Cross-posted from The White House Blog

Photo by: Barry Bahler/DHS

From day one, this Administration has operated on the premise that security is a shared responsibility. No matter who you are – a student, a small business owner, a first responder, a member of the military, or a civilian – we all play a part.

This involves trust and confidence in the American public, as well as the notion that candor and common awareness of the threats we all face, coupled with concrete steps that individuals, families, communities, businesses, and governments can take to prepare for emergencies and disasters, deliver far better security than the federal government can provide acting alone.

Because of the trust we have in Americans to share in our collective security, today I announced the end of the old system of color-coded alerts. In its place, we will implement a new system that is built on a clear and simple premise: when a threat develops that could impact you, the public – we will tell you. We will provide whatever information we can so you know how to protect yourselves, your families and your communities.

The new system, called the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS), reflects the reality that we must always be on alert and ready. Under the new, two-tiered system, DHS will coordinate with other federal entities to issue formal, detailed alerts regarding information about a specific or credible terrorist threat. These alerts will include a clear statement that there is an “imminent threat” or “elevated threat.” The alerts also will provide a concise summary of the potential threat, information about actions being taken to ensure public safety, and recommended steps that individuals and communities can take.

When we have information about a specific, credible threat, we will issue a formal alert providing as much information as we can. Depending on the nature of the threat, the alert may be sent to a limited, particular audience like law enforcement, or a segment of the private sector, like shopping malls or hotels.

The alerts will be more focused to a two-tier system – “imminent” or “elevated threat.” At a minimum, alerts will include a statement of whether there is an imminent or elevated threat.

Or, the alert may be issued more broadly to the American people distributed—through a statement from DHS—to the news media as well as via our website and social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter and our blog.

Since a major change like this can’t happen overnight, today we are beginning a 90-day implementation period in which federal, state and local governments, law enforcement entities, private and non-profit sector partners, airports, and other transport hubs will transition to this new system. We are committed to making sure that we launch NTAS in the right way so it can be the most effective system possible not only for the public, but for all of our partners. During the implementation period, the old system will remain in place.

The alerts will be specific to the threat. They may recommend certain actions, or suggest looking for specific kinds of suspicious behavior. And the alerts will have a specified end date, which will be extended only if additional information becomes available or if the threat evolves.

This means that the days are numbered for the automated recordings at airports about a color code level that were too often accompanied by little practical information. This new system is built on the common-sense belief that we are all in this together, and that we all have a role to play.

NTAS was developed in that same collaborative spirit: it was largely the work of a bi-partisan task force that included law enforcement, former mayors and governors, and members of the previous administration.

We know that we cannot achieve 100 percent protection against terrorism 100 percent of the time – but by empowering the American public to share the responsibility for safeguarding our communities, and by working with partners across the country, we can – and will – continue to do everything we can to keep our communities and fellow Americans safe.

Secretary Janet Napolitano

Today, President Obama was joined by Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Jane Holl Lute and other senior administration officials to announce the results of  the final report of Presidential Study Directive-9, Strengthening our Military Families Meeting America’s Commitment.

At DHS, we are proud to support these efforts to strengthen support for military families - efforts that will bolster our ongoing initiatives to support the family members of the U.S Coast Guard.

The men and women of the Coast Guard often spend months away from home—engaged in missions that range from port operations and environmental clean-up, to responding to hurricanes and oil spills, to icebreaking in the Arctic and supporting Department of Defense operations around the world.

While members of the Coast Guard are away on assignments, their loved ones often stay behind. The Department is committed to supporting these families. 

As part of this effort, the Coast Guard is committed to improving military housing for families and increasing access to child care services—a concern for many young families and particularly important to single parent military households.

For more information on how members of the Coast Guard can apply for housing or child care benefits, visit the Coast Guard Office of Military Personnel website.

We will continue to support our Coast Guard families so that the men and women serving around the world can continue to fulfill our mission, confident that loved ones at home are receiving the care and support they need.

--Military Advisor to the Secretary, U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Charles Michel

ICE Director John Morton (left) and French Ambassador to the U.S. Francois Rivasseau pose with the famous Degas painting.  Photo by: ICE

Nearly 40 years after a small but rare painting by master French impressionist Edgar Degas disappeared without a trace, the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) unit of of ICE has returned it to it's rightful owners.

