Feb. 22, Sunday, proved to be a crucial day for homeland security issue in the United States. Jeh Johnson, secretary of Homeland Security, graced five T.V. shows for his final public plea for Congress to prioritize funding of homeland security. Johnson likewise urged Americans to remain vigilant amid looming homeland security threat.
"I'm hoping someone will exercise some leadership," Secretary Johnson said in a report by USA Today. He also reiterated President Barack Obama administration's stand that Congress should fund the homeland security department without conditions.
The Republican-dominated Congress has passed a homeland security spending measure that would reject funding of certain parts of immigration budget.
This was, as Time.com reported, what Republican representatives aimed to achieve. They want to override Obama's decision to defer deportations for millions of migrants in the country illegally.
Congress is set to resolve deliberation on homeland security funding before Feb. 27, Friday.
Johnson likewise cautioned the public to be vigilant when going to malls amid threat of possible terror attack.
Mall of America, a popular shopping destination in Minneapolis, was recently singled out by al-Shabaab, a radical Islamic group, as its next terror plot target.
Al-Shabaab,is a Somalia-based Muslim extremist group that claimed responsibility for the deadly siege at the Westgate shopping center in Nairobi in 2013.
"If anyone is planning to go to the Mall of America today, they've got to be particularly careful," Johnson said in a report.
Johnson pointed out that measures are being taken to enhance security in places like malls. Nevertheless, "public vigilance, public awareness and public caution in situations like this is particularly important," he added.
Rich Quinn, spokesperson of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), however, noted in an interview that "there is no indication of any specific, real threat" against American malls.