U.S. security agents have 20,000 contacts a year with people on terrorist watch lists

Posted on May 17, 2012 by | Leave a comment

U.S. law enforcement and security agencies encounter, on average, fifty-five “known or suspected terrorists” a day – at airports, border crossings, ports, and more. This means that U.S. security agencies have more than 20,000 contacts per year with known or suspected terrorists.

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Posted in Open Government

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DHS agencies starting to integrate missions, CIO says

Posted on May 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The Homeland Security Department is beginning to integrate some of its core missions—such as developing an expanded common operating picture for multiple agencies–as part of its efforts to create “One DHS,” Chief Information Officer Richard Spires said on May 11.

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Spires: DHS reducing redundancy

Posted on May 15, 2012 by | Leave a comment

In an effort to reduce redundancy, the Homeland Security Department has identified 13 major functions that DHS undertakes and is looking to integrate information technology systems within those cross-cutting areas, said DHS Chief Information Officer Richard Spires May 11.

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D.C. moves to limit information-sharing about illegal immigrants

Posted on May 9, 2012 by | Leave a comment

A D.C. Council committee on Tuesday unanimously backed a measure that would sharply limit the D.C. jail’s power to hold suspected illegal immigrants for federal authorities.

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Feds to launch Secure Communities program in Mass.

Posted on May 9, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security notified state officials Tuesday that despite the objections of Gov. Deval Patrick and immigration activists, they plan to launch a federal program aimed at identifying illegal immigrants arrested for crimes.

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New approach to U.S. border security

Posted on May 9, 2012 by | Leave a comment

CBP has unveiled a new approach to securing the U.S.-Mexico border; the new strategy puts less emphasis on technology, and more on risk analysis; the Border Patrol believes it now knows enough about those who try to cross the border to begin imposing more serious consequences on almost everyone the agency catches; in January the Border Patrol expanded its Consequence Delivery System to the entire border, dividing border crossers into seven categories, ranging from first-time offenders to people with criminal records.

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Saco Police unveil new crime map technology

Posted on May 9, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The Saco (ME) Police Department and BAIR Analytics Inc. have partnered to provide an online crime map, called RAIDS Online, which analyzes crime data and allows the police department to quickly alert the public about crimes as they occur.

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CIA thwarts second underwear bomber attempt

Posted on May 8, 2012 by | Leave a comment

The CIA has foiled a second attempt to down a U.S. airliner by means of an underwear bomber; this device was more sophisticated than the Christmas Day airline bombing attempt over Detroit in 2009; the new bomb contains no metal, making it likely it will avoid detection at airport security checkpoints.

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OPM’s social media and openness struggles

Posted on May 8, 2012 by | Leave a comment

A move to a more open, collaborative and transparent workforce at the Office of Personnel Management has not been without some challenges, particularly when it comes to embracing social media and changing agency culture, according to documents released Friday.

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Coordinating Security Information

Posted on May 8, 2012 by | Leave a comment

A recent article in Government Computer News raised the topic of FISMA reporting, specifically describing the “pessimism” of many USG agencies over meeting the September 2012 deadline for “using continuous monitoring to meet Federal Information Security Management Act reporting requirements.” The article cites a survey of over 200 government IT professionals, conducted by RedSeal Networks, in which 55% of respondents felt they won’t be ready, or don’t know if they will be ready, by the deadline. One can certainly debate the significance of the number of agencies expressing concern over meeting the deadline, and the reasons given would likely drag the conversation to arguing over the validity of a deadline set by government for something that is far more complex than “flipping a switch.” But set that aside for the moment.

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Posted in Technology

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