When it comes to immigration, Bruce Morrison has a fix, at least according to an article published in Politico earlier this month. The article frames Morrison, a former Democratic Congressman from Connecticut and chairman of the House Immigration Subcommittee, as an independent thinker: “[Morrison] doesn’t agree with everything Obama says or does.” Yet Morrison’s plan is anything but unique. It’s just another amnesty in disguise. The article explains the plan: “Under Morrison’s plan, when you change jobs, you would get checked by a new electronic system to see whether you are …
According to a recent AP story, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) “answered 11,580 letters, gave 2,058 briefings, and sent 232 witnesses to 166 hearings” in 2009. The time it took for DHS to answer all these congressional inquiries is so great that it can’t be measured in hours, days, or even weeks. Rather, in 2009 alone, DHS officials apparently spent an equivalent of 66 work years responding to these congressional requests. If those numbers didn’t have your head spinning already, the total cost to U.S. taxpayers for all these …
It’s 1776 all over again, as former Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Stewart Baker quips. This time, however, we are not talking about unjust taxes or the right to a trial by jury, and no one is dumping tea into Boston Harbor. Instead, the issue is U.S. ability to preserve its own security. Earlier this month, the European Parliament announced its plan to postpone a vote on sharing Passenger Name Records (PNR) with the United States. Essentially, the parliament is reneging on years of negotiations and a standing agreement to share information …
It is potentially the 39th terrorist plot foiled against the United States since the attack on September 11, 2001. Yesterday, the NYPD arrested two men seeking to purchase hand grenades and guns for a possible attack against New York City synagogues. This is nothing new—at least three of the attempted terrorist plots since 9/11 have targeted synagogues or Jewish centers and, by our count, this would be the 11th plot against the Big Apple. While some have been holding their breath for the possibility of retaliation following the death of …
It sat on her desk for over a week, but yesterday Governor Jan Brewer (R–AZ) finally signed S.B. 1495 into law. The new law takes an important step and allows the governor to mobilize the Arizona State Defense Force (SDF) “for any reason” she sees fit. Arizona’s constitution has long allowed for the creation of an SDF. This latest law, however, removes many of the restrictions on mobilizing this force. No longer is the governor required to wait for the Arizona National Guard to be physically located out of state …
As states continue to face large deficits and budget cuts, Arizona has hit on a smart solution. On Tuesday, the Arizona House of Representatives passed S.B. 1495, a bill enhancing the power of the governor to create a state guard unit. These units, better known as State Defense Forces (SDFs), are today’s modern state militia. Unlike the images of rag-tag groups often associated with the term militia, these are professional forces authorized by the Constitution and under the command of their respective state governors.
Yesterday, the FBI arrested Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari for the attempted use of a weapon of mass destruction. His arrest marks the 38th successfully thwarted terrorist plot against the United States since 9/11. The FBI, with the help of concerned citizens, should be applauded for stopping the plot before it was able to mature. At the same time, it also highlights key failures of Congress and the Obama Administration in homeland security. According to the FBI, Aldawsari, a 20-year-old Saudi citizen and student at South Plains College in Lubbock, Texas, sent …
Pat-downs and body scanners seem to be keeping some from getting in the Thanksgiving spirit this week. As if the security lines weren’t bad enough during the busiest time of the year to fly, travelers are now faced with the invasive screening measures. Seniors speculate how to get out of their wheelchairs to walk through scanners, and parents wonder if their toddlers will be selected for additional screening. The bottom line is that the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is currently treating every traveler as a threat. Last week Homeland Security …
This week’s Time Magazine featured a 12-page article on the The Secret World of Extreme Militias. Page after page describes the threat of renegade anti-government groups, who are described as militant groups armed with rifles and assault weapons and who threaten war against “‘the jackbooted thugs’ of Washington.” Yet, Time didn’t spare a single sentence to describe the nation’s true militia forces. There is a not-so secret world of militias out there called State Defense Forces (SDFs). These SDFs are authorized by state law and are under the command of …
A recent article by Fox News led with a quote from the Department of Homeland Security: “We are not engaged in a backdoor amnesty.” Well that certainly is news, considering that the actions of the Administration, or lack there of, scream otherwise. The article goes on to highlight recently published memos by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which outline “administrative alternatives to comprehensive immigration reform.” The Department defends themselves by asserting that these documents were only drafts, meant to convey ideas, rather …
