Leadership Journal

Saint Elizabeths Progress

2009-01-12T14:25:00.004-05:00

A major milestone was reached for the Department January 8, 2009, when the St. Elizabeths Final Master Plan was approved by the National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC). For the past three and a half years we worked closely with the General Services Administration, and all of the consulting parties with an interest in St. Elizabeths, to develop a Master Plan for a consolidated Department of Homeland Security Headquarters – a plan that meets our minimum requirement of 4.5 million square feet of functional office space, plus necessary parking. This approval makes way for us to begin the first phase of the plan – construction of the Coast Guard facility on St. Elizabeths.

I can’t tell you enough how very pleased I am with the close cooperation and support we’ve received from Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, the District of Columbia government and the General Services Administration on this project. The D.C. City Council approved the East Campus Small Area Plan December 16, 2008, for redevelopment which provides for the 750,000 square feet of federal parcel to meet the minimum Department need. The breakthrough in the master plan development was the opportunity to synchronize the East Campus and West Campus developments for the benefit of both Homeland Security and the D.C. Government.

Relocating a portion of our program to the East Campus allows us to obtain our minimum square feet of office space, helps address density concerns on the West campus and provides a campus that can function as a single unified headquarters. It will also further enhance our interaction with the community and serve as a catalyst for retail and commercial development on the East Campus.

We currently have employees scattered throughout 70 buildings across the National Capital Region which – among other difficulties – impedes our communication and effectiveness. Our goal is to reduce our total number of office locations from more than 40 to about eight. To remedy this situation we’re consolidating Department facilities and collocating 14,000 of our Headquarters personnel at St. Elizabeths, a historic hospital campus located in Southeast Washington. Once completed, this project will further unify our components, enhance communication, and increase our mission effectiveness, ultimately improving our nation’s security.

Built more than 150 years ago, St Elizabeths remains a National Historic Landmark and we intend to honor its history by retaining and adaptively reusing 99.8 percent of the contributing square footage. The General Services Administration has diligently pursued its historic preservation stewardship responsibilities to stabilize, repair, maintain and assess the St. Elizabeths campus historic buildings and landscapes – representing a $28 million investment to date. The master plan incorporates significant measures to ensure the preservation, rehabilitation and reuse of this historic campus as it is revitalized for the new consolidated headquarters.

In addition to size and historical concerns, we’re also keenly aware of the impact our move will have on the surrounding community. To that end we will work directly with community leaders and consulting parties to implement the framework for limited public access outlined in the Section 106 Programmatic Agreement; while still preserving our security and operational requirements. We also plan to exclude the West Campus Cemetery from any security perimeters, thus maximizing public access opportunities. We look forward to being good neighbors and valued members of the community.

The 2009 fiscal year DHS Appropriations Bill passed by the Congress and signed by the President provides $97 million for tenant requirements to begin construction of the new Coast Guard Headquarters on the West Campus, which is the first phase of our Consolidated Headquarters effort. We look forward to GSA receiving their 2009 appropriation for the project at the conclusion of the current continuing resolution to start the building construction in earnest this fiscal year.

The St. Elizabeths Campus offers a tremendous opportunity to create a secure, state-of-the-art Headquarters focused on achieving our core mission¬—to protect our homeland. We look forward to becoming a valued member of the Ward 8 community as we redevelop and preserve the St. Elizabeths National Historic Landmark for generations to come.

Elaine C. Duke
Under Secretary for Management

Electronic System of Travel Authorization (ESTA)

2009-01-09T15:01:00.004-05:00

Beginning Monday, travelers under the Visa Waiver Program will be required to obtain an Electronic System of Travel Authorization (ESTA) in order to visit the United States. This means that any national or citizen seeking to travel to the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program from one of its 35 participating countries must first go on-line and register for an ESTA. Once approved, the traveler will be authorized to visit our country for up to 90 days for business or tourism without first having to obtain a visa.

Why is ESTA necessary? For starters, it is one of the key security elements of our expanded Visa Waiver Program and an essential tool for identifying potentially high-risk travelers ahead of time. By requiring travelers to register on-line before their journey, ESTA gives authorities more time to screen for threats and ensure that a traveler isn’t a known security risk. ESTA also helps us determine, in advance of travel, whether an individual is eligible for travel under the Visa Waiver Program. This is important because it saves travelers the time, expense, and hassle of flying to the United States only to find out that they are inadmissible under the Visa Waiver Program.

ESTA is quick, easy, and free. In most cases, it provides an almost immediate determination of eligibility for travel. Since its inception, more than one million people have successfully used the system without any problem.

Moreover, each approved ESTA application is generally valid for a period of two years and allows for multiple visits to the United States within that period. ESTA involves no new data collection. All information required for an ESTA application is already collected on the I-94W arrival and departure form that Visa Waiver Program travelers currently provide. And any information submitted through the ESTA website is subject to the same strict controls for similar traveler screening programs governed by U.S. laws and regulations.

Visitors may apply for travel authorization via the ESTA website. If a traveler fails to obtain an ESTA, he or she may be denied boarding, experience delayed processing, or be denied admission to the United States. Travelers who currently have a valid visa for travel to the U.S. are not required to apply for an ESTA.

Michael Chertoff

What the Passenger Name Record Report Really Says

2008-12-31T16:09:00.012-05:00

The DHS Privacy Office works overtime to ensure privacy protections at the department for Americans and those who travel to the U.S. News of our efforts doesn’t always get out. Recently, my office issued the Passenger Name Record (PNR) Data Report (download PDF), a public document that is a requirement of the joint U.S./EU agreement on PNR. In fact, I encourage you to check out a previous Leadership Journal where I discussed this. On December 18, I pointed out that the department, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), actually complied with the agreement and privacy documentation issued by my office. Any statements to the contrary are mischaracterizations. I invite you to read the report for the truth.

Yes, the Privacy Office review did find areas for operational and policy improvement – I would be remiss in my statutory duties had I overlooked areas where privacy protections could be better integrated into DHS operations. Specifically, CBP needs to improve its handling of Freedom of Information Act/Privacy Act requests, a key component of redress generally, and with respect to PNR data. I note, however, that for every recommendation made in the report, there was a concrete and actionable response that CBP began to implement before the report was even issued. As with any program, improvements can always be made and so is the case here. CBP did not fail in meeting its commitments to the Agreement and Letters between DHS and the Council of European Union. CBP actively contributed to the review, opening itself up to criticism while still trying to operationally meet the requirements of the 2007 Agreement and Letters. Moreover, CBP and the Privacy Office have been working together closely to improve CBP’s handling of FOIA and Privacy Act requests. I am proud of my office’s hard work and I commend CBP for its efforts and its improvements.

The other half of the story is the one that has been ignored, so I will make it quite clear. The U.S. has upheld its commitments, but the Europeans, to date, have not. On July 25, 2008, the European Commission vice president wrote to Secretary Chertoff suggesting the first review take place in "late 2008" and that questionnaires be exchanged beforehand. The Secretary confirmed our intent to participate in order to review "the effective operation and privacy protection" of both U.S. and European systems.