The painting, entitled 'Blanchisseuses souffrant des dents' - depicting a laundress in a while veil suffering from a toothache - was on display at the Malraux Museum in Le Havre, France in 1973 when it vanished seemingly into thin air. Decades passed with no sign of the painting until it resurfaced in October 2010 at a Sotheby's auction, mere weeks before it was to be sold.
Authorities from Interpol spotted the piece and tipped off HSI agents.

After close work with the French government and Interpol, HSI determined that this piece was indeed themysterious stolen Degas and determined the rightful owners to be the people of France.


'Blanchisseuses souffrant des dents' by Edgar Degas Photo by: ICE

Although the piece is valued at approximately $350,000 to $450,000 - much less than other Degas pieces - the work is especially cherished by the French as very few original Degas paintings remain within their national borders.

"However exceptional this situation may be, it's not just a coincidence," said French Ambassador to the United States Francois Rivasseau as he joined ICE Director John Morton to unveil the painting at a repatriation ceremony held at the French Ambassador's residence last week. "It's a concrete example of the close cooperation that exists between the United States and France with respect to combating the trafficking of cultural property, and the key role played by Interpol in this area."

Morton also expressed his delight over solving at least part of this decades-long cold case. While the investigation into just how the piece disappeared is still ongoing, Morton said that HSI is "better equipped than ever before" to combat crimes of theft and trafficking of cultural artifacts. "I'm proud to stand here today to hand over one of those items, soon to be rewoven into the fabric of France's rich cultural heritage."


Repatriation ceremony for the lost Degas at the residence of the French Ambassador in Washington, D.C. Photo by: ICE


Investigating crimes involving cultural property, art and antiquities is one of the lesser known but integral parts of ICE's mission. Some of the most memorable items HSI recovered and returned in 2010 include an Egyptian sarcophagus returned to Egypt, a silver pendant engraved with the image of Peter the Great returned to Russia, an 18th century manuscript depicting a town's history returned to Italy, and fossils returned to the Peoples Republic of China.

Learn more about the important role that ICE plays in cultural property, art and antiquities investigations.

The deadline for the Stop.Think.Connect. campaign’s PSA Challenge is fast approaching! We need your help to get the word out about the importance of staying safe online. Launched in November, the PSA Challenge is looking for creative videos that will help educate Americans about Internet safety and what we can all do to protect ourselves and our families online.

All videos must be submitted by February 14, 2011. The winning public service announcement videos will be posted on the Department of Homeland Security’s Stop. Think. Connect. website and will be used to help promote the campaign. Click here to learn more about the PSA Challenge, or view the video from White House Cyber Coordinator and Special Assistant to the President, Howard Schmidt, to find out how you can enter.

Since the launch of the Blue Campaign in July 2010, we have inventoried and aligned the anti-human trafficking efforts of each of our components to better address this terrible crime. The Blue Campaign is led by a Steering Committee comprised of committed representatives from across the Department -- including Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), the Office of Health Affairs (OHA), the Office of Policy and the Management Directorate. This diversity of components and perspectives has fostered creativity, collaboration, and concrete solutions that are helping DHS better combat human trafficking on a daily basis.

These are just a few of the Blue Campaign’s recent accomplishments:
• The creation and dissemination of a free, interactive internet training curriculum for law enforcement on identifying and addressing human trafficking;
• The designation of 39 ICE human trafficking field experts;
• The creation and distribution of multi-lingual resources for vulnerable populations.
• The development of online resources, including a centralized website – www.dhs.gov/humantrafficking – and a human trafficking group on the civic engagement website - http://www.ourborder.ning.com/;

The Blue Campaign has several initiatives planned for the spring including the filming of an online training for DHS personnel and the engagement of the firefighter and EMS communities in the effort to combat human trafficking. In addition to the special initiatives of the Blue Campaign, each of the DHS components is integral in the fight against human trafficking through its daily work.

To learn more about the Blue Campaign, to download educational and outreach materials, or to sign up for the DHS Open Source Enterprise’s Daily Human Trafficking and Smuggling Report, please visit us at www.dhs.gov/humantrafficking. We strive to continue to improve our efforts at combating human trafficking and welcome your feedback on how to do so. As always, report any suspected human trafficking by calling Immigration and Customs Enforcement at 866-347-2423.

Federal Protective Service (FPS) Inspector Charles Thompson saved an unconscious man who was trapped in a burning vehicle on Thursday, December 30, 2010.

