To be clear: Creation of this new milita- rized “multi-jurisdictional law enforce- ment” system would constitute the most substantial reworking of American domestic law enforcement since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The post-9/11 era gave rise to the Department of Homeland Security, our current nationwide network of fusion centers and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Like this new proposed system, the post-9/11 system even- tually shifted from a mission of “counter- terrorism” to one of “all threats/all hazards” mitigation. In doing so, it has frequently infringed on the civil liberties of Americans engaged in constitutionally protected speech and assembly. The Border Security Workgroup also contemplated “counter-intelligence” work to combat an “insider threat” working “to subvert the President’s plan.” Records show the group considered using a variety of means to target a number of different groups, including certain non-govern- mental organizations, government agen- cies, judicial districts and a number of states or cities governed by the Democratic Party. They also contemplated targeting college students who were protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza. In a July 2024 email, group member Collin Agee — the “senior Army operations advisor” to the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency, per his LinkedIn — railed against immi- grants who, “under the guise of free speech,” protested against Israel’s geno- cidal war in Gaza. “We have entire communities (see Michigan) where the loyalty is to other nations, groups or causes, rather than America and Americans,” Agee wrote. Agee did not respond to questions about his views, but Dearborn, Michigan, is known for having one of the largest Muslim immigrant communities in the United States. These “counter-intelligence” plans came from the Border Security Workgroup “intelligence team,” which Agee was on. The team was primarily led by retired U.S. Navy Rear Admiral Tony Cothron, who has a long career in military intelligence agen- cies, including time at the National Security Agency and as the Director of Naval Intelligence. At the time of his involvement with the workgroup, he was the director of national security and intelli- gence programs at Liberty University, where he was also an associate professor of government. Liberty was founded by televangelist Jerry Falwell Sr., and the evangelical school has long served as an incubator for right-wing and Christian nationalist leadership in the United States. Core proposals created by Cothron’s team, and related teams, sought the inte- gration of a number of law enforcement, intelligence, military and other govern- ment databases — to be data-mined by AI, an undertaking the Trump administration has since pursued. Cothron and his team also proposed the creation of a new “Border Security Intelligence Officer” — “a senior Intel professional (3-star equiva- lent),” Cothron wrote in a July 2024 email — who would oversee these domestic intel- ligence operations and report to the “Commander of Domestic Security Operations.” That intelligence officer would be “responsible for the counter-intelligence mission,” Cothron added. That mission was described further in a policy paper drafted by the Border Security Workgroup in September 2024. “An insider threat to this strategy can be expected that works with nation-state, transnational and non- governmental entities to subvert the President’s plan,” reads a portion of that paper. It continues: “An active counter- intelligence effort must be organized, inte- grated across all levels, and actively conducted to identify and prosecute any individuals working for and providing clas- sified or operationally sensitive informa- tion on border security plans and activities.” Again, plans crafted by the Border Security Workgroup did not end on the border. They were proposed for action in every state and territory of the United States. Cothron did not respond to questions from CRN and New Times. TO THE EAST, TO MEET THE CZAR Trump loudly denied any involvement with Project 2025 throughout the 2024 election, and it’s not clear what sort of reception the Trump “team” gave to the plans and proposals crafted by the Border Security Workgroup. But documentation suggests they were given at least some consideration, and that the Trump “team” did share some connective tissue with the Border Security Workgroup. Records relating to the May 2024 brunch stated that retired Army Colonel Sergio de la Pena provided guidance to workgroup members at this event, pertaining to expectations of both Project 2025 leadership and “the candidate’s team,” which would “provide insight — guidance — once we get into the swing of the campaign process.” If Trump won, the group anticipated that they would continue to work with the forming admin- istration once the transition process commenced. De la Pena had worked in the transition team of the first Trump administration and as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs. Documents show that the workgroup received regular briefings relating to tran- sition efforts throughout 2024, and that de la Pena continued briefing the group on “transition update(s)” into 2025. Records also demonstrate that the Border Security Workgroup was used as a recruitment pool for “transition team” personnel. De La Pena did not respond to ques- tions. Asked if the Trump campaign or transition team consulted with or recruited from Project 2025 and its subgroups, White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson did not directly answer. “Only the Fake News media would continue to peddle a bogus narrative that no one — except big time loser Kamala Harris — cared about in 2024 and no one cares about now,” Jackson wrote in an email to CRN and New Times. Documents also show the group continued its discussion of invoking the Insurrection Act well into September 2024, when it was finalizing plans and proposals for Project 2025 review. This was also a time when the group expected to “receive guidance and input from the Presidential candidate and other key members of the executive team,” seem- ingly putting the lie to Trump’s frequent and obviously bullshit claims that he had nothing to do with Project 2025. Tom Homan, who was to be Trump’s “border czar,” was the person the group clearly favored to serve as its proposed “Commander of Domestic Security Operations.” A heavily redacted December 2024 workgroup email, obtained by CRN and New Times, indicates that members of the group likely met with Homan — with their proposals in hand — following the 2024 election. In the email, Rios told workgroup members that early that month, he and Boyd — who headed the workgroup team tasked with creating proposals for the mili- tarized fusion center system — had met with an individual (name redacted) to present their plans for the new militarized law enforcement command and discuss the structure of that individual’s “nascent office.” As Rios stated in the email, that “nascent office” would have “the authority to develop, coordinate, and provide over- sight for national interagency operations dealing with border security and deporta- tion.” It would likely follow a similar “organizational design” to that of the Office of National Drug Control Policy, which operates under the purview of the White House and is led by an individual colloqui- ally known as the nation’s “drug czar.” Further, Rios wrote, “resourcing options (...) for Border Czar activities are being considered.” The email also states that this meeting took place in Fredericksburg, Virginia, where Homan has long maintained a resi- dence, according to Virginia Corporation Commission records. Immediately following this meeting, documents show, the Border Security Workgroup began drafting plans for the “proposed organiza- tion” of the “Office of the Border Czar.” CRN and New Times submitted numerous questions to Rios — including about this apparent meeting with Homan, the workgroup’s proposals, guidance it received about the Insurrection Act and involvement with the Trump team. Rios declined to answer these questions, opting only to state that the Border Security Workgroup had “no formal affiliation” with Project 2025 and had “never formally submitted” any materials. When provided with a litany of documentary evidence to the contrary, the retired colonel chose to “stand by” his denials, though he did admit participation in the related Project 2025 Army Work Group. He didn’t respond to further questions. >> p 16 14 A flow chart of the regional command structure proposed for “Operation Demonstrate Resolve” by the Border Security Workgroup. (Records obtained by Cochise Regional News and Phoenix New Times) Donald Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, has cultivated strong ties to anti-democratic extremists.(Gage Skidmore/Flickr/CC BY-SA 2.0) Insurrectionist Brunch from p 13
