Information for Afghan Nationals on Parole Into the United States

"Background:

Individuals who are outside of the United States may request parole into the United States based on urgent humanitarian or significant public benefit reasons for a temporary period, on a case-by-case basis. If USCIS authorizes parole, we will specify its duration. While parole allows for lawful presence in the United States, the parolee technically remains an applicant for admission. Parole does not confer immigration status and does not provide a path to permanent residency or the ability to obtain lawful immigration status. However, a parolee may be able to obtain lawful status in the United States through other means.

The U.S. government is making every effort to assist individuals who have been granted parole into the United States. Due to quickly changing circumstances in the region and the closure of the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, beneficiaries may experience delays in processing their cases and may need to arrange travel to a U.S. embassy outside of Afghanistan to continue processing their parole request.

Eligibility:

USCIS may exercise discretion to authorize parole on a case-by-case basis for individuals with urgent humanitarian or significant public benefit reasons to come to the United States for a temporary period. To avoid delays, all relevant supporting evidence to show that the beneficiary qualifies for parole and merits a favorable exercise of discretion must be submitted with the Form I-131, Application for Travel Document. USCIS provides guidance on documentation to support parole requests on its webpage, Guidance on Evidence for Certain Types of Humanitarian or Significant Public Benefit Parole Requests.

How to Apply:

Anyone may request parole for themselves, or on behalf of another individual, by filing a Form I-131, Application for Travel Document, along with a statement explaining the beneficiary’s urgent humanitarian circumstances and including any relevant evidence supporting the parole request. It is essential that the beneficiary’s best contact information (email address, phone number, and local address) is included in the parole application, either on the Form I-131’s applicable section or on a supplemental document, and that USCIS is notified of any changes to that contact information. If the beneficiary is able to make private arrangements to travel to a third country where there is a U.S. embassy or where consular services are available, please notify USCIS immediately at HumanitarianParole@uscis.dhs.gov.

The Form I-131 must include the applicable filing fee or fee waiver request using Form I-912, Request for Fee Waiver. See the USCIS webpage on Additional Information on Filing a Fee Waiver. Each family member must file a separate Form I-131 with required fees or Form I-912 and supporting documentation. Write “Afghanistan Humanitarian Parole” on the mailing envelope. For expedited processing, write the word EXPEDITE in the top right corner of the application in black ink. Detailed instructions for filing for humanitarian parole can be found on the USCIS webpage on Humanitarian or Significant Public Benefit Parole for Individuals Outside the United States..."
Afghan nationals 

Newly Digitized Freedmen’s Bureau Records Help Black Americans Trace Their Ancestry

"Genealogists, historians and researchers can now peruse more than 3.5 million documents from the Reconstruction-era agency

Through the Freedmen's Bureau, formerly enslaved people were able to obtain formal legal recognition of their marriages. (Library of Congress)

By Nora McGreevy

SMITHSONIANMAG.COM
AUGUST 26, 2021

Anyone with an internet connection can now access more than 3.5 million records documenting the lives of free Black people during the Reconstruction period. Created by genealogy company Ancestry, the free online portal amounts to a treasure trove of information about Black communities in the United States between 1846 and 1878, reports Rosalind Bentley for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC).

The newly debuted tool will allow researchers to study the records of the Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen and Abandoned Lands (also known as the Freedmen’s Bureau) with unprecedented ease. Though some of the documents, which are housed at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) in Washington, D.C., have been digitized previously, the searchable database offers a new level of accessibility. Users can find the resource here.

Per the AJC, the portal allows researchers to search caches of documents simultaneously. Until now, scholars had to scour each state, county, city, category and so on individually, often by spending hours poring over microfilm records, as Melissa Noel writes for the Grio.

The Freedmen’s Bureau dates to the end of the Civil War—the bloodiest conflict in American history. Established by Congress in March 1865, the program offered education, medical care, food, clothing and labor contracts to displaced Southerners, including more than four million newly freed Black Americans. Bureau officials also helped the formerly enslaved locate their loved ones, investigate incidents of racist violence and legally marry their spouses, per the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture.

A social relief program of unprecedented scope, the bureau remained in operation for less than a decade. In 1872, pressure from white Southern legislators and the threat of vigilante violence (such as attacks by the Ku Klux Klan) led Congress to abandon the project.

