Weekly Update: DHS Response to COVID-19

 

The Department of Homeland Security remains dedicated to leading the national response against COVID-19. Each of the Department’s components are working relentlessly to lessen the impact on the nation, its economy, and its people. As states progress through unique phases of reopening, DHS will continue to honorably safeguard the homeland for the American people both from COVID-19 and other threats. “To ensure we can serve Americans safely, FEMA has worked for months to prepare for the 2020 hurricane season and adapt our response and recovery plans for all severe weather during the ongoing pandemic,” said FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor. “This past week, the Agency’s preparations paid off as we stood ready to provide full response and recovery capabilities in support of affected states throughout Hurricane Isaias. FEMA will continue to work with our state and local partners to prepare for future storms in a COVID-19 environment and ensure there are no unmet needs when disaster strikes.” Below is a list of some of DHS’s efforts against COVID-19 last week: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Continued Support in Federal Response. On August 4th, in support of Emergency Support Function #14, CISA hosted a Cross-Sector Business and Infrastructure stakeholder conference call to discuss CISA’s response efforts in support of COVID-19. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Providing Full Federal Reimbursement for States’ National Guard Forces. On August 3rd, President Trump granted an extension for the use of the National Guard under Federal Title 32 orders to respond to COVID-19 until December 31, 2020. As of August 6th, 23,516 National Guard troops have activated in T-32 duty status and 252 troops have activated in State Active Duty status to help with testing and other response efforts. To date, President Trump has approved 50 National Guard requests for federal support for the use of National Guard personnel in a Title 32 duty status through December 31. For those states and territories that are approved under these criteria, FEMA executed a fully reimbursable mission assignment to the Department of Defense, including reimbursement for pay and allowances of National Guard personnel serving in a Title 32 duty status in fulfillment of the FEMA mission assignment.    Coordinating Deployment of Federal Personnel to Support States’ Efforts. FEMA continues to lead the operational coordination for the federal interagency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of August 6th, there are over 26,200 federal personnel deployed across the country from FEMA, HHS, CDC, DoD, National Guard and VA to support state, local, tribal and territorial COVID-19 response efforts. FEMA and our interagency partners are constantly tailoring staffing and resources across agencies, ensuring we can provide support when and where it’s needed most.   Supporting Administration’s COVID-19 Testing Strategy. FEMA continues to source and procure testing material – specifically, testing swabs and transport media – to support the White House Coronavirus Task Force and the Administration’s Testing Blueprint. As of August 6th, FEMA has procured and delivered more than 41.9 million swabs and 32.9 million units of media. The FEMA-sourced material will be provided to states, territories, and tribes for a limited duration to help increase testing capacity in support of their individualized plans.   Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) Graduating the Next Generation of Law Enforcement. As of August 6th, approximately 1,480 officers and agents have successfully graduated and are now in the field performing work critical to protect the homeland since training was restarted on June 17th. There are currently 1,546 students attending in-residence training at Glynco, Charleston, and Artesia training delivery points.  Their graduation in the coming months and the continual influx of new students ensure that our federal law enforcement partners receive the trained personnel they need to help keep our nation secure. Science and Technology (S&T) Driving Evidence-Based Policymaking. On August 5, the DHS Science and Technology Directorate updated its Master Question List (MQL), and does so weekly to compile available research on operationally-relevant questions to aid decision makers in the COVID-19 response. The MQL is a quick-reference guide covering what is known about the virus, what additional information is needed, and who may be working to address these fundamental questions. New entries include: An article by Lancet Public Health highlighted Even among healthcare personnel reporting adequate PPE early in the pandemic (March – April), rates of infection were 3.4 times