By Carolyn Thompson, The Associated Press
BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) -- Homeland Security undersecretary Asa Hutchinson views the 9/11 anniversary and a recent video from Osama bin Laden’s top deputy as powerful reminders of terrorists’ resolve.
“It reminds us that they are very committed to hurting us,” Hutchinson said Friday during a stop in Buffalo to tour the northern border and give badges to the department’s law enforcement officers.
After spending time in a customs inspection booth, Hutchinson announced border agents were being given access to Department of Justice and FBI databases “as we speak,” to strengthen criminal checks. The access comes three months ahead of schedule, he said.
“During this time in history, particularly, your role has never been more important,” Hutchinson told Customs and Border Patrol officers, CBP agricultural specialists and Border Patrol agents at a ceremony marking the unification of the officers under one department.
Afterward, he said that while there is relief at having gotten through two political conventions without incident, the threat of terrorism will remain high through the presidential election and beyond, through Inauguration Day.
Hutchinson said he feels the responsibility of preventing attacks especially on Sept. 11, the anniversary of the worst single act of terrorism committed on U.S. soil.
“We all know that it’s a free society and you can’t have a 100 percent guarantee of security,” he said, “but we are, every day, trying to build and increase the security that the American public expects us to have.”
The country is “without any question” safer now than it was pre-9/11, he said, citing the arrests of al-Qaida leaders and enhanced aviation and border security measures.
Earlier Friday, Hutchinson met with U.S. Rep. Thomas Reynolds, R-N.Y., to discuss the challenges of balancing security and commerce at the busy U.S.-Canadian border. He said he would meet with Canadian officials on the same topic next week.