US is facing ‘heightened threat environment’ – Homeland Security chief

 

Photo Credit: AP.

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told CBS’ Margaret Brennan that the country is facing a “heightened threat environment,” Politico reports. Mayorkas expressed safety concerns for Supreme Court Justices and recent demonstrations by white supremacist groups.

Politico reported that following the decision of the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v Wade on June 24, several groups on both sides of the abortion debate have begun protests in different places including outside justices’ homes.

Mayorkas said on “Face the Nation”: “We are very mindful that the Supreme Court’s decision in reversing and overturning Roe v. Wade has really heightened the threat environment, and we have deployed resources to ensure the safety and security of the Supreme Court and the justices” including other staff members, according to Politico.

“We do not condone violence, and law enforcement will and has responded to acts of violence when people do not honor their freedom to protest peacefully, but instead violate the laws of our country and the states within it,” he continued.

A California man was recently arrested near the home of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and charged with plotting to kill him, the website noted.

Several dozen masked white nationalists, some with police shields and flags, marched through Boston Saturday. People believed to be associated with the same group, Patriot Front, were arrested in Idaho near a Pride event last month, according to Politico. The individuals were found inside a U-Haul truck containing shields and at least one smoke grenade. Members of the Proud Boys disrupted a drag show in Sacramento California and threatened violence.

“I have said — and this has been echoed by the director of the FBI — that domestic violent extremism is one of the greatest terrorism-related threats that we face in the homeland today,” Mayorkas said to Brennan, according to Politico.

 Politico reported that when asked if funding, recruitment and membership of such groups should be considered grounds for prosecution, Mayorkas said that law enforcement only becomes involved in response to acts of violence and threats to harm people.

“We, of course, protect vigorously individual’s right to express themselves peacefully, the First Amendment rights, and that is something that we safeguard, but violence and threats of violence we do not condone.”