higher in healthcare personnel than the general population; Georgia Tech Applied Bioinformatics Laboratory, launched a tool that shows the risk level of attending an event, given the event size and location for the U.S https://covid19risk.biosci.gatech.edu/ Transportation Security Administration (TSA)  Keeping Americans Safe While Ensuring Continuity of U.S. Travel and Commerce. Between August 2nd and August 8th, TSA screened more than 4,865,794 passengers, who have all reached their destinations safely. TSA officers are required to wear facial protection and gloves while on duty at the checkpoint and the agency continues to follow CDC guidance to protect Americans, its workers, and the nation’s transportation system, in support of air travel and all other modes of transportation.   Ready to Ensure Safety During the Summer Travel Period. On August 4th, TSA Administrator Pekoske hosted a virtual employee town hall from TSA headquarters during which he provided the TSA workforce with updates on TSA’s response to COVID-19 as well as updates regarding extensive measures in place to protect the workforce.  On August 5th, TSA issued a press release announcing a small business contract award in the amount of $2.48M for additional acrylic barriers to be placed at key airports around the country.  On August 5th, TSA issued a media statement clarifying media outlets only reporting cumulative employee infections as opposed to active infections, which are far lower.  TSA continues to promote its “Stay Healthy. Stay Secure” campaign which outlines significant airport checkpoint modifications implemented to contain the spread of COVID-19, comply with CDC guidelines,  support healthy, and secure summer travel. United States Coast Guard (USCG) Monitoring Vessels that Pose a Risk to Public Health. As of August 6th, the USCG is tracking 58 cruise ships moored, at anchor, or underway in vicinity of a U.S. port, or with potential to arrive in a US port, with approximately 12,222 crewmembers. This includes an estimated 204 American Citizens crewmembers dispersed among 35 vessels.  The Coast Guard is working with the CDC based on its extension of the No Sail Order for cruise ships, which permits the off-loading of crewmembers following submission of a plan to the CDC. Reservists. As of August 8th, the USCG has recalled and deployed 389 Reservists in support of COVID-19 operations. They are activated to serve in numerous types of roles, including work in IT support, medical clinics, PPE warehouses, command centers, and other incident management roles, notably assisting federal partners such as HHS, and supporting state emergency operations centers on behalf of FEMA. Hurricane Response. As of August 6th, Coast Guard units made storm preparations and monitored Hurricane/TS Isaias along the coast of the mid-Atlantic states and across the northeastern United States. Coast Guard personnel along with local first responders and federal partners, were able to evaluate the need to respond to hurricane-stricken areas while taking adequate precautions in the ongoing COVID environment. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Keeping the Public Safe from COVID-19-related Fraud. ICE’s Operation Stolen Promise (OSP) targets fraudulent activity stemming from the pandemic. The initiative combines ICE’s Homeland Security Investigation’s (HSI) expertise in global trade investigations, financial fraud, and cyber investigations with robust private and public partnerships to disrupt and dismantle this criminal activity and strengthen global supply-chain security. As of August 6, as part of OSP, the agency has made 59 criminal arrests, analyzed 54,374 COVID-19-related domains, seized more than $7,859,521 million in illicit proceeds, disrupted 45 instances of illicit activity, sent 1,260 leads to domestic and international field offices, executed 76 search warrants and made 969 COVID-19-related seizures to include prohibited test kits and pharmaceuticals, counterfeit masks and more.COVID-19-related seizures to include prohibited test kits and pharmaceuticals, counterfeit masks and more. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) CBP Continues to Keep America Safe.  On August 6th, CBP announced that since the pandemic began until the end of July, CBP had more than 355 seizures of FDA-prohibited COVID-19 test kits, resulting in the interception of more than 120,000 prohibited tests kits; 85 seizures of counterfeit face masks, resulting in the interception of more than 12 million masks; and 97 seizures of EPA-prohibited anti-virus lanyards, resulting in the interception of 4,000 lanyards seized. Getting American Citizens Home Safe. As of August 5, 2020, CBP had referred 535,216 travelers at the 15 funneling airports to DHS CWMD for enhanced health screening.

