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DHS News Releases

DHS Takes Action to Combat Forced Labor and Hold Companies Accountable for Exploiting Workers

— January 28^th 2022 at 23:27

Issues Withhold Release Order and Two Forced Labor Findings on Companies Exploiting Workers

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced that U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a new Withhold Release Order and two new forced labor Findings. By barring goods produced with forced labor from entering the United States, the Department is playing a critical role in protecting human rights and enforcing international labor standards. This week, Secretary Mayorkas also announced that he has designated the DHS Chief Procurement Officer as the Department’s Senior Accountable Official to prevent forced labor and other forms of human trafficking in all DHS contracts and acquisitions.

“The dedicated CBP workforce has again taken significant action to combat forced labor and protect the human rights of workers around the world,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “Today’s Withhold Release Order and Forced Labor Findings are another important step toward ending these abhorrent practices. We will continue to leverage all of our authorities and resources to bar goods produced with forced labor from entering the United States, and with my designation earlier this week of a Senior Accountable Official to prevent human trafficking in DHS contracts, we are leading efforts to ensure that no taxpayer dollars are ever used to purchase goods or services that rely on forced labor.”

“CBP is entering the new year with a renewed commitment to investigating and enforcing the U.S. prohibition against importing goods made with forced labor,” said CBP Commissioner Chris Magnus. “We will again dedicate significant resources to rooting out the evil and inhumane practices of forced labor.”

Effective today, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers and import specialists at all U.S. ports of entry will detain disposable gloves produced in Malaysia by YTY Industry Holdings Sdn Bhd (YTY Group), including YTY Industry Sdn Bhd, Green Prospect Sdn Bhd, and GP Lumut.

CBP issued a Withhold Release Order (WRO) against YTY Group based on information that reasonably indicates the use of forced labor in YTY Group’s manufacturing operations. CBP identified seven of the International Labour Organization’s eleven indicators of forced labor during its investigation: abuse of vulnerability, deception, retention of identity documents, intimidation and threats, debt bondage, abusive working and living conditions, and excessive overtime.

CBP today also announced two new forced labor Findings. Effective immediately, CBP personnel at all U.S. ports of entry will seize palm oil and merchandise containing palm oil traceable to the Malaysian company Sime Darby Plantation Berhad (Sime Darby), including its subsidiaries and joint ventures. CBP will also seize seafood harvested by the Vanuatu-flagged fishing vessel, Da Wang, which is owned and operated by the Taiwanese company Yong Feng Fishery Ltd.

CBP determined that Sime Darby and Da Wang use forced labor in their operations, and that both companies’ goods are being, or are likely to be, imported into the United States. CBP’s investigations found evidence of all 11 of the International Labour Organization’s forced labor indicators on the Da Wang vessel and Sime Darby Plantation’s palm oil plantations. CBP published both forced labor Findings in the Customs Bulletin and the Federal Register. All forced labor enforcement actions are publicly available and listed by country on CBP’s Forced Labor Withhold Release Orders and Findings page.

The DHS Chief Procurement Officer, as the Department’s Senior Accountable Official for preventing human trafficking in DHS contracts and acquisitions, will be responsible for ensuring effective implementation of anti-trafficking rules and best practices. These practices include information sharing and tracking, contracting officer trainings, suspension and debarment actions, and criminal referrals.

CBP is a critical component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT), a cross-Department coordination center for countering sex trafficking and forced labor, including the importation of goods produced with forced labor. Its mission is to advance counter-human trafficking law enforcement operations, protect victims, and enhance prevention efforts by aligning DHS’s capabilities and expertise. Visit the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking to learn more about our Department-wide efforts to combat human trafficking.

Keywords: Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

DHS News Releases

Statement from Secretary Mayorkas on International Holocaust Remembrance Day

— January 27^th 2022 at 16:15

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas released the following statement and video on International Holocaust Remembrance Day:

“When you walked into the home where I grew up, our living room shelves were filled with books of Jewish history and, regrettably and all too often tragically, histories and stories of antisemitism and violence that accompanied it.

“My mother had lived this history. As a girl, she and her parents fled from Romania to France, and on to Cuba, because they could not make it safely to Israel or the United States. Her father lost his parents, brothers, and other family members in the Holocaust. Through the years in the United States, my mother stayed in touch with her two cousins who survived the camps and had made it to Israel alone.

“Our home was deeply rooted in my mother’s experience of the Holocaust and the fragility of our safety, wherever we might live in the world. As you might expect, my mother’s childhood profoundly shaped her approach to a young child away from home through the night. When our fellow elementary school students went to sleepaway camps and had sleepovers with friends, my siblings and I did not. My mother taught us the meaning and experience of independence in different ways.

“She also taught us three foundational principles that defined for her the scourge of antisemitism and other ideologies of hate. First, their existence manifests in ways that we readily can see, but also lies more widely beneath the surface, often undetected in the day-to-day goings-on of life but sometimes appearing in the most subtle of ways. Second, their prevalence continues to present an existential threat, and one can never assume that a holocaust could not happen again and could not happen where we, her children, might live. And third, that an attack borne of hate against one minority is an attack against all of society.

“I am proud to work in the Department of Homeland Security, where every day we fight against hate and to improve the quality of life for others. We are doing a great deal to equip and empower communities across our country in that fight. Partnership in these efforts is all the more important today, as the manifestation of hate through violence is on the rise everywhere. Together with our partners, we give limitless strength to our devotion to tolerance and basic human rights.

“Holocaust Remembrance Day is recognized one day each year. We know that remembrance is every day, as is the work that must accompany it.

“Today, if you walk into the living room of the home where I was brought up and where my brother is now raising his young family, our mother’s collection of books of Jewish history, including the antisemitism that defined too much of it, is still on the shelves. This year, as we devote a day to remembrance, let’s redouble our efforts to create the book that captures the end of that hate.”

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Keywords: Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

DHS News Releases

Operation Allies Welcome Announces Departure of Last Afghan Nationals from Camp Atterbury, Indiana

— January 27^th 2022 at 03:31

WASHINGTON — Yesterday, the last group of Afghan nationals temporarily housed at Camp Atterbury, Indiana as part of Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) departed the base. Camp Atterbury, Indiana is the fifth of eight Department of Defense (DOD) installations supporting the resettlement of Afghan nationals, also known as “safe havens,” to complete operations. To date, more than 66,000 Afghan evacuees have been resettled in communities across the country. These resettlement efforts are led by the Department of State in close coordination with more than 290 local resettlement affiliates.

