Jeh Johnson speaks at U of M-Dearborn

DEARBORN—Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson visited Dearborn Wednesday in an effort to form partnerships with the Arab American community and assure residents of tighter security measures against terrorism.

Johnson stressed that fighting terrorism is the Department of Homeland Security’s primary mission. However, he told students, faculty and government officials who packed a lecture hall at the University of Michigan-Dearborn that preventing attacks has become harder today than right after 9/11.

“We find ourselves in a new phase in the global terrorist threat, which requires a new type of response,” Johnson said.

He said the DHS is now forced to tackle the danger of inspired domestic extremists who are difficult to identify, rather than attacks by terrorists who are trained, equipped and sent from overseas.

The DHS is strengthening domestic security by beefing up military efforts in countries like Syria and Iraq, energizing federal and local law enforcement and toughening domestic and international flight security, Johnson said.

“We are building preclearance capabilities at overseas airports,” Johnson said, adding that customs personnel get to know more about travelers before they get on a flight bound for the U.S.

He added that such measures are highly effective at the 15 international airports where they’ve been implemented and the DHS aims to expand the program.

Johnson said security enhancements to the Visa Waiver Program are also being executed.

However, civil rights groups have criticized efforts by Congress to restrict the travel of individuals from countries whose citizens do not require a visa to enter the United States.

Because of the evolved nature of terrorist attacks, Johnson said the DHS is working more closely with state and local law enforcement. This collaboration includes shared intelligence on global threats with police departments by means of a “joint intelligence bulletin.”

“The reality is, given the nature of the current threats that we face, it is the cop on the beat that may be the first to detect a terrorist attack,” Johnson said.

He first announced this “intermediate” intelligence program last month to inform the public of smaller scale threats and advise them on what actions to take if they notice suspicious activity.

Working with Muslim communities to combat radicalization

Johnson told the audience the DHS seeks increased cooperation via the “If You See Something, Say Something” campaign, adding that the department is focusing on Muslim communities.

He said ISIS is targeting Muslim communities across the country.

“It should be more than a slogan,” he said. “We want public awareness, public vigilance when it comes to potential threat for our communities.”

The DHS aims to discourage radicalization in the United States, according to Johnson. He said the department does that by squashing the glamour ISIS tries to paint itself with, sending a positive message about Islam and finding avenues to channel young people’s energy.

Those wishing to join these terrorist groups “will be subjecting [themselves] to all sorts of danger, possible death, possible slavery,” Johnson warned. “It’s not nearly as what its advertised to be.”

The DHS is also working with colleges and universities to help identify and combat attackers, according to Johnson.

The DHS is funding universities to implement “peer to peer” competitions, in which students come up with ways to deter terrorism with a powerful message.

Rana Elmir, deputy director of the ACLU of Michigan, criticized the University of Michigan for hosting Johnson.

“Allowing DHS to speak on campus, particularly about an ineffective and discriminatory program like CVE, promotes hatred and Islamophobia,” she wrote in a Facebook post, referring to a program dubbed Countering Violent Extremism. “The University should not have any role in that.”

But Johnson defended CVE, saying it aims to engage Muslim communities.

 

Johnson said his message is for Americans to not vilify Muslim Americans, as most Muslims adhere to faith and peace.

“We must not vilify American Muslims,” Johnson told U of M-Dearborn students and faculty. “We need to reject any politician that targets people because of race or religion. We must not throw a net of suspicion over American Muslims and the entire religion. We must not force American Muslims to run and hide and retreat to the shadows. This would be counter to our homeland security efforts and is un-American. Now more than ever, it is the time to work together to protect and defend our communities, our families and our homeland.”

He also urged frustrated community members not to become bitter and remember that “it is also the tradition of this great nation that ultimately those who existed on the margins of society could become a part of the fabric of our society.”

U.S. Rep. John Conyers (D- Detroit) applauded Johnson, saying he has “given us new hope and new commitment against this great fight against terrorism.”

U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-Dearborn) told reporters she has been concerned over the past few months that fear was dividing community members. She encouraged unity, reminding people not to target anyone because of nationality or religion.

“We are one community,” Dingell said. “United we win, divided we fail.”

 

Another aspect of the national security mission is to accept immigrants into the country, Johnson said.

He assured the audience that the DHS is committed to resettling at least 10,000 Syrian refugees this year.

“We recognize that it is who we are as a country, that we resettle people most in need, who are feeling the very same violence and terrorism that we are concerned about,” he said.

He said last year Customs and Border Protection agents turned away the fewest number of illegal immigrants at the southern border since 1972.

At a press conference, Johnson said he thought Gov. Snyder is moving in the right direction on dealing with refugees in Michigan. He added that Snyder is leading the effort in better understanding the refugee screening process, which he called a firm and time-consuming one.

“We always reevaluate [the vetting process] and focus on a particular type of population that should require more vetting,” Johnson said.

After the Paris attacks in November, Snyder called for pausing refugee resettlement in Michigan until the federal government reviews background checks procedures for refugees.

Efforts by the DHS to increase security collaboration with Muslims via the CVE program are viewed with skepticism by some activists. Critics of the initiative say it is a governmental attempt to recruit Muslim informants.