Today, historians continue to debate the effectiveness of these short-lived relief efforts. But the millions of pages of records that officials produced during this period have become a boon for historians and genealogists eager to study their ancestors and learn more about the lives and concerns of newly freed Black people.

For many formerly enslaved people, bureau documents represented the first time their names were written down in official records of any kind, notes the AJC. Prior to 1870, U.S. censuses neglected to include the names of enslaved people, instead listing them statistically under their enslavers’ names or referring to them as numbers..."
Freedman's Bureau 

Thank You, Unions

"Thank You, Unions

Filed in 

Unions

 

Workplace Rights

 

Benefits

 • By: Jeffrey Freund • August 27, 2021

An undated photo of a New York City Labor Day parade. Source: Library of Congress

Labor Day is around the corner, and what has so often for many been a day off of work, filled with family and friends, this year gives us a lot to reflect on. It’s the unofficial end of summer, and many will take the day to look back at these last few months and start thinking about next year. There is no doubt that Labor Day this year feels a little different than it has in the past, but let’s take a look back at the history of the day and, more impactfully, of organized labor, while also looking forward to getting back to baseball games and picnics once we have successfully overcome the challenges COVID-19 has brought us.

How did Labor Day come to be? Well, you can thank the labor movement for bringing it to you. Labor Day was an invention of the labor movement. The first Labor Day celebration was in New York in 1882 organized by the labor movement in New York City to honor union members and the work they and their unions did for working people everywhere. Between 1882 and 1894, when it officially became a federal holiday by an act of Congress, many states recognized it as a holiday for government employees. Over time, the holiday spread to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and U.S. territories, and it now applies to all state and local government employees. It is generally recognized by the private sector as a holiday as well, although many employers remain open and workers must be on the job – including the essential workers providing critical services to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. At least among union-represented workers, those who have to work are typically paid a premium for working that day..."
Labor Day 

Official Program for the March on Washington

"This program listed the events scheduled at the Lincoln Memorial during the August 28, 1963, March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The highlight of the march, which attracted 250,000 people, was Martin Luther King’s "I Have a Dream" speech..."
March on Washington 

State of the Climate

[American Meteorological Society]
"An international, peer-reviewed publication released each summer, the State of the Climate is the authoritative annual summary of the global climate published as a supplement to the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society.

The report, compiled by NOAA’s National Centers for Environmental Information, is based on contributions from scientists from around the world. It provides a detailed update on global climate indicators, notable weather events, and other data collected by environmental monitoring stations and instruments located on land, water, ice, and in space.

State of the Climate in 2020

This is the 31st issuance of the annual assessment now known as State of the Climate, published in the Bulletin since 1996. As a supplement to the Bulletin, its foremost function is to document the status and trajectory of many components of the climate system. However, as a series, the report also documents the status and trajectory of our capacity and commitment to observe the climate system.

DOWNLOAD STATE OF THE CLIMATE IN 2020
Download high resolution version.."
Climate report 

Age Without Injury: Still Going Strong Campaign

"Injuries from falls and car crashes are more common as we age. You can take simple steps to prevent these injuries from happening, so you can stay healthy and independent longer.

Older adults – those age 65 and older—are at an increased risk of health problems and injuries from falls and car crashes. CDC developed the Still Going Strong campaign to help older adults and their caregivers learn about risk factors for falls and crashes—and ways to prevent them.

Injuries Are Common as We Age

Over 10,000 people in the United States turn 65 every day. Each year, older adults experience 36 million falls and 1.6 million car crashes. An injury from a fall or car crash can decrease their independence. But, getting older doesn’t have to mean giving up your favorite hobbies and activities.

It’s important for older adults and their caregivers to understand common injuries that can happen as we age and what we can do to prevent these injuries.

