Loy said that "We continue to note attempted entry into the U.S. by aliens who according to intelligence pose a threat," and that al-Qaeda is the primary trans-national threat group, although others are emerging.
"We think we are most likely to be attacked with a vehicle borne improvised explosive device," said Loy. "However, it remains very clear that our primary adversaries continue to seek weapons of mass effects with which they intend to strike us."
Loy touted the National Response Plan (NRP) and the National Incident Management System (NIMS) as positive steps to mitigate the threats. "We have dramatically improved our technical ability to share information," he said. "Tools such as the Homeland Security Operations Center, the Homeland Security Information Network, and the Homeland security Advisory system are steps toward full capacity and capability. We know the end-state we want to reach and are methodically designing the path to get there.
"We have greatly improved systems to keep track of persons who cross the border," he said, "and we have begun to apply technology to monitor the border where there is no human presence. We're operating the US-VISIT program to verify the identity of travelers and stop criminals and terrorists before they can enter our society. We've signed Smart Border Accords with our neighbors in Canada and Mexico to help the highly trained customs officers, border agents and Coast Guardsmen who monitor and patrol our nation's nearly 7,500 miles of land border and 95,000 miles of coastline and waterways."
