Posted by Craig Fugate, FEMA Administrator


Ludlow, VT, August 30, 2011 -- Administrator Craig Fugate (right) goes over a map of Ludlow with Vermont Governor Peter Shumlin (center) and General Dick Harris, Brigadier General, Vermont National Guard. They surveyed damages in the town following the inland flooding caused by Irene.

You may have heard media reports that the lead up to Irene was over-hyped and that we “dodged a bullet” – well I can tell you that while the impacts of Irene could have been much worse, there are many areas, especially in the Northeast that are still experiencing dangerous inland flooding and our state and local partners are still very much responding to this storm.

Yesterday, I visited Vermont and met with Governor Shumlin and his emergency management team, as well as Senator Sanders, Senator Leahy, Representative Welch and other local officials. Thanks to the New Hampshire National Guard, who is in Vermont helping with the flood response, we flew over some hard hit areas of the state to assess the damages, and ensure that the Governor had all the resources he needed to continue the response to the flooding that Irene has left in her wake.

We made a stop in the town of Ludlow, where the Assistant Fire Chief, who also serves as the towns Emergency Manager, showed us the damage the flash flooding had caused. While much of the water had receded, the damage has stayed behind. Getting around is still a bit of a struggle, six of the bridges around town where damaged or destroyed, but the Governor did let the town know that by yesterday evening, access to every town in Vermont would be restored (up until this point, some were only accessible by helicopter).

People often think of FEMA when it comes to disasters, but as I saw first hand in Vermont, the team was working together to respond at all levels – the federal family, state, tribal and local government, the faith-based and non-profit community, and especially the public, as neighbors across Vermont have reached out to help each other.

When we drove around Ludlow, not only did I see FEMA commodities (in this case water), being unloaded, but the towns emergency manager talked about the work that had been done to open transportation routes, and we went by a Salvation Army Emergency Response truck that was doing great work in town.

As I told the media, after we came back from Ludlow and I had time to sit down with the Governor and the Congressional delegation, we can’t work as separate entities, we all have to work together as one team – and we will be working together long after the national media leaves, to ensure that the Governors in impacted states, not just in Vermont, but up and down the East Coast, have the support they need as they continue to respond and begin to recover from Irene.

Today I will be traveling to upstate New York and New Jersey to meet with state and local officials. Check back to the blog for more updates and information.


Burlington, VT, August 30, 2011 -- Administrator Craig Fugate (second from right) meets with Peter Shumlin (second from left), Governor of Vermont, during a visit to meet with local officials and survey damages caused by Irene.

Posted by MaryAnn Tierney, Administrator, FEMA Region III



Richmond, VA, August 30, 2011 -- Department of Homeland Secretary Janet Napolitano (right) talks with Virginia Governor Robert McDonnell as they enter the Virginia Emergency Operations Center. Secretary Napolitano visited Virginia to meet with state and local officials and survey damages after Irene.

Yesterday, we teamed up with our partners in the Commonwealth of Virginia to welcome Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, Governor Bob McDonnell, U.S. Congressman Bobby Scott and Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones to the Virginia State Emergency Operations Center.

Secretaries Napolitano and Vilsack traveled to the Commonwealth to meet with state and local officials and receive an update on the ongoing response and recovery efforts due to damages from Irene. Upon arriving at the Emergency Operations Center, the delegation received a briefing on the status of Virginia’s response to the storm along with the Commonwealth’s progress towards recovery.

Secretary Napolitano praised the team at the operations center, placing an emphasis on how their efforts over the last few days have saved lives. She emphasized how President Obama has asked that we continue to lean forward as a team…a team that includes our cities, states and the federal family.

On Thursday, we will continue to team up with our state and local partners to begin collecting preliminary damage assessments throughout Virginia. This assessment is part of a process that could lead to the Commonwealth asking the President for a major disaster declaration should the Governor determine that the damage caused by Irene is beyond the capabilities of state and local resources. (Here’s more details on the disaster declaration process.)

As Secretary Napolitano said, FEMA is here in support of the Commonwealth and will be here as long as it takes to assess the damage and assist Virginia in their recovery efforts from Irene.

Posted by FEMA Public Affairs

To help manage the generous outpouring of support for those individuals and communities affected by Irene, disaster recovery experts have established some simple ways to help, whether you’re looking to volunteer or send donations.