Older Adults Can Take Simple Steps to Prevent Injuries

• Tell your doctor if you have fallen, if you feel unsteady when standing or walking, or if you’re afraid you might fall. Talk to your doctor about fall prevention and safe driving strategies.
• Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review the medicines you take—both prescription and over the counter. Some medicines might make you dizzy or sleepy or may reduce your reaction time.
• Have an eye doctor check your eyes at least once a year and update your eyeglasses as needed.
• Have your doctor check your feet at least once a year and discuss proper footwear to reduce your risk of falling.
• Do exercises that make your legs stronger and improve your balance, like Tai Chi.
• Make your home safer by removing throw rugs, using extra lighting or brighter light bulbs, installing grab bars in bathrooms and handrails on both sides of staircases.
• Only drive during daylight and in good weather, and always wear a seat belt—as a driver or passenger.
• Never drink and drive—alcohol reduces coordination, impairs judgement, and increases the risk of being in a crash.
• Plan your drive to find the safest route and leave a large following distance between your car and the car in front of you.
• Avoid distractions in your car, such as listening to a loud radio and talking or texting on your phone.
• Consider riding with a friend or family member, taking a ride share service, or using public transportation.
• If you have fallen or are in a car crash, have your doctor check you for signs and symptoms of a brain injury.

Caregivers Can Help Loved Ones Age Without Injury

• Talk openly with your loved ones and their doctors about fall prevention and driving safety.
  
• Check with their healthcare provider to see if it’s safe for participate in strength and balance exercises, such as Tai Chi.
• Have your loved one’s eye checked by an eye doctor at least once a year and replace eyeglasses as needed.
• Have a healthcare provider check their feet once a year and discuss proper footwear.
• Help make their home safer by removing trip hazards, like throw rugs, and keep floors clutter free. Brighten their home with extra lighting or brighter bulbs. Install grab bars in the bathrooms and handrails on both sides of staircases.
• Encourage your loved one to always wear their seat belt as a driver and as a passenger.
• Encourage them to only drive when conditions are safest and to use alternative transportation options or offer to drive them yourself.
• Learn the signs and symptoms of mild TBI and concussion and moderate to severe TBI. Brain injuries are often missed or misdiagnosed in older adults..."
  Age without injury 

U.S. Military Withdrawal and Taliban Takeover in Afghanistan: Frequently Asked Questions

"On August 15, 2021, the Taliban entered the Afghan capital of Kabul, completing a rapid takeover over the country that surprised many Afghans and Americans alike. The Taliban’s advance came as the United States was completing the military withdrawal to which it agreed in the February 2020 U.S.-Taliban accord. The fall of the elected Afghan government, supported by billions of dollars in U.S. assistance over the course of nearly two decades, raises significant questions about past, present, and future U.S. policy for Members of Congress. This report provides material related to select questions associated with U.S. policy in Afghanistan, including:

 Background information useful for understanding the current situation in Afghanistan;
 The Taliban takeover and Afghan government’s collapse;
 U.S. policy implications of the Taliban takeover;
 Social and economic implications of the Taliban takeover;
 Regional reactions to the Taliban’s takeover;
 U.S. military operations;and
 Budgetary implications of the U.S. withdrawal.

Some additional lines of inquiry that Congress may wish to explore with the Executive Branch are included alongside specific topics as appropriate. The report concludes with some strategic considerations Congress may wish to contemplate as it assesses the situation in Afghanistan and its implications for the future.

With a general U.S. target date for the completion of the military withdrawal and evacuation operation set at August 31, 2021, the situation on the ground remains extremely fluid. This report will be updated to reflect major changes in U.S. policy or developments in Afghanistan that may significantly affect U.S. decisions.."
U.S. Military withdrawal and Taliban 

Battery Gun" By Richard Jordan Gatling, 1865

"Officially adopted by the U.S. Army on August 21, 1866, the Gatling gun was the first successful rapid-fire repeating gun. Invented by Dr. Richard Jordan Gatling, a physician, the first model of his "Battery Gun" was patented on May 9, 1865, and had six barrels revolving around a central axis. It proved superior to other rapid-fire guns of the time and, for more than 40 years, the Gatling gun was used by almost every world power.."
Gatling Gun 

By the King, A Proclamation, For Suppressing Rebellion and Sedition"

"Following the outbreak of armed conflict at Lexington and Concord in the spring of 1775, King George III of England issued this proclamation on August 23, 1775. It stated that the colonies stood in open rebellion to his authority and were subject to severe penalty, as was any British subject who failed to report the knowledge of rebellion or conspiracy. This document literally transformed loyal subjects into traitorous rebels..."
King George 111 Proclamation of Rebellion

Talking to Youth and Young Adults to Prevent E-cigarette Use

"As students go back to school, parents, teachers, administrators, and coaches can help them make smart choices for their health, including avoiding e-cigarettes.