My report was originally intended to provide the basis for a Joint Review in December 2008, which the European Commission unfortunately postponed for unknown reasons. The Joint Review is meant to illustrate the effective oversight and to promote further transparency of activities in both the U.S. and the EU. This is particularly important given that the EU is now considering use of PNR as a screening tool, and some Member States have already begun national PNR programs.

Only through effective oversight and real transparency, here and in Europe, can we truly gauge the effectiveness and impact on individual freedoms resulting from any single approach.

Hugo Teufel III
Chief Privacy Officer

Principles for Implementing Privacy Protections in Research Projects

2008-12-23T13:00:00.002-05:00

The Department is often in the headlines for our high-profile efforts to protect the nation, but there are mission-critical activities going on behind the scenes to advance homeland security—including a recent achievement of our Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and the Privacy Office. Although many of S&T’s activities, such as our work to develop vaccines for dangerous animal diseases, do not impact personal privacy, some of our efforts—like the development of new physical screening technologies—have potential privacy implications.

As we carry out the S&T mission to encourage innovation in the development and use of new technologies in support of homeland security, we have made it a priority to protect the privacy of individuals. To ensure that goal, the Privacy Office and S&T have just developed "Principles for Implementing Privacy Protections in S&T Research." Working together on this new guidance has been a natural fit, enabling us both to contribute our particular expertise. These Principles enable us to provide advanced tools, technologies, and systems to those working to protect our nation while incorporating privacy protections into privacy-sensitive S&T research.

Key Principles

Privacy Assessment. An assessment of privacy impacts, conducted jointly by S&T and the Privacy Office, will be an integral part of the design, development and implementation of any S&T research project that is privacy-sensitive or involves or impacts personally identifiable information (PII).
Purpose Specification. The scope and purpose of any specific S&T project will be clearly articulated and documented through a process that includes reviews of its effectiveness by internal experts (S&T staff other than the project’s proponents) and external experts (with appropriate security clearances).
Transparency. S&T will conduct Privacy Impact Assessments (PIAs) in conjunction with the Privacy Office, as required by the E-Government Act of 2002, for all research projects that involve or impact PII, and will publish PIAs for all non-classified research.
Data Quality and Integrity. Projects will endeavor to use only data that is reasonably considered both accurate and appropriate for the project’s documented purpose(s).
Data Minimization. Projects will use the least amount of PII consistent with their documented purpose(s). Where practicable, S&T will use data minimization techniques to accomplish this goal.
Use Limitation. Projects will only use data in a manner that is consistent with disclosures in all applicable PIAs and Privacy Act System of Records Notices, and consistent with privacy notices and policies that apply to data originally collected by the private sector.
Data Security. Researchers will take all reasonable steps necessary to maintain the security of the data they use.
Training. Personnel involved in a project will receive training on DHS privacy policy and on the privacy protections built into individual research projects.
Audit. Projects will use automated or non-automated audit procedures to ensure compliance with project access and data usage rules.
Redress. The Privacy Office, together with S&T’s Privacy Officer, will develop and administer a redress program to handle inquiries and complaints regarding any S&T research project and to provide relief where warranted.

The Principles appear in an appendix to Data Mining: Technology and Policy, the Privacy Office’s 2008 report to Congress on Department data mining activities. The report is available on the Privacy Office website.

We are proud of the collaborative work that led to the creation of these principles, and look forward to continuing to work together in our common mission to protect the American people and our homeland.

Hugo Teufel III
Chief Privacy Officer

Jay M. Cohen
Under Secretary, Science and Technology Directorate

Winter Fire Safety

2008-12-22T12:13:00.005-05:00

As we change seasons from fall to winter and progress into the holiday season, the United States Fire Administration, a component of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, asks you to take a few minutes to review the following fire safety tips to help ensure you and your family remain fire safe.

Video demonstration showing how flammable a dry Christmas tree can be as opposed to a tree watered regularly.

The cold weather brings with it the need for heating at around the same time the holiday season starts; along with the celebrations comes an increase in home fires, fire deaths and fire related injuries. Each year, an estimated 3,700 Americans die in fires and about 20,000 are injured. Approximately, eighty percent of all fire deaths occur in the home. Not including arson-related deaths, from April 2007 through September 2007 at least 589 people were killed in home fires and when it became cooler, from October 2007 through March 2008, at least 982 people were killed in home fires. Many of those killed might still be alive today if they had known how to prevent a fire and how to survive once a fire starts.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), dried out Christmas trees are involved in an estimated 200 fires, 10 deaths and $10 million in property damage each year. CPSC also estimates that there are about 14,000 candle-related fires annually, resulting in 170 deaths and $350 million in property damage. Following some simple fire safety tips can boost survival rates dramatically.

Install and maintain smoke alarms. These are the single most effective tool for protecting you should fire occur.
Keep your holiday decorations away from heat sources, including fire places and space heaters. If using a live tree, keep it watered; when the tree dries out, discard it.
Inspect holiday lights each year for frayed wires, bare spots, gaps in the insulation, broken or cracked sockets, and excessive kinking or wear.
Do not leave lit holiday lights unattended. If your holiday celebrations involve the use of lit candles, never leave them unattended.
Chimneys, furnaces and wood stoves should be inspected and cleaned annually by a professional. When using indoor fireplaces or wood stoves, use only seasoned hardwood.
Always use a metal mesh or glass screen in front of your fireplace. Never use flammable liquids to start a fire. Extinguish the fire in the fireplace before going to bed or leaving the house. Soak hot ashes in water and place them in a metal container outside your home. Stack firewood outdoors at least 30 feet away from your home, and not in a garage.
Use only space heaters evaluated by a nationally recognized laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL). Make sure heaters have an automatic switch to turn them off if the heater falls over. Leave at least three feet of space around all sides of your space heater.
Have your furnace inspected annually by a professional. Keep trash and other combustibles away from the heating system.

Fire departments respond to numerous house fires daily, and all firefighters know most of these fires could have been prevented. As America’s Fire and Emergency services leader, the USFA provides a wide range of safety information, checklists and pamphlets to ensure a fire safe nation. For more information, visit www.usfa.dhs.gov.

Gregory B. Cade
Fire Administrator, U.S. Fire Administration (USFA)

Passenger Name Record Data and Privacy

2008-12-18T16:51:00.004-05:00

In July 2007, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Council of the European Union (Council) signed an agreement and exchanged letters regarding the transfer of Passenger Name Record (PNR) data to DHS by air carriers operating flights between the U.S. and the European Union (EU). Included was a provision to “periodically review the implementation of this agreement, the DHS letter, and U.S. and EU PNR policies and practices” to assess the “effective operation and privacy protection of their systems.” In a series of communications between the European Commission and the Department, the parties agreed that a Joint Review would be conducted this December.

