"

  Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

  Kamarck, Kristy N.

  2022-01-05
• Executive Proclamation Designating The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks a National Monument: Implications for Border Security, Hearing Before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency, One Hundred Thirteenth Congress, Second Session, July 10, 2014

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  This hearing testimony is from the July 10, 2014 hearing on "Executive Proclamation Designating The Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks a National Monument: Implications for Border Security" held before the House Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Jeff Duncan: "On May 21, 2014, President Obama designated the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks area in southern New Mexico as a National Monument. The President's action ignored legislation introduced in both chambers of Congress, which had buy-in and support from a broad coalition of state and local stakeholders and constituencies. […] Instead of allowing the legislative process to proceed, the President ignored the concerns of state and local law enforcement, ranchers, sportsmen, and others and chose to designate the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks area a monument with the stroke of a pen. Due to the President's designation, the U.S. Border Patrol, as well as, state and local law enforcement officers will be prevented from having full access to nearly 500,000 acres of land near the Mexican border. The Border Patrol must now comply with the requirements of several federal land management laws, including the National Environmental Policy Act, Wilderness Act, and Endangered Species Act--some of which will limit access to the monument except for on-foot or horseback. […] As a result, this newly designated national monument is practically an invitation to drug-runners and human smugglers, as if they even needed one. And I have not even mentioned the possibility that those who would seek to harm us including vicious drug cartels, transnational gangs, and terrorist groups like Hezbollah or others could try to breach our sovereignty in order to carry out possibly heinous acts. It's critical for Border Patrol and state and local law enforcement to work together to determine how they will reduce the likelihood that this area becomes a sanctuary for these groups." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Stevan Pearce, Brandon Judd, Todd Garrison, and Marc R. Rosenblum.

  United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security

  2014-07-10
• Group Violence Intervention: An Implementation Guide

  Show summary     Open resource [pdf]     (open full abstract)

  "The COPS [Community Oriented Policing Services] Office has long been a strong supporter of the National Network for Safe Communities and its Group Violence Intervention (GVI). When we in law enforcement talk about addressing urban violence, the problem is so large in scope and self-reinforcing in nature that finding a solution can seem overwhelming, if not nearly impossible. The root causes of crime and disorder in our disadvantaged communities involve so many systemic dysfunctions that it becomes hard to imagine how law enforcement can begin to stem the tide of group and gang violence. The beauty of GVI, therefore, is that it has never been designed to address the myriad social problems that both create and are created by the cycle of violence in these neighborhoods. Rather, it is singularly focused on an immediate and achievable goal: the cessation of gun violence that destabilizes communities, creates fear in our citizens, and claims the lives of many of our young people of color. In this publication, we have attempted to lay out step by step the components of the GVI process so that those jurisdictions that would like to implement this strategy in their neighborhoods can do so with clear guidance and information. To be sure, this work is not easy; it requires buy-in and hands-on cooperation from stakeholders across the community and the criminal justice system. However, when properly implemented, GVI can be transformative. I am not overpromising when I say it can and does help communities take control of their streets so that law and order is restored by the neighborhood itself-a much more effective way of creating public safety than through enforcement actions alone."

  United States. Department of Justice. Office of Community Oriented Policing Services

  National Network for Safe Communities (U.S.)

  2015