About 1 in 5 high school students and 1 in 20 middle school students reported using e-cigarettes in 2020. Now is an important time to help students understand the serious health risks of e-cigarette use.

Why It Matters

Any tobacco use by youth and young adults, including e-cigarettes, is unsafe.

Nearly all e-cigarette products sold contain nicotine, which is the same addictive drug found in other tobacco products, including cigarettes and cigars. The nicotine content information on e-cigarette packaging is often misleading or inaccurate.

Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the mid-20s. Compared with older adults, the brains of youth and young adults are more vulnerable to nicotine’s harmful health effects. These include nicotine addiction and potentially reduced impulse control, mood disorders, and poor attention and thinking skills.

Many youth and young adults who use e-cigarettes also smoke regular cigarettes or use other tobacco products. Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke regular cigarettes later in life. E-cigarette use can also increase the risk for future addiction to other drugs.
Top of Page

Youth E-cigarette Use

Parents, teachers, counselors, and coaches should know that in 2020:

• About 3.6 million US youth reported current e-cigarette use.
• E-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product among US middle and high school students.
• 1 in 5 high school students and nearly 1 in 10 middle school students who used e-cigarettes reported using them every day..."
  Youth and E-cigarette use 

PUBLIC HEALTH MADISON & DANE COUNTY: FACE COVERING EMERGENCY ORDER

"DATE OF ORDER: August 17, 2021 Goes into effect August 19, 2021 at 12:01 a.m.

Reducing the spread of illness, preventing severe outcomes, and death are foundational public health goals of managing the pandemic. Due to the prevalent spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidance which indicated individuals in areas with a substantial or high transmission rate of COVID-19 should wear face coverings whenever they are indoors in public places. Madison and Dane County have a high transmission rate of COVID-19. While Dane County has a high vaccination rate, evidence has emerged from the CDC and locally that fully vaccinated people who do become infected with the Delta variant can be infectious and can spread the virus to others. The rate of cases in Dane County has risen rapidly since the Delta variant became dominant; on July 19, our 7-day average number of cases was 19, and on August 12, the 7-day average increased by 382% to 91.6.

Vaccines are still highly effective in preventing severe outcomes from COVID, even with the Delta variant, and are also still effective, but less so, in preventing infection. Considering the high transmissibility of the Delta variant, masking, distancing, and ventilation remain key prevention tools. In order to prevent more severe outcomes and to protect those who are unable to be vaccinated, such as children under the age of 12, and those for whom vaccination may be less effective, such as people who are immunocompromised, face coverings will be required in most indoor situations in Dane County.

Based upon the foregoing, I, Janel Heinrich, Public Health Officer of Madison and Dane County, by the authority vested in me by the Laws of the State, including, but not limited to, Wis. Stats. Secs. 252.03(1), (2) and (4), order the following as necessary to prevent, suppress, and control the spread of COVID-19:

 Face Coverings.

Face covering means a piece of cloth or other material that is worn to cover the nose and mouth completely. A face covering must be secured to the head with ties, ear loops, or elastic bands that go behind the head and must fit snuggly but comfortably against the side of the face. Cloth face coverings must be made with two or more layers of breathable fabric that is tightly woven (i.e., fabrics that do not let light pass through when held up to a light source). A  face covering does not include bandanas, single layer neck gaiters, face shields, goggles, scarves, ski masks, balaclavas, shirt or sweater collars pulled up over the mouth and nose, or masks with slits, exhalation valves, or punctures.

a. Face Covering Required.

Every individual, age two (2) and older, shall wear a face covering when:
i. In any enclosed space open to the public where other people, except for members of the person’s own household or living unit are present.
ii. Driving or riding in any form of public transportation.

b. Exceptions.

Individuals who are otherwise required to wear a face covering may remove the face covering in the following situations:
i. While eating or drinking.
ii. When communicating with an individual who is deaf or hard of hearing and communication cannot be achieved through other means.
iii. While obtaining a service that requires the temporary removal of the face covering, such as dental services.
iv. While sleeping.
v. While swimming or on duty as a lifeguard.
vi. When engaging in work where wearing a face covering would create a risk to the individual, as determined by government safety guidelines.
vii. When necessary to confirm the individual’s identity, including when entering a financial institution.
viii. When federal or state law or regulations permit the removal of a face covering..."
Madison/Dane County Face Covering 

Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction: Quarterly Report to the U.S. Congress, July 30, 2021

"I am pleased to submit to Congress, the Secretaries of State and Defense, and the American people,
SIGAR’s 52nd quarterly report on the status of reconstruction in Afghanistan.

