Acting Secretary Wolf Delivers 2020 State of the Homeland Speech

Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf gave the annual 2020 State of the Homeland address this week. Wolf covered issues including COVID-19, law enforcement, immigration, terrorism, and the upcoming election.

Wolf discussed the diverse and important nature of all components of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), from United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to the Secret Service, emphasizing that DHS workers do not have glamourous jobs and they are often faced with arduous tasks, difficult decisions, and emotional toll - all on behalf of the American people.

He cited multiple successes by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in combatting illegal immigration and preventing counterfeit materials from entering the United States. For example, this year, CBP seized millions of counterfeit masks and thousands of FDA-prohibited COVID-19 test kits.

Additionally, Wolf stated that, since January, over 300 miles of wall barriers along the U.S. borders have been built. He claimed that by the end of the year the number is expected to increase to 450 miles. Controlling points of entry into the United States has long been a priority of CBP, and Wolf claimed that the extensive border wall now allows the U.S. to control where crossings take place.

In an effort to stop criminal activity before it reaches the U.S., DHS has bolstered their immigration policy in several key ways.

First, DHS is improving the screening processes by which those attempting to enter the US are vetted. This includes the use of new forms of biometrics that extend beyond the prospective simply filling out paper work and making claims for residency in the U.S. Second, DHS is securing international cooperation by working with Mexico to deter illegal immigration. Third, Wolf also reported that DHS is reforming the immigration system by closing legal loopholes and ending the “catch and release” program through which many immigrants who entered the country illegally are captured and then allowed to live and work in the U.S. for many years.

One example of these reforms includes the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), whereby certain foreign individuals entering or seeking admission to the U.S. from Mexico illegally may be returned to Mexico and wait outside of the U.S. for the duration of their immigration proceedings. These protocols help preserve the US asylum system for genuine asylum seekers, according to Wolf.

According to Wolf, by 2023, nonintrusive inspection equipment is expected to expand from scanning 15% of commercial vehicles to 72% at points of entry. For personal vehicles, the percentage of nonintrusive inspections is expected to increase from 1% to 40%. Refocusing on strengthening U.S. borders has led to 40 million pounds of hard drugs such as cocaine, fentanyl, and methamphetamine being seized during this administration, Wolf said.

Wolf also discussed the key role played by law enforcement during a time when issues like police brutality are at the forefront of American political discussion. He said, “There is no constitutional right to loot, burn, and assault law enforcement officers or your fellow citizens.”

He went on to highlight the threat posed by domestic terrorism in the United States. DHS works to actively counter both lone offenders and small groups of offenders. It is a priority of the U.S. to combat domestic terrorism in the form of white supremacy and radical extremism. In the FY 2021 budget, President Trump has requested a 300% budget increase for these DHS efforts, Wolf said.

“Economic security is homeland security,” said Wolf, and DHS strengthens both in multiple ways. He continued, “We directly support economic security every day here in the Homeland by keeping commercial airline travel safe and secure, facilitating commercial trade through our ports of entry, keeping our networks free from economic disruptions and safeguarding our ports and inland waterways that process nearly 90% of all goods coming into our country.”

Wolf identified China as an emerging threat to homeland security. He said, “From intellectual property theft and stealing trade secrets that rob from American innovators … to harvesting personal data to turn a profit, shattering the privacy of Americans of all ages … to exporting unjust business practices in the form of state backed enterprises that harm American entrepreneurs … to hacking attempts to penetrate and compromise American organizations conducting COVID research …  to abusing student visas to exploit American academia, the actions of China may be unabating, but they are not unthwartable.”

With regard to the upcoming election, Wolf emphasized the importance of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA). CISA is leveraging new cybersecurity measures that monitor intrusions into election infrastructure across all 50 states. “2018 was the most secure election in the modern era. Not resting on its laurels, CISA has only increased its protection in scope and impact as it pursues the goal of an ever-more secure election in 2020.” Wolf said.

He concluded, “We stand—ready to rise and ready to face the next challenge that threatens our homeland.”