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U.S. airports warned of possible attack "dry runs" Terrorists may be conducting "dry runs" at U.S. airports to test security before a possible attack, according to a Transportation Security Administration warning to airport screeners. In at least four incidents over the past year, security screeners have found items in carry-on luggage -- blocks of cheese taped to electrical components, for example -- that resembled homemade bombs, according to the TSA's July 20 memo. "Past terrorist attacks and plots show that such testing generally indicates attacks will soon follow," said the internal memo, which was posted on the Internet by NBC News on Tuesday. None of the passengers in question has been linked with criminal or terrorist organizations so far, the memo said....
Judge: Spying Lawsuits Can Proceed A federal judge on Tuesday declined to dismiss lawsuits filed by five states seeking information on a federal government warrantless wiretap program, keeping the cases alive pending an appeals court decision. U.S. District Court Judge Vaughn Walker declined to address the federal government's main argument that the cases should be tossed out because sensitive homeland security secrets could be exposed. Instead, Walker said he would wait until the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rules on the issue. That court is scheduled to hear arguments on the matter on Aug. 15 in San Francisco. Cindy Cohn, chief lawyer at Electronic Frontier Foundation, a civil rights group that will argue the case against the government in the appeals court, said Tuesday's ruling was "significant because the government wanted to kill these cases and the judge refused." The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, Ohio, has already ruled that the federal government can invoke security arguments to toss out a wiretap lawsuit filed in Detroit....
Experts Debate Merits of REAL ID Proponents of the REAL ID Act say identification security measures included in the law are essential to improving homeland security, but critics insist that it will be costly, ineffective and lead to privacy abuse. The National Governor's Association on Monday asked Congress to fully fund the law, which was passed in response to the 9/11 terrorists attacks. Several states, including South Carolina, Oklahoma and New Hampshire, have rejected the federal act. The REAL ID Act of 2005 mandates that by December 2009 states comply with a set of federal standards for driver's licenses and maintain a database that can be accessed by other states. Among those promoting the measure is the Coalition for a Secure Driver's License, whose spokesman, Neil Berro, called it "a simple matter of common sense." But Jim Harper, director of information policy studies at the Cato Institute, told a Capitol Hill briefing last week that identity-based security systems "don't work well against committed threats." "You can do all sorts of things to try to secure your country, but the real question is how motivated your attacker is," he said, adding that illegal immigrants and terrorists alike will get around identity-based security. "Who knows who else would come in once the system is broken," Harper said. Harper argued that although the law will cost more than $17 billion to implement, it will provide little improvement in security, while at the same time increasing the risk of identity theft and privacy violations. "Throwing more money at REAL ID at this point is just throwing good money after bad," he said....
Border reform not a priority for Democrats Rep. Rahm Emanuel of Illinois, an architect of the Democratic campaign that regained control of the House last year, says his party will not attempt comprehensive immigration reform until at least the second term of a prospective Democratic president. The congressman's statement was reported by a Hispanic activist and confirmed by Mr. Emanuel. "Congressman Rahm Emanuel said to me two weeks ago, there is no way this legislation is happening in the Democratic House, in the Democratic Senate, in the Democratic presidency, in the first term," Juan Salgado, board chairman of the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights, told the National Council of La Raza (NCLR) at its annual convention last weekend....
Report for local police explains immigration issues The nation's largest association of police chiefs is distributing an unusual primer on immigration enforcement to thousands of law enforcement agencies, saying the absence of a national immigration policy has left local communities with an "overwhelming" burden. The publication by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) discusses immigration laws and issues, including day-laborer hiring sites and local collaboration with federal immigration officials. It stops short of urging local authorities to enforce federal immigration laws but says agencies can no longer ignore the local troubles posed by the explosive growth of undocumented immigrants. "Because there has been very little federal assistance on this issue, it's been pushed down to us," IACP President Joseph Carter said. "Our frustration is that this has now become an issue for our membership." Immigration enforcement, primarily the domain of the federal government, has been a particularly sensitive issue for local communities....
Virginia eyes plan to deport illegals Virginia lawmakers yesterday proposed a mandate for state sheriffs and jail wardens to initiate deportation proceedings for illegal aliens. The proposal was one of several made by a State Crime Commission task force trying to crack down on illegal immigration. Right now, police and jail officials must wait for federal immigration agents to decide whether to take custody of a suspect. Task force members also recommended that Virginia adopt a uniform, statewide policy on dealing with illegal aliens but said they need a better understanding of federal law, costs and immigration statistics before making a final decision....