Brooklyn Man Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Attempting to Provide Material Support to ISIS

Zachary Clark Disseminated ISIS Propaganda and Bomb-Making Instructions in an Effort to Incite Acts of Terrorism and Violence in New York City and Elsewhere

The Department of Justice announced that Zachary Clark, a/k/a “Umar Kabir,” a/k/a “Umar Shishani,” a/k/a “Abu Talha,” pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).  Clark pled guilty today in Manhattan federal court before U.S. District Judge Naomi Reice Buchwald.  Judge Buchwald is scheduled to sentence Clark on Feb. 9, 2021, at 12:00 p.m.

“Having pledged allegiance to ISIS, Clark provided specific instructions for how to conduct attacks in New York City, instructing others on knifing and bomb-making,” said Assistant Attorney General for National Security John C. Demers.  “We must remain vigilant to the threat of terrorism.  We must remain committed to identifying and holding accountable those who threaten our communities because of their support for foreign terrorist organizations.”

“As he admitted in court today, Zachary Clark pledged allegiance to ISIS and posted calls for attacks on the public and institutions in New York on encrypted pro-ISIS chatrooms,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss for the Southern District of New York.   “He also posted detailed instructions for carrying out those violent acts.  Thanks to the Joint Terrorism Task Force, Clark’s efforts to incite deadly violence on behalf of ISIS have been silenced, and he now awaits sentencing for his crimes.”

“Today’s plea by Mr. Clark is yet one more example of the resolve of the FBI’s JTTF in New York, and our many law enforcement partners, to protect this city and our citizens from the danger of lone wolf attacks,” said FBI Assistant Director William F. Sweeney Jr.   “Many thanks to all of our partners who work side by side with us every day to neutralize threats of this nature.”

According to the allegations in the indictment, complaint, other court filings, and statements made during court proceedings:

Clark pledged allegiance to ISIS twice, first in July 2019, to ISIS’s then-leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, and then in October 2019, to ISIS’s new leader, Abu Ibrahim al-Sashemi al-Qurayshi, who ISIS promoted after al-Baghdadi’s death.  Beginning in at least March 2019, Clark disseminated ISIS propaganda through, among other avenues, encrypted chatrooms intended for members, associates, supporters, and potential recruits of ISIS.  Clark’s propaganda included, among other things, calls for ISIS supporters to commit lone wolf attacks in New York City.  For example, on Aug. 3, 2019, Clark posted instructions about how to conduct such an attack, including directions on how to select an attack target, how to conduct preoperational surveillance, how to conduct operational planning, and how to avoid attracting law enforcement attention when preparing for and conducting the attack.  On another occasion, Clark posted a manual entitled “Knife Attacks,” which stated, among other things, that discomfort at “the thought of plunging a sharp object into another person’s flesh” is “never an excuse for abandoning jihad” and that “[k]nives, though certainly not the only weapon for inflicting harm upon the kuffar [non-believers], are widely available in every land and thus readily accessible.”  Clark urged the participants in encrypted chatrooms to attack specific targets, posting maps and images of the New York City subway system and encouraging ISIS supporters to attack those locations.  Clark’s guidance also included posting a manual entitled “Make a bomb in the kitchen of your Mom,” which was issued by al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula and included detailed instructions about constructing bombs using readily available materials. 

Clark, 41, of Brooklyn, New York, pled guilty to one count of attempting to provide material support or resources to a designated foreign terrorist organization, namely, ISIS, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.  The maximum potential sentence in this case is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendant will be determined by a judge. 

Assistant Attorney General Demers and Ms. Strauss praised the outstanding efforts of the FBI’s New York Joint Terrorism Task Force, which consists of investigators and analysts from the FBI, the NYPD, and over 50 other federal, state and local agencies.  Ms. Strauss also thanked the Counterterrorism Section of the Department of Justice’s National Security Division.

This prosecution is being handled by the Office’s Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit.  Assistant U.S. Attorneys Gillian Grossman, Matthew Hellman, and Sidhardha Kamaraju are in charge of the prosecution, with assistance from the National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section.

Columbia Man Pleads Guilty to Attempting to Purchase Chemical Weapon on the Dark Web

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – A Columbia, Missouri, man pleaded guilty in federal court today to attempting to purchase a chemical weapon, capable of killing hundreds of people, on the dark web with Bitcoin.