Along with our partners at the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, here are reminders when helping those impacted by Irene:

• Donate through a trusted organization – At the national level, many voluntary-, faith- and community-based organizations are active in disasters, and are trusted ways to donate to disaster survivors. In addition to the national members, each state has its own list of voluntary organizations active in disasters. If you’d like to donate or volunteer to assist those affected by Irene, these organizations are the best place to start.
• Cash is the most efficient method of donating – Cash offers voluntary agencies the most flexibility in obtaining the most-needed resources and pumps money into the local economy to help businesses recover. Remember, unsolicited donated goods such as used clothing, miscellaneous household items, and mixed or perishable foodstuffs require helping agencies to redirect valuable resources away from providing services to sort, package, transport, warehouse, and distribute items that may not meet the needs of disaster survivors.
• Be wary of scams and fraud - Unfortunately, disasters often bring out criminals who prey on the needs of disaster survivors, or the generosity of those looking to help, by offering fraudulent services. If you suspect anyone – an inspector, disaster survivor, or someone posing as one of these – of fraudulent activities, call our toll-free Disaster Fraud Hotline at 866-720-5721, or your local law enforcement officials. (See this blog post for tips on identifying disaster fraud)

For more information on helping survivors after a disaster, visit www.fema.gov/howtohelp.

Posted by Blogger Bob, TSA

Each individual employee’s personal story is priceless to our legacy. It’s important for an agency to know how far they’ve come and who has helped pave the way. TSA’s Historian Project realized the importance of this and built an online tool called StoryLine to capture these stories. StoryLine allows our employees to share their stories via an internal page viewable by all TSA and DHS employees. The first installment of StoryLine stories are centered on 9/11 and how the day inspired people to make the decision to work for TSA.

The stories posted were so good that we wanted to share some of them with our readers. Here are few excerpts:

“I mostly remember the flags that clear bright September day. I know that sounds odd, and I should have remembered something more striking or sacred, or feelings of vengeance perhaps, but the flags spoke and expressed my feelings in a way I could not.” (Read the entire story)

“Grey concrete dust was thick, covering every surface including the trees and sound was muffled by the virtual insulation which was maybe six inches deep. The scene was surreal.” (Read the entire story)

“We asked the photographers to help us dig. To their credit they put their cameras down and helped us. We went to an NYPD emergency truck that was blown sideways like a toy. We grabbed some shovels and pickaxes and dug frantically until we realized the futility of it.” (Read the entire story)

“When the first tower collapsed it was so surreal. This wasn't happening, I had to leave and go home. When the second tower collapsed I felt emptiness, a disconnection from my husband. I waited by the phone to hear from my husband.... The only communication was from our cable TV. Friends and neighbor would stop by, hoping that my husband would call.” (Read the entire story)

“Being an Army-trained Combat Lifesaver, I immediately ran toward the destruction – as so many of us did. Rendering emergency first aid, carrying casualties, everything and anything to help in this disaster is what we did.  For 22 straight hours, we did whatever we could on that HeliPad.” (Read the entire story)

“Germany became hauntingly quiet. A despondency swept the nation. German nationals stopped Americans on the street to shake their hands and offer condolences… often without words. Yet language differences did not inhibit understanding.” (Read the entire story)

“We were assigned a photography mission to further document the devastation. I nearly became fixated while circling in a steep bank to allow a State Police photographer to document the core of the destruction. The sight was, at once, exhilarating, mesmerizing and woeful. To know what had been there, and to now see into the bowels of the Trade Center’s core was overwhelming. I had to fight myself back into reality and remember I was piloting a helicopter in extreme conditions at low level!!”  (Read the entire story)

Posted by FEMA Public Affairs

Tropical storm Irene continues to affect much of the East Coast, bringing significant rainfall and potential flooding/flash flooding to the affected areas. We encourage all those in communities that have been or may be impacted to follow the direction of local officials and take shelter inside during the storm.

As Irene continues through the East Coast, stay tuned to the radio and television for information, and remember that flash flooding can occur at a moment’s notice. Here are some additional flood safety tips in case your community, or that of a friend/loved one, may be affected by the heavy rains of Irene.

