Posted by Secretary Janet Napolitano

As we approach the end of the year, I’d like to highlight some of the significant steps we have taken in 2011 to guard against terrorism, secure the nation's borders, engage in smart enforcement of our immigration laws, safeguard and secure cyberspace, prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters, and mature and strengthen the homeland security enterprise.

On Monday, I visited DHS components in the National Capital Region with CNN’s Erin Burnett to highlight our operations, and meet with our employees on the frontlines.  We had the opportunity to see firsthand the work that DHS employees are doing every day to keep our nation safe and secure.

Secretary Napolitano speaks with CNN's Erin Burnett at Washington Dulles International Airport

At Washington Dulles International Airport, we saw how the Transportation Security Administration’s new risk-based security measures strengthen security while expediting the checkpoint process for travelers, and also saw the kinds of prohibited items our officers find every day, from firearms to concealed weapons.

Secretary Napolitano is shown a prohibited item at a TSA checkpoint

Following this, we moved to the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) checkpoint at Dulles, where CBP officers demonstrated the Global Entry program, designed to expedite customs processing for low-risk travelers through rigorous background checks, and also saw contraband and fraudulent documents seized at the airport.

Secretary Napolitano meets with members of Virginia Task Force 1 (VA-TF1), who deploy to support the response needs of state and local officials at disaster sites around the country

Later, at a FEMA facility in Virginia, we met with members of FEMA’s Incident Management Assistance Team and Fairfax Urban Search and Rescue Team, who have deployed to support the needs of state and local officials in response to disasters throughout the country, including Hurricane Irene and the severe storms that struck Alabama this past spring.  And at Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Cyber Crimes Center, we saw how our agents are working to identify cyber crime activity, and protect victims. 

Secretary Napolitano visits the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Cyber Crimes Center

We concluded the tour at the Secret Service’s James J. Rowley Training Center, where our agents participated in a training exercise involving a simulated live attack on a motorcade, and briefed us on the Secret Service’s efforts to detect counterfeit currency and remove it from circulation.

These operations represent some of the many ways the men and women of DHS are working every day to protect our country and the American people.  To read more about the progress made in 2011, visit our website.  As we move into the new year, I want to thank all DHS employees, and our many partners across the country and around the world, for their tireless efforts every day to strengthen the safety, security, and resilience of our nation.

Posted by Secretary Napolitano

Today, I am proud to join the American Hotel & Lodging Association and LodgeNet Interactive to unveil a new partnership that will significantly expand the “If You See Something, Say Something ™” campaign.

As part of this partnership, a 15 second public service announcement will begin airing on the “Welcome Channel” in nearly 1.2 million hotels rooms in more than 5,400 hotels in all 50 states. Its message is simple and clear: if you see something that doesn’t look right—an unattended bag or package, a person behaving in a suspicious manner, a vehicle that seems out of place—report it to the authorities. This private sector partnership is another example of how DHS and our nation’s hospitality industry are working together to protect our country, recognizing that security and economic prosperity often go hand-in-hand.

As I’ve said in the past, hometown security is the key to homeland security. Time and again, we have seen the value of public vigilance in thwarting terrorism and crime, including foiled plots against Times Square in May 2010, a Martin Luther King day parade route in Washington state last year, and more recently, at the Ft. Hood Army Base in Texas. Each of these plots could have ended differently—and tragically—had someone not reported suspicious activity to authorities.

Through efforts like “If You See Something, Say Something™”, we can engage all sectors of our community, including the millions of guests that stay at hotels each year, in our homeland security efforts. America’s hospitality industry is a vital engine for job growth and sustainment—and with partnerships like this it is also becoming an increasingly important partner in our nation’s security. Security is a shared responsibility and each of us has a role to play in helping to keep America safe.

You can learn more about the “If You See Something, Say Something™” campaign on our website.

Posted by Secretary Napolitano and Secretary Salazar

Today, we were honored to join 50 U.S. permanent residents as they took the Oath of Allegiance to become U.S. citizens in the heart of our nation’s capital.


This special naturalization ceremony concluded our weeklong celebration of Constitution Week and highlighted an important partnership between our Departments. Nineteen of America’s most iconic national parks and cultural heritage sites – from Federal Hall National Memorial in New York City to Yosemite National Park in California – served as the backdrops for naturalization ceremonies across the country.

Our newest citizens follow in the footsteps of our 64th Secretary of State Madeleine Albright – herself a naturalized citizen – who was recognized during the event as an Outstanding American by Choice. Secretary Albright’s inspiring remarks reminded us all of the incredible contributions naturalized citizens can bring to our nation.

Welcoming enterprising immigrants into the American family is a fundamental part of our heritage and an important part the continued success of our nation. Individuals like the 50 new citizens honored today remind us that America is still a beacon of hope and opportunity for millions around the world.

Posted by Secretary Napolitano

Today I visited the University of Wisconsin – Madison to announce an important new initiative to help streamline the international student visa process and encourage foreign students to study and lawfully remain in the United States.

Each year, more than a million international students study in our nation’s world-leading system of universities, exchange programs, and training opportunities.

These students enrich the cultural and academic life of campuses like the University of Wisconsin and many others across our country. They also contribute directly to our economy, serve as a source of innovation by generating new ideas, and enhance our nation’s economic, scientific and technological competitiveness.

The Study in the States initiative that Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton and I announced today will examine regulatory changes, expand public engagement between government and academia, and provide a user-friendly online information hub for DHS and its agency partners to provide students with updated and relevant visa requirements. 

Students will benefit from links to social media websites, such as Facebook and Twitter, and useful information about visa requirements, exchange visitors, and the academic community. 

The Study in the States site includes information from all agencies involved with prospective and current international students, as well as the academic community and the public at large. It will enable DHS and our partner agencies to coordinate and disseminate messages to international students, exchange visitors, and their dependents, that travel to the United States to study each year. 

