Napolitano: Body Scanners Key To Aviation Security

By Antonia Aguilar
University of New Mexico /Talk Radio News Service

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said that more full body scanners and increased law enforcement are to be expected in the coming months to improve international and domestic aviation security. Napolitano spoke Monday before the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. during an annual legislative conference.

“What we’re about is finding gaps, filling them [and] minimizing risk,” she said. “We are rolling the technology out.”

The December 25, 2009 al-Quaeda attempt to sabotage Northwest Airlines Flight 253 from Amsterdam to Detroit and other security breaches raised concerns over international and domestic airport security measures and standards. In the attempt, Nigerian Umar Farou Abdulmutallab tried to ignite plastic explosives hidden in his underwear.

Last week, Napolitano met with the CEOs of the member airlines of the Air Transport Association of America and the International Air Transport Association, which represents 230 airlines and more than 90 percent of the world's air traffic. “"Government and the private sector must work collaboratively to develop and implement enhanced international security measures and standards," she said.

On March 4, DHS Under Secretary Caryn Wagner testified before the House Subcommittee on Homeland Security on the President’s Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Request for the Department’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis.

“DHS reactivated the DTTF [DHS Threat Task Force] on December 25, 2009, after the attempted bombing of Northwest Airlines Flight 253,” she said. “We intend to institutionalize this enterprise task force to focus the efforts of the whole Department in unison on mitigating terrorism threats to the homeland. Per the Secretary’s direction, the DTTF has been playing a direct role in identifying and analyzing homeland security threats, informing DHS leadership decision-making, and ensuring that intelligence supports component operations in the field. These efforts have directly contributed to more effective use of watch lists and have supported Department programs for passenger travel analysis and airport screening procedures.”

Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano Defends Department's Budget Cuts

By Monique Cala University of New Mexico/ Talk Radio News Service

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano defended the Department's FY2011 Budget Request Wednesday, after members of the Senate Homeland Security Committee expressed concern for decreases in what they called ‘key’ areas.

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), who chairs the committee, questioned the decision to decrease funds allocated for cyber security.

“This budget cuts the spending on cyber security by 5 percent. Key information systems in the private and public sectors are penetrated everyday in our defenses against computer attacks and data theft,” said Lieberman.

“Cyber space is of key concern. The reduction noted is attributable to many things,” Napolitano responded. “One, is that there were one time expanses that we had last year that we do not need to duplicate in 2011.”

Cuts made to the U.S. Coast Guard also came under close scrutiny. Sen. Susan Collins in particular asked U.S. ports would remain safe in light of Guard's $75 million budget reduction.

“Our nation's top intelligence officials recently testified before Congress that it is “certain” that al Qaeda is planning to attempt another attack against the United States within the next six months,” explained Collins.

Collins went on to voice concern with the request for $200 million to provide security in large metropolitan areas in the United States that host trials for suspected terrorists now held at Guatanamo Bay.

“These terrorists could be tried on military bases before military tribunals, without incurring this unnecessary expense and security risk,” said Collins.

Napolitano responded that regardless of where the suspected terrorists are tried, in military or civilian courts, the expense for security will still be close to $200 million.

A full break down of the budget can be found at the DHS web site.

Napolitano To States: Tell Residents To Stay Off The Roads

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano spoke via telephone on Wednesday with leaders in several states impacted by the ongoing blizzard.

Among them were Delaware Governor Jack Markell, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley, Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin, and Washington, D.C., Mayor Adrian Fenty. Following the conversations, Napolitano released the following statement:

“We are continuing to monitor this winter storm closely and are infrequent communication with our state and local partners across the impacted region...I urge all residents to heed the warnings of local officials and prioritize safety by staying off the roads unless absolutely necessary. This is a team effort and we will continue to work with our partners as the storm develops and the recovery process begins.”

A statement released by DHS said that FEMA has deployed state liaison officers to the emergency operation centers in Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. According to the statement, Napolitano will continue contacting additional Mayors and Governors as the storm progresses.

The National Weather Service announced that as of 2 p.m. Wednesday afternoon, the seasonal snowfall total in Washington, D.C. stood at 54.9 inches, breaking the previous all-time seasonal snowfall record for the city of 54.4 inches set in the winter of 1898-99.

Napolitano, Canadian Safety Officials Team To Tackle Trade, Security Threats

By Laura Smith - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and Public Safety Canada Minister Peter Van Loan on Tuesday announced initiatives both nations will take to tackle common threats such as terrorism and organized crime, "while ensuring the lawful flow of travel and trade across the border."

According to Napolitano, the key measures include enhanced information sharing between the U.S. and Canada, the expansion of joint law enforcement operations and improved coordination during emergencies.

“Minister Van Loan and I are committed to working together to combat transnational threats and facilitate lawful travel and trade on both sides of the border,” Napolitano said.

Along with the new initiatives, Napolitano also discussed the possibility of the United States joining a biometric data sharing program with Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom that would “strengthen the integrity of the immigration systems.”

“Biometrics continues to be a powerful tool to prevent terrorists and criminals from crossing our shared border and preventing identity theft and asylum fraud,” she said.

On trade between the two nations, Napolitano said she will be working with Canadian officials on streamlined border shipping services and making cross-border travel more convenient for travelers with proper documentation.

Homeland Security Teams With ICE To Deport Criminal Aliens

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Assistant Secretary John Morton announced Thursday a new initiative to expand the ICE’s Secure Communities initiative, a program that uses biometrics, such as taking digital finger-print samplings, to identify and remove illegal immigrants that have committed crimes in the U.S.

Since its inception in October 2008, ICE's Secure Communities has identified 11,000 people who were convicted with Level 1 offenses or crimes such as murder or rape, of those 1,900 offenders have been deported from the United States.

“By the end of 2011 we project having a presence in every state,” Napolitano said. “By 2013, assuming Congress continues to fund our efforts, Secure Communities plans to expand nationwide and be available to every law enforcement agency in the country.”

Morton said the Secure Communities initiative, which was enacted one year ago, has identified more than 111,000 criminal illegal immigrants in local custody during the program's first year.

Critics say the Secure Communities initiative could be abused and result in racial profiling, explaining that a law abiding immigrant could be arrested with the sole intention of having their immigration status checked, at the discretion of a local officer.

“There is no distinction between citizen or non-citizen, every single person who is booked into a jail, gets their fingerprints checked and gets their immigration history checked,” Morton said, replying to the criticism. “This is not about, has not been and won’t be about conducting basic civil-immigration enforcement for non-criminal offenders.”

Morton noted that the goal of the initiative to identify and deport serious offenders that are dangerous, but under the initiative all illegal aliens that have committed a crime will be sent back to their country of origin.

“At the end of the day, if you are here unlawfully, not only are you deportable, but you certainly shouldn’t be committing crimes. We are going to identify those people and we are going to remove them.”