During a flood:

• Be aware of streams, drainage channels, canyons, and other areas known to flood suddenly. Flash floods can occur in these areas with or without such typical warnings as rain clouds or heavy rain.
• Secure your home. If you have time, bring in outdoor furniture. Move essential items to an upper floor.
• Do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can make you fall. If you have to walk in water, walk where the water is not moving. Use a stick to check the firmness of the ground in front of you.
• Do not drive into flooded areas. If floodwaters rise around your car, abandon the car and move to higher ground if you can do so safely. You and the vehicle can be quickly swept away.

After a flood:

• Listen for news reports to learn whether the community’s water supply is safe to drink.
• Avoid floodwaters; water may be contaminated by oil, gasoline, or raw sewage. Water may also be electrically charged from underground or downed power lines.
• Avoid moving water.
• Stay away from downed power lines, and report them to the power company.
• Use extreme caution when entering buildings; there may be hidden damage, particularly in foundations.

Visit fema.gov for more information about what to do before, during and after a flood, or on your phone at m.fema.gov – and see the severe weather watches/warnings in your area at www.weather.gov.

Posted by FEMA Public Affairs

Posted by FEMA Public Affairs

Get the latest updates from the FEMA Blog.


The latest forecast map from the National Hurricane Center.  For severe weather watches/warnings in your area, visit weather.gov.

As Hurricane Irene makes landfall on the North Carolina coast, we’re continuing to support our federal, state, local and tribal partners in the areas already affected, and those areas that may be impacted by the storm. If your community is under an imminent threat, it is critical that residents and businesses listen to the instructions of their local officials, closely follow news and weather reports, and evacuate, if told to do so.

While the “category” of a storm can fluctuate throughout a storm – the bottom line is this is a large and dangerous storm, and you don’t need to be directly in its path to be affected by the deadly hazards posed by hurricanes, such as coastal surges, inland flooding, tornadoes, flash flooding and high winds. Don’t put yourself at risk if the storm is affecting your area:

• If sheltering in place, go to an interior room and stay away from windows and glass doors.
• Make sure to have your family’s emergency kit with you, whether you’re told to evacuate or shelter in place. Your emergency kit should be able to sustain you and your family (including pets) for at least 72 hours.
• Since heavy rains may occur, remember to stay away from flooded roadways and don’t try to walk through flooded areas. As we often say, turn around, don’t drown.

(Here's our full list of hurricane safety tips.)

What we’re doing
In advance preparation for the storm, FEMA and our federal partners have deployed support teams, resources and commodities into and near areas that could be affected by Hurricane Irene. President Obama has declared a federal state of emergency in Connecticut, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Virginia, Maryland and Rhode Island – making additional federal resources available, if needed.

We have also proactively positioned eighteen Incident Management Assistance Teams along the coast to coordinate with state, tribal and local officials to identify needs and shortfalls affecting potential disaster response and recovery. Six national urban search and rescue teams have also been placed on alert in the event that search and rescue support is needed.

For a more detailed list of the actions of the federal family, check out today’s recap on the blog.

An important point to remember is that FEMA is just one part of our national emergency management team – state and local emergency management agencies and first responders up and down the east coast are also preparing for this storm, along with the entire federal family, state, tribal and municipal governments, the faith-based and non-profit communities, the private sector and most importantly the public.

Find your local severe weather watches/warnings at www.weather.gov or on your phone at mobile.weather.gov, and visit Ready.gov/hurricanes for tips on keeping your family safe.

Posted by FEMA Public Affairs

Get the latest updates from the FEMA Blog.
  
We’re continuing to closely monitor Hurricane Irene as it threatens much of the East Coast, from Florida to Maine. While it’s too soon to tell exactly where Irene will may landfall or have the most significant impacts, Administrator Fugate has an update on the ways you can get prepared:

• Know if you’re in an evacuation zone, and what your plan is to evacuate if local officials give the order.
• If you’re not in an evacuation zone, be prepared for potential flooding and power outages. Make sure your emergency kit has supplies to sustain you, your family, and your pets for at least 72 hours.
• Go to Ready.gov for information on building your emergency kit, making your family emergency plan, and staying informed. If you’re on the go, visit m.fema.gov for tips on preparing for a hurricane or tropical storm.
• Visit hurricanes.gov for the latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center. And for the forecast for your local community, visit the National Weather Service website atweather.gov.

For the latest on our role, visit the Severe Tropical Weather category on our blog.

Posted by Public Affairs

Secretary Napolitano just concluded a trip to Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia.