In preparation for the Joint Review, my team conducted a review of DHS PNR processing practices, the results of which are published in A Report Concerning Passenger Name Record Information Derived From Flights Between The U.S. And The European Union, posted on the privacy website. In short, we found that the Department complies with the representations made in the Agreement and Letters, as well as those representations made in the System of Records Notice for the Automated Targeting System (published in the Federal Register on August 6, 2007), the system where PNR resides.

I am proud that our team was able to complete this important task in my final days as Chief Privacy Officer, but I am disappointed that our European counterparts chose to postpone participation in this exercise. The Joint Review is meant to illustrate a common commitment to effective oversight and to promote further transparency. The review DHS hopes to hold with the European Commission in early 2009 will be of considerable value to DHS, as it will identify areas for improvement and confirmed best practices.

The EU is now considering use of PNR as a screening tool, and some Member States have begun national PNR programs. In the spirit of reciprocity and transparency, and to contribute to our shared goals of protection of citizens and their personal information, we look forward to a comparable review of European PNR systems.

Hugo Teufel III
Chief Privacy Officer

Community Prep: Emergency Operating Centers

2008-12-16T19:59:00.004-05:00

Today’s roll-out of the grant application guidance for building or renovating emergency operating centers (EOC) around the country was personally satisfying for me. I know that EOCs are an integral part of disaster preparedness and response. A well-equipped EOC with a trained staff provides the coordination and communication needed to knit resources together during a disaster.

Last year, $14.6 million was made available by appropriators for 22 EOCs in 19 states and the District of Columbia. And this year, we had a breakthrough. Congress appropriated approximately $34 million for the EOC grant program, enough to build or renovate more than 40 EOCs around the country.

Over the past two years, FEMA has found that, to do our job really well, we have to rely on tribal, state and local, public and private partnerships. The better prepared those partners are, the better our response will be.

Thanks to the EOC grants, a lot of places in the country are going to be better prepared to deal with disasters in their communities.

R. David Paulison
Administrator, FEMA

U.S. and EU Agree on Data Protection Principles

2008-12-13T19:36:00.009-05:00

Data protection and data sharing took a big step forward yesterday at the U.S.-EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial meeting in Washington. The French EU Presidency, the European Commission, and the U.S. Departments of Homeland Security, Justice, and State agreed to a Statement on Information Sharing and Privacy and Personal Data Protection and recorded progress on a set of principles that will advance both data privacy and data sharing in a law enforcement context. (download PDF)

The U.S. and the European Union have long been seeking common ground on data protection and data sharing principles. The U.S. proposed the discussion after divisive negotiations over airline reservation data (“PNR”) finally resulted in an agreement between the U.S. and the EU. The PNR agreement did two things: on the one hand, the U.S. set forth data protection rules for PNR, and on the other hand the EU agreed to approve the sharing of PNR with the U.S., thus protecting from penalty airlines and third countries that cooperate with U.S. antiterrorism measures by providing such data.

Noting that U.S. and EU standards for law enforcement data protection we in fact quite similar, the U.S. proposed a broader set of talks, with a view to reaching a broader agreement with the same basic structure as the PNR arrangement: (1) an agreed set of data protection principles and (2) protections so that private companies and third countries are not punished for cooperating with antiterrorism data gathering measures. A High Level Contact Group was formed to explore this possibility.

The talks began to bear fruit this year. In May, the two sides disclosed that they had reached substantial agreement on twelve data protection principles that both EU and U.S. law enforcement agencies observe.

More progress was made, as the parties took up the remaining job of reaching agreement on ways to protect those who cooperate in data gathering measures. The parties accepted an experts’ report that disclosed broad agreement on matters such as private entities’ obligations, preventing undue impact on third countries, and procedures for resolving questions arising under the principles. For example, the third country provision states that “when the European Union or the United States has international agreements or arrangements for information sharing with third countries, each should use their best endeavors to avoid putting those third countries in a difficult position because of differences relating to data privacy.” These principles demonstrate both sides’ willingness to avoid penalizing private entities and third countries because of possible U.S.-EU differences over data protection.

More negotiations lie ahead, of course. In particular, the parties noted that they have not reached agreement on redress (how to handle individuals’ complaints about how their data was treated) and reciprocity (making sure that the U.S. and EU do not demand higher data protection standards from others than they demand of themselves and their member states).

But, while negotiations are in progress toward a binding agreement that will mutually recognize both privacy regimes, the U.S. and the EU are already providing some comfort to those whose data is collected and to those who help to collect or share such data. Along with the principles, the parties issued a statement promising that, while negotiations continue, the U.S. and EU will “use best endeavours to refrain from activities which undermine these principles.” This statement means that the U.S. and EU will discourage deviations from the agreed law enforcement data protection provisions, which should reassure those whose data is collected for law enforcement purposes. At the same time, the parties’ undertaking should encourage law enforcement agencies, private entities, and other countries to provide data without fear of being drawn into conflicting demands by U.S. and EU data protection regulators.

Stewart Baker
Assistant Secretary Policy

International Consensus on Small Boats

2008-12-10T15:41:00.002-05:00

DHS policymakers spend a lot of time worrying about threats that haven’t happened yet. We also take a lot of grief from people who think that all our worrying is a waste of time—or, worse, an intentional strategy of fear-mongering. So it’s important to note those occasions when our worries have turned out to be on target.

The most recent such confirmation comes in the context of small boat terrorist attacks.

Two weeks ago, in Mumbai, India, terrorists seized a fishing vessel, killed its crew, navigated to Mumbai, and used small inflatable boats to come ashore for their attack.

DHS spent much of the last year on measures to reduce the risk that terrorists will be able to use small boats in an attack on this country.

In April, 2008, the Department developed a Small Vessel Security Strategy. The strategy outlines the goals and objectives that the Department component agencies, especially the U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection, will work toward. Supporting the strategy an interagency working group has been developing an implementation plan which in the coming weeks will outline the Department’s specific intentions. All of this effort has been done in coordination with the owners and operators of small vessels, including American fishing fleets, recreational craft associations, and commercial passenger and cargo vessels.

And less than a week ago, on December 5th, an international effort led by the United States, the United Kingdom, and Japan, resulted in the approval by the International Maritime Organization of new guidelines for small vessel security.

A year in the making, the new guidelines provide recommendations for governments and the owners and operators of small vessels and related facilities such as marinas. The recommendations encourage the registry of vessels and the sharing of such registry information between governments, the installation of access controls at marinas and on small commercial craft, as well as guidance on how to conduct vessel searches.

Numerous delegations at the International Maritime Organization meeting expressed their intent to implement the guidelines within their domestic security programs.

Getting the international community to focus on terrorism, and especially on new terrorism threats, is not a job for the impatient, but this is a case where DHS was both patient and ahead of the curve, and the reward is that we were able to move swiftly once an international consensus emerged.