Jason William Siesser, 45, pleaded guilty before U.S. Magistrate Judge Willie J. Epps, Jr. to one count of attempting to acquire a chemical weapon and one count of aggravated identity theft.

By pleading guilty today, Siesser admitted that he attempted to acquire a chemical weapon on two occasions between June 14 and Aug. 23, 2018, and that he did not attempt to acquire that chemical weapon for a peaceful or protective purpose. He provided a shipping address in the name of a juvenile, whose identity he used without authorization, to place the orders for a highly toxic chemical in amounts capable of killing many people. Siesser paid for the chemical weapon with the digital crypto currency known as Bitcoin.

Siesser ordered two 10ml units of the chemical on July 4, 2018, and paid with Bitcoin. The seller did not ship the chemical weapon at that time. Siesser continued to contact the seller. On July 19, 2018, Siesser told the seller that, “I plan to use it soon after I receive it.”

Siesser ordered three 10ml units of the chemical weapon on Aug 5, 2018. Siesser again paid for the order with Bitcoin (the equivalent of $150) and provided a shipping address in the name of a juvenile. This quantity of the chemical weapon has the capacity to kill approximately 300 people.

A controlled delivery of a package that contained an inert substance was made to Siesser’s residence on Aug. 23, 2018. Siesser believed the package contained the chemical weapon he had ordered, signed for the package, and took it inside the residence.

Law enforcement officers then executed a search warrant at Siesser’s residence. On top of a shelf in the garage, officers located the inert substance Siesser believed to be a chemical weapon. Officers also located two separate and seemingly unopened shipping boxes on the shelf next to it. They contained approximately 10 grams of cadmium arsenide, a toxic compound, which
can be deadly if ingested or inhaled; approximately 100 grams of cadmium metal;
and approximately 500 ml of hydrochloric acid. An invoice for these products
showed they had been ordered together on March 30, 2018.

Writings located within the home articulated Siesser’s heartache, anger, and resentment over
a breakup, and a desire for the person who caused the heartache to die.

Under federal statutes, Siesser is subject to a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in federal prison without parole, up to a sentence of life in federal prison without parole. The maximum statutory sentence is prescribed by Congress and is provided here for informational purposes, as the sentencing of the defendant will be determined by the court based on the advisory sentencing guidelines and other statutory factors. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled after the completion of a presentence investigation by the United States Probation Office.

This case is being prosecuted by Supervisory Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael S. Oliver and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Casey. It was investigated by the FBI with assistance from the Columbia, Mo., Police Department.