On Monday she visited Anniston, Ala. where she joined Congressman Mike Rogers at the FEMA Center for Domestic Preparedness (CDP) to tour operations and watch a Vapor Wake demonstration at Auburn University’s Canine Detection Training Center.



CDP provides advanced training for emergency responders and other state, local and tribal government officials. It is the only facility where civilian responders can train using actual nerve agents and the nation’s only hospital training facility dedicated solely to preparing the healthcare, public health, and environmental health communities for mass casualty events related to terrorism or natural disasters.

Auburn University’s Canine Detection Training Center is a training facility for bomb detection canines used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and has trained a select number of canine teams in the Vapor Wake technique. The TSA National Explosive Detection Canine Team Program has grown from 200 teams in 2001 to over 800 teams in 2011.


The Secretary then traveled to Little Rock, Ark. to deliver remarks at the Clinton Center, home to the University of Arkansas Clinton School of Public Service, as part of the Frank and Kula Kumpuris Distinguished Lecture Series—highlighting the importance of public service as we approach the tenth anniversary of 9/11. You can watch video of her remarks on the Clinton School website.

On Tuesday, the Secretary traveled to Glynco, Ga. and joined TSA Administrator John Pistole, and Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Director Connie Patrick for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new FLETC Intermodal Training Facility.


The first of its kind in the nation FLETC Intermodal Training Facility proactively addresses threats to homeland security by providing training in a hands-on, state-of-the-art environment to federal, state and local law enforcement. The facility includes an airport terminal and gate area, security checkpoints, a baggage claim, rental car area, a jet bridge to a life-size 727 aircraft, as well as a bus terminal, railway station, and subway station.


The FLETC Intermodal Training Facility will provide frontline law enforcement personnel at the Department of Homeland Security—as well as the 90 federal agencies that FLETC serves—with a realistic set of scenarios to help combat threats to various transportation modes.

Posted by FEMA Public Affairs

• Si está adentro,  TÍRESE al piso, PROTÉJASE debajo de una mesa u otro mueble sólido y AGÁRRESE bien hasta que cesen los temblores. Si no hay una mesa o escritorio cerca de usted, cubra su cara y cabeza con sus brazos y agáchese en una esquina interior del edificio.
• Si está afuera, aléjese de los edificios, faroles y cables eléctricos.
• Las redes de datos de voz pueden estar congestionadas después de un desastre, así que envíe un mensaje de texto o correo-e a los seres queridos para avisarles que está bien.
• Siga las instrucciones de los funcionarios locales al tomar la decisión de regresar a su hogar. Sólo regrese al hogar cuando las autoridades locales hayan dicho que puede hacerlo sin peligro.

Posted by FEMA Public Affairs

According to United States Geologic Survey, the mid-Atlantic Region of the United States experienced a 5.9 magnitude earthquake this afternoon. Along with the entire federal family, we are closely monitoring the situation and are in close contact and coordination with our federal and state partners in Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland and the surrounding areas.

There are no initial reports of significant damages, but we will continue to coordinate closely with our state and local partners to assess their needs.

Today’s earthquake in the mid-Atlantic region is a great reminder that emergencies can strike anywhere and often happen without warning. Be sure your family has an emergency plan and akit of emergency supplies to sustain yourselves for at least 72 hours.

And as a reminder, here are a few tips on what to do during/after an earthquake:

• If indoors, DROP to the ground; take COVER by getting under a sturdy table or other piece of furniture; and HOLD ON until the shaking stops. If there isn’t a table or desk near you, cover your face and head with your arms and crouch in an inside corner of the building.
• If outdoors, move away from buildings, streetlights, and utility wires.
• Voice data networks may be congested after a disaster, so send a text message or e-mail to loved ones to let them know you’re OK.
• Follow the direction of local officials when making the decision to return home. Return home only when local authorities have said it’s safe.

Posted by Public Affairs

The quick response of two Federal Protective Service (FPS) Officers has been credited with preventing an apparent suicide attempt and dangerous situation at U.S. Senator Mark Kirk’s office in Chicago on Friday. FPS Acting Area Commander Kevin Lowery and Inspector William Santiago responded to a distress call from the Senator’s office on the 39th floor of the Kluczynski Federal Building, reporting that a visitor had broken a window and was making threatening statements.