“As operations at Camp Atterbury come to an end, we are grateful for the partnerships that state and local leaders, the Indiana National Guard, non-profit organizations, and Hoosiers across the state have forged with our team as we helped our Afghan allies through the resettlement process,” said Robert J. Fenton, Jr., Senior Response Official for Operation Allies Welcome. “Over the last five months, through a whole-of-society effort, Operation Allies Welcome has helped more than 66,000 Afghan evacuees begin their new lives in America.”

DOD continues to provide temporary housing facilities for the remaining approximately 9,000 vulnerable Afghans who are in the process of completing their resettlement while at the following three military installations: Fort McCoy, Wisconsin; Fort Pickett, Virginia; and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. While on these installations, Afghan evacuees have access to a range of services, including medical care and resettlement services, and they can apply for work authorization.

“I am incredibly proud of the military men and women and the entire interagency team who enabled the resettlement of approximately 7,200 Afghan guests who temporarily resided at Task Force Atterbury,” said Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of U.S. Northern Command. “Over the past five months, our service members at this and seven other military installations provided essential support to Operation Allies Welcome, ensuring Afghan nationals had what they needed while they completed resettlement requirements and prepared to transition to their new communities across America. As Task Force Atterbury concludes its support to this operation, our service members and the entire team should take pride in the professionalism, dedication, and empathy they demonstrated throughout the mission.”

As of January 27, the U.S. has welcomed more than 76,000 Afghans to the United States through Operation Allies Welcome, providing them with support and assistance as they begin their new lives in America – and we are prepared to welcome additional qualifying Afghans over the coming weeks and months. Prior to entering the United States, Afghan evacuees must successfully complete a rigorous, multi-layered screening and vetting process that includes biometric and biographic screenings conducted by intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism professionals from multiple federal agencies. Afghan evacuees also receive critical vaccinations – which include measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), varicella, polio, COVID-19, and others – as a condition of their humanitarian parole. All OAW arrivals are tested for COVID-19.

Those who are interested in supporting the resettlement of vulnerable Afghans can go to www.welcome.us to learn more about how to get involved. Welcome.US is a national non-profit initiative to welcome and support Afghan nationals as they rebuild their lives in communities across America. Groups of individuals and community organizations can also apply to form a sponsor circle to directly support arriving Afghan evacuees. For more information on the Sponsor Circle Program and to learn how to apply to form a sponsor circle, visit www.sponsorcircles.org.

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Operation Allies Welcome is the coordinated effort across the federal government to support and resettle vulnerable Afghans, including those who worked on behalf of the United States. For more information, visit www.dhs.gov/allieswelcome.

Keywords: Operation Allies Welcome
Topics:

DHS News Releases

DHS Announces Availability of Additional H-2B Visas for First Half of Fiscal Year

— January 27^th 2022 at 14:19

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) today announced the availability of 20,000 additional H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for the first half of fiscal year (FY) 2022. These visas are for U.S. employers that are facing irreparable harm without additional workers and seeking to employ additional workers on or before March 31, 2022.

“DHS is taking action to address the needs of our economy by making an additional 20,000 H-2B visas available to workers,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “We are providing employers with the resources and support needed to sustain their businesses while expanding lawful pathways to the United States. At the same time, DHS and DOL are protecting against the exploitation of H-2B workers.”

This supplemental cap increase, which comes at a time of record job growth and reduced labor force participation, marks the first time that DHS is making additional H-2B visas available in the first half of the fiscal year. DHS first announced the joint temporary final rule in December 2021. The additional H-2B visas will become available to employers on January 28, 2022.

The supplemental H-2B visa allocation consists of 13,500 visas available to returning workers who received an H-2B visa, or were otherwise granted H-2B status, during one of the last three fiscal years. The remaining 6,500 visas, which are exempt from the returning worker requirement, are reserved for nationals of Haiti, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras.

The H-2B program permits employers to temporarily hire noncitizens to perform nonagricultural labor or services in the United States. The employment must be for a limited period of time, such as a one-time occurrence, seasonal, or intermittent need. Employers seeking to hire H-2B workers must take a series of steps to test the U.S. labor market. They must provide certification from the Department of Labor that proves there are not enough U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available to do the temporary work for which they seek a prospective foreign worker, and that employing the H-2B workers will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. Additional details on these safeguards, and on eligibility and filing requirements, will be available in the temporary final rule and the Cap Count for H-2B Nonimmigrants webpage.

The joint temporary final rule can be found in the Federal Register.

Keywords: Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Visa
Topics: Citizenship and Immigration Services, Secretary of Homeland Security

DHS News Releases

Operation Allies Welcome Announces Departure of Last Afghan Nationals from Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico

— January 27^th 2022 at 03:29

WASHINGTON — Yesterday, the last group of Afghan nationals temporarily housed at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico as part of Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) departed the base. Holloman AFB, New Mexico is the fourth of eight Department of Defense (DOD) installations supporting the resettlement of Afghan nationals, also known as “safe havens,” to complete operations. To date, more than 66,000 Afghan evacuees have been resettled in communities across the country. These resettlement efforts are led by the Department of State in close coordination with more than 290 local resettlement affiliates.

“With the completion of operations at Holloman AFB, we have now helped more than 66,000 Afghan evacuees begin their new lives in the United States,” said Robert J. Fenton, Jr., Senior Response Official for Operation Allies Welcome. “I am grateful for all the federal staff, servicemembers, volunteers, and local partners who have participated in this historic effort and for the countless Americans who are welcoming our Afghan allies into their communities.”

DOD continues to provide temporary housing facilities for the remaining approximately 9,000 vulnerable Afghans who are in the process of completing their resettlement while at the following four military installations: Camp Atterbury, Indiana; Fort McCoy, Wisconsin; Fort Pickett, Virginia; and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. While on these installations, Afghan evacuees have access to a range of services, including medical care and resettlement services, and they can apply for work authorization.

“I applaud the military men and women and the entire interagency team who enabled the resettlement of the more than 7,100 Afghan guests who were temporarily housed and cared for at Task Force Holloman,” said Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of U.S. Northern Command. “Since the beginning of Operation Allies Welcome, service members at this and seven other military installations provided essential support, ensuring Afghan nationals had safe and secure conditions while they completed resettlement requirements and prepared to transition to their new communities across America. As Task Force Holloman concludes its support to the operation, the service members and the entire team should take great pride in all they accomplished.”

