Trump Proposal Would Deport More Immigrants Immediately
(The New York Times, Feb 19, 2017)
Federal authorities would be empowered to immediately deport vastly more undocumented immigrants as part of a broad crackdown being developed by the Trump administration that would significantly change the way federal agencies enforce immigration laws. Two draft memos signed on Friday by John F. Kelly, the retired Marine general who is now secretary of homeland security, outline an aggressive mission for the immigration authorities that would rescind policies put in place by President Barack Obama that focused mainly on removing serious criminals.
Memos signed by DHS secretary describe sweeping new guidelines for deporting illegal immigrants
(The Washington Post, Feb 18, 2017)
Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly has signed sweeping new guidelines that empower federal authorities to more aggressively detain and deport illegal immigrants inside the United States and at the border. In a pair of memos, Kelly offered more detail on plans for the agency to hire thousands of additional enforcement agents, expand the pool of immigrants who are prioritized for removal, speed up deportation hearings and enlist local law enforcement to help make arrests.
India Begins Building on Its Citizens' Biometrics
(The Wall Street Journal, Feb 20, 2017)
India is leapfrogging into the digital future by offering the world’s largest biometric-identity database for use by tech firms, health-care providers and novice app developers—an opportunity that excites fans of cyber transactions but worries privacy advocates. The Indian government has gathered digital-identification records, including fingerprint impressions and eye scans, of nearly all of its 1.2 billion citizens. Now a government-backed initiative known as “India Stack” aims to standardize ways to exchange the data digitally.
U.S. inquiries into Russian election hacking include three FBI probes
(Reuters, Feb 18, 2017)
The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation is pursuing at least three separate probes relating to alleged Russian hacking of the U.S. presidential elections, according to five current and former government officials with direct knowledge of the situation. While the fact that the FBI is investigating had been reported previously by the New York Times and other media, these officials shed new light on both the precise number of inquires and their focus.
At Least 70 Organizations Targeted In Sophisticated Cyber Surveillance Operation
(DarkReading, Feb 17, 2017)
At least 70 organizations across multiple industries including critical infrastructure, scientific research and media have been hit in a sophisticated cyber-surveillance campaign conducted by threat actors with potential nation state connections. A majority of the victim organizations are Ukraine based, though a handful of targets have also been spotted in Russia, Austria and Saudi Arabia as well.
DHS sets sights on curbing denial-of-service cyberattacks amid their recent 'exponential increase'
(The Washington Times, Feb 18, 2017)
The Department of Homeland Security said it has launched a multi-faceted attempt to defend the nation’s computer networks from hackers in light of witnessing a dramatic surge recently with respect to the number of crippling cyberattacks being waged against internet infrastructure. The DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate on Thursday said its cybersecurity division has set its sights on safeguarding the internet against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, an elementary but effective tactic used by hackers to overload a network with illegitimate web traffic to render it useless.
Facebook plans to use AI to identify terrorist propaganda
(The Washington Post, Feb 16, 2017)
Facebook plans to use artificial intelligence to identify posts that might promote or glorify terrorism, a move that follows growing concern about terrorists’ efforts to recruit on social networks. In a 5,700-word missive posted Thursday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote that the technology “will take many years to fully develop” because it requires software sophisticated enough to distinguish between a news story about a terrorist attack and efforts to recruit on behalf of a terrorist organization.
Feds more at risk from clicking on links than from data stolen during OPM breach
(Federal News Radio, Feb 17, 2017)
The 21.5 million current and former federal employees impacted by the massive data breach in 2015 may never know if they will be targeted based on the information stolen from the Office of Personnel Management. Bill Evanina, the director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center and the National Counterintelligence Executive, said the rate of attacks and the amount of information out there from public and private sector breaches, means hackers likely will bring together a host of data to use in spear phishing attacks.
Variety of management issues on DHS’ plate for 2017
(Federal News Radio, Feb 17, 2017)
Homeland Security Department watchdogs say more oversight from the secretary and top-level leadership is going to be key to helping the agency’s multiple components improve management functions and strengthen the workforce. DHS Inspector General John Roth said the department’s Joint Requirements Council and the creation of an undersecretary for policy position is encouraging to see when it comes to tackling the management troubles around the DHS’ “Unity of Effort.”