When the officers arrived, the individual was in the process of exiting the broken window and attempting to jump. The officers reacted quickly, pulling the individual to safety. The actions of Commander Lowery and Inspector Santiago not only prevented the individual from harming himself, but also helped keep people safe on the street and sidewalk below.

The individual was treated at Northwestern Memorial Hospital for injuries and is currently being held at the hospital for observation.

Every day, more than 15,000 FPS officers protect employees and visitors at more than 9,000 federal buildings around the country.

Posted by Blogger Bob, TSA

Well, here are just a few of the many steps we’ve taken, including those we have taken to address specific 9/11 Commission recommendations over the past ten years: 

• In-Flight Security – Hardened cockpit doors, Federal Flight Deck Officers, the Crew Member Self Defense Training Program and an expanded Federal Air Marshal Service, better protect the flight deck against an act of criminal violence or air piracy. 
• 100% Screening – Through Secure Flight, 100% of passengers flying to, from, and within the U.S. are prescreened against government watchlists. TSA screens 100 percent of checked baggage for dangerous items including explosives, and 100% of all air cargo transported on passenger aircraft that depart U.S. airports is screened.
• Professionalized Workforce – The Transportation Security Officers (TSO) working at 450 airports today are hired through a rigorous vetting process and extensive training that did not exist for the contract personnel who worked the security checkpoints on 9/11. TSOs have an average of 3.5 years of experience on the job, compared with the average of 3 months of experience for screeners prior to 9/11. Prior to 9/11, turnover in the industry was over 125 percent – today, TSA’s turnover rate is 6.4 percent. 
• New Technology – Today through Advanced Imaging Technology and Automated Target Recognition, we can detect metallic and nonmetallic threats including weapons and explosives concealed under layers of clothing on passengers without physical contact. And, using Advanced Technology X-ray, Bottled Liquid Scanners and Explosives Trace Detection (ETD) Technology, we can more efficiently and effectively screen luggage and belongings for potential threats. 
• Information Sharing and Detection – Through Secure Flight, Travel Document Checking and collaboration with our international partners, we can identify passengers who pose a risk to security, verify someone is who they say there are, and better protect the entire global aviation system.

Posted by Secretary Napolitano

Today, I unveiled our new “If You See Something, Say Something ™” national Public Service Announcements, a series of television and radio spots that are part of our campaign to encourage the public to report suspicious activity to local authorities. I encourage you to watch the PSA below and share it with your family and friends.



 View this video and the other PSAs on www.DHS.gov or the DHS YouTube channel.

While unveiling the PSAs, I also announced a new partnership between DHS and the Chamber of Commerce to engage the public in the “If You See Something, Say Something ™” campaign. Over the last 2 years, we’ve partnered numerous companies and organizations including the NCAA, the NBA, the NFL, the Indy 500, Walmart, the Mall of America, the American Hotel & Lodging Association, and others.

As I’ve said in the past, hometown security is the key to homeland security. Time and again, we’ve seen terrorist attacks thwarted by alert individuals who notify authorities when something just doesn’t seem right. For instance, just a few weeks ago, the owner of a gun store near Ft. Hood called authorities when an individual in his store was behaving in a suspicious manner. His actions may have helped prevent a potential attack.

Security is a shared responsibility and we all have a role to play.

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

Posted by Alejandro Mayorkas, Director, United States Citizenship & Immigration Services

This is part of a series of blog posts exploring the progress we have made in implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations.

Respecting and celebrating our tradition as a nation of immigrants strengthens our communities and helps ensure that people of diverse backgrounds share in the rights and freedoms guaranteed under our Constitution.

Every day, the dedicated men and women of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) ensure that deserving immigrants receive the benefits for which they are eligible under our nation’s laws. This same dedicated workforce protects the integrity of our nation’s immigration system and helps ensure the system is not abused by those who wish to do our nation harm.

After the 9/11 terrorist attacks, USCIS was created as part of a new national homeland security enterprise to confront and defend against the evolving threats we face and to make America more resilient when a crisis occurs. Its creation was premised upon the basic tenet that for our immigration system to work, we must be able to protect our national security.