On December 30, Inspector Thompson was driving westbound on Route 228 in Southern Maryland when he noticed smoke in the air.  He came upon a three-car accident blocking the right lane, and immediately notified the FPS Suitland MegaCenter, one of four FPS 24/7 interoperable communication, alarm and dispatch centers. Upon arriving at the crash scene, Inspector Thompson discovered an unconscious male locked inside one of the crashed and smoking vehicles.

As Thompson was attempting to open the vehicle’s door,  flames ignited. Inspector Thompson quickly retrieved a tire iron from his own vehicle to break the glass and unlock the driver’s door. After releasing the man’s seat belt he was able to extract him from the burning vehicle.

When we asked him about these events, Thompson humbly credited his calm action and decisiveness to training received from his law enforcement instructors, saying that he  “started praying at one point when I was searching my car for the tire iron, hoping that I could find the tools I needed to get the man out alive. I remembered words my instructor used to tell me to take my time and focus. It took several tries to break the glass, and I was relieved when the car window finally gave way.”

Inspector Thompson and the man were later joined by Charles County Police, Emergency Medical Service and Maryland State Police, and the crash victim was taken to the hospital with only minor injuries.

Inspector Thompson is being recognized for his bravery and initiative to go above and beyond his protection duties for the Department. His commitment to citizen and public safety exemplifies the standards of excellence held by the Federal Protective Service, and the Department.

by Todd M. Keil, Assistant Secretary for Infrastructure Protection

Critical Infrastructure Protection Month has come to a close, but we at the Department of Homeland Security urge all Americans to remain aware of the importance of critical infrastructure as it relates to our national security.  In his proclamation announcing Critical Infrastructure Protection Month, President Obama noted:

... we must work to empower communities, an integral part of critical infrastructure security, to work with local infrastructure owners and operators, which will make our physical and cyber infrastructure more resilient. Working together, we can raise awareness of the important role our critical infrastructure plays in sustaining the American way of life and develop actions to protect these vital resources.

In 2011, the Office of Infrastructure Protection (IP) will continue to lead the national effort to reduce risks to the Nation’s critical infrastructure posed by acts of terrorism, and to strengthen national preparedness and resilience. Looking back at 2010, I would like to highlight just a few of IP’s accomplishments in enhancing critical infrastructure protection and resilience:

• We reviewed and assigned risk-based final tier determinations for more than 4,000 facilities covered by the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards;
• We conducted 1,090 security surveys and vulnerability assessments on the Nation’s most significant critical infrastructure to identify potential gaps and provide options to manage vulnerabilities;
• We performed six Regional Resiliency Assessment Program assessments of critical infrastructure clusters to identify interdependencies, potential cascading effects, and security gaps;
• We conducted Bomb-making Materials Awareness Program (BMAP) trainings for 2,189 law enforcement and emergency services personnel and provided local law enforcement outreach materials to share with 21,890 private sector companies; and
• We provided training on improvised explosive devices, surveillance detection, and soft target awareness to 3,844 state and local law enforcement and private sector security partners through onsite courses, and another 20,950 through online courses and Webinars.

Perhaps most importantly, we solicited and received input from our public and private sector partners and stakeholders to learn about their needs and concerns related to protection and resilience. As Secretary Napolitano has said, “Homeland security starts with hometown security, and each of us plays a critical role in keeping our country and communities safe.” Together with our partners in the private sector and state and local governments, we have set in motion several ambitious initiatives to:

• Enhance regional and local resilience, because being able to quickly recover from catastrophic events is as important as protection;
• Place more emphasis on supporting critical infrastructure owners and operators and homeland security officials in the field through better information sharing and by providing the support, tools, training, exercises, and analyses that they need; and
• Continuously assess and adjust how we operate in order to achieve efficiencies, improve outcomes, and ensure transparency for the American public.

We will continue ongoing programs in chemical security, infrastructure data collection and analysis, threat assessment and modeling, contingency planning and incident support, bombing prevention, site and regional vulnerability assessments, and risk analysis, as well as many others.

Working hand-in-hand with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments; community groups; international partners; and the private sector, we have made great strides in enhancing the protection and resilience of critical infrastructure in the face of natural and manmade disasters. As we move into 2011, I am excited about the power that partnerships and collaboration bring to the mission of ensuring critical infrastructure protection and resilience.  Together, we can minimize the impact of events and build a more secure and resilient country.

We welcome your participation and ideas. Sign up for updates at www.dhs.gov/criticalinfrastructure, comment on our blog posts, and follow us on Twitter (@DHSJournal).