Stewart Baker
Assistant Secretary, Policy

Small Boats

2008-12-09T00:39:00.005-05:00

The tragic terror attack in Mumbai and its maritime nexus represents further cause for action on an effective international and domestic approach to small vessel security. After hijacking a fishing vessel, the terrorists used off-the-shelf GPS technology to navigate from Karachi, Pakistan to Mumbai and then simply rowed ashore in inflatable dinghies. They didn’t make much of an effort to conceal their movements.

Such brazen activity would have been detected on land but the water is a much different environment. In the maritime domain, thousands of small vessels ply international or coastal waters with relative anonymity. With limited awareness offshore, law enforcement entities are forced to respond to unfolding maritime events instead of preventing them.

The Coast Guard articulated these challenges in a 2007 report.

The emergence of transnational threats: Transnational criminals, pirates, and terrorists seek to exploit the complexity of the maritime domain and the vulnerabilities of the global supply system. Weapons of mass destruction (WMD), contraband smuggling, and small vessel threats, such as water-borne improvised explosive devices (WBIEDs), represent the greatest risks from terrorism in the maritime domain. Today's trafficking of drugs, migrants, and contraband by criminals is becoming increasingly sophisticated and threatening as well.

The vastness, anonymity, and limited governance of the global maritime domain: The maritime domain, by its nature, creates its own challenges. Legitimate uses and criminal threats are growing in a realm that spans the globe, has limited governance, and provides little transparency of activity (particularly for smaller vessels). This creates tension between recognized legal regimes and the emerging need for greater security and safety -- U.S. Coast Guard Strategy for Maritime Safety, Security and Stewardship (Download PDF)

I recently wrote an article on the new approach needed to counter the small vessel threat consistent with our maritime security strategy. To mitigate the small vessel threat, law enforcement agencies need greater maritime domain awareness, appropriate legal regimes, and partnerships across the public and private sector to implement risk-based solutions. You can read the article (PDF).

There is no singular solution to the security threat presented by small vessels. The cooperative effort to reduce this threat, and mitigate potential impacts cuts across borders, jurisdictions and agencies. It requires a collaborative effort across government, the private sector and the international community.

Significant progress has been made to reduce the risks. Efforts have included technology, information sharing, improved operational capability, as well as legal regimes. Examples include:

Improved international regulation through the International Maritime Organization
International cooperative efforts to enhance global maritime domain awareness
Department Small Vessel Security Summits and Strategy
National Association of Boating Law Administrator initiatives to improve registration requirements
Self-propelled Semi-submersible legislation
Development of advanced interdiction capability and capacity

We must continue to work to further overlap our layers of defense and close the current gaps in our maritime security strategy. Our solutions need to be risk-based to identify the potential illicit actors while ensuring the free-flow of legitimate commercial traffic and the freedom of movement American boaters have come to expect.

Admiral Thad Allen

Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard

Engagement Works

2008-11-25T14:41:00.003-05:00

From the beginning, our Department has invested a great deal in community outreach, particularly with regard to racial, religious and ethnic minority communities. We are more effective when we explain our policies to people, when we listen to their feedback, and when we ask community groups to roll up their sleeves to work with us on projects to secure our country.

I am pleased to announce that we have taken another step forward in reaching out to the American public by creating a webpage on community outreach. This page includes recent news of interest; links on immigration information, filing complaints on travel or civil liberties concerns, and training resources that build cultural competency; and, video of Secretary Chertoff speaking about the importance of community outreach and the proactive role that American Jewish, Arab and Muslim communities can play in our national security.

After almost six years of working with racial, religious and ethnic minority communities around the country, we can say with certainty that outreach pays concrete dividends.

For example, organizations representing Jewish and Sikh communities have helped us improve our ability to screen religious travelers. The Sikh community has partnered with our office and the Federal Protective Service to develop training posters on how security guards should screen people who wear or carry certain religious items. We also co-sponsored an excellent seminar on violent extremism with the Anti-Defamation League.

When Hurricanes Gustav and Ike hit the Gulf Coast earlier this fall, we worked with our colleagues from immigration groups to ensure that evacuation materials were translated and messages were spread within communities. We are convinced that lives were saved.

Our relationships with disability rights organizations have helped us attract accomplished new employees. These organizations have also supplied subject-matter experts to help us analyze the emergency operations plans of a dozen major cities. This groundbreaking analysis was a key component of the Department’s Nationwide Plan Review, which set the agenda for improving emergency management post-Katrina.

We have also invested a great deal in outreach to American Arab and Muslim communities. We have regular roundtables with government officials and community leaders in Washington, Detroit, Houston, Chicago, Boston and Los Angeles. Our senior leaders have briefed groups when a new policy is announced, such as recently when Kip Hawley briefed the community groups on Secure Flight—an initiative that will decrease watchlist misidentifications. Secretary Chertoff has personally invested a great deal in this effort – speaking to the South Asian Chamber of Commerce in Houston, meeting with inter-faith religious leaders at a mosque, discussing issues with Pakistani-American doctors, and holding roundtables with students from these communities.

After almost six years of this engagement, we have tangible evidence that engagement between the Department and these communities is effective. Consider the following

Earlier this year, we held a call with a number of community leaders to talk about the imminent release of a European film critical of Islam. As a result, several prominent Muslim leaders in this country wrote and spoke to their communities about the appropriate response to a film of this sort. Their work decreased tensions among Muslim communities and helped to prevent a repeat of the Danish cartoons controversy.
At our Houston roundtable, an FBI colleague made a presentation about the threat of extremism among young people. The participants understood the message and wanted to address the concern locally and proactively. They organized a program for the imams of 11 of the largest mosques in Houston to all speak out against extremism on a single Friday, and then developed an anti-extremism curriculum that was taught in the mosques in subsequent weeks.
After Katrina hit, disability advocates filled several trucks with medical equipment and supplies. However, they did not have enough money to pay for the trucks to drive across country to the Gulf Coast. When a Muslim civil rights organization heard about the situation, it raised the money within 24 hours, and the trucks were on their way.
Community leaders have offered to encourage the youth in their communities to put aside skepticism and seek employment with the federal government. As a result, we were able to create the National Security Internship, a partnership between the FBI and DHS that brought almost two dozen Arabic speakers into our intelligence divisions. Next summer’s class will be even larger, and will expand to bring Arabic speakers into TSA and ICE.

The bottom line is this: community outreach educates our citizens; conversely, it educates us. We know from experience that community outreach builds support for the homeland security mission and it makes the people who carry out that mission more effective.

Daniel W. Sutherland
Office of Civil Rights & Civil Liberties

Turning the Tide on Illegal Immigration

2008-11-24T10:41:00.002-05:00

An important story is taking place along our nation’s southern border that has largely escaped the attention of the American public and the national media. For the first time in decades, a historic shift is occurring in illegal immigrant traffic into the United States.