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Keywords: Operation Allies Welcome
Topics:

DHS News Releases

Statement from Secretary Mayorkas on National Human Trafficking Prevention Month

— January 25^th 2022 at 16:58

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas released the following statement on National Human Trafficking Prevention Month:

“Human trafficking is an abhorrent crime that impacts an estimated 25 million people, here in the United States and abroad. Victims too often suffer in silence and perpetrators are too seldom brought to justice. National Human Trafficking Prevention Month is a time to reaffirm the Department’s commitment to seeing those victims, hearing their stories, and preventing the horrific acts of human trafficking before they occur. We will bring the full weight of the Department of Homeland Security – our resources and our dedicated personnel – to identify and protect victims and to investigate and arrest perpetrators.

“Across DHS, our tremendous professionals lead this work each day.

The DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking leverages the resources of 16 DHS Agencies and Offices to combat both sex trafficking and forced labor.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Homeland Security Investigations Special Agents investigate these crimes and help prosecute the perpetrators.
The HSI Victim Assistance Program supports victims with critical emergency assistance and connects victims with non-governmental organizations that provide short- and long-term direct services.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection investigates allegations of forced labor in U.S. supply chains and bars goods made with forced labor from entering the country.
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers educates law enforcement about the indicators of trafficking and best practices for supporting victims and bringing perpetrators to justice.
We raise awareness about these heinous crimes through our signature public awareness and education campaign, the DHS Blue Campaign, and our partnerships with state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, businesses, airlines, schools, non-profits, legal organizations, and many others.
Finally, and critically, DHS personnel are trained to recognize and report indicators of human trafficking in the course of their daily duties interacting with the public, including Transportation Security Administration officers, Federal Air Marshals, service members of the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services benefits adjudicators, and more.

“Combating human trafficking is truly a whole of DHS effort.

“During this past year, HSI Special Agents made more than 2,360 human trafficking arrests, identified and assisted more than 728 trafficking victims, and issued the first-ever comprehensive Continued Presence Resource Guide. USCIS released the first-ever standalone T Visa Resource Guide for law enforcement and certifying agencies, and approved 559 T visas for victims of trafficking and 451 T visas for their qualifying family members. CBP detained and seized more than 1,550 shipments containing nearly $500 million in merchandise linked to forced labor abroad, a 900 percent increase over Fiscal Year 2020.

“Last year, I directed all DHS Agencies and Offices to incorporate a victim-centered approach into every policy, program, and activity that impacts our Department’s interactions with victims of crime. I also released a worksite enforcement strategy that focuses our enforcement efforts on unscrupulous employers who exploit unauthorized workers, including through force, fraud, or coercion. We can, must, and will do more.

“The scourge of human trafficking must be met with concerted action. This month and every month, our Department will strive to shine a light on these heinous acts, protect the dignity of survivors, and bring perpetrators of human trafficking to justice.”

To report suspected human trafficking to DHS law enforcement, contact 1-866-347-2423.

To seek help or learn more from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, contact 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733).

Learn more about DHS’s efforts to combat human trafficking here and in a new Department-wide fact sheet.

Keywords: Combatting Human Trafficking, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

DHS News Releases

Readout of Secretaries Mayorkas and Cardona’s Meeting with HBCU Presidents on International Day of Education

— January 24^th 2022 at 23:21

WASHINGTON – Today, on International Day of Education, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas and Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona hosted a discussion with presidents of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) from across the nation to share information on grant programs, training resources, research opportunities, and other tools available to HBCUs to strengthen campus safety and security. The meeting was part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing commitment to ensure HBCUs have equitable access to the resources and support they need to effectively execute their critical missions.

“The Department of Homeland Security is eager to deepen our partnerships with HBCUs to protect students and faculty from an evolving range of threats, and to cultivate the next generation of remarkable talent, including by increasing access to careers in the federal government,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “I appreciated the opportunity to speak directly with more than 40 HBCU presidents who lead these tremendous institutions. Together, we will embrace the opportunities and address the challenges of our time.”

“To do their best learning, students must be able to focus on their education without fear or distraction. Acts of intimidation against HBCUs can’t and won’t be tolerated,” said Secretary Cardona. “I am pleased Secretary Mayorkas and his team at the Department of Homeland Security are focused on partnerships with HBCU leaders to equip them with the tools to protect their campuses, students, and communities.”

During today’s meeting, the Department of Homeland Security also provided a briefing on the evolving threat landscape, including potential impacts on colleges and universities. The Department of Homeland Security does not have information indicating any specific, credible threats to campus safety. Leaders from DHS’s Office of Strategy, Policy and Plans, the Office of Intelligence & Analysis, and the Office of Partnerships & Engagement, and the Department of Education’s Office of the Secretary participated in today’s engagement.

Keywords: Partnership, Physical Security, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics: Academic Engagement, Secretary of Homeland Security

DHS News Releases

DHS Helps Law Enforcement Spot and Respond to Human Trafficking

— January 24^th 2022 at 22:21

Hosts Awareness Training for State and Local Law Enforcement Officers in Gainesville, Florida

WASHINGTON - On Thursday, January 20, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC) hosted state and local law enforcement officers from the Gainesville, FL area for a Human Trafficking Awareness Training (HTAT). The HTAT program provides law enforcement officers with an in-depth understanding of the crime of human trafficking. The training consists of case studies, videos, and student-centered activities to enhance the learning experience and helps stress the importance of taking a victim-centered approach.

“FLETC’s work with local law enforcement across the country is essential to ensuring that law enforcement can identify and support victims and work to prevent the horrific crime of human trafficking,” said Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “These trainings are just one part of our whole-of-DHS approach to combating human trafficking. DHS Agencies and Offices work to shine a light on these terrible crimes, investigate and help prosecute traffickers, and provide support and necessary services to victims.”

More than 30 local law enforcement officers participated in the training, which was hosted by the Santa Fe College in Gainesville, FL, and featured Florida-based counter-trafficking experts and resources.

“When FLETC developed this class, we prioritized incorporating a diverse panel of experts, including federal, state, or local prosecutors, survivors, and other experts,” said FLETC Deputy Director William Fallon. “The goal is for everyone attending to hear from both local experts and federal investigators, including from ICE Homeland Security Investigations, about their experience and expertise in combating human trafficking.”

FLETC began developing training on the signs and indicators of human trafficking in late 2009. In 2015, FLETC began incorporating human trafficking awareness training into its basic programs for all new federal law enforcement officers and agents. In 2019, FLETC completed the development of its introductory HTAT program.

A component of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, FLETC provides career-long training to law enforcement professionals to help them fulfill their responsibilities safely and proficiently. Through strategic partnerships, FLETC prepares the federal law enforcement community to safeguard the American people, property, and institutions.

