ISE Mission Partners: Department of Homeland Security

The Secretary of DHS has made significant strides in creating the environment and infrastructure necessary to foster information sharing by streamlining communication within DHS components, incorporating resources in fusion centers, working with the intelligence community to develop information exchange integrity standards, and developing a senior level governing board that oversees information sharing practices and policy – all in compliance with Constitutional, statutory, regulatory, and other legal requirements, including privacy and civil liberties standards, and internal policies. 

• In January of 2007, the Information Sharing Coordinating Council (ISCC) was established. Now a working body of the ISGB, the ISCC is a forum for the offices and components of DHS to collaborate on information sharing initiatives and raise information sharing issues for consideration to the ISGB.
• In February of 2007, the Secretary issued the DHS Policy for Internal Information Exchange and Sharing, referred to as the “One DHS” memorandum, to further mandate open information exchange within DHS.
• “One DHS” established the ISGB as the senior-level DHS governing body for information sharing policy and dispute resolution. The ISGB is chaired by the Under Secretary of Intelligence and Analysis.
• On October 2, 2007, the Secretary included an Information Sharing objective as one of his top priorities for management, policy and operational integration. Information Sharing Objective 13 established objectives and milestones to improve information sharing.
• DHS has launched a number of initiatives and pilots to increase operational information sharing, including but not limited to: the DHS Secure Border Initiative; the Coast Guard-led Inter-agency Operational Centers; and the ICE Agreements of Cooperation in Communities to Enhance Safety and Security (ACCESS) program. DHS has also increased support for, and presence in, State and local Fusion Centers.
• DHS has taken a proactive role in supporting the continued development of the National Network of Fusion Centers. In coordination with federal interagency partners, DHS has developed and provided a wide range of resources and services to assist fusion centers in becoming centers of analytic excellence that serve as focal points within the state and local environment for the receipt, analysis, gathering, and sharing of threat-related information.