From Texas to California, fewer immigrants are attempting to enter our country illegally by breaching our southern border. Annual immigration trends also have begun to reverse direction, favoring legal immigration over illegal immigration. And third-party indicators, such as remittances to Mexico and Latin America, have plummeted. In short, the tide of illegal immigration is turning.

According to a recent Pew Hispanic Center study, for the first time since 2001, there has been no net increase in illegal immigration in the United States, and it is likely that there has been a net decrease in the number of illegal immigrants in our country. To be sure, a down economy has caused some to rethink whether to illegally cross the border. But tighter border security, a significant expansion of the Border Patrol, the deployment of new technology, and increased interior enforcement are having an undeniable impact.

On a recent visit to Arizona, I had an opportunity to tour the border with the Chief of the Tucson Border Patrol sector to see firsthand some of these changes. As a result of new border infrastructure, including hundreds of miles of physical and virtual fencing, additional Border Patrol agents, and stepped up enforcement, arrests of illegal aliens have dropped 16 percent in the Tucson sector over the past year. Across Arizona, they have fallen 22 percent. For the entire southern border, they have decreased 17 percent. These are the lowest levels in more than a decade.

Moreover, in areas where the Border Patrol has implemented Operation Streamline, a program where illegal immigrants are prosecuted and face jail time for crossing the border, even greater reductions have occurred. In Yuma, Arizona, apprehensions have fallen 68 percent. In Del Rio, Texas, they have dropped 46 percent. These are not seasonal anomalies. They reflect increased border security and the deterrence that comes with the prospect of spending time in a federal detention facility.

The Border Patrol’s own estimates of known illegal entries also support these trends. Known illegal entries are internal estimates of the number of immigrants who have crossed the border but managed to elude capture. Tracking these figures helps the Border Patrol assess the volume and pattern of illegal crossing on a given day so it can adjust its tactics and deployment of personnel. Over the past fiscal year, known entrants eluding capture dropped below actual arrests, suggesting that not only are fewer people attempting to illegally enter the country, but even fewer are successfully making it through.

Beyond the statistics, there are numerous anecdotal signs of positive change along the border. Communities once plagued by drug smuggling and criminal activity are flourishing. Crime rates have dropped in many areas. And businesses that once relied on illegal labor are dying down or closing their doors.

Unfortunately, there have been some negative consequences of heightened enforcement, namely a rise in cross-border violence by criminal organizations fighting to control territory and smuggling routes. Assaults against the Border Patrol rose 11 percent over the past year. It is a regrettable fact of stepped up border security, but one that is necessary for the security of our country.

Despite this progress, there is still more work to do. Our challenges at the border have been years in the making, and they will take time to fully address, including action by Congress to enact immigration reform. In the interim, it is important that we not scale back or surrender the progress we’ve achieved in just a few short years.

Proponents of immigration reform should remember that part of the reason past efforts have failed in Congress is because the government lacked credibility on the issue of border security.

Over the past two years, we have attempted to establish that credibility and help pave the way for a more comprehensive solution, including a temporary worker program that will take pressure off the border and address the underlying motive for illegal immigration. Until that time, it would be a mistake to allow the tide to turn in the wrong direction. To do so would only set back efforts to control the border, endanger our country, and create additional barriers to future reform.

Michael Chertoff

The Rest of the Story

2008-11-21T15:27:00.003-05:00

The Houston Chronicle recently published a three part series focusing on the burden illegal immigration is placing on the criminal justice system. Without question, the issue is even more urgent in metropolitan areas such as Houston, where proximity to our Southwest Border is directly related to the movement of illegal aliens into the United States.

While U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) does not believe the writer of this series presented an accurate depiction of current facts, we could not agree more that identification and removal of criminal aliens is an urgent priority. The good news is that the men and women of ICE are working hard every day to implement new and innovative programs designed to eliminate the possibility of any criminal illegal alien being arrested and subsequently released back into our communities.

We recognized that better, faster local access to the millions of immigration records contained in the Department of Homeland Security’s databases is essential to local police departments and local sheriffs’ offices confronting criminal suspects whose backgrounds were unknown and who may be in the United States illegally. To meet this critical need, ICE implemented new technology that enables local officers to check both the criminal and immigration histories of all those processed at their jails. This integrated technology is the cornerstone of ICE’s Secure Communities program, and is currently deployed in seven jails, including those in Harris and Dallas counties.

With the ongoing deployment of Secure Communities, we fully expect to see a steady increase in the number of criminal aliens identified in local custody. Every increase moves us closer to our ultimate goal of removing all criminal aliens currently held in the prisons and jails throughout the country.

In just over a year, ICE has increased its staffing level at the Harris County Jail from a single officer to nearly a dozen. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office also has a pool of nine 287(g) trained deputies who work with ICE to identify, interview, and process criminal aliens for removal.

Without doubt, our joint efforts have yielded success. In Fiscal Year (FY) 2008, the ICE’s Houston Field Office identified and placed more than 13,300 illegal aliens, encountered in the custody of another law enforcement agency into removal proceedings, including more than 7,200 from the Harris County Jail. This is an increase of more than 3,300 over FY 2007.

Everyone in law enforcement today recognizes the power of partnerships. Both federal and state law enforcement officers all share a common mission to make the United States as safe and secure as possible and it just makes sense to work together.

John P. Torres
Acting Assistant Secretary
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Coast Guard Acquisition

2008-11-18T16:35:00.003-05:00

Several blog and media reports have made a series of misrepresentations concerning the Department of Homeland Security's rescission and acquisition delegation of authority to the Coast Guard. Let me take this opportunity to help get it straight.

Some blog entries presented the acquisition decision as a disciplinary measure with negative ramifications for the Coast Guard. In fact, the language puts in writing a best practice that the Coast Guard voluntarily implemented.

Bottom line – the re-establishment of DHS as the acquisition decision authority formalizes an oversight structure that had effectively been in place since 2006; despite the delegation authority provided in 2003. Our Investment Review Process conducted reviews of the Coast Guard acquisition programs, including the various Deepwater projects and contracts, as documented in Acquisition Decision Memorandums. The formal rescission merely documents the operating procedures and demonstrates uniformity in the DHS acquisition management function as detailed in our new Acquisition Directive 102-01.

The Coast Guard marked a major milestone in July 2007 with a new consolidated acquisition directorate. Rear Adm. Gary T. Blore, leads the enterprise as assistant commandant for acquisition, managing an investment portfolio worth more than a billion dollars of investment annually.

It should be noted that Rear Adm. Blore welcomed the acquisition decision since brings Deepwater into the fold of the normal acquisition process. This re-establishment of DHS as the acquisition decision authority restores the checks and balances the Department needs, and it provides full transparency to our acquisition process.

On Nov. 7, Rear Adm. Blore clarified for his entire directorate several misrepresentations made in traditional and social media outlets concerning the Department of Homeland Security's rescission of its delegation of authority to the Coast Guard for acquisition of Deepwater projects.