Weekly Update: DHS Response to COVID-19

The Department of Homeland Security remains vigilant against the COVID-19 virus and continues to lead the national response to minimize the impact of COVID-19 on American citizens and workers. As the nation transitions to a phased approach of reopening the economy the Department and its components remain steadfast in their commitment to ensure a safe, secure, and prosperous Homeland for the American people. “TSA remains committed to the health and safety of our frontline workers and airline travelers,” said Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Administrator David Pekoske. “We’ve implemented prudent changes, highlighted in our ongoing Stay Healthy Stay Secure campaign, to our airport screening procedures. Those changes seek to limit physical contact through acrylic barriers and various touchless technologies throughout the checkpoint, as well as adhering to social distancing guidance from the CDC while achieving the security standards needed to protect the public. It is noteworthy that every partner with a stake in the passenger travel experience is equally committed to ensuring the safety and health of transportation workers and airline travelers.” Below is a list of some of DHS’s efforts against COVID-19 last week: Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Focusing on Election Security. On July 28th-30th, CISA hosted the third annual Tabletop the Vote exercise, examining realistic scenarios that could impact voter confidence, voting operations, and the integrity of the elections. This year’s exercise included discussions of the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on election processes and adjustments or new measures election officials have implemented to keep voters and poll workers safe.  Approximately 2,100 members of the election community participated over the course of three days. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Providing Critical Personal Protective Equipment and Funding. As of August 3rd, FEMA has obligated $8.8 billion in support of COVID-19 efforts, including funding for PPE, temporary medical facilities, Title 32 National Guard troops, Crisis Counseling, Public Assistance Category B Emergency Protective Measures and other critical commodities. As of July 27th, FEMA and HHS have coordinated the delivery of 105.1 million N95 respirators, 159.3 million surgical masks, 17.6 million face shields, 132.5 million gloves, 68.7 million surgical gowns and 6.2 million coveralls.  Coordinating Deployment of Federal Personnel to Support States’ Efforts. FEMA continues to lead the operational coordination for the federal interagency response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As of July 31st, there are over 29,000 federal personnel deployed across the country from FEMA, CDC, HHS, DoD, and National Guard to support state, local, tribal and territorial COVID-19 response efforts. FEMA and our interagency partners are constantly tailoring staffing and resources across agencies, always ensuring we can provide support when and where it’s needed most. Supporting Administration’s COVID-19 Testing Strategy. FEMA continues to source and procure testing material – specifically, testing swabs and transport media – to support the White House Coronavirus Task Force and the Administration’s Testing Blueprint. As of July 30th, FEMA has procured and delivered more than 41.9 million swabs and 32.8 million units of media. The FEMA-sourced material will be provided to states, territories, and tribes for a limited duration to help increase testing capacity in support of their individualized plans. Providing Full Federal Reimbursement for States’ National Guard Forces. As of July 31st, 23,516 National Guard troops have activated in T-32 duty status and 252 troops have activated in State Active Duty status to help with testing and other response efforts. To date, President Trump has approved 50 National Guard requests for federal support for the use of National Guard personnel in a Title 32 duty status through August 21. For those states and territories that are approved under these criteria, FEMA executed a fully reimbursable mission assignment to the Department of Defense, including reimbursement for pay and allowances of National Guard personnel serving in a Title 32 duty status in fulfillment of the FEMA mission assignment. Office of Operations Coordination (OPS) Supporting Departmental Information Sharing and Operational Coordination. On July 28th, an Operations Deputies Board (OPSDEPS) convened to discuss the Department’s response to COVID-19 with a focus on DHS workforce safety, response coordination, and continuity. Science and Technology (S&T) Mobilizing the Innovation Community. On July 24, the DHS Science and Technology Directorate issued an Other Transaction solicitation through its Silicon Valley Innovation Program (SVIP) calling for technologies to address near-term needs in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Potential solutions discovered from the Emerging Needs: COVID-19 Response & Future Mitigation Topic Call invites start-up and the innovation community to submit technology solutions that could serve the mission needs of DHS operational components and have a broader application to enhancing operations and preparing for future mitigation. There will be a Virtual Industry Day for potential participants will be held on August 18th, 12:30 – 4:00 p.m.. Applications are due on September 30th, 2020. Driving Evidence-Based Policymaking. On July 28th, the DHS Science and Technology Directorate updated its Master Question List (MQL), and does so weekly to compile available research on operationally-relevant questions to aid decision makers in the COVID-19 response. The MQL is a quick-reference guide covering what is known about the virus, what additional information is needed, and who may be working to address these