An Ignoble Experiment

2. Report: DHS needs to improve cyber threat data sharing with critical infrastructure sectors

Poor planning, budget restrictions, increased apprehensions and lack of communication with Homeland Security leaders and the White House led Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials to release more than 2,000 immigration detainees--including some criminals--in early 2013, the department's watchdog found.

The DHS inspector general publicly released a report (pdf) Aug. 12 investigating the reasons behind the release of 2,226 immigration detainees between Feb. 8 and March 1, 2013 just as mandatory budget cuts, or sequestration, were about to kick in.

At the time, several media outlets publicized that more than 2,000 detainees were released, which DHS leaders disputed, saying it was only "several hundred".

However, then ICE Director John Morton at House Judiciary Committee hearing in mid March 2013 confirmed that more than 2,000 detainees were released due to budgetary issues.

The IG's office--which conducted the investigation at the request of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Tom Coburn (R-Okla.)--said increased apprehensions, continuing resolutions and sequestration affected ICE's ability to manage its detention bed space.

For example, the report said that total apprehensions in the Rio Grande Valley increased to 98,000--a 66-percent hike from fiscal 2011 to fiscal 2012. Plus, ICE faced budget reductions in fiscal 2013 because it was funded through a continuing resolution, which was based on prior years' funding, as well as impending sequestration.

Another factor was that ICE had to maintain a maximum average daily population of 34,000, which is a statutory requirement. That means ICE often makes decisions about releases based on bed-space availability, not just on whether it's a public safety issue or other reasons.

The IG said that ICE leadership poorly planned the timing and release of detainees and did not adequately inform the DHS secretary and the Office of Management and Budget about the budget shortfall.

The report also said that of the 2,226 detainees released, 622 of them had criminal convictions. By law, criminals cannot be released. However, ICE officials said they did not release any detainees "considered a danger to the community", the IG said.

Several state and federal officials said that the release of detainees may been politically motivated.

"We obtained no evidence ICE sought or received guidance about the timing or nature of the detainee budgetary releases from the DHS Secretary or the Executive Office of the President," the IG report said.

The IG recommended that ICE provide a reliable funding plan to manage bed-space efficiently and effectively, improve spending transparency, tracking and reporting, and gain full funding for five years for all its detention needs. The agency agreed with the recommendations.

For more:
- read the DHS IG report on the 2013 release of immigration detainees (.pdf)

Read more about: Rio Grande Valley
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By Dibya Sarkar

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3. CDC sends 'disease detectives' to Africa to stop Ebola spread, boosts US preparation

A voluntary program to share cyber threat data with organizations across 16 critical infrastructure sectors has expanded over the past year. But the Homeland Security Department's watchdog recently said enrollment has been slow and the quality of information shared needs improvement.

In February 2013, President Obama ordered the National Protection and Programs Directorate to expand the Enhanced Cybersecurity Services program. ECS supplies both classified and unclassified information about cyber threats so companies in critical infrastructure sectors such as manufacturing, chemical, financial services and transportation can better protect their systems.

As of May 2014, 40 organizations participate in the program, according to the DHS inspector general's report (pdf) dated July 29. Another 22 companies have pledged to join, while 60 organizations have expressed interest.

However, only three of 16 critical infrastructure sectors are represented, the report said. They are defense industrial base, energy and communication services.

While NPPD has promoted the program through media requests, public testimony and the DHS website, it's failed to inform prospective participants about the program's benefits.

Another challenge is that it can take up to eight months for organizations to go through the security validation and accreditation process in order to participate in the program. The approval process also depends on the security capabilities of the participant.

The report did say that NPPD has done a good job of developing standard operating procedures to carry out key tasks and operational aspects of the program. And it's increased the frequency of cyber threat data feeds--to three times a week--for participants, the report said, among other actions.

However, the IG said the data feeds--or indicators as they're known--was inconsistent and not exclusive to the DHS program. Plus, some of the indicators were redundant, formatting wasn't standardized and most of the information was unclassified and available through other sources.

NPPD officials agreed with the IG and said that they're taking steps to correct the issues outlined in the report.

For more:
- read the DHS inspector general report on the cyber threat information sharing program (.pdf)

Read more about: DHS
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By Dibya Sarkar

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4. CBP launches new mobile app to help travelers expedite entry into United States

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 55 "disease detectives" and other highly trained experts are in four West African countries, helping to stop the spread of Ebola there.

The CDC said it's also enhancing preparation across the U.S. for potential cases and is at its highest alert. That means more than 350 U.S.-based staff are working around the clock on logistics, communications, analytics and other support functions to support the response, it said.

"We are fulfilling our promise to the people of West Africa, Americans, and the world, that CDC would quickly ramp up its efforts to help bring the worst Ebola outbreak in history under control," CDC Director Tom Frieden said in a press release.

The CDC experts in Africa will try to find every person who is sick with Ebola and then find others who may have come in contact with those sickened by the virus. The virus can stay in a body for up to 21 days before making a person sick, although symptoms usually take eight to 10 days to appear, CDC has said. The virus can be transmitted via bodily fluids or blood or through infected needles and other objects.

The current Ebola outbreak was first detected in Guinea in March. It then spread to neighboring countries of Sierra Leone, Liberia and Nigeria. As of Aug. 11, the World Health Organization said 1,069 people have died from the disease.

People who contract the viral hemorrhagic fever may suffer headache, joint and muscle aches, weakness, diarrhea, fever and other symptoms.

Two Americans who contracted Ebola while working in Africa were flown back to the United States and are receiving an experimental treatment. Both are steadily improving, according to multiple news reports.

In the United States, CDC said it's boosting efforts to prepare for the disease although it "poses very little to no risk" here.

It said it's expanding the number of labs--beyond CDC and Defense Department facilities--capable of detecting Ebola. More U.S. labs are getting the technology to conduct Ebola diagnostic testing as well as detailed guidance on how to safely handle and dispose of samples potentially carrying the virus.

The center said it's also provided guidance to health departments to investigate cases as well as to airline, airport and Customs and Border Patrol employees to report ill travelers. CDC has also developed recommendations to control infection and disease spread and provided up-to-date information to the public and travelers regarding the disease.

For more:
- read the latest CDC press release on its efforts to combat Ebola

Read more about: Sierra Leone, Tom Frieden
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By Dibya Sarkar

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