The Coast Guard has made remarkable progress to improve their programs across the board, and I have complete faith in their acquisition program. Without a doubt, they turned the corner from early acquisition errors.

Elaine C. Duke
Under Secretary for Management

The Visa Waiver Program Success Story—Our Newest Chapter

2008-11-17T12:23:00.004-05:00

Each year, we welcome hundreds of millions of visitors to America. Since 1986, many of them have arrived under our Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which enables nationals of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.

Last month, President Bush announced that seven new nations – the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovakia, and Korea – have met the requirements needed to enter the program. Starting today, eligible tourists and business people from these nations will be able to travel to the United States without a visa and contribute to our economy, as visitors have from other VWP countries for more than a generation. They will return to their countries with a first-hand impression of America and its people, helping us further enhance our reputation overseas.

The admissions requirements reflect a significantly upgraded and modernized VWP. Acknowledging the need to modernize and to recognize post-9/11 realities, they include new elements, mandated by Congress, such as new security provisions for countries and visitors alike.

Under the new requirements, countries must now provide information about serious crimes, known and suspected terrorists, timely reporting of lost and stolen passport data and cooperation on airport and aviation security.

As for individual visitors, our Department’s new Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) requires all VWP travelers to submit biographical and eligibility information on-line prior to their departure for our country. This will enable us to pinpoint potential security threats ahead of time, identify ineligible individuals before they board (saving them a wasted trip to a U.S. airport and back) and process authorized travelers more efficiently.

For the better part of a year, I have been privileged to work with my colleagues in each of the seven countries that are joining the VWP. I am proud of their accomplishments as free nations that have stood up to tyranny. Their admission to the program is a milestone in their history. It promises to be a boon to our country, while opening a bright new chapter in the VWP success story.

Michael Chertoff

Iraq Naturalization Trip

2008-11-04T15:53:00.003-05:00

As you read this, I’m in the air over the Mediterranean Sea on my way home from the Middle East. I would like to share with you what I just experienced. In Baghdad, at one of the former Presidential Palaces, I had the distinct honor of naturalizing 186 men and women serving in uniform in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Many of these service members have seen extensive combat and have served multiple tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. During my tenure with USCIS, I’ve had the opportunity to naturalize soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines in far reaching corners of the world from Afghanistan to Djibouti. As a veteran of our military, I know first-hand the sacrifices our nation’s veterans make to secure our freedoms. Since 2004, more than 6,000 service members have become U.S. citizens while stationed overseas – of that number 2,500 naturalized in Iraq. Their service is a constant source of inspiration.

As the Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, there’s another part of this story that’s just as important to me. Every time I naturalize military service members overseas, USCIS employees have gone before me to conduct interviews. From the deserts of Iraq, to the mountains of Afghanistan, to the middle of the ocean aboard Navy ships, the men and women of USCIS leave the safety of their homes to volunteer to support our troops. As I fly back to the States, I’m thinking not only of the sacrifices of our service members, I’m also thinking about the sacrifices of the USCIS public servants I work with that made these naturalizations possible.

I’m proud of the work my team does to naturalize military service members who are fully eligible for citizenship. However, our goal is to eliminate the need for conducting overseas military naturalization ceremonies by working closely with the Department of Defense to speed up the processing of military naturalization cases. We want to ensure that every eligible service member raises his or her right hand and recites the Oath of Allegiance before overseas deployment. This will benefit these brave men and women as well as their families. It’s the least a grateful nation can do for the men and women of our armed forces who have volunteered to defend America even before they’ve become citizens.

Jonathan “Jock” Scharfen
Acting Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Common Sense Flu Prevention

2008-10-28T11:58:00.014-04:00

As Chief Medical Officer at DHS, I serve as the Department's principal agent for all medical and public health matters. One of my primary responsibilities is maintaining a healthy workforce. We are over 200,000 strong and to protect the nation we must remain strong.

We are entering into the fall season and Autumn brings with it cooler air, changing leaves, and the increased chance of getting the seasonal flu.

While stressing flu prevention methods to our DHS employees who serve on the frontline of America's defense, as a physician, I'm also thinking about the parts of our critical infrastructure that are privately owned and operated. Just as our first responders -- firefighters, police, EMS personnel – must be there for us 24/7, so must our border security personnel must be healthy. Those who run our electrical plants, our telecommunications systems and our grocery stores are also essential.

So please take a moment to review the following flu prevention tips:

Wash your hands with soap and warm water frequently and thoroughly.
Get a flu shot.
Practice social distancing. Don't move in toward someone who is coughing or sneezing; politely take a step back.
Practice proper sneezing and coughing etiquette. Don't cough or sneeze into your hand and then use your hand to use a pen at the bank or open a door or refrigerator. Sneeze and cough into your elbow.

I know how this sounds. It sounds like something our parents told us as children. But think about these tips the next time you sneeze or cough. Look at your own habits. Then look at others. You'll be surprised. This refresher, as silly as it may seem, could just keep the lights burning through another flu season.

Dr. Jon R. Krohmer
Acting Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer

Privacy Progress

2008-10-24T14:15:00.006-04:00

I am pleased to announce the publication of the fourth DHS Privacy Office Annual Report to Congress, which covers the reporting period from July 2007 – July 2008. It is the office’s fourth annual report and the third issued under my tenure as Chief Privacy Officer.

As we predicted in our 2007 report, this year afforded the Department a “significant opportunity” to expand the presence of Privacy Officers and Privacy Points of Contact (PPOCs) within DHS components. We’ve added Privacy Officers in USCIS, ICE, and E-Verify to name a few components and programs. I am proud of our achievements during the last year, and there are a few more I would like to highlight.

The Office continues to grow to meet increasing responsibilities at the Department, doubling in size from Fiscal Year (FY) 2007 to FY08, increasing from 16 positions to 32, and from a budget of $4.55 million to one of $5.5 million. At the close of the reporting period, the Office was recruiting and hiring additional staff and continues to promote growth in component privacy programs as a critical means of addressing privacy requirements throughout the Department.

We are reviewing over 200 legacy agency Privacy Act Systems of Records Notices (SORN) and retiring or revising them, as necessary. This task supports Secretary Chertoff’s priority goal # 5: Strengthen and Unify DHS Operations and Management by utilizing the already established resources in the PPOC network, and communication with component Privacy Officers, program managers, and system owners to streamline and consolidate legacy SORNs. Additionally, this effort supports the Department’s objective to become "One-DHS" by using the resources of every DHS component to streamline processes and ensure that DHS complies with the Privacy Act. It is critical that the Department continues to uphold public trust in daily operations to secure the homeland while protecting the privacy the public’s personal information.

