Homeland Security chief talks terrorism, immigration

The evolving threat of global terrorism, especially the potential for lone-wolf actors, has meant that vigilance is needed on even the smallest, most local levels, said U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson.

"It has evolved to the point where homeland security has become hometown security," Johnson told a crowd of about 150 people in Dover on Wednesday.

Johnson, President Barack Obama's top homeland security official was in Delaware's capital Wednesday night to speak to Wesley College students about public service, his role and pursuing a legal career.

"We now live in a world ... where we have to be concerned about a so-called lone wolf, or lone actor, perhaps someone in their own country or community who sees something on the Internet and is inspired to act," Johnson said. "That makes homeland security all the more complicated."

"The threat of terrorism is the single thing that keeps me up at night," he added.

And the threat is not confined just to major cities in the United States, Johnson said.

Dover residents found that out firsthand earlier this year after a former city resident was indicted on charges of conspiracy to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy and travel document fraud.

Last month, Abror Habibov pleaded not guilty to those charges. Habibov, 30, operated a cellphone kiosk at the Dover Mall and allegedly helped two others with their travel arrangements to help the Islamic State group abroad.

Johnson, who was confirmed in 2013, also talked about immigration Wednesday night.

"[It] is the most contentious, emotional, difficult issue I've dealt with politically ... which is really unfortunate," Johnson said.

After his talk, Johnson answered several questions from students.

One question dealt with human trafficking. Johnson said Homeland Security and customs enforcement investigates human-trafficking matters.

"It is in fact, a real problem," he said.

Another question dealt with cooling relations with Cuba. Obama announced Tuesday that Cuba would be removed from the state-sponsored terrorism list.

"It is a new day," he said. "We have relations with a lot of other countries and governments in this world that we have concerns about, and we have diplomatic relations with them."

Contact Jon Offredo at (302) 678-4271 or at joffredo@delawareonline.com. Follow him on Twitter @jonoffredo.