This quarter, the United States and its allies withdrew nearly all of their troops from Afghanistan after almost 20 years of war. Fewer than a thousand U.S. military personnel remain there, compared to 110,000 a decade ago. President Joseph R. Biden has said that the United States will continue to provide support for Afghanistan, including for its military and police. The President’s proposed FY 2022 budget includes $3.33 billion for the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces (ANDSF) as well as $364 million in civilian assistance. If appropriated by Congress, these funds would come in addition to the approximately $6.68 billion already appropriated, but yet to be disbursed for Afghanistan.

The news coming out of Afghanistan this quarter has been bleak. The Taliban offensive that began early in the quarter accelerated in June and July. General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified on June 23 that the Taliban controlled about 81 districts. Less than a month later, on July 21, he told reporters the group now controlled about half of Afghanistan’s 419 districts, or more than twice as many as before. According to media reporting, the Taliban also controlled large stretches of multiple major highways, and at least six international border crossings as this report went to press. The ANDSF has retaken some districts and the Afghan government still controls all 34 provincial capitals, including Kabul, but from public reporting, the ANDSF appeared surprised and unready, and is now on its back foot. Civilian casualties hit a record high in May and June, according to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan. The overall trend is clearly unfavorable to the Afghan government, which could face an existential crisis if it isn’t addressed and reversed.

SIGAR’s oversight mission has become both more consequential and more challenging in the absence of a major U.S. troop presence, and in light of the growing insurgent pressure on the Afghan government. Despite repeated reductions in American staff at the U.S. embassy, SIGAR remains the only U.S. oversight agency on the ground in Afghanistan, so maximizing the reach and impact of our statutory duty takes on increased importance. SIGAR issued a letter this quarter to the Administration and Congress proposing four changes that we believe, based on our 13 years of experience, would enhance the protection of continued U.S. taxpayer assistance to Afghanistan. SIGAR’s recommendations and its plans for continued oversight are discussed on page 18 of this report.

A lessons-learned report released this quarter—The Risk of Doing the Wrong Thing Perfectly: Monitoring and Evaluation of Reconstruction Contracting in Afghanistan— explores the now two-decade-long challenge of how to properly assess the effectiveness of reconstruction. The report’s key finding is that, as implemented, monitoring and evaluation (M&E) created the risk of doing the wrong thing perfectly. That is, programs could be deemed “successful” even if they had not achieved or contributed to broader, more important goals—such as creating an effective Afghan security force and a stable Afghanistan. Closely related to this finding is one of the report’s central themes: the pervasiveness of overoptimism. Overall, M&E displayed a tendency to elevate good news and anecdotes over data suggesting a lack of progress. To that extent, the report is especially useful for policymakers and practitioners seeking to understand why the Afghan security forces have continued to struggle despite the U.S. assertions of success that have been hallmarks of reconstruction..".





Special Inspector General Afghanistan 

What we need to Learn: Lessons from twenty years of Afghanistan Reconstruction

"What We Need to Learn: Lessons from Twenty Years of Afghanistan Reconstruction is the 11th lessons learned report issued by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. The report examines the past two decades of the U.S. reconstruction effort in Afghanistan. It details how the U.S. government struggled to develop a coherent strategy, understand how long the reconstruction mission would take, ensure its projects were sustainable, staff the mission with trained professionals, account for the challenges posed by insecurity, tailor efforts to the Afghan context, and understand the impact of programs. There have been bright spots—such as lower child mortality rates, increases in per capita GDP, and increased literacy rates. But after spending 20 years and $145 billion trying to rebuild Afghanistan, the U.S. government has many lessons it needs to learn. Implementing these critical lessons will save lives and prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in Afghanistan, and in future reconstruction missions elsewhere around the world.