fundamental questions. New entries include an article by medRxiv highlighted that infectious virus has been found in aerosol samples from COVID-19 patient hospital rooms, primarily in small particles, an article published in the Journal of Public Health Management and Practice noting results from mobile phone data, that social distancing reduced the frequency of encounters between individuals, the frequency of non-essential visits to stores, and overall movement distance, which in turn reduced the effective transmission rate of SARS-CoV-2, an article in Infectious Disease Modelling which highlighted modeling efforts that indicate masks can be effective even when individual mask efficiency is low, though their benefits are maximized when most of the population wears masks. Transportation Security Administration (TSA)  Keeping Americans Safe While Ensuring Continuity of U.S. Travel and Commerce. Between July 26th and August 1st, TSA screened more than 4,755,867 passengers, who have all reached their destinations safely. TSA officers are required to wear facial protection and gloves while on duty at the checkpoint and the agency continues to follow CDC guidance to protect Americans, its workers, and the nation’s transportation system, in support of air travel and all other modes of transportation. Ready to Ensure Safety During the Summer Travel Period. On July 29th, TSA hosted a call with cargo program stakeholders as part of the agency’s efforts to continue engaging directly with industry partners throughout the pandemic. On July 30th, TSA Administrator Pekoske met with members of the Surface Transportation Security Advisory Committee (STSAC) and thanked them for their continued contributions while carrying out their industry responsibilities during these unprecedented times due to COVID-19. TSA continues to promote its “Stay Healthy. Stay Secure” campaign which outlines significant airport checkpoint modifications implemented to contain the spread of COVID-19, comply with CDC guidelines, and support healthy and secure summer travel. United States Coast Guard (USCG) Monitoring Vessels that Pose a Risk to Public Health. As of July 30th, the USCG is tracking 65 cruise ships moored, at anchor, or underway in vicinity of a U.S. port, or with potential to arrive in a US port, with approximately 13,234 crewmembers. This includes an estimated 209 American Citizens crewmembers dispersed among 37 vessels.  The Coast Guard is working with the CDC based on its extension of the No Sail Order for cruise ships, which permits the off-loading of crewmembers following submission of a plan to the CDC. Reservists Supporting The Fight Against COVID-19. As of July 31st, the USCG has recalled and deployed 374 Reservists in support of COVID-19 operations. They are activated to serve in numerous types of roles, including work in IT support, medical clinics, PPE warehouses, command centers, and other incident management roles, notably assisting federal partners such as HHS, and supporting state emergency operations centers on behalf of FEMA. United States Secret Service (USSS) Preventing Moneymules. On July 30th, the Secret Service released a Public Service Announcement cautioning everyone against becoming a money mule, or individual who transfers illegally obtained money on behalf of others using bank accounts, wire transfers, money orders, or checks. Criminals are using the unprecedented national response to the coronavirus pandemic as an opportune moment to further their criminal behavior. To avoid being detected by law enforcement, criminals use money laundering techniques to conceal the identity, source, and destination of illicitly obtained money. Criminals often prey on unsuspecting individuals by creating elaborate stories to assume false identities to gain your trust by pretending to be an entrepreneur or someone looking for romance.  U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Keeping the Public Safe from COVID-19-related Fraud. ICE’s Operation Stolen Promise (OSP) targets fraudulent activity stemming from the pandemic. The initiative combines ICE’s Homeland Security Investigation’s (HSI) expertise in global trade investigations, financial fraud, and cyber investigations with robust private and public partnerships to disrupt and dismantle this criminal activity and strengthen global supply-chain security. As of July 31, as part of OSP, the agency has made 55 criminal arrests, analyzed 52,424 COVID-19-related domains, seized more than $7,639,071 million in illicit proceeds, disrupted 43 instances of illicit activity, sent 1,238 leads to domestic and international field offices, executed 75 search warrants and made 946 COVID-19-related seizures to include prohibited test kits and pharmaceuticals, counterfeit masks and more.COVID-19-related seizures to include prohibited test kits and pharmaceuticals, counterfeit masks and more. United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Completed Postponed Naturalization Ceremonies Due to COVID-19. On July 29th, USCIS Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow addressed the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship and announced that USCIS has now completed all pending oaths that were temporarily put on hold due to COVID-19. Since reopening USCIS offices to the public and resuming in-person services on June 4th, the agency’s top priority has been to resume naturalization ceremonies for those whose ceremonies were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Getting American Citizens Home Safe. As of July 29th, CBP has referred 519,397 travelers to DHS CWMD for enhanced health screening at 15 designated a airports across the country.  CBP continues to collaborate daily with the Department of State (DOS) to facilitate the safe return of American citizens currently abroad and work closely with DOS and foreign consulates to review 212(f) National Interest Waiver requests.