To report suspected human trafficking to DHS law enforcement, contact 1-866-347-2423. To seek help or learn more from the National Human Trafficking Hotline, contact 1-888-373-7888 or text HELP or INFO to BeFree (233733). Read more about DHS’s work on human trafficking and forced labor here: DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking

Keywords: Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC), Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

DHS News Releases

DHS Advances Biden-Harris Efforts to Stop Flow of Goods Produced by Forced Labor

— January 24^th 2022 at 12:50

Requests Public Input to Implement Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and Block Importation of Goods Produced by Forced Labor in the People’s Republic of China

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced, as part of its implementation of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA), that it will seek public input to inform the Department’s continued efforts to prohibit goods from being imported into the United States that are produced with forced labor in the People’s Republic of China, including in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.

“As part of our efforts to advance the Biden-Harris Administration’s priority to eradicate forced labor from U.S. supply chains, we are taking an important first step today to implement the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “Every day, the Department of Homeland Security’s Customs and Border Protection ensures that goods made with forced labor are not able to enter the U.S. supply chain, and I am proud to work alongside the world’s leading forced labor investigators in their mission to protect human rights and international labor standards. I look forward to hearing from our stakeholders as we continue to work closely to protect our vital trade ecosystem and end these horrific practices around the world.”

The UFLPA prohibits goods from being imported into the United States that are either produced in China’s Xinjiang province or by certain entities identified in the forthcoming UFLPA enforcement strategy, unless the importer can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the goods were not produced with forced labor. After receiving comments, the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force will conduct a public hearing and develop a strategy for supporting enforcement of section 307 of the Tariff Act of 1930, as amended. DHS and U.S. Customs and Border Protection will issue guidance for importers.

DHS is focused on combating the horrific practices of sex trafficking and forced labor through close partnerships with stakeholders, information sharing, and enforcement actions. As part of the Department’s victim-centered approach, DHS agencies, offices, and experts are committed to providing support and necessary services to victims and seeking justice on their behalf. The Department, through its Blue Campaign, also continues to educate the public, law enforcement, and other industry partners to recognize and report the indicators of human trafficking. Read more about DHS’s work on human trafficking and forced labor here: DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking

The request for public comment published in the Federal Register today, January 24, 2022. Comments will be accepted for 45 days. Individuals may submit comments by following the instructions in the Federal Register notice.

Keywords: Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

DHS News Releases

DHS Expands Opportunities in U.S. for STEM Professionals

— January 21^st 2022 at 12:57

Department adds Twenty-Two New Fields of Study and Takes Additional Steps to Attract Critical STEM Talent

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced 22 new fields of study have been added to the STEM Optional Practical Training (OPT) program to enhance the contributions of nonimmigrant students studying in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and support the growth of the U.S. economy and innovation.

“STEM innovation allows us to solve the complex challenges we face today and make a difference in how we secure and protect our country,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “Through STEM education and training opportunities, DHS is expanding the number and diversity of students who excel in STEM education and contribute to the U.S. economy.”

The STEM OPT program permits F-1 students earning bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degrees in certain STEM fields to remain in the United States for up to 36 months to work in their field of study. Adding 22 fields of study will ensure the U.S. economy benefits from students earning degrees in the United States in competitive STEM fields. Information on the new fields of study will be communicated to schools and students through a Federal Register notice.

DHS is also updating and issuing new U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) policy manual guidance. USCIS is updating guidance to clarify how certain STEM graduates and entrepreneurs can use the national interest waiver for employment-based immigrant visa classification as an advanced degree professional noncitizen or noncitizen of exceptional ability.

Certain noncitizens with an advanced degree or exceptional ability can self-petition for employment-based immigrant visa classification, without testing the labor market and obtaining certification from the Department of Labor, if USCIS determines the waiver of the labor market test to be in the national interest. The updated guidance clarifies how to use the program, making it easier for noncitizens with needed skills, such as STEM graduates and entrepreneurs, to embark on a pathway to obtain lawful permanent resident status in the United States.

USCIS is also issuing a policy manual update related to O-1A nonimmigrant status for noncitizens of extraordinary ability in the fields of science, arts, education, business, or athletics. This update explains how USCIS determines eligibility for O-1A petitioners and, for the first time, provides examples of evidence that might satisfy the criteria, including for individuals working in STEM fields.

The 22 new fields of study are bioenergy, general forestry, forest resources production and management, human-centered technology design, cloud computing, anthrozoology, climate science, earth systems science, economics and computer science, environmental geosciences, geobiology, geography and environmental studies, mathematical economics, mathematics and atmospheric and oceanic science, general data science, general data analytics, business analytics, data visualization, financial analytics, other data analytics, industrial and organizational psychology, and social sciences, research methodology, and quantitative methods.

Keywords: Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, STEM, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Topics: Citizenship and Immigration Services, Secretary of Homeland Security

DHS News Releases

U.S. Departments of Homeland Security and Education Release Toolkit of Federal Resources to Help Rebuild Puerto Rico’s School Infrastructure

— January 21^st 2022 at 12:17

Today, the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the U.S. Department of Education released a toolkit outlining federal resources available to help Puerto Rico recover and rebuild safe, healthy, and modernized school facilities. The Departments of Energy and Labor, as well as the Environmental Protection Agency, also collaborated on the toolkit.

The toolkit focuses on four key aspects to supplement ongoing recovery efforts in the education sector: planning and design, workforce readiness, contracting and procurement, and project review. In addition, the document includes a directory with technical assistance opportunities and information on other funding sources from federal partners.

“As Puerto Rico continues to rebuild, recover, and reimagine a future of security and prosperity for all of its families, DHS will be there every step of the way,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “I encourage officials to use the resources available to them through the federal government to build safe and resilient schools for teachers and students.”

“All children deserve to have the opportunity to learn and thrive in safe and functioning educational facilities,” said FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell. “FEMA is proud to continue supporting Puerto Rico through this important phase of work.”

“The Biden-Harris Administration is committed to supporting a full recovery in Puerto Rico grounded in dignity, equity, and respect,” said Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. “Education is a critical component of full recovery, and access to first-class facilities is a first step in providing all students in Puerto Rico—the island of my roots—with the high-quality education they deserve.”

This toolkit was generated by the White House Working Group on Puerto Rico, which was launched in July 2021 to provide Puerto Rico the resources and technical assistance it needs to recover and prosper.

After multiple natural disasters, Puerto Rico has access to extensive recovery resources, including more than $2 billion in FEMA Public Assistance for school infrastructure related to recovery. Additionally, billions more in federal education and COVID-19 relief funds are available to assist with addressing and recovering from COVID-19. These funds may also include upgrades to school infrastructure, depending on the program.

