Posted by Alice Hill, Senior Counselor to the Secretary, and Margo Schlanger, Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is pleased to announce the release for public comment of our draft Environmental Justice Strategy. This draft strategy outlines DHS’s approach to incorporating environmental justice into the homeland security missions most applicable to environmental justice considerations.
DHS is committed to meeting the goals of Executive Order 12898, “Federal Actions to Address Environmental Justice in Minority Populations and Low-Income Populations” and the interagency Memorandum of Understanding on Environmental Justice and Executive Order 12898 -- which state that participating federal agencies should take into account environmental justice considerations as part of their policies, programs and activities.
We invite you to comment on the draft strategy. Please send your comments via e-mail to Environmental.Justice@hq.dhs.gov by Friday, January 13, 2012. DHS will then review those comments and finalize the strategy, while continuing our ongoing dialogue with stakeholders.
The draft Strategy is being released in coordination with several other federal agencies who, along with DHS, participate in an Interagency Working Group on Environmental Justice. Within DHS, offices and components throughout the Department have actively participated in the creation of the strategy and in the Department’s ongoing work on environmental justice.
As we work every day to help keep our nation safe, we are mindful of the impact of our activities on individuals and communities. We look forward to continuing this dialogue with stakeholders and the public on incorporating environmental justice practices into our homeland security efforts.
Read the draft DHS Environmental Justice Strategy.
Showing posts with label Margo SChlanger. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Margo SChlanger. Show all posts
Friday, December 2, 2011
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Working with Our Partners to Reduce Domestic Violence
Posted by January Contreras, Ombudsman for Citizenship and Immigration Services and
Margo Schlanger, Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Last month, as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we met with a number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who work on issues related to victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes. The meeting provided an opportunity for Department of Homeland Security officials and NGOs to discuss ways we can continue to improve programs and services to protect victims.
During the meeting, we discussed the progress DHS has made in protecting the safety and security of victims of domestic violence and other crimes, including the development of a training program for DHS personnel explaining the requirements of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
The training program, which will be available to DHS personnel this month, will cover the obligations under federal law of DHS personnel to protect victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes that they encounter. The training was created by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), in coordination with an intra-agency work group including representatives from the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), the Ombudsman’s office, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Furthermore, this month, DHS is scheduled to release a resource guide for local law enforcement on U visas, which provide immigration protection to eligible victims of crime who are willing to assist with criminal investigations and prosecutions. CRCL is also working with ICE to produce briefing materials for state and local law enforcement including information on victim protections.
All of us at DHS take the issue of domestic violence seriously. We are committed to continuing to work with our partners -- and with employees -- to protect victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes.
Margo Schlanger, Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Last month, as part of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we met with a number of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who work on issues related to victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes. The meeting provided an opportunity for Department of Homeland Security officials and NGOs to discuss ways we can continue to improve programs and services to protect victims.
During the meeting, we discussed the progress DHS has made in protecting the safety and security of victims of domestic violence and other crimes, including the development of a training program for DHS personnel explaining the requirements of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
The training program, which will be available to DHS personnel this month, will cover the obligations under federal law of DHS personnel to protect victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes that they encounter. The training was created by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), in coordination with an intra-agency work group including representatives from the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), the Ombudsman’s office, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Furthermore, this month, DHS is scheduled to release a resource guide for local law enforcement on U visas, which provide immigration protection to eligible victims of crime who are willing to assist with criminal investigations and prosecutions. CRCL is also working with ICE to produce briefing materials for state and local law enforcement including information on victim protections.
All of us at DHS take the issue of domestic violence seriously. We are committed to continuing to work with our partners -- and with employees -- to protect victims of domestic violence and other violent crimes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)