As a retrospective, the report draws on SIGAR’s 13 years of oversight work, including our 10 prior lessons learned reports and 760 interviews our staff conducted with current and former policymakers, ambassadors, generals, military officers, development experts, and other practitioners. These interviews in particular enable SIGAR to develop a uniquely nuanced understanding of Afghan institutions, the efforts by U.S. officials to reform those institutions, and how those efforts fared. Unlike SIGAR’s previous lessons learned reports, this one does not make new recommendations for U.S. government agencies or the Congress. Instead, it poses questions that policymakers may wish to consider—both in Afghanistan and around the world—and includes some of the most relevant recommendations found in previous lessons learned reports. The questions for policymakers help frame the report’s lessons and direct attention to the most critical issues.

Congress created SIGAR as an independent agency focused solely on the Afghanistan mission and its reconstruction issues. Unlike most inspectors general, who have jurisdiction only over the programs and operations of their respective departments or agencies, SIGAR has jurisdiction over all programs and operations supported with U.S. reconstruction dollars over the last 20 years, regardless of the agency involved. Because SIGAR has the authority to look across the entire $145 billion reconstruction effort, it is uniquely positioned to identify and address whole-of-government lessons..."
Afghanistan reconstruction 

Contact Lens Health

"You only have one pair of eyes, so take care of them! Healthy Habits = Healthy Eyes. Taking proper care of your contact lenses can help you see better and keep your eyes healthy.
 

When cared for properly, contact lenses can provide a safe and effective way to correct your vision. In fact, more than 45 million Americans wear contact lenses. However, wearing contact lenses can increase your chance of getting an eye infection—especially if you do not care for your lenses the right way.

Contact Lens Health Starts with You

Your habits, supplies, and eye care provider are all essential to keeping your eyes healthy. Both contact lens wearers and eye care providers play an important role in proper eye care. By following your eye care provider’s instructions on how to properly wear, clean, and store your lenses, you can enjoy the comfort and benefits of contact lenses while lowering your chances of an eye infection.

Follow these healthy habits to safely wear contact lenses and help protect your eyes:

Don’t Sleep in Your Contact Lenses

• Don’t sleep in your contact lenses unless prescribed by your eye care provider. Sleeping while wearing contact lenses has been shown to cause up to 8 times greater risk of an eye infection.

Wash Your Hands

• Always wash your hands with soap and water before handling your lenses.
• Dry your hands well with a clean cloth before touching your contact lenses every time.

Keep Contact Lenses Away From All Water

• Water can introduce germs to the eyes through contact lenses. Remove contact lenses before swimming and avoid showering in them.

Properly Clean Your Lenses

• Rub and rinse your contact lenses with contact lens disinfecting solution—never water or saliva—to clean them each time you remove them.
• Don’t “top off” solution. Use only fresh contact lens disinfecting solution in your case—never mix fresh solution with old or used solution.
• Use only the contact lens solution recommended by your eye care provider..."
  Contact lens 

Summary of Terrorism Threat to the U.S. Homeland

"Summary of Terrorism Threat to the U.S. Homeland

The Secretary of Homeland Security has issued a new National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin regarding the current heightened threat environment across the United States.  The Homeland continues to face a diverse and challenging threat environment leading up to and following the 20th Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks as well religious holidays we assess could serve as a catalyst for acts of targeted violence. These threats include those posed by domestic terrorists, individuals and groups engaged in grievance-based violence, and those inspired or motivated by foreign terrorists and other malign foreign influences. These actors are increasingly exploiting online forums to influence and spread violent extremist narratives and promote violent activity. Such threats are also exacerbated by impacts of the ongoing global pandemic, including grievances over public health safety measures and perceived government restrictions.

