Homeland Security

‘Children Were Dirty, They Were Scared, and They Were Hungry’

An immigration attorney describes what she witnessed at the border.

  • Lizzie O'Leary, The Atlantic

Why a Government Lawyer Argued Against Giving Immigrant Kids Toothbrushes

The sheer effrontery of the government’s argument may be explained, but not excused, by its long backstory.

  • Ken White, The Atlantic

Years Ago, the Border Patrol’s Discipline System Was Denounced as 'Broken.' It’s Still Not Fixed.

An expert panel’s pleas for swifter, more consistent, more transparent punishment of rogue agents languish.

  • A.C. Thompson, ProPublica

Homeland Security Employees Aren’t Disciplined Consistently for Misconduct

Lengthy survey by watchdog faults vague definitions, poor record-keeping for the lack of standard consequences across agencies within the department.

  • Charles S. Clark

Appeals Court: ICE Did Not Have to Bargain Over Pay Changes

A three-judge panel found that Immigration and Customs Enforcement was within its rights to reduce overtime pay for employees because the change complied with a governmentwide rule.

  • Erich Wagner

Thousands Of Asylum Seekers Left Waiting At The U.S.-Mexico Border

As part of a new "metering" policy, U.S. officials are turning asylum seekers away at ports of entry along the southern border. Thousands wait, straining the resources of Mexican border towns.

  • Savitri Arvey and Steph Leutert, The Conversation

Viewpoint: Vetting Foreigners’ Facebook Feeds Won’t Make Americans Safer

The federal government wants visa applicants to cough up their social-media handles.

  • Faiza Patel and Harsha Panduranga, The Atlantic

ACLU Alleges Coast Guard Detained and Abused Fishermen

A lawsuit says the agency accused innocent men of drug smuggling, chained them to decks, and sailed with them straight into a hurricane.

  • Kathy Gilsinan, The Atlantic

Homeland Security Watchdog Retires After Flap Over ‘Feel Good’ FEMA Reviews

11-year veteran Kelly told staff on Monday he accelerated his move after criticism.

  • Charles S. Clark

FBI and Homeland Security Hit for Softpedaling White Supremacy Threat

Democrats press for details on budget and staff cuts during debate over hate crimes.

  • Charles S. Clark

Surprise Inspections Reveal Widespread Violations at Immigrant Detention Facilities

Poor conditions add to the expanding list of crises caused by the influx of migrants at the souther border.

  • Eric Katz

Lawmakers Voice Bipartisan Concern Over 'Chaos' at Homeland Security

Top watchdogs also say turnover is hurting the department.

  • Eric Katz

DHS Expedites Replacement Wall Construction on Same Day Top Auditor Warns of Ineffective Efforts

Homeland Security issues waivers to quickly build new barriers as GAO cautions of insufficient planning.

  • Eric Katz
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TSA Agents Say They’re Not Discriminating Against Black Women, But Their Body Scanners Might Be

The full-body scanners at airports across the country frequently give false alarms for Afros, braids, twists and other hairstyles popular among black women.

  • Brenda Medina and Thomas Frank, ProPublica

TSA Air Marshal Whistleblower Fired for Second Time

Robert MacLean continues to claim retaliation for his disclosures of safety risks.

  • Charles S. Clark

As Trump Mulls Firing The Head Of DHS, The Agency’s Second Top Role Is Already Empty

The Homeland Security deputy secretary job is one of dozens Trump still has to fill.

  • Heather Timmons and Ana Campoy, Quartz

The Strange Case of American Diplomats in Cuba: As the Mystery Deepens, So Do Divisions in Washington

Trump officials insist the Americans were attacked, even as the evidence fails to materialize. “The Cuba thing is one of the few unsolved mysteries we’ve got,” an official said.

  • Tim Golden and Sebastian Rotella, ProPublica

Watchdog Faults FBI Staff for Mishandling Secret Report on U.K. Terrorist Attack

Efforts to trace emails to find leak to New York Times come up dry.

  • Charles S. Clark