The Department of Homeland Security’s Efforts to Influence College Campuses
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been making significant efforts to penetrate college campuses under the guise of fighting “foreign malign influence.” Recently obtained documents and memos reveal a push by the DHS to address unrest on college campuses following an attack by Hamas on Israel. The DHS’s Homeland Security Academic Partnership Council (HSAPC) has been instrumental in advancing these objectives.
The HSAPC, established in 2012, serves as an advisory body composed of academics, consultants, and contractors. The council aims to promote homeland security objectives and recruit on college campuses. In a recent report submitted to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the council recommended instructing the DHS office for state and local law enforcement to work with relevant associations to address laws prohibiting certain resources from being provided to private universities and schools.
While the specific laws referenced in the report remain unclear, the DHS has ongoing outreach efforts with public and private universities, particularly concerning foreign students. However, cooperation regarding speech and political leanings on campuses is less defined. The council’s recommendations also include addressing gaps in information sharing and clarifying available DHS resources during volatile campus conditions.
The White House has expressed support for the DHS’s focus on combating antisemitism on college campuses. The administration has assigned cybersecurity and protective security experts to engage with schools in this regard. The council has urged Mayorkas to appoint a Campus Safety Coordinator to lead efforts against antisemitism and Islamophobia, emphasizing the importance of creating a culture that encourages reporting of incidents and threats.
The recent DHS initiatives are reminiscent of past actions taken post-9/11 in response to anti-war protests. In 2006, it was revealed that the DHS was monitoring anti-war student groups in California and sharing intelligence with the Department of Defense. The current DHS efforts aim to prevent foreign government theft of national security research on campuses and combat the introduction of opposing ideas by foreign governments.
Mayorkas has outlined three key tasks for the DHS academic partnership, including developing guidelines for reducing foreign malign influence, enhancing collaboration through public-private partnerships, and assessing internal operations to address national security risks posed to higher education institutions. The memo underscores the evolving risk of foreign malign influence in higher education institutions and the need for coordinated efforts to counter these threats.
The underlying threat posed by foreign malign influence in higher education institutions echoes sentiments expressed by former Attorney General John Ashcroft post-9/11. Ashcroft warned against tactics that erode national unity and resolve, emphasizing the importance of combating threats that undermine security and stability.
In conclusion, the DHS’s efforts to influence college campuses under the pretext of combating foreign malign influence raise important questions about the balance between security concerns and academic freedom. As these initiatives continue to evolve, it is essential to ensure that measures taken do not infringe upon free speech or academic autonomy. The intersection of national security interests and educational institutions remains a complex and evolving landscape that requires careful consideration and oversight.