DHS Secretary Discusses Immigration, Evolving Terrorist Threat
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Jeh C. Johnson spoke on hot-button issues, including immigration and home-grown terrorists, during a public discussion Thursday with David Schanzer, assistant professor of the practice of public policy, at the Sanford School of Public Policy.
With the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks coming up on the weekend, Johnson emphasized the resilience of the United States. On Friday, Sept. 9, he planned to be in New York to celebrate the return of the federal government to the World Trade Center.
“Terrorism cannot prevail if we refuse to be terrorized, to retreat into fear and suspicion,” he said.
Picking up on the theme, Schanzer asked if looking at terrorism as “a global war” is still a good way to frame the issue. Johnson cautioned against letting the idea of perpetual war becoming “the new normal.” While the war against Al Qaeda was authorized by Congress in 2001, that shouldn’t go on forever.
“The terrorist threat has evolved significantly,” Johnson said.
While the Bush administration emphasized the global war on terror, Johnson says today the country faces a “more complicated threat environment.” Now, the threats come not just from organized groups, such as Al Qaeda or ISIS, but from people who become self-radicalized, and include right-wing extremists as well.
“The homegrown terrorist threats can’t be dealt with on a war footing but have to be a law enforcement effort,” he said.
When the discussion turned to immigration, two groups unrolled banners protesting the detainment of young undocumented immigrants, one of them listing the names of eight detainees, including Wildin Acosta, a Durham high school student and Honduran immigrant who had been detained for 10 months. Schanzer asked protestors to wait for the Q&A period at the end to ask their questions.
Schanzer then continued the discussion on immigration, and Johnson directly addressed Acosta, who was part of the group, and the protesters, saying that immigration is the most difficult emotional issue he deals with at DHS. The agency prioritizes two things: sending back convicted criminals and people apprehended at the border. It’s “not a pleasant part of the job,” he said, especially sending back children.
But the country’s borders are not open, and his agency must act in ways that are consistent with U.S. laws. There are always a range of factors to consider in any public policy, he said, but it always “has to be humane.”
“I don’t have an issue with the banners. This is a public event and you have a right to be here, and I admire your energy and courage,” he said. Johnson met privately with the protestors after the talk for about 15 minutes.
The Department of Homeland Security is the third largest in the federal government, and oversees a wide range of security organizations. It includes FEMA, all transportation security agencies, maritime security, cybersecurity and the Secret Service.
Johnson encouraged students to consider a career in public service, saying that his three years with the agency have been the most satisfying of his more than 30-year career.
The event was sponsored by the Duke Program in American Grand Strategy, the Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security and the Sanford School.