Through USCIS’s enhanced efforts to protect national security, USCIS can more effectively screen for security threats while efficiently processing legitimate benefits for people rightfully coming to the United States. To that end, USCIS has taken and continues to take steps responsive to the 9/11 Commission Report’s recommendations. In our efforts, for example, to combat immigration fraud:

• We redesigned the Permanent Resident Card, commonly known as the Green Card, to include a radio frequency identification tag that allows Customs and Border Protection to quickly access the electronic records of travelers seeking to enter the United States and includes new security features that reduce the risks of counterfeiting, tampering, and fraud.
• We redesigned the Certificate of Naturalization, utilizing a tamper-proof printing process and embedding digitized photos and signatures.
• We added a machine-readable zone to the Employment Authorization Document (EAD) to make it easier for border control officers to more efficiently identify people who have already been approved for immigration benefits and who have been reviewed previously by USCIS officers.
• We have enhanced our partnership with the Forensic Document Laboratory which is dedicated exclusively to detecting fraudulent documents. As a result, we can better identify fake documents used to seek immigration benefits.

We also have enhanced our sharing of information with key federal partners:

• Dozens of our Fraud Detection and National Security (FDNS) officers are aligned with local FBI-led Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTFFs) to coordinate resources and provide immigration expertise to federal government agencies in support of terrorism investigations.
• Our FDNS officers furnish support to the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), the FBI’s National Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Terrorist Screening Center, and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s National Security Unit.
• We regularly exchange information with US-VISIT related to refugee claimants under existing data-sharing agreements with foreign-government partners.

Our efforts reflect our commitment to oversee lawful immigration to the United States by strengthening the security and integrity of our nation’s immigration system while providing effective customer-oriented immigration benefit and information services.

You can read more about the Department’s efforts to implement the 9/11 Commission report’s recommendations here.

Posted by Public Affairs

Secretary Napolitano traveled to Louisiana this week to participate in a rededication ceremony of the U.S. Custom House in New Orleans and tour the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City. Yesterday, Secretary Napolitano joined U.S. Senator Mary Landrieu, Rep. Cedric Richmond (LA-02), U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar, General Services Administration (GSA) Regional Administrator J.D. Salinas, and New Orleans Mayor Mitchell J. Landrieu for the rededication ceremony of the U.S. Custom House damaged during Hurricane Katrina in 2005.



The Obama Administration is committed to rebuilding the Gulf Coast—the federal government has provided over $5.1 billion to support Gulf Coast Recovery and rebuilding projects such as the Custom House.  The U.S. Custom House, built in 1881 and designated a National Historic Landmark, is named after U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the first federal tenant to reoccupy the space after Hurricane Katrina.  The reconstruction project included removal of all materials damaged by Hurricane Katrina and upgrades to the building infrastructure.



While in New Orleans, Secretary Napolitano, Senator Landrieu and Deputy Commissioner Aguilar received a tour of the Port of New Orleans via vessel along the Mississippi River, as well as demonstrations of cargo and radiation screening operations. 



Today, Secretary Napolitano and Senator Landrieu visited the Cyber Innovation Center in Bossier City to meet with teachers and students in the cybersecurity field—underscoring the Department’s efforts to strengthen cybersecurity and prepare the next generation to practice safe online habits in an increasingly connected world. Over the past two years, DHS has increased the size of its cybersecurity workforce by 500 percent and works with academic institutions to encourage graduates to pursue careers in this emerging field through competitive scholarships, fellowships, and internship programs.

Posted by the Stop. Think. Connect. Campaign

Cyber predators are real. They use the anonymity of the Internet to target victims, especially today’s youth, with unwanted solicitations, harassment, and fraud. It’s important that parents discuss ways to stay safe online with their children, particularly before they use social networking sites.

US-CERT offers the following tips for parents to help ensure their children stay safe online:

• Monitor computer activity – Keep your computer in an open area and be aware of what your children are doing, including who they’re talking to and what websites they’re visiting.
• Inform children of online risks - Discuss appropriate Internet behavior that is suitable for the child's age, knowledge, and maturity. Talk to children about the dangers and risks of the Internet so that they recognize suspicious activity and secure their personal information.
• Keep lines of communication open - Let your children know that they can approach you with any questions or concerns about behaviors or problems they may have encountered on the Internet. 

Stop. Think. Connect. Protect yourself and help keep the web a safer place for everyone. For more information on Stop.Think.Connect., please visit www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect.

