BLUF (Bottom Line Up Front):
The United States faces escalating national security risks on two fronts: according to the Homeland Security Republicans, we have an aggressive foreign surveillance operation by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) operating from Cuba, and the domestic crisis at the southern border, which ICE Director Tom Homan warns is being exploited by dangerous actors.
The convergence of these threats—foreign intelligence operations and porous borders—demands immediate, unified policy action to protect homeland security and maintain national sovereignty.
Resources for this report:
Tuesday’s hearing- Beijing’s Air, Space, and Maritime Surveillance from Cuba: A Growing Threat to the Homeland
America’s National Security Under Siege: From CCP Surveillance in Cuba to Border Chaos at Home
As international threats grow increasingly complex and domestic vulnerabilities remain unaddressed, the United States finds itself at a critical inflection point in national security. On the same day that Rep. Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) led a Homeland Security hearing on suspected Chinese Communist Party (CCP) surveillance activities in Cuba, just 90 miles off Florida’s coast, ICE Director Tom Homan sounded the alarm about dangerous gaps in America’s immigration and border enforcement systems.
Together, these two events underscore the mounting pressure on the U.S. government to fortify national defense against both foreign espionage and the potential infiltration of bad actors through an overwhelmed immigration system.
Part I: The CCP Threat from Cuba – A New Espionage Frontier
Chairman Carlos Gimenez didn’t mince words when he opened the hearing titled “Beijing’s Air, Space, and Maritime Surveillance from Cuba: A Growing Threat to the Homeland.” The evidence presented painted a dire picture: Chinese-funded signals intelligence (SIGINT) facilities now dot the Cuban landscape, capable of intercepting military, commercial, and governmental communications across the southeastern United States.
“This collaboration represents one of the most brazen intelligence operations ever attempted near the American mainland,” Gimenez said, referencing satellite imagery and open-source analyses revealing SIGINT posts near strategic U.S. installations.
Key Security Concerns:
- Proximity to critical U.S. assets: These facilities are within reach of Cape Canaveral, U.S. Southern Command in Miami, and key military bases.
- History of Cuban cooperation with adversaries: The Castro regime has long collaborated with hostile foreign governments, and Beijing’s deepening influence raises new alarms.
- Potential domestic infiltration: Gimenez warned of long-standing Cuban intelligence networks inside the U.S., now potentially interfacing with CCP efforts.
Gimenez also revealed that he had:
- Sent letters to the Department of Homeland Security requesting investigations into Cuban-linked operatives in the U.S.
- Urged the Department of the Treasury to suspend U.S.-Cuba travel and remittances, warning that American dollars may be funding a regime aiding Chinese espionage.
This, he argued, is not just a foreign policy dilemma. It is a direct threat to the American people.
Part II: Homan’s Warning—Domestic Collapse Meets International Aggression
While the CCP lays groundwork for intelligence collection just offshore, ICE Director Tom Homan warned that internal vulnerabilities—namely at the U.S.-Mexico border—may be just as dangerous.
Speaking outside the White House, Homan endorsed President Donald Trump’s proposal to reopen Alcatraz Island as a detention facility. While critics dismissed the idea as outlandish or symbolic, Homan saw it as practical.
“We need detention beds… especially for the significant public safety threats and national security threats,” he said, emphasizing that large-scale detention capacity is necessary to address the ongoing migrant surge.
Border Realities Undermining Security:
- ICE has capacity for ~47,000 detainees, while the non-detained immigration docket exceeds 7 million.
- DHS has begun offering $1,000 and travel assistance to encourage voluntary self-deportation—a policy Homan says shows signs of success but cannot replace strong enforcement.
- Talks are reportedly underway with multiple nations to accept deportees, though details remain confidential.
Amid this chaos, the former Biden administration’s reliance on Guantanamo Bay and new private prison contracts exposes a piecemeal strategy—one that Homan warns isn’t keeping up with the magnitude of the threat.
He also criticized the administration’s failure to enforce immigration law uniformly, alleging that criminal organizations and terrorist groups may be exploiting the system.
National Security in the Crosshairs: What This Convergence Means
The dual crises—foreign surveillance in Cuba and overwhelmed immigration enforcement—are not isolated. In fact, they may be interconnected.
Chairman Gimenez underscored this risk when he cited the intersection of Cuban and Chinese intelligence within U.S. borders. This means America could be facing a hybrid threat: espionage infrastructure abroad and operational networks at home.
Meanwhile, Homan’s calls for bold solutions—including repurposing Alcatraz—reflect the desperation felt by law enforcement officials who say the federal government isn’t keeping up with real-time threats.
The Alcatraz Controversy: A Deterrent or Distraction?
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi dismissed the idea as “not serious,” noting the island is now a major tourist attraction. However, critics of that dismissal, including accounts like WarClandestine, argue that symbolic power matters in deterrence—pointing to Alcatraz’s historical role in combating organized crime.
Trump himself defended the proposal, stating:
“It housed the most violent criminals in the world and nobody ever escaped… It represents something very strong, very powerful, in terms of law and order.”
Where Do We Go from Here?
The growing CCP-Cuba alliance and the fragile immigration enforcement infrastructure demand an urgent, strategic shift in national security policy. Experts suggest the following must be addressed:
1. Domestic Intelligence Security:
- Immediate review of Cuban and Chinese influence operations in U.S. territory.
- Congressional oversight into suspected espionage networks tied to Havana and Beijing.
2. Border Enforcement Overhaul:
- Expanded detention capabilities, whether through new facilities or retrofitting existing ones like Alcatraz.
- Greater coordination with international partners to accept deportees.
- Reevaluation of the $1,000 self-deportation incentive to ensure it’s not being abused.
3. Legislative Action:
- Congressional funding for enhanced border security and SIGINT countermeasures.
- Potential sanctions or policy restrictions on Cuba for cooperating with foreign adversaries.
Conclusion: A Homeland Under Threat—And Still Divided
The United States is now staring down a two-pronged threat: foreign intelligence operations that may already be surveilling its military and space infrastructure, and a porous southern border that leaves the nation vulnerable to infiltration by criminal and terrorist elements. These developments are not theoretical—they are happening in real time.
While partisan bickering dominates much of the political discourse, voices like Tom Homan and Rep. Carlos Gimenez are sounding a bipartisan alarm: the security of the American people is no longer just under threat—it may already be compromised.
Now, the nation must choose: confront these challenges with decisive, coordinated action—or risk letting its enemies seize the advantage from within and without.