Duration

Issued:  August 13, 2021 02:00 pm
Expires:  November 11, 2021 02:00 pm

Additional Details

• Through the remainder of 2021, racially- or ethnically-motivated violent extremists (RMVEs) and anti-government/anti-authority violent extremists will remain a national threat priority for the United States. These extremists may seek to exploit the emergence of COVID-19 variants by viewing the potential re-establishment of public health restrictions across the United States as a rationale to conduct attacks.  Pandemic-related stressors have contributed to increased societal strains and tensions, driving several plots by domestic violent extremists, and they may contribute to more violence this year.
• Additionally, leading up to the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula recently released its first English-language copy of Inspire magazine in over four years, which demonstrates that foreign terrorist organizations continue efforts to inspire U.S.-based individuals susceptible to violent extremist influences.
• Historically, mass-casualty domestic violent extremist attacks linked to RMVEs have targeted houses of worship and crowded commercial facilities or gatherings. Some RMVEs advocate via online platforms for a race war and have stated that civil disorder provides opportunities to engage in violence in furtherance of ideological objectives. The reopening of institutions, including schools, as well as several dates of religious significance over the next few months, could also provide increased targets of opportunity for violence though there are currently no credible or imminent threats identified to these locations.
• Foreign and domestic threat actors, to include foreign intelligence services, international terrorist groups and domestic violent extremists, continue to introduce, amplify, and disseminate narratives online that promote violence, and have called for violence against elected officials, political representatives, government facilities, law enforcement, religious communities or commercial facilities, and perceived ideologically-opposed individuals. There are also continued, non-specific calls for violence on multiple online platforms associated with DVE ideologies or conspiracy theories on perceived election fraud and alleged reinstatement, and responses to anticipated restrictions relating to the increasing COVID cases.
• Ideologically motivated violent extremists fueled by personal grievances and extremist ideological beliefs continue to derive inspiration and obtain operational guidance through the consumption of information shared in certain online communities. This includes information regarding the use of improvised explosive devices and small arms.
• Violent extremists may use particular messaging platforms or techniques to obscure operational indicators that provide specific warning of a pending act of violence.
• Law enforcement have expressed concerns that the broader sharing of false narratives and conspiracy theories will gain traction in mainstream environments, resulting in individuals or small groups embracing violent tactics to achieve their desired objectives. With a diverse array of threats, DHS is concerned that increased outbreaks of violence in some locations, as well as targeted attacks against law enforcement, may strain local resources.
• Nation-state adversaries have increased efforts to sow discord. For example, Russian, Chinese and Iranian government-linked media outlets have repeatedly amplified conspiracy theories concerning the origins of COVID-19 and effectiveness of vaccines; in some cases, amplifying calls for violence targeting persons of Asian descent..."
  U.S. Terrorism Threat 

2020 Census Statistics Highlight Local Population Changes and Nation’s Racial and Ethnic Diversity

"The U.S. Census Bureau today released additional 2020 Census results showing an increase in the population of U.S. metro areas compared to a decade ago. In addition, these once-a-decade results showed the nation’s diversity in how people identify their race and ethnicity.

“We are excited to reach this milestone of delivering the first detailed statistics from the 2020 Census,” said acting Census Bureau Director Ron Jarmin. “We appreciate the public’s patience as Census Bureau staff worked diligently to process these data and ensure it meets our quality standards."

These statistics, which come from the 2020 Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171) Summary File, provide the first look at populations for small areas and include information on Hispanic origin, race, age 18 and over, housing occupancy and group quarters. They represent where people were living as of April 1, 2020, and are available for the nation, states and communities down to the block level.

The Census Bureau also released data visualizations, America Counts stories, and videos to help illustrate and explain these data. These resources are available on the 2020 Census results page. Advanced users can access these data on the FTP site.

Population Changes Across the Country Since the 2010 Census

Today’s release reveals changes in the size and distribution of the population across the United States. The population of U.S. metro areas grew by 9% from 2010 to 2020, resulting in 86% of the population living in U.S. metro areas in 2020, compared to 85% in 2010.

“Many counties within metro areas saw growth, especially those in the south and west. However, as we’ve been seeing in our annual population estimates, our nation is growing slower than it used to,” said Marc Perry, a senior demographer at the Census Bureau. “This decline is evident at the local level where around 52% of the counties in the United States saw their 2020 Census populations decrease from their 2010 Census populations.”

County and metro area highlights:

• The largest county in the United States in 2020 remains Los Angeles County with over 10 million people.
  
• The largest city (incorporated place) in the United States in 2020 remains New York with 8.8 million people.
• 312 of the 384 U.S. metro areas gained population between 2010 and 2020.
• The fastest-growing U.S. metro area between the 2010 Census and 2020 Census was The Villages, FL, which grew 39% from about 93,000 people to about 130,000 people.
• 72 U.S. metro areas lost population from the 2010 Census to the 2020 Census. The U.S. metro areas with the largest percentage declines were Pine Bluff, AR, and Danville, IL, at -12.5 percent and -9.1 percent, respectively.

A data visualization released today shows the population change at the county level from the 2010 Census to the 2020 Census. Read more about population change in the America Counts story, More Than Half of U.S. Counties Were Smaller in 2020 Than in 2010.,,"
2020 Redistricting Data