Homeland Security Project

In the span of a week, our nation experienced a torrent of hate-fueled attacks: the slaying of two African Americans in a Kentucky supermarket , the  mail-bomb assassination attempts and the mass slaying in a Pittsburgh synagogue . These attacks tragically demonstrate that domestic terrorism is on the rise as political polarization and hateful echo chambers on social media radicalize people.

As we mourn those who died in Kentucky and Pittsburgh, we should recognize that such tragedies highlight a dangerous counterterrorism gap that has developed over time: an insufficient focus by the federal government on the threat of domestic terrorism.

Juliette Kayyem provides an update on current legislation designed to fight the opioid crisis, part of which addresses the loophole in the USPS through an estimated 90 percent of synthetic opioids enter the United States.

Canada’s national legalization of marijuana has put it at odds with the United States where, despite growing state-level legalization, marijuana remains strictly illegal at the federal level. It was inevitable that the different approaches to marijuana would create friction between the two countries. It appears increasingly likely that this friction will be felt most acutely at the border.

Deadly diseases like Ebola and the avian flu are only one flight away. The U.S. government must start taking preparedness seriously.

Juliette Kayyem writes that Bob Woodward's new book, Fear, is not only about Donald Trump and his White House, it is also about America.

Juliette Kayyem advocates for closing an illicit drug pipeline that runs through the USPS by requiring advance electronic data (AED) for foreign shipments, which is required for private carriers.

The security situation in Mexico remains poor, with the country experiencing renewed violence at unacceptable levels. 2017 was among the most violent in Mexico’s history, and the violence has continued through this year. The large-scale breakdown of law-and-order helped propel Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) to Mexico’s presidency. Although how precisely AMLO intends to restore public safety remains generally unclear, one early proposal is quite promising for both Mexico and the United States.

Juliette Kayyem writes about the first female U.S. marine to lead an infantry platoon.

Juliette Kayyem discusses President Donald Trump's flouting of safety and security protocols and how these actions reinforce negative security culture in the White House.

Juliette Kayyem discusses the recent announcement by the Trump administration's national security team about Russian interference in U.S. elections.