By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

The FBI is using elite surveillance squads and more than 500 FBI agents to track 48 high-risk ISIS suspects in the U.S., the Daily Mail reports. 

The agents are working around-the-clock in the event that a terrorist attack is planned.

“There is a very significant number of people that are on suspicious watch lists, under surveillance,” Republican Senator Dan Coats, who is on the Select Committee on Intelligence, said.

Coats added that it “takes enormous amounts of manpower” to follow the suspects constantly and is costing the authorities dear.

“It is a big resource drain. Yes it is. Almost overwhelming,” Coats said.

“There will be a lot of people over the Thanksgiving weekend that will not be enjoying turkey with their family. They’ll be out there providing security for the American people and the threat is particularly high during this holiday period,” he added.

Jon Ritzheimer, via Facebook.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

The FBI has taken the unusual step of warning New York law enforcement about an anti-Muslim protester who has driven from Arizona to the east coast to confront a group of Muslims, the New York Daily News reports.

Jon Ritzheimer, 32, of Phoenix, posted a video on Nov. 18 with a gun, saying he was going to confront the Muslims.

The FBI was in contact with the former Marine until he became angry and shut off communication while in Scranton, Pa.

Investigators believe he is en route to Hancock, N.Y., where the Muslims of America is located.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

Border Patrol is struggling to hire enough agents to protect the U.S.-Mexico border, KTAR News reports. 

The difficulty of hiring entry-level agents means the Border Patrol is short-staffed.

“The process to get very good people is time consuming,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske said.

“If you are a talented Border Patrol officer, you have a college degree (and) you are fluent in Spanish, there are a lot of other opportunities out there for you,” he said.

CBP officials have expanded their recruiting efforts, targeting veterans and speeding up the hiring process.

“With the Border Patrol, we are losing more people than we are actually able to hire,” he said.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

President Obama’s family was celebrating Thanksgiving on Thursday afternoon when a man draped in an American flag jumped over the White House fence, the Washington Post reports. 

Joseph Caputo was taken into custody soon after scaling over the north fence line at 2:45 p.m.

It wasn’t immediately clear why Caputo jumped the fence.

The Secret Service is concerned because Caputo made it over the fence despite the installation of “pencil point” spikes added to the White House perimeter.

A witness said she saw the man drape himself with a flag and then said, “Alright, let’s do this.”

Michael Salata.

By Steve Neavling
ticklethewire.com

A registered sex offender was able to pass through airport security at Salt Lake City using a stolen boarding pass, the New York Post reports. 

Michael Salata didn’t make it on the flight, however, after checking into a Southwest Airlines flight to Oakland, Calif., on Nov. 5.

Airport police said Salata stole a boarding pass that had accidentally been left on a kiosk.

But once the woman who lost the pass checked in using a replacement ticket, security moved in on Salata.

The TSA acknowledged it made an identification mistake but properly screened Salata.

Other Stories of Interest

• FBI to Begin Tracking Animal-Cruelty Cases in 2016
• TSA Offers Tips for Traveling Safe During Thanksgiving
• FBI, Grassroots Groups Fight Sex Trafficking in Denver
• FBI Helps Investigate Stolen Bust of Abraham Lincoln
• GOP Presidential Candidate Cruz Mum on Wanting to Ax TSA