DHS equity push has made the country less safe, warns experts: 'A road to anarchy'

Experts are now warning that the nation faces increasing threat levels from radical Islamic terror groups like ISIS and al-Qaeda, despite the Department of Homeland Security's implementation of an "equity" lens in its efforts to combat terrorism and overhaul border security years ago.

Under President Biden's day-one racial equity executive order, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has identified crucial programs to promote racial equity in its approach to countering terrorism.

In 2021, DHS launched a new initiative to "promote equity at DHS," which influenced how the agency distributed counterterrorism resources.

The equity plan stated that it would enhance efforts to ensure that communities have access to the necessary tools and resources to prevent terrorism.

The DHS's equity plan aimed to establish a comprehensive approach to preventing terrorism and targeted violence, while being mindful of its methods and avoiding any offensive language.

The department's plan shifted away from previous "countering violent extremism" strategies that focused on particular communities.

The DHS equity plan impacted airports by implementing policies to reform the TSA. The plan identified "barriers to equitable outcomes" at the TSA and proposed new training to minimize inequity.

"The DHS plan stated that members of the public, particularly those from underserved communities, continue to express concerns about racial and ethnic profiling during airport screening checkpoints. In response, the TSA will create additional scenario-based trainings to address areas of concern for racial and religious minorities."

Victoria Coates, a former national security advisor to former President Trump, deemed the agenda as detrimental to national security.

"The promotion of [DEI] by terrorists should be eradicated, as it leads to anarchy, according to Coates, who now serves as vice president at the conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation."

In 2021, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas issued guidelines for enforcing civil immigration law, which stipulated that border security deportations must avoid exercising discretionary authority in a manner that results in inequitable outcomes.

In 2021, Border Patrol had 1 million encounters, which then jumped to 3.3 million in 2023. Currently, in 2024, there have been 2.5 million encounters, but this does not include the number of illegal aliens who crossed the border undetected or without arrest.

The Southern Border's porosity has been exploited by terrorists.

In June, eight Tajikistan nationals with links to ISIS were detained by ICE after a report revealed that thousands of "Special Interest Aliens" from the Middle East, including those from areas with potential national security risks such as terrorism, had been apprehended by Border Patrol agents.

Over 90 individuals on the terror watch list were released into the US under the Biden administration, according to an August report.

From the beginning of his presidency, the Biden administration has considered domestic terrorists a higher priority, emphasizing the government's responsibility to combat "racism" and promote "equity."

The administration stated in a 2021 memo that we are prioritizing efforts to ensure that every component of the government has a role to play in rooting out racism and advancing equity for underserved communities that have far too often been the targets of discrimination and violence. This approach must apply to our efforts to counter domestic terrorism by addressing underlying racism and bigotry.

In an interview with Planet Chronicle Digital, Bill Roggio, a foreign terror expert at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, stated that the emphasis on domestic terrorists is exaggerated in comparison to the danger posed by Iran-backed terror groups and other foreign terrorist organizations.

"I believe the greatest threat at present is actually Islamic State," he stated. "The threat of an attack in the United States is greater today than it was during the Trump administration."

""It's only a matter of time before something really bad happens due to our porous border, according to the expert from FDD," he stated."

FBI Director Christopher Wray's April testimony revealed that there is a growing possibility of a coordinated attack on American soil, similar to the ISIS-K attack at the Russia concert hall.

Over 20 years, Russia's worst terrorist attack occurred at Moscow's Crocus City concert hall, resulting in 137 fatalities and over 180 injuries.

Wray stated that reflecting on his career in law enforcement, it is challenging to recall a moment when so many dangers to our public safety and national security were simultaneously heightened.

Rep. Hal Rogers questioned FBI director Christopher Wray about the recent increase in threats from foreign terrorists, including ISIS and al-Qaida, and their renewed calls for attacks in the U.S.

Wray stated that despite not usually agreeing, these terrorist organizations appear to be in unison in demanding attacks on us.

Planet Chronicle Digital contacted DHS, Border Patrol and TSA for comment.

The Biden-Harris White House mandate influenced other national security agencies by introducing a radical DEI approach. For instance, the Department of Defense (DoD) appointed a DEI officer who expressed hostility towards White people, the State Department hired an equity officer who referred to America as a "failed historic model," the DoD's second-in-command asserted that policies aimed at "nonbinary" identities are crucial to military readiness, and a recent Department of Energy hire advocated for "queering nuclear weapons."

Planet Chronicle' Adam Shaw and Chris Massaro contributed to this report.