To date, FEMA has obligated over $25.9 billion towards response and recovery efforts in Puerto Rico. FEMA is helping rebuild large parts of the island and supporting the government of Puerto Rico’s plan to restore critical services systems and build capacity in a manner that is both fiscally sound and resilient against the impacts of future disasters.

On Jan. 27, 2022, at 3pm ET/4pm AT, the White House will host a webinar where agencies will discuss the toolkit and resources it identifies. The webinar will be held on Zoom and requires advance registration.

To see the full toolkit, visit: https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_technical-assistance-toolkit_schools-puerto-rico.pdf (English) or https://www.fema.gov/sites/default/files/documents/fema_technical-assistance-toolkit_schools-puerto-rico_spanish.pdf (Spanish).

Keywords: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Partnership, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics: Secretary of Homeland Security

DHS News Releases

DHS to Require Non-U.S. Individual Travelers Entering the United States at Land Ports of Entry and Ferry Terminals to be Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19

— January 20^th 2022 at 22:11

New Requirements at Land Ports of Entry and Ferry Terminals Will Protect Public Health While Facilitating Cross-Border Trade and Travel

WASHINGTON – Beginning on January 22, 2022, DHS will require non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination, as COVID-19 cases continue to rise nationwide. These new restrictions will apply to non-U.S. individuals who are traveling for both essential and non-essential reasons. They will not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or U.S. nationals.

“Starting on January 22, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security will require that non-U.S. individuals entering the United States via land ports of entry or ferry terminals along our Northern and Southern borders be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and be prepared to show related proof of vaccination,” said Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “These updated travel requirements reflect the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to protecting public health while safely facilitating the cross-border trade and travel that is critical to our economy.”

These changes – which were first announced in October 2021 and made in consultation with the White House and several federal agencies, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) – will align public health measures that govern land travel with those that govern incoming international air travel.

Non-U.S. individuals traveling to the United States via land ports of entry or ferry terminals, whether for essential or non-essential reasons, must:

verbally attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status;
provide proof of a CDC-approved COVID-19 vaccination, as outlined on the CDC website;
present a valid Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-compliant document, such as a valid passport, Trusted Traveler Program card, or Enhanced Tribal Card; and,
be prepared to present any other relevant documents requested by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer during a border inspection.

COVID-19 testing is not required for entry via a land port of entry or ferry terminal.

Although these new vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or U.S. nationals, all travelers are reminded to bring a WHTI-compliant document when re-entering the United States. Non-U.S. individuals attempting to enter the United States irregularly, through any illegal means or without proper documentation, will continue to be expelled pursuant to CDC’s Title 42 public health order.

To help reduce wait times, travelers can take advantage of facial biometrics and CBP One™, which is a single portal for CBP mobile applications and services.

To learn more about the updated requirements for travelers, review the DHS fact sheet.

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Keywords: Border Security, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Travel
Topics: Border Security, Transportation Security

DHS News Releases

Message from Secretary Mayorkas on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

— January 14^th 2022 at 22:05

Colleagues,

On Monday, people across the United States will pause to honor the life of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. This is a moment for all of us to reflect on Dr. King’s vision and consider how his message of nonviolence and his pursuit of justice can remain a part of our Department’s daily work to keep our communities safe and secure.

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is also a National Day of Service. For our extraordinary DHS workforce – for all of you – service is a part of who we are. We demonstrate it by doing our jobs and always answering the call.

In the spirit of this day, I will join our partners at On Ramps to Careers and Urban Alliance to engage with youth from across the country, including those here in Washington, D.C. Some of these remarkable young people are serving, or have served, as interns at DHS. Through their willingness to step up and strengthen our communities and our country, they embody the spirit of Dr. King.

As we mark MLK Day, I hope you will take the time to find a volunteer opportunity or service project in your area. Please visit MLK Day | AmeriCorps to learn more. Many of you, of course, will be marking the day by serving in your DHS role; we in DHS safeguard our homeland every single day.

As Dr. King stated, “The time is always right to do what is right.” Thank you for everything you do to honor Dr. King and strengthen our nation.

Alejandro N. Mayorkas
Secretary of Homeland Security

With honor and integrity, we will safeguard the American people, our homeland, and our values.

Keywords: Employee Resource, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

DHS News Releases

Department of Homeland Security Announces Climate Change Professionals Program

— January 12^th 2022 at 15:54

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the creation of a new Climate Change Professionals Program to recruit recent graduates and current federal employees to support the Department’s growing focus on adapting to climate change and improving resilience. The program is one of many new activities under the umbrella of the DHS Climate Change Action Group, established in 2021 by Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas.

“The Climate Change Professionals Program will be instrumental in helping the Department adapt to our changing climate by providing hands-on experience and guidance to young professionals interested in climate adaptation and resilience,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “This program will develop the next generation of climate experts, improve climate literacy throughout the Department, and help us execute our Climate Action Plan to remain mission-resilient while reducing our own impacts on the environment.”

This two-year program will be run by the DHS Office of the Chief Readiness Support Officer and provide participants with hands-on opportunities to contribute to new initiatives that have the potential to substantially help DHS adapt to climate change and improve resilience. Upon successful completion of the program, participants will receive a Climate Change Professional accreditation from the Association of Climate Change Officers and be eligible for permanent, full-time positions at DHS.

Participants in the program will work under the leadership of the Climate Change Action Group. The CCAG is comprised of senior officials from across the Department and focuses on promoting resilience and addressing multiple climate change-related risks, including flooding, extreme heat, drought, and wildfires.

The Climate Change Professionals Program is part of the Secretary’s Honors Program, which was launched in July 2021 to recruit recent graduates and current federal employees with degrees in relevant fields for professional development programs at DHS. Climate change is the second field included in the Secretary’s Honors Program, following the launch of the cybersecurity program last year.

Interested applicants can view the first job postings for the Climate Change Professionals Program on the DHS is Hiring webpage. To learn more about DHS’s climate commitment, visit DHS Actions: Climate Change.

Keywords: Climate, Climate Change, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics: Homeland Security Careers, Secretary of Homeland Security

DHS News Releases

United States Coast Guard Transitions to State-of-the-Art Financial Management System

— January 7^th 2022 at 17:30

New integrated financial, procurement, and asset management system improves DHS resource management

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Management Directorate announced that the United States Coast Guard (USCG) has recently transitioned to an updated integrated financial, procurement, and asset management system, called the Financial System Modernization Solution (FSMS). The new system includes automated and integrated controls, a common appropriations structure and accounting line, standard business practices, up-to-date security, and functionality that will assist the USCG in overseeing their annual budget of more than $12 billion more efficiently and effectively.