Additional activities undertaken by my office this year include

New Congressional requirements to build the Department privacy processes
Increased outreach and collaboration within the Department and with the intelligence community, federal, state, local, and international communities, Congress, and the public
Increased responsibilities and authorities of the Chief Privacy Officer and the Department as defined by the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007
DHS Privacy Office support of the State and Local Fusion Centers
Management of privacy complaints received by the Department
The first year of implementing the Privacy Incident Handling Guidance (PIHG), and privacy incident management
Expanded focus on technology to protect the homeland
Expansion of required and optional privacy training, including targeted workshops and training as needed throughout the Department.

The privacy professionals in my office work hard every day to build privacy protections into the activities of the Department. It has been a pleasure working with these individuals over the past two years. Together, we have strengthened the culture of privacy throughout the Department. I encourage you to read our report.

Hugo Teufel
Chief Privacy Officer

State of Immigration

2008-10-23T10:01:00.009-04:00

Earlier today I delivered the fourth of a series of regular updates regarding the state of immigration in our country. Rather than bombard you with a laundry list of metrics that indicate our progress, let me share just a few concrete examples.

This year, apprehensions of illegal immigrants along our southern border decreased 17 percent; last year, apprehensions decreased 20 percent – a clear indication of reduced crossing attempts. Remittances to Mexico and Latin America are also down for the year, another indicator of successful enforcement. Perhaps even more telling, a recent report from the Pew Hispanic Center found that for the first time in a decade, the flow of illegal immigrants into the United States dropped below the number of those legally entering the country. Pew also estimated that last year, for the first time since WW II, there was no increase in the number of illegal migrants in the U.S. Among the factors credited for this turnaround was "a heightened focus on enforcement of immigration laws."

By all indications – decreased apprehensions, remittances, and statistical data showing more legal than illegal immigrants – we are slowly but surely turning the tide of unchecked illegal immigration that has occurred for decades in our country. We’ve done this by adding more than 370 miles of fence to the border, nearly doubling the size of the Border Patrol, and deploying new technology. Through targeted interior enforcement actions, we've also identified and removed dangerous illegal alien gang members and fugitives in record numbers while sending an unambiguous message to employers who violate the law that we will not turn a blind eye toward illegality.

As part of this, we finalized our no-match regulation, which will give businesses clear guidance to respond to letters they may receive from the Social Security Administration notifying them that an employee's name and Social Security number doesn't match government records. This of course, could be the result of a simple clerical error; or it could indicate that the employee is working illegally – either way, this rule will give employers the guidance they need to respond appropriately and avoid legal ramifications.

My hope is that by re-establishing the government's credibility through these actions, we will not only begin to address one of our nation's greatest challenges, but we will leave a strong enforcement operation in place for the next Homeland Security Secretary to use as leverage to push Congress to comprehensively reform our nation's immigration laws. Until this happens, our country will never fully solve this problem.

Michael Chertoff

A Better, Not Harder Citizenship Test

2008-10-15T15:58:00.004-04:00

On October 1, 2008, USCIS began administering a new naturalization test. The need for a standardized and meaningful test has been the source of study and discussion for more than a decade. I’m proud of the new test and the commitment we’ve made to giving applicants a meaningful and consistent testing experience across the board.

The purpose of the redesign was twofold: to make sure we have uniform testing experiences nationwide; and to develop a civics test that can effectively assess an applicant’s knowledge of U.S. history and government as the law requires. Naturalization applicants deserve a fair and standardized testing experience no matter where they take the test.

USCIS has made every effort to minimize the impact of this change by allowing one full year for preparation and by working closely with national and local immigrant-serving organizations along the way. Since announcing the test in September 2007, we have trained more than 2,000 educators and service providers, launched a variety of new study materials, and embarked on an unprecedented outreach campaign. You can see the study materials and judge for yourself their quality by going to http://www.uscis.gov/. I believe that the result is an effort all Americans can be proud of and one immigrants need not fear.

I would like to take this opportunity to let applicants know that what we have is a better, not harder test. The format is the same, just standardized across our offices. The civics test has been revamped and improved; and our 2007 pilots showed that those who study for the new test should pass. As for the English test, applicants now know exactly how to prepare through publicly released vocabulary lists. Also, all naturalization applicants now receive a new English and civics study booklet when they are fingerprinted at one of our Application Support Centers.

The new test was designed to serve as a tool to encourage civic learning and attachment to the country. Our pilot studies and research have shown that better content and a consistent format have not made the test more difficult. Through proper preparation and study, eligible candidates will be successful in achieving their dream of becoming a U.S. citizen. We will, however, monitor the results of the new test carefully and make this information public.

I want to commend those of you preparing for U.S. citizenship. The decision to apply is a very personal one. As you take this important step, it is my hope that the naturalization process helps strengthen your attachment to the United States and the democratic ideals that make this nation great. Thanks for reading and I look forward to your comments.

Jonathan “Jock” Scharfen
Acting Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

Cyber Security Awareness Month

2008-10-01T16:57:00.004-04:00

Today marks the beginning of National Cyber Security Awareness Month, which is a good opportunity to remind our readers of the importance of protecting yourselves and your businesses against the growing threat of cyber attacks.

Worldwide, cyber attacks are increasing in sophistication and frequency every day. We have seen stories in the news recently of countries engaging outright in cyber warfare. Over the summer, authorities also uncovered the largest case of identity theft in U.S history, involving the theft of more than 40 million credit card numbers stolen from the computer systems of several major U.S. retailers. These acts have very real consequences for ordinary Americans, as any victim of identity theft can attest.

We take the threat of cyber attacks seriously at the Department. Working with other agencies, we have embarked on a major effort across the government to protect federal systems and networks. This includes reducing the number of external access points to our systems and improving our intrusion detection capabilities. We’ve established a new National Cyber Security Center to improve coordination and information sharing. We are expanding our 24-hour watch and warning system – the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team – and hiring new cyber professionals. And we’re taking steps to prevent compromised computer products and electronics from entering the global supply chain and reaching our country.

But the reality is we can’t meet these challenges by ourselves. We don’t own the Internet or our nation’s IT or communications infrastructure. Most of our nation’s cyber assets are in private sector hands. Protecting them will require a new level of partnership with businesses and companies of all sizes, as well as individual citizens.

What can you do to help? Start by making sure you are practicing good cyber security in your home or office. This means ensuring your antivirus software is properly functioning and up-to-date. Change your computer passwords regularly, and when you do, make sure you don’t write them down or leave them near your computer where someone can easily exploit them. Don’t open suspicious e-mail or visit suspicious websites. And make sure you know exactly what you’re downloading.

These are all common-sense recommendations, but unfortunately too many Americans fail to take even these basic steps. I hope over the next month you’ll do your part to increase our nation’s cyber defenses from the ground up and help us mitigate the impact of a major cyber attack. The alternative could be a very serious disruption of a vital part of our society and our nation’s economy. Like other areas of homeland security, the time to prepare is now.