It also will help us ensure the international student population is clearly informed about student visa rules and regulations. And it will enhance coordination among the various federal agencies that play a role implementing our student visa and exchange visitor programs.

We’re pleased to be working with students, educational institutions, and our many federal partners on this important effort. It will help us ensure that the best and brightest international students continue to make America their destination of choice.

Posted by Public Affairs

As we head into the 9/11 anniversary weekend, Secretary Napolitano issued the following statement urging public vigilance:

“As we head into the 9/11 anniversary weekend, we continue to urge the American public to be vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement authorities. Simply put, if you see something, say something. We take all threat reporting, including the recent specific, credible but unconfirmed threat information, seriously. We continue to be in close contact with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners to ensure that all steps necessary to mitigate any threats are taken. Our security posture includes a number of measures both seen and unseen and we will continue to respond appropriately to protect the American people from an evolving threat picture both in the coming days and beyond. Homeland security is a shared responsibility, and everyone plays an important role in helping to keep our communities safe and secure.”

Posted by Secretary Napolitano

As we approach the tenth anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the safety and security of the American public remains our highest priority. While threats remain, our nation is stronger than it was on 9/11, more prepared to confront evolving threats, and more resilient than ever before.

While there is no specific or credible intelligence that al-Qa'ida or its affiliates are plotting attacks in the United States to coincide with the ten year anniversary of 9/11, we remain at a heightened state of vigilance and security measures are in place to detect and prevent plots against the United States should they emerge.

Homeland security is a shared responsibility, and everyone plays an important role in helping to keep our communities safe and secure. We remind our federal, state, local partners, and the public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement authorities.

From Federal Computer Week, about Secretary Napolitano’s speech on Cybersecurity Month:

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano has gone online to urge private persons to help bolster the country's cybersecurity.

During a speech broadcast on the Homeland Security Department's Web site Oct. 20, Napolitano described computer security as a major scientific and technical challenge with great economic and national security implications. She said everyday people - not just the government - share the responsibility for cybersecurity.

"It's an opportunity for you as an individual to personally to contribute to our national security," Napolitano said. "Securing your home computer helps you and your family - it also helps your nation in some very important ways."

Napolitano said people should:

Install and activate firewalls for their computers and Internet connection.

Ensure that anti-virus and anti-spyware is installed and up-to-date.

Check computer settings to make sure operating systems and applications are automatically patched.

Avoid suspect Web sites, downloading suspicious documents or attachments, or opening e-mail messages from unknown persons.

Perform regular back ups.

Use strong passwords.

Educate children.

From the Washington Times, on the H1N1 vaccine:

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano on Wednesday morning acknowledged a delay in the distribution of H1N1 vaccine but said the program should be back on schedule around December.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) wanted to have 40 million doses shipped by the end of October, but will have roughly 28 million to 30 million.

Ms. Napolitano told CNN before testifying on Capitol Hill that the problem was a manufacturing delay, not a shortage.

"There will be a vaccine for everybody who wants it," she said.

From SC Magazine, on Philip Reitinger's attendance at the RSA Conference in England:

International collaboration and recruitment of experienced people is needed to win the battle against cybercrime.

Speaking at the RSA Conference Europe, the US department of homeland security(DHS) deputy undersecretary of the national protection and programs directorate Philip Reitinger, claimed that the right people are working on battling cybercrime but it needs to be vastly increased.

Reitinger said: “We need developers who work through university who learn to write code. We need to have ethically sound people, people who have a mind for the criminal, make sure that people are used to people's business but have to have the public's interest at heart.

“They need to have a blackhat perspective, and need to do threat modelling. Understanding weaknesses to do a good job of security systems. I think we are trying to invest in the right way.”

From KXO-AM El Centro, CA,on a drug seizure at the Andrade port of entry:

More than 29 pounds of cocaine worth nearly $1 million was seized Tuesday night at the Andrade port of entry.

A drug detection dog assigned to the Yuma Sector Border Patrol alerted to a California registered SUV as it attempted to enter the United States from Mexico at the Andrade port of entry. Further inspection of the vehicle led to the discovery of a compartment below the floorboards. 29.7 pounds of cocaine was found found hidden in the compartment. The vehicle , drugs and 26-year old woman driver of the SUV were all turned over to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office.

Public Events
10 AM EDT
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Office of Investigations Deputy Assistant Director Janice Ayala and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Cargo and Conveyance Security Executive Director Todd Owen will testify about cargo threats at land ports of entry before the House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism
311 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C.

This afternoon, FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate sat down at a firehouse in Denver and talked with some local first responders and volunteers about the President's new call to service, United We Serve. Administrator Fugate was joined by Harold Schaitberger, General President of the International Association of Fire Fighters, and five Colorado first responders. The group discussed what drew them to service, and how others can respond to the President's call.

The video is available at DHSon.tv, and we urge you to watch. We can't necessarily predict when a natural disaster, or terrorism, or another event will affect our daily lives, but it's up to us to stand up and be ready.

While Administrator Fugate was in Denver, Secretary Napolitano was in Orlando, participating in a volunteer project with FEMA's Citizen Corps and Deputy Secretary Lute will be in New York this evening to lead a citizenship class. More on those later. For now, what is United We Serve?

The idea is simple: Get involved. Get involved now. Make change, and preparedness, and recovery real in your community. This summer, the President is urging all of us to visit http://www.serve.gov/ to find service opportunities in our communities. Serve.gov provides volunteer opportunities around the country, connects Americans to local charities and non-profits, and allows people to create their own service events and invite their friends and neighbors to join in.

Remember that the work doesn't end this summer.


Visit Serve.gov today to get started.