“Modernizing our financial support systems is vital to the Department of Homeland Security and is one of our top priorities,” said Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Chief Financial Officer Stacy Marcott. “The new system will vastly improve the U.S. Coast Guard’s business systems, help employees be more productive, and allow them to achieve more reliable results when paying bills, procuring goods and services, reporting and managing budgets, and much more.”

The DHS Financial Systems Modernization initiative works by updating legacy financial systems to provide greater security, data integrity, efficiency, and flexibility. These improvements will lead to more accurate reporting, therefore improving transparency and accountability.

“This is truly the beginning of a new era for the United States Coast Guard’s Financial Management and Procurement Services,” says Rear Admiral Mark Fedor, Assistant Commandant for Resources & Chief Financial Officer, U.S. Coast Guard. “I’m honored to help lead the Coast Guard through this financial transformation and confident the Service will be more efficient, adaptable to our dynamic operational environment, and better stewards of the taxpayers’ dollars. Hundreds of people have invested thousands of hours to make this vision a reality, so it’s fitting to celebrate this milestone achievement.”

USCG is the third DHS component to transition to FSMS. In October 2019, the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD) made the transition, and in October of 2020, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) also successfully transitioned to the new system.

Keywords: Financial Services Sector, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG)
Topics:

DHS News Releases

DHS Statement on the Importance of Seeking Safety and Support Regardless of Immigration Status Following Recent Wildfires in Colorado

— January 6^th 2022 at 18:05

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) remind the public that sites that provide emergency response and relief are considered protected areas for purposes of ICE and CBP enforcement actions. To the fullest extent possible, ICE and CBP do not conduct enforcement activities at protected areas such as along evacuation routes, sites used for sheltering or the distribution of emergency supplies, food or water, or registration sites for disaster-related assistance or the reunification of families and loved ones.

At the request of FEMA or local and state authorities, ICE and CBP may help conduct search and rescue, air traffic de-confliction, and other public safety missions. ICE and CBP provide emergency assistance to individuals regardless of their immigration status and are not also conducting immigration enforcement in these roles. DHS officials do not and will not pose as individuals providing emergency-related information as part of any immigration enforcement activities.

DHS encourages all eligible individuals to apply for and seek out assistance. Please go to www.disasterassistance.gov/get-assistance/forms for instructions on how to apply for FEMA disaster assistance. DHS is aware that some disaster survivors may fear applying for FEMA assistance due to their immigration status. FEMA does not collect information regarding the immigration status of an applicant or any member of an applicant’s household and does not proactively provide personal information to ICE or CBP for immigration enforcement. However, in rare circumstances, based on a specific request, ICE or CBP could request this information if a person poses a current threat to national security or public safety based upon an articulable risk of death, violence, or physical harm to any person. Please see, FACT SHEET: Citizenship Status and Eligibility for Disaster Assistance FAQ.

If individuals believe that the emergency event may affect their U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) application, petition, or immigration status, they should contact USCIS or go to www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/special-situations for more information.

DHS is committed to ensuring that every individual who seeks shelter, aid, or other assistance as a result of the wildfires is able to do so regardless of their immigration status. DHS carries out its mission without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, national origin, or political associations, and in compliance with law and policy.

Keywords: Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Topics:

DHS News Releases

Operation Allies Welcome Announces Departure of Last Afghan Nationals from Fort Bliss, Texas

— December 31^st 2021 at 15:32

WASHINGTON — Yesterday, the last group of Afghan nationals temporarily housed at Fort Bliss, Texas as part of Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) departed the base. Fort Bliss is the third of eight Department of Defense (DOD) installations supporting the resettlement of Afghan nationals that are also known as “safe havens” to complete operations. To date, more than 52,000 Afghan evacuees have been resettled in communities across the country. These resettlement efforts are led by the Department of State in close coordination with more than 290 local resettlement affiliates.

“The end of operations at Fort Bliss marks another important step in our mission to safely and successfully resettle our Afghan allies. We are thankful for the partnership the local communities have forged with our teams and their support for this historic effort,” said Robert J. Fenton, Jr., Senior Response Official for Operation Allies Welcome. “We have made incredible progress over the last four months thanks to the dedication of our workforce and the backing Operation Allies Welcome has received from veterans, faith groups, non-governmental organizations, and Americans across the country. This is truly a whole-of-society effort to support the people who supported our Nation over the last twenty years.”

DOD continues to provide temporary housing facilities for the remaining approximately 22,500 vulnerable Afghans who are in the process of completing their resettlement while at the following five military installations: Camp Atterbury, Indiana; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey; Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico; Fort Pickett, Virginia; and Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. While on these installations, Afghan evacuees have access to a range of services, including medical care and resettlement services, and they can apply for work authorization.

“I am incredibly proud of the military men and women of Task Force Bliss and the entire interagency team who enabled the resettlement of approximately 11,400 Afghan evacuees,” said Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of U.S. Northern Command. “Over the past four months, our service members at this and other military installations provided essential support to Operation Allies Welcome for this important mission, ensuring Afghan nationals had what was needed while they completed resettlement requirements and prepared to transition to their new communities across America. As Task Force Bliss concludes its support, the service members and the entire team should take pride in the professionalism, selflessness, and empathy they demonstrated as they carried out this incredibly complex endeavor.”

As of December 31, the U.S. has welcomed more than 75,000 Afghans to the United States through Operation Allies Welcome, providing them with support and assistance as they begin their new lives in America – and we are prepared to welcome additional qualifying Afghans over the coming weeks and months. Prior to entering the United States, Afghan evacuees must successfully complete a rigorous, multi-layered screening and vetting process that includes biometric and biographic screenings conducted by intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism professionals from multiple federal agencies. Afghan evacuees also receive critical vaccinations – which include measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), varicella, polio, COVID-19, and others – as a condition of their humanitarian parole. All OAW arrivals are tested for COVID-19.

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Keywords: Operation Allies Welcome
Topics:

DHS News Releases

Operation Allies Welcome Announces Departure of Last Afghan Nationals from Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia

— December 23^rd 2021 at 12:32

WASHINGTON — Yesterday, the last group of Afghan nationals temporarily housed at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia as part of Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) departed the base. Marine Corps Base Quantico is the second of eight Department of Defense (DOD) installations supporting the resettlement of Afghan nationals that are also known as “safe havens” to complete operations. To date, more than 49,000 Afghan evacuees have been resettled in communities across our country. These resettlement efforts are led by the Department of State in close coordination with more than 290 local resettlement affiliates.