Michael Chertoff

The Next Chapter in Bio-Readiness

2008-09-30T17:36:00.003-04:00

I am pleased to report that we opened a first-of-its kind biosurveillance center today that gives the nation the ability to see fast-moving, potential health threats in a new way – before it’s too late.

Patterns in illnesses usually are only seen after enough people get sick or die to sound alarms. Investigators then retrace the steps of the victims to determine the source of trouble, but it’s often too late for those who have already been unknowingly exposed.

Whether it’s food contaminated with Salmonella, the first waves of illness from a pandemic flu, or an anthrax attack by terrorists, spotting biological threats sooner means that thousands of lives might be saved.

Traditional methods of detecting such threats often take too long. Our National Biosurveillance Integration Center (NBIC) will change that.

The center will combine all sorts of information – from classified material shared in a secure environment, to transportation and border data, to local media reports – so that events around the country and the world can be connected and analyzed more closely and quickly, and threats bubbling up can be detected earlier than ever before.

This 24-hour operation brings together experts from some agencies that may be obvious. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration, for instance, both monitor health patterns. And the Departments of Agriculture, State and Commerce all play critical roles in preventing the global spread of avian flu or Foot-and-Mouth disease while protecting the nation’s economy.

But there is more to the center than a collection of agency representatives.

Through the center’s secure computer network, DHS has now created a whole new level of daily cooperation among private sector partners, health officials and government agencies who now all work together to hunt for early signs of trouble.

The center is developing a clearer picture of what typical health patterns look like so that even a small blip can be investigated before large clusters of people get sick.

Being able to identify emerging threats earlier was one of the key recommendations from the 9/11 Commission. As the Japanese learned in 1995 when the Aum Shinrikyo religious sect released sarin nerve gas on subway lines killing 12 and injuring 5,500, biological attacks are a modern global reality.

Our new surveillance builds on another one of our programs, BioWatch, an environmental early detection program which uses monitors in over 30 urban areas to sniff the air for biological threats.

Dr. Jon R. Krohmer
Acting Assistant Secretary/Chief Medical Officer

Temporary Protected Status Extensions

2008-09-26T12:20:00.003-04:00

Earlier this week, the Department announced the extension of temporary protected status (TPS) for certain foreign nationals from El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. Those three countries are still recovering from the devastating effects of natural disasters. For Honduras and Nicaragua, it was Hurricane Mitch in 1999. For El Salvador, it was a series of severe earthquakes in 2001.

To qualify for an extension, the TPS holder is required to re-register with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Specific re-registration instructions for TPS holders from El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua will soon appear in the Federal Register.

There are currently 70,000 Hondurans, 3,500 Nicaraguans and 229,000 Salvadorans with TPS in the United States.

Today’s announcement continues the United States’ long tradition of providing relief to our visitors who, for reasons beyond their control, can’t return to their homes.

Jonathan “Jock” Scharfen
Acting Director, USCIS

Our Newest Cyber Threat

2008-09-20T10:49:00.005-04:00

"Every time we were beginning to form into teams we would be reorganized. I was to learn later in life that we tried to meet any new situation by reorganizing, and a wonderful method it was for creating the illusion of progress whilst producing confusion, inefficiency and demoralization." Petronius (AD 166)

This week the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cyber Security and Science and Technology and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence held hearings on cyber security recommendations for the next Administration. In that hearing and in the follow-on press DHS came under criticism for not doing enough to protect our nation's cyber networks. There were even calls for DHS's role in cyber security to be pulled away.

A reorganization of roles and responsibilities is the worst thing that could be done to improve our nation's security posture against very real and increasingly sophisticated cyber threats. In January 2008, the current Administration developed Homeland Security Presidential Directive 23, which established the Comprehensive National Cyber Initiative (CNCI). Since then and for the first time in the Nation's history, DHS along with its partners at the Department of Defense (DoD), FBI, and Intelligence Community have an integrated strategy and action plan to improve cyber security across federal, military and civilian networks. We have moved beyond words on paper and debate, and are now driving real improvements to our security. We cannot afford to lose that momentum and interagency unity of effort.

Within DHS, I manage the National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD), which has the mission to reduce security risks across both physical and cyber infrastructure as well as telecommunications and lead the Department's efforts for the CNCI. Specifically, we lead federal civilian (i.e., ".gov") and private sector network defense. Without question, it is a monumental task - one that requires interagency coordination and focus. As a nation, we cannot afford to be distracted from this mission.

In the past six months we have made great progress in this role. We have begun deployment of EINSTEIN 2 ( pdf), which will give us comprehensive, real-time intrusion detection capabilities and one point of situational awareness across all executive branch agencies. We have engaged the private sector to develop partnerships and to improve information sharing. And we have built the core of a management team with the experience and expertise to continue to lead this effort into the future. We have accomplished much in a relatively short amount of time. Securing our nation's cyber networks is a complex and expansive problem, and it took years of growing cyberspace dependence to put us in this position - it will take a solid plan and resolve to accomplish results.

I respect the strong resumes and experience of many of the people that are publicly weighing in on these issues, and, in fact, many of them were previously in key posts that had an opportunity to impact our nation's cyber security. I encourage them to actually spend some time with DHS discussing our plan before they finalize their conclusions and go public with their recommendations.

I certainly agree that we can still do much to continue to improve cyber security in our nation, but calls for reorganization at this point simply makes no sense. We have a plan and are on a path that will address these serious national cyber vulnerabilities. We must stay the course.

Robert D. Jamison
Under Secretary National Protection & Programs

Ike Response

2008-09-19T14:43:00.004-04:00

I’ve spent the past two days in Texas meeting with state and local leaders and visiting evacuees and distribution centers in Houston and surrounding areas. From what I’ve seen during my two visits, there’s no question that Ike was an extremely strong storm that has left much of Galveston temporarily uninhabitable and affected millions of residents along the Texas coast.

While I can understand people’s desire to return to their homes, this environment provides a stark reminder that it’s often the after-effects of a hurricane that pose the greatest danger to health and safety. With limited electrical power, healthcare, and basic services, it’s imperative that evacuees remain patient until officials get things such as water, sewage, and electricity up and running.

Despite the widespread destruction, however, I can tell you that emergency managers and relief workers – including FEMA employees, faith-based organizations, and hundreds of volunteers – are working feverishly to provide supplies as quickly as possible to those in need. The resilience of Texas residents affected by this storm was evident in a Houston shelter I visited yesterday, where I met with several evacuees while their children played with one another in a local church (which had also been used to house Katrina and Rita evacuees three years ago).

As we work collaboratively to get these services up and running, it’s important to keep in mind an old saying, “they don’t call it a disaster for nothing.” In other words, emergency management is never an exact science and responders at every level must be prepared to adapt to unforeseen challenges. For example, earlier this week electrical workers from Ohio and other Midwestern states who were restoring power in Texas were called back to their home states following widespread power outages caused by Ike’s remnants. This reinforces the need to remain flexible, nimble, and adapt to changing circumstances.

Michael Chertoff