Posted by Secretary Napolitano

For the past several years, DHS and our partners have worked to develop and strengthen a homeland security ”enterprise” to reduce risks, protect our nation, and respond effectively to a terrorist attack or a natural disaster. This effort is based on the simple but powerful premise that our homeland security begins with hometown security.

In other words, we are all stakeholders in the effort to keep our families and communities, our businesses, our social networks, and our places of meeting and worship, secure and resilient. Together, we’re building a strong foundation to protect communities from terrorism and other threats, while safeguarding the fundamental rights of all Americans.

Today’s threats are rapidly evolving, and they require our vigilance, as well as our willingness to learn and adapt. We know that terrorist groups inspired by al Qaeda’s ideology are seeking to inspire and recruit Westerners to carry out attacks with little or no warning. Indeed, one of the most striking aspects of today’s threat picture is that plots to attack America increasingly involve American residents and citizens.

But we also know that violent extremism isn’t constrained by international borders, or by any single ideology. Research and experience shows that religion, ethnicity, and cultural background do not explain why a small few choose to take their radical beliefs down a violent path. Because there is no single profile of a would-be terrorist, we therefore don't have the luxury of focusing our efforts on any particular group.

That is why over the past eighteen months, DHS has been working with a broad range of partners to gain a better understanding of the behaviors, tactics, and other indicators that could point to terrorist activity. And we’re sharing what we know about the best ways to mitigate or prevent that activity.

Our approach to countering violent extremism emphasizes the strength of local communities. We begin with the premise that well-informed and -equipped families, communities, and local institutions represent the best defense against terrorist ideologies and violent extremists.

And while our primary purpose is to prevent a terrorist attack by individuals recruited by violent extremists, or inspired by an extremist ideology, we also support strong and resilient communities as important ends in themselves.

A new Fact Sheet we are releasing today outlines our three main objectives:

1. Support and coordinate efforts to better understand the phenomenon of violent extremism, including assessing the threat it poses to the Nation as a whole and within specific communities; 
2. Bolster efforts to catalyze and support non-governmental, community-based programs, and strengthen relationships with communities that may be targeted for recruitment by violent extremists; and 
3. Disrupt and deter recruitment or individual mobilization through support for local law enforcement programs, including information-driven, community-oriented policing efforts that for decades have proven effective in preventing violent crime.

To implement this approach, DHS is working closely with our federal and international partners, as well as our many partners at the community, state, local, and tribal level across the country. We are an important partner in supporting the National Strategy on Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism, which President Obama released last week.

America has a long history of communities playing an active role in their own security. Today, hometowns across the country are working together, building a strong foundation for a secure and resilient homeland.

Protecting the nation is a shared responsibility and we all have a role to play.

Posted by Public Affairs

Secretary Napolitano traveled to New York on Aug. 4-5 to commemorate the U.S. Coast Guard’s 221st anniversary aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Barque EAGLE. The EAGLE—built in Hamburg, Germany in 1936, was repatriated to the United States after World War II—known as "America's Tall Ship," is the only commissioned sailing ship operating in the U.S. government fleet, and is used to train Coast Guard Academy cadets and officer candidates prior to their commissioning into the U.S. Coast Guard.



While in New York, Secretary Napolitano presided over in a naturalization ceremony aboard the U.S. Coast Guard Barque EAGLE with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Coast Guard Atlantic Area Commander Vice Admiral Robert Parker and Commanding Officer of the EAGLE Captain Eric Jones.


Every year, the USCIS New York Field Office conducts a number of special naturalization ceremonies at landmark locations in the New York area. This year, Secretary Napolitano had the honor of administering the Oath of Allegiance to citizenship candidates currently serving in the U.S. military and represented all five branches of the military—the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. Originally from countries such as Burma, The People's Republic of China, the Dominican Republic, Guyana, Haiti, Mexico, Peru, and Russia—today these men and women joined the ranks of over 72,000 members of our armed forces to be naturalized by USCIS since September 2001.

Posted by John Morton, Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Last week Secretary Napolitano released a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) report highlighting the significant progress that DHS had made in fulfilling specific recommendations by the 9/11 Commission.

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of the most horrific terrorist attacks in U.S. history – 9/11. While the memories of that day are still sobering, I’m proud to say that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has played an integral role in making the world a safer place by bolstering the security of our borders and maintaining the integrity of our identification documents.

