Faith-Based Daily Awareness Post 25 September 2025

These updates are shared to help raise the situational awareness of Faith-Based organizations to best defend against and mitigate the impacts from all-hazards threats including physical security, cybersecurity, and natural disasters. 

DHS Issues Statement on Targeted Attack on Dallas ICE Facility

The Department of Homeland Security issued a statement regarding a sniper attack that occurred on September 24^th on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) field office in Dallas. The shooter, positioned on a nearby rooftop, fired indiscriminately at the facility and targeted a van in the sally port, hitting three detainees; one died and two remain in critical condition. The assailant was later found dead from a self-inflicted wound. Shell casing at the scene bore anti-ICE messages. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem condemned the violence, linking it to hostile rhetoric against ICE and urging restraint in public discourse. The statement also noted that this is not the first threat to the facility, just last month a bomb threat was made, prompting a shelter-in-place and law enforcement response.

Analyst Comments: This attack shows the heightened threat environment that federal facilities face. The anti-ICE messaging left at the scene suggests ideological motivation, aligning with a broader trend of politically or emotionally charged violence. DHS’s emphasis on hostile rhetoric influencing actions shows the importance of monitoring online and offline discourse for radicalization signals. This incident also illustrates a threat pattern as the facility experienced a recent bomb threat, pointing to the need for increased security measures, enhances situational awareness, and community engagement to reduce risks of escalation.

Question Corner: Can parishes lock doors after a school Mass begins for safety?

Under canon law 1221, “Entry to a church at the houses of sacred functions is to be open and free of charge”, applying to such things like Mass, meaning that legally a parish cannot simply lock its doors once a school Mass has begun. Some canon lawyers believe a local bishop could grant exception in serious cases, but others argue no such dispensation is possible because access is essential to what a church is. The author suggests alternative solutions: celebrate the school Mass in a chapel or oratory reserved for a specific group, or if held in the main church, post a guard or usher at the doors to admit people while maintain security.

Analyst Comments: This piece highlights the concern between open access of HOWs and concerns for safety in churches and schools. While Canon law prioritizes accessibility, modern realities of security risks necessitate HOWs to use workarounds like using chapels or stationing guards instead of locking doors. The issue shows a challenge many HOWs many face in balancing openness with security.   

Threats against executive’s surge as companies grapple with global instability

The article reports that threats against corporate executives are rising sharply amid global turmoil. According to the 2025 World Security Report by Allied Universal, 42% of chief security officers globally have observed increases in violent threats against top leaders, and in the U.S. tech sector that figure climbs to two-thirds. Economic instability, political polarization, and the spread of misinformation are cited as key drivers. In response, organizations are stepping up protection measures: almost half are instituting enhanced physical security, while others are investing in risk assessments and monitoring of online threats. Internal risks are also growing: many security leaders point to insider threats such as data leaks and unauthorized access, often linked to financial stress or dissatisfaction. The financial stakes are high, 26% of organizations noted revenue losses following security incidents, and investors warn a major event could reduce a public firm’s valuation by roughly a third.

Analyst Comments: The rise in threats against executives highlights how global instability, economic pressures, and polarized political climates are converging to create heightened risks for senior leadership across industries. Insider threats are a big concern with financial stress and employee dissatisfaction serving as potential catalysts to harmful activity. The financial implications are significant, with security incidents increasingly tied to revenue loss and reputational damage. This trend reinforces the importance of proactive executive protection strategies that integrate physical security, digital monitoring, and insider threat mitigation. Member were sent a Weekly Report earlier today examining the executive protection landscape in the wake of the Charlie Kirk assassination, which offers additional context and best practices for navigating this evolving threat environment. If you are not yet a member of FB-ISAO you can learn more about the benefits here.

Tropical Storm Humberto forms, to become major hurricane off southeast US coast

A new tropical storm, Humberto, has formed in the Atlantic and is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane as it moves. At present, it is located roughly 480 miles northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands, with sustained winds around 45 mph and a northwest trajectory. Forecasts indicate that Humberto could peak as a Category 4 hurricane between Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast. Its projected path may brig increasing seas, surf, and rip currents along the Bahamas, Bermuda, and the southeastern U.S. coastline. Additionally, a tropical wave in the northern Caribbean is being watched for potential development; depending on interaction between the two systems, complex behaviors may arise, altering how close either comes to land and how their impacts overlap.

Analyst Comments: Tropical Storm Humberto’s rapid organization and potential intensification into a major hurricane shows the volatile state of the Atlantic basin this season. Its forecast track near Bermuda and the U.S. East Coast poses significant risks for coastal communities, even if the storm does not make landfall, due to dangerous surf, rip currents, and possible outer-band impacts. The added uncertainty of another tropical wave in the Caribbean, with the potential for storm interaction through the Fujiwhara effect, complicates forecast confidence and preparedness planning. Emergency managers and costal residents may consider monitoring updates and understand the need for proactive readiness me4asures across the southeastern U.S., Bermuda, and surrounding areas.