Top officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security warned in a letter Monday that faith-based communities will likely remain targets for violence, urging state and local partners to evaluate their security postures for mass gathering events and at houses of worship.

"Faith-based communities have and will likely continue to be targets of violence by both domestic violent extremists and those inspired by foreign terrorists," said the letter from Paul Abbate, FBI deputy director, and John D. Cohen, the top intelligence official at DHS.

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Online forums linked to domestic violent extremists have referenced Jewish targets tied to conspiracy theories about COVID-19, the outcome of the 2020 election and "even the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan and resettlement of Afghans to the United States," according to the letter obtained by CNN.

The joint notice comes two days after the Colleyville, Texas, hostage standoff at Congregation Beth Israel, which the FBI is investigating as a terrorist incident.

The investigation into Saturday's incident is still in its "initial phases," the officials said, adding that "while this appears to be an isolated incident, and there are currently no additional specific and credible threats associated with it, we will continue to monitor all reporting to ensure this incident is not a catalyst for similar attacks."

The officials pointed out that the U.S. is in a period of "heightened threat," which includes threats from domestic violent extremists and those inspired or motivated by foreign terrorists.

The threat is exacerbated by a divided society and the global pandemic, according to the letter, which says that in some cases, social stressors and other personal factors have mixed with ideological issues, resulting in violence.

"Foreign influence actors have also promoted narratives online intended to sow discord in the U.S. and foreign terrorist groups continue to encourage followers to conduct attacks and use social media to incite violence," the letter notes.

On Sunday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said DHS will work with Congress to increase funding so faith-based communities can upgrade their security and protect themselves against terrorism, hate crimes and targeted violence.

Congregation Beth Israel was a recipient of DHS grant funding as part of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, according to Mayorkas.

Funding, which is administered through the Federal Emergency Management Agency, can be used in several ways, such as enhancing physical security, installing cameras, hiring security guards and cybersecurity upgrades. Other grant funding goes toward prevention and response programs to equip communities to identify when individuals are moving down the path to violence.

"This kind of threat did not begin when this attack started yesterday, and it will not end with the hostages free," Mayorkas said during a media briefing.

He said the "harsh reality" is that there continues to be a "rise in the language of hate and its connectivity to violence."

"We need to ensure that we not only protect our houses of worship and all places of assembly, but that we become aware of the signs that someone is going down a path toward violence," Mayorkas told reporters.

CNN reported last week that a year after the attack on the U.S. Capitol, homeland security and law enforcement officials nationwide were bracing for potential "unprecedented" levels of violence in the year ahead.

The country remains polarized, and many people are angry and frustrated about their individual selves or society's conditions after two years of COVID-19 upheaval, turbulent economic conditions and government restrictions, sources and nongovernmental researchers told CNN.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- In April, the governor of New York passed the state's 2020 budget, and in it, an

amendment was made




to a law that was passed last year allowing undocumented immigrants to get a state driver’s license.

The Green Light Law also prohibited the sharing of DMV information to any federal agency in charge of immigration.

Last month, the original law was amended as part of the 2020 budget, now making it an E Felony for any law enforcement officer to share DMV records with another law enforcement agency in charge of immigration like ICE or DHS.

“Border Patrol for example, working the highway in the middle of the night and pulls over a vehicle, they can’t run the plates to determine who owns that vehicle,” said U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York J.P. Kennedy. “I think it’s legislating obstruction and it’s very concerning to me.”

Kennedy says this was done silently, amidst a global pandemic, and has concerns for the safety and security of New York residents because of this.

“We’ve seen how important communication and coordination in coming up with a response to the pandemic and sort of causing people to work in isolation, it’s a recipe for disaster,” he said of not being able to share information. “I’m very concerned about this and I think it’s very unfortunate and makes me really question the motives of the individuals that enacted this law, if their professed interest in public safety and public health is really as important as they say they are.”

Kennedy says the law amendment also has a national impact.

“If any law enforcement officer in Texas ran across a New York State-registered vehicle, they could not run that plate if it was any officer who was involved in the enforcement of immigration law.”

“This is shocking. This is unheard of and especially during a pandemic that someone, the Governor, who is under so much pressure thought about that to put that in there,” said Erie County Clerk Mickey Kearns. “We just had I think it was 29 people, law enforcement people, in the State of New York that just died from COVID, and they’re criminals now?”

“They basically criminalize police work in this budget,” he said.

“I just think it’s wrong to put the lives and rights of illegal immigrants over law enforcement,” said Erie County Comptroller Stefan Mychajliw.

WKBW reached out to the Governor’s office for a statement and have not heard back.

This story was originally published by Hannah Buehler at WKBW.

The Department of Homeland Security says it's aware of a "small number of recent online threats of violence" connected to Saturday's far-right rally in Washington, D.C.

Its local director said no one wants a repeat of the January 6th insurrection when thousands of rioters stormed the Capitol.

"We do not tolerate hate, violence, or the criminal actions of those who committed the insurrection on January 6th," said director Christopher Rodriguez.

About 700 people are expected to attend the "Justice for J-6" rally in support of the protesters who were arrested after attacking the U.S. Capitol back in January.

As a precautionary measure, temporary fencing has been reinstalled and police have requested that national guard troops remain on standby.

This story was originally reported by Newsy.com.