“As another one of our safe haven locations completes operations, we remain steadfast in our commitment to safely welcome our Afghan allies to the United States,” said Robert J. Fenton, Jr., Senior Response Official for Operation Allies Welcome. “With operations now completed at Marine Corps Base Quantico, I would like to thank all the federal staff, servicemembers, and volunteers who made it possible for more than 49,000 Afghan evacuees to begin to rebuild their lives in America. We are grateful for the support the local community has shown our Afghan allies and the staff working with them throughout this historic effort.”

DOD continues to provide temporary housing facilities for the remaining approximately 25,000 vulnerable Afghans who are in the process of completing their resettlement while at the following six safe havens: Camp Atterbury, Indiana; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey; Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Pickett, Virginia; and Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. While on these military installations, Afghan evacuees have access to a range of services, including medical care and resettlement services, and they can apply for work authorization.

“Over the past four months, the men and women in uniform at Task Force Quantico have provided unflagging support to Operation Allies Welcome, working with myriad partners enabling the successful resettlement of more than 49,000 Afghans into their new communities throughout the United States,” said Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, commander of U.S. Northern Command. “I met with service members, interagency partners, and volunteers at each of the eight military installations that supported Operation Allies Welcome over the course of the mission. In every instance, l was impressed with the incredible professionalism and compassion displayed, and I am extraordinarily proud of what members of DOD did to contribute to a brighter future for these Afghans.

As of December 23, the U.S. has welcomed more than 75,000 Afghans to the United States through Operation Allies Welcome, providing them with support and assistance as they begin their new lives in America – and we are prepared to welcome additional qualifying Afghans over the coming weeks and months. Prior to entering the United States, Afghan evacuees must successfully complete a rigorous, multi-layered screening and vetting process that includes biometric and biographic screenings conducted by intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism professionals from multiple federal agencies. Afghan evacuees also receive critical vaccinations – which include measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), varicella, polio, COVID-19, and others – as a condition of their humanitarian parole. All OAW arrivals are tested for COVID-19.

Keywords: Operation Allies Welcome
Topics:

DHS News Releases

ICE Announces Use of Body Worn Cameras in New Pilot Program

— December 21^st 2021 at 17:50

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced a pilot program in select cities where ICE law enforcement officers will begin to wear body worn cameras for pre-planned operations.

“With its body worn camera pilot, ICE is making an important statement that transparency and accountability are essential components of our ability to fulfill our law enforcement mission and keep communities safe,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “The Department will continue to seek ways to ensure the safety and security of our workforce, our state and local partners, and the public, while at the same time building confidence with the communities we serve.”

The deployment of body worn cameras will occur in phases throughout the United States, beginning with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) special agents and to be followed by Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers at a later date. The HSI pilot locations are Houston, TX; New York City, N.Y.; and Newark, N.J. The HSI phase of the pilot will be conducted with members of the special response teams (SRT) that operate as a federal special weapons and tactics (SWAT) element for the office’s area of responsibility.

“The body worn camera pilot is an effort to increase transparency between ICE and the communities we serve, enhance officer safety, and deliver on our commitment to accountability,” said Acting ICE Director Tae D. Johnson. “Safety of both ICE personnel and the public are the primary consideration when implementing these new technologies and tools.”

ICE personnel participating in the pilot program received training on the proper use of the devices, adherence to the ICE Directive outlining the pilot program, legal considerations, and privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties safeguards, as well as training on data uploading, storage, retention, and tagging. The body worn camera will be mounted on an officer’s or agent’s outerwear (e.g., vest, shirt, or helmet).

The use of body worn cameras will enhance ICE operations, including at-large arrests and searches incident to arrest; execution of search warrants; and questioning of individuals encountered in the field. Body worn cameras are expected to increase the transparency of ICE in communities, as footage may be used in assessments of police conduct, including in instances where force was used. Additionally, footage can be used for non-investigative purposes, including for training and assessing officer performance.

ICE recently posted a privacy impact assessment by the DHS Office of Privacy detailing the broader implementation of body worn cameras. ICE looks forward to expanding the body worn camera pilot to ERO in the near future. The timing of the ERO pilot is dependent on the conclusion of negotiations with the ERO union.

HSI is a directorate of ICE and the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), responsible for investigating transnational crime and threats, specifically criminal organizations that exploit the global infrastructure through which international trade, travel, and finance move. HSI agents investigate a wide array of transnational crime, including terrorism; narcotics smuggling; child exploitation; human smuggling and trafficking; illegal exports of controlled technology and weapons; money laundering; financial fraud and scams; labor exploitation; cybercrime; intellectual property theft and trade fraud; identity and benefit fraud; and human rights violations and war crimes.

Keywords: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

DHS News Releases

DHS Statement on the Importance of Seeking Safety and Support Regardless of Immigration Status Following Recent Severe Weather in the South and Midwest

— December 21^st 2021 at 13:46

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is working with its federal, state, local, and non-governmental partners to support the needs of the areas affected by the devastating severe weather and tornadoes in Kentucky and throughout the South and Midwest. DHS Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell traveled to Kentucky on Sunday, December 12, 2021, and Wednesday, December 15, 2021, to meet with local and commonwealth officials and survey the damaged areas.

DHS encourages all eligible individuals to apply for and seek out assistance. Please go to https://www.disasterassistance.gov/get-assistance/forms for instructions on how to apply for FEMA disaster assistance.

DHS is aware that some disaster survivors may fear applying for FEMA assistance due to their immigration status. FEMA does not collect information regarding immigration status or that of any member of an applicant’s household and does not proactively provide personal information to ICE or CBP for immigration enforcement. However, in rare circumstances, based on a specific request, ICE or CBP could request this information if a person poses a current threat to national security or public safety based upon an articulable risk of death, violence, or physical harm to any person. Please see, FACT SHEET: Citizenship Status and Eligibility for Disaster Assistance FAQ | FEMA.gov

If individuals believe that the emergency event may affect their U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) application, petition, or immigration status, they should contact USCIS or go to https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/special-situations for more information.

DHS is committed to ensuring that every individual who seeks shelter, aid, or other assistance as a result of the severe weather is able to do so regardless of their immigration status. DHS carries out its mission without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, gender, sexual orientation or gender identity, national origin, or political associations, and in compliance with law and policy.