Here are a few ICE initiatives that are helping to improve secure identification:

• Our specially trained ICE agents, assigned to the Visa Security Program, are identifying and stopping potential terrorist and criminal suspects before entering the U.S. Deployed to diplomatic posts overseas, ICE agents perform thorough visa application reviews in order to assess whether applicants are attempting to enter the U.S. for illegitimate purposes.
• Our world-renowned Forensic Document Laboratory (FDL) is on the leading edge of detecting and deterring use of fraudulent documents by terrorist and other criminal who are trying to elude or outsmart the screening process.
• We are furthering our nation’s safety through management of the International Student and Exchange Visitor Program, which tracks and monitors the status and activities of nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors. Our agents ensure that only legitimate foreign students or exchange students gain entry to the U.S. and that they abide by the terms of their visas while here.
• We are also assisting the DHS-wide effort to address the backlog of unvetted potential visa overstays by investigating leads with potential national security concerns.

These examples just touch the surface on how ICE has effectively responded to recommendations put forth in the 9/11 Commission Report. While threats continually evolve, we must continue to do our part to ensure a stronger, more secure nation.

Posted by Public Affairs

On Wednesday, Secretary Napolitano met with anti-human trafficking NGOs and victim service leaders to discuss DHS’s progress in combating human trafficking.

This event marks the one-year anniversary of the launch of the Blue Campaign—a first-of-its-kind, DHS-wide initiative to fight human trafficking through improved public awareness, victim assistance programs, and law enforcement training and initiatives.


Secretary Napolitano joined Immigration and Customs Enforcement Director John Morton, US Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Alejandro Mayorkas, Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner David Aguilar, and Federal Law Enforcement Training Center Director Connie Patrick and Senior Counselor Alice Hill to highlight the important work of NGOs committed to ending human trafficking by providing vital services to victims and supporting them as they integrate into their communities.

Secretary Napolitano discussed the Department’s progress over the past year educating the public about indicators of human trafficking through initiatives such as CBP’s recent expansion of the “Don’t be Fooled” campaign—which uses public service announcements to educate and increase awareness for human trafficking in communities across the United States – and highlighted the training videos created by DHS’ Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and FLETC to provide DHS personnel with tools to identify the signs of human trafficking and respond appropriately.

During the meeting, DHS officials and anti-human trafficking NGOs and victim service leaders discussed collaboration between federal, state and local law enforcement officers, as well as opportunities to continue to educate and raise awareness for human trafficking.

Learn more about our campaign to combat human trafficking and join the Blue Campaign on Facebook.

By Alejandro Mayorkas, Director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

The United States has a long, rich history of welcoming innovative entrepreneurs and skilled workers into our country. These men and women fuel our nation’s economy by creating jobs, and promoting new technologies and ideas. Today, I joined Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and outlined a series of new policy, operational, and outreach efforts that will help fuel the nation’s economy and stimulate investment by making it easier for high-skill immigrants to start and grow companies and create jobs here in the United States

Encouraging the kinds of streamlining measures USCIS is taking today has been one key focus of the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness because they help ensure that America can continue to out-innovate and out-compete the world in a global economy.

As part of the Administration’s comprehensive effort to attract and retain high-skill entrepreneurs, USCIS announced today that it will:

• Clarify that immigrant entrepreneurs may obtain an employment-based second preference (EB-2) immigrant visa if they satisfy the existing requirements, and also may qualify for a National Interested Waiver under the EB-2 immigrant visa category if they can demonstrate that their business endeavors will be in the interest of the United States;
• Expand the Premium Processing Service to immigrant petitions for multinational executives and managers;
• Clarify when a sole employee-entrepreneur can establish a valid employer-employee relationship for the purposes of qualifying for an H-1B non-immigrant visa;
• Implement fundamental enhancements to streamline the EB-5 process based directly on stakeholder feedback;
• Launch new engagement opportunities to seek input and feedback on how to address the unique circumstances of entrepreneurs, new businesses and startup companies.

For more information on USCIS and its programs and to subscribe to the “Business Immigration” RSS feed, please visit www.uscis.gov or follow us on Twitter (@uscis), YouTube (/uscis) and the USCIS blog The Beacon.

Posted by Public Affairs




This weekend Secretary Napolitano participated in a panel discussion with former DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff highlighting the Department’s ongoing efforts to make our country stronger and more resilient ten years after 9/11 as part of the Aspen Security Forum.