The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has observed an increase in foreign terrorist threats to the United States compared to the previous year, according to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. This uptick is due largely to the resurgence of ISIS recruitment efforts and the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas in the Middle East.
While domestic violent extremism remains a significant concern for the DHS, Mayorkas said that the threat of foreign terrorism has become more prominent in the department’s assessments. This shift in focus brings the department back to its early days when it was established in the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
“The threat of foreign terrorism is uppermost in our minds as well now, more so than it was last year. The war in the Middle East following the Oct. 7 attacks has heightened the threat landscape,” the Homeland Security chief told Bloomberg.
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In addition to the heightened terrorist threat, Mayorkas warned of the growing dangers posed by disinformation disseminated by foreign actors ahead of the November presidential election. He identified Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea as the four primary sources of disinformation in the United States, noting that advances in artificial intelligence have made it easier for these countries to spread deliberately false information online and on social media.
The goals of these disinformation campaigns appear to be twofold, according to Mayorkas: to exacerbate social discord and exploit divisiveness within the US, and to influence electoral outcomes by disseminating information about specific positions and candidates.
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