Homeland Security NTAS Bulletin

WASHINGTON – Today, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf issued a new National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin pertaining to the changing threat landscape following the successful U.S.-led airstrike in Iraq that eliminated Qaseem Soleimani, the head of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force, a U.S.-designated Foreign Terrorist Organization.

“I commend the President’s decisive action to protect American lives both abroad and at home. The Department of Homeland Security stands ready to confront and combat any and all threats facing our homeland. While there are currently no specific, credible threats against our homeland, DHS continues to monitor the situation and work with our Federal, State and local partners to ensure the safety of every American.

“As a result of yesterday’s military action, I convened senior DHS leadership last night and earlier this morning to assess potential new threats and component actions to respond to the constantly evolving threat landscape. The entire Department remains vigilant and stands ready, as always, to defend the Homeland.”

“At this time there is no specific, credible threat against the homeland. The Department issued this bulletin to inform, share protective measures, and reassure the American public, state and local governments, and private sector partners that the Department of Homeland Security is actively monitoring and preparing for any specific, credible threat, should one arise” said Acting Secretary Wolf.

“The Department is operating with an enhanced posture and various operational components are taking protective measures where prudent and necessary. We have been in constant communication with Congress and interagency partners. The American people should feel assured the entire Department is working for them to keep them safe.”

SUMMARY OFTERRORISM THREAT TO THE U.S. HOMELAND

https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/ntas/alerts/20_0104_ntas_bulletin.pdf

HS Secretary Nielsen attends meeting in Guatemala

Homeland Security Secretary Nielsen, yesterday met with foreign and security ministers from Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, and Mexico in Guatemala City, Guatemala. A joint discussion took place on efforts to combat human trafficking, drug smuggling, and illegal immigration. They also discussed the security challenges and illegal migration flows.

Secretary Nielsen was also joined by the State Department’s Assistant Secretary of State for Consular Affairs Carl Risch, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Kristen Madison, and Acting Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Francisco Palmieri.

 They all agreed to be committed to:

Expand and share joint public messaging efforts to discourage migrants from the dangerous journey north and work to counter false info and advertising by human smugglers.

Enhance security cooperation, including joint efforts to combat human smuggling and illicit trafficking.

Step up to dismantling transnational criminal organizations.

Bolster police forces, anti-gang units, and anti-extortion teams in Central America.

Expand asylum capacity in the region to make sure individuals can find safety closer to home.

Expand biometric systems and data sharing to disrupt the movement of individuals who would pose a threat to regional security.

Illegal aliens invokes illegal behavior

English: This is the image that the US DHS ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) put on the homepage of the websites it seized in Nov 2010. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Authorities have identified several dozen aliens who improperly received immigrations benefits, but that number is growing as the investigation continues.

An 18-count superseding indictment was returned Tuesday afternoon, it outlined a wide-ranging bribery and long-running immigration fraud scheme that included a former immigration officer, a Department of Homeland Security agent and in officer with the U. S. Citizen and Immigration Services.

The conspiracy was allegedly orchestrated by attorney Kwang Man "John" Lee , who paid bribes to his Hyannis $10,000 to several immigration officials to help secure immigration benefits for aliens he represented. 

Those indicted in the case are:

• USCIS Supervisory Officer Jesus Figueroa, 66, of Tujunga;
• former USCIS Officer Paul Lovingood, 71, of Newhall, who surrendered to federal authorities Wednesday morning;
• James Dominguez, a special agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), 46, of Ventura, who surrendered to federal authorities Wednesday morning;
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Officer Michael Anders, 53, of Torrance; and
• Mirei Hofmann, 38, of Los Angeles, a native of Japan, who allegedly paid Lee tens of thousands of dollars to secure a permanent resident card.

English: The headquarters of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The four current and former government officials named in Tuesday's indictment allegedly conducted a number of official acts to help Lee's clients obtain immigration benefits.  For example, the indictment specifically alleges that Figueroa, Dominguez and Lovingood added documents to, and removed documents from, immigration files (A-files) related to Lee's clients. In exchange for their official acts, Lee allegedly paid the officials with cash and expensive gifts – including at least three Thailand vacations for Dominguez, computers and television sets for Lovingood, and thousands of dollars in cash for Figueroa.

Lee allegedly paid bribes to public officials to secure admission stamps and lawful permanent residency status for aliens who paid fees ranging from a few hundred dollars to more than $50,000.  Lee paid bribes to government officials, with payments ranging from $50 to as much as $10,000 given to an officer with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

 Press Release