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Homeland Security and Terrorism

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KEY PEOPLE
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

The focus of the Baker Institute Homeland Security and Terrorism Program is to serve the Houston-Harris County region and its population by enhancing regional security. As the nation’s fourth-largest city, Houston serves as the capital of the international energy industry and is strategically critical to the nation’s economy and defense. Extremists associated with terrorist organizations are known to have lived and traveled through the region. Likewise, Texas is on the front line of the violence occurring in Mexico, which is seeping across the border. Transnational organized crime groups have moved beyond illegal narcotics to human trafficking, stolen goods, weapons and extortion. The Homeland Security and Terrorism Program follows these trends to promote understanding of the challenges and the formation of effective public policy.

The Homeland Security and Terrorism Program was initiated in 2001 when Houston Mayor Lee Brown requested that Baker Institute personnel assess Houston’s ability to respond to an act of terrorism. Later, an alliance was formed with the City of Houston and Harris County for continual assessment of the security posture of the region, informed discourse with public officials and civic leaders of its findings, education of the public, and the proposition of measures to enhance security. These efforts were pursued under the aegis of the Houston-Harris County Regional Homeland Security Advisory Council, with Baker Institute founding director Edward P. Djerejian serving as chair. The newest effort of the program is the Texas Security Forum, designed to engage all members of the community in discussion of current threats and efforts to address those threats.

To date, efforts on behalf of the program have assisted in and/or resulted in multiple changes in the region’s homeland security programs, testimony before Congress, the passage of several homeland security measures by the Texas Legislature, a memorandum of understanding between the State of Texas and the U.S. Coast Guard, numerous speaking events, seminars held at the Baker Institute, and the formation of an ad hoc law enforcement information-sharing network. Looking forward, the Homeland Security and Terrorism Program will continue to foster understanding and cooperation on homeland security issues and to encourage working relationships among relevant public and private agencies and individuals.

PUBLICATIONS
2011
Analyzing the Islamic Extremist Phenomenon in the United States: A Study of Recent Activity
Nov 07 2011
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
Silenced Mexican press works to cartels' benefit
Nov 02 2011
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
Intimidation is spilling over border with Mexico
Apr 30 2011
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
Speaking Frankly: Voices from the Borderlands -- The Mexican Citizens Speak
Feb 11 2011
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
2010
Mexico violence moving close to the tipping point
Sep 30 2010
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
Critical Infrastructure: The Water System of the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo
Jun 17 2010
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
The Importance of Building Cross-Border Relationships Along a Violent U.S.-Mexico Border From the Ground Up
Mar 29 2010
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
2009
Political Correctness and Inconvenient Truth
Dec 07 2009
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
Letter to the Editor: The 90% Myth
Oct 14 2009
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
Case Outlines Potential Terror Threat to U.S.
Sep 20 2009
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
Tip line could counter the rule of "silver or lead"
May 09 2009
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
Beware Drug Cartel Corruption
Apr 11 2009
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
Security in the U.S.-Mexico Borderlands: The Crisis, the Forces at Work and the Need for Honest Assessment and Action
Mar 29 2009
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
Letter to the Editor: Guantanamo
Jan 22 2009
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
2008
Question and Answer: Lashkar-e-Tayyiba
Dec 18 2008
Joan Neuhaus Schaan
EVENTS