Keywords: Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Topics:

DHS News Releases

DHS to Address Life, Safety, Environmental, and Remediation Requirements for Border Barrier Projects Previously Undertaken by DoD

— December 20^th 2021 at 19:49

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas authorized U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to move forward with activities necessary to address life, safety, environmental, and remediation requirements for border barrier projects previously undertaken by the Department of Defense (DoD) and located within the Border Patrol’s San Diego, El Centro, Yuma, Tucson, El Paso, and Del Rio Sectors. The activities will be undertaken in accordance with the Department’s plan for the use of border barrier funds.

In furtherance of Presidential Proclamation 10142, the Deputy Secretary of Defense directed the cancellation of all DoD 284 Projects. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), on behalf of DoD, is in the process of terminating the construction contracts for these projects. As part of that process, DoD will turn over unfinished projects to DHS in various stages of completion to undertake activities necessary to address urgent life, safety, environmental, or other remediation required to protect border communities.

Activities include but are not limited to:

Completing and/or installing drainage to prevent flooding.
Installing and completing permanent erosion control and slope stabilization measures to ensure the safety and stability of structures in the region.
Completing prior construction of patrol, maintenance, and access roads by adding guardrails, signage, and integrating existing roadways to address safety concerns.
Remediating temporary use areas such as laydown yards, haul roads, and project areas impacted by construction.
Disposing of residual materials not required for completion of the work as identified above.
Closing small gaps that remain open from prior construction activities and remediating incomplete gates.

The type of work that is required will vary by Sector and will be executed with available funding in priority locations identified by CBP. A large majority of the incomplete DoD 284 Projects are located within the Tucson Sector. Following a safety analysis by CBP in the Tucson Sector, work to address life, safety, environmental, or other remediation requirements will begin.

Work will be completed within the Tucson, El Paso, and Yuma Sectors to address safety concerns by closing construction access gaps that were left open at the time of the border barrier construction pause, and will also include adding missing gates, addressing incomplete foundations, and connecting power to gates that are already hung but are currently inoperable. Rescue gates provide access for Border Patrol agents and first responders to access irrigation canals in emergency situations where the water is fast moving and extremely dangerous. These emergency rescue gates are currently inoperable due to missing hardware or being welded shut.

CBP will assess additional remediation needs in the San Diego, El Centro, Yuma, El Paso, and Del Rio Sectors and will prioritize completion of drainage and erosion control measures, safety work on border and access roads, and remediation of temporary use areas used for construction.

For these projects, CBP will work closely with stakeholders, including impacted landowners, tribal, state, and local elected officials, and federal agencies to seek input and help on prioritizing potential remediation activities within each Sector.

The Administration continues to call on Congress to cancel remaining border wall funding and instead fund smarter border security measures that are proven to be more effective at improving safety and security at the border.

Keywords: Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

DHS News Releases

For First Time, DHS to Supplement H-2B Cap with Additional Visas in First Half of Fiscal Year

— December 20^th 2021 at 16:23

WASHINGTON—The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of Labor (DOL) today announced the forthcoming publication of a joint temporary final rule to make available an additional 20,000 H-2B temporary nonagricultural worker visas for fiscal year (FY) 2022. These visas will be set aside for U.S. employers seeking to employ additional workers on or before March 31, 2022.

This supplemental cap marks the first time that DHS is making additional H-2B visas available in the first half of the fiscal year. Earlier this year, USCIS received enough petitions for returning workers to reach the additional 22,000 H-2B visas made available under the FY 2021 H-2B supplemental visa temporary final rule.

The supplemental H-2B visa allocation consists of 13,500 visas available to returning workers who received an H-2B visa, or were otherwise granted H-2B status, during one of the last three fiscal years. The remaining 6,500 visas, which are exempt from the returning worker requirement, are reserved for nationals of Haiti and the Northern Triangle countries of Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador.

“At a time of record job growth, additional H-2B visas will help to fuel our Nation’s historic economic recovery,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “DHS is taking action to protect American businesses and create opportunities that will expand lawful pathways to the United States for workers from the Northern Triangle countries and Haiti. In the coming months, DHS will seek to implement policies that will make the H-2B program even more responsive to the needs of our economy, while protecting the rights of both U.S. and noncitizen workers.”

DHS intends to issue a separate notice of proposed rulemaking that will modernize and reform the H-2B program. The proposed rule will incorporate program efficiencies and protect against the exploitation of H-2B workers.

The H-2B program permits employers to temporarily hire noncitizens to perform nonagricultural labor or services in the United States. The employment must be of a temporary nature for a limited period of time, such as a one-time occurrence, seasonal need, or intermittent need. Employers seeking H-2B workers must take a series of steps to test the U.S. labor market. They must also certify in their petitions that there are not enough U.S. workers who are able, willing, qualified, and available to do the temporary work for which they seek a prospective foreign worker. In addition, they must certify that employing H-2B workers will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of similarly employed U.S. workers. Additional details on these safeguards, and on eligibility and filing requirements, will be available in the temporary final rule and the Cap Count for H-2B Nonimmigrants webpage.

Keywords: Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Topics: Citizenship and Immigration Services, Secretary of Homeland Security

DHS News Releases

Joint U.S.-EU statement following the U.S.-EU Justice and Home Affairs Ministerial Meeting

— December 16^th 2021 at 20:15

On 16 December 2021, the U.S.-EU Ministerial Meeting on Justice and Home Affairs took place in Washington D.C. The United States was represented by Attorney General Merrick B. Garland and by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. The European Union was represented by Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson, Slovenian Ministers for Justice Marjan Dikaučič and for Home Affairs Aleš Hojs, on behalf of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, EU Counter-Terrorism Coordinator Ilkka Salmi, Executive Director of Europol Catherine de Bolle, and President of Eurojust Ladislav Hamran.
Following the commitments to renew the transatlantic partnership made at the U.S.-EU Ministerial in Lisbon in June 2021, the United States and the European Union reiterated the importance of seeking common solutions to shared challenges and continuing to uphold democracy and respect for the rule of law.
The United States and the European Union stated their determination to preserve the Budapest Convention on Cybercrime as the primary instrument for international cooperation on cybercrime and expressed support for its recently adopted Second Additional Protocol to enhance cooperation on cybercrime and e-evidence. They further committed to consult each other and cooperate closely in the negotiations on a future United Nations international legal instrument on cybercrime.
The United States and the European Union also reiterated their determination to increase their cooperation in building resilience against as well as preventing, investigating, and prosecuting all forms of cybercrime, including, in particular, child sexual abuse and ransomware. They expressed support for the outcome of the Ministerial Conference organised on 12 November 2021 by the Slovenian Presidency on the prevention and investigation of child sexual abuse, and also agreed to intensify cooperation with internet service providers, social media platforms, and electronic communication providers.
The United States and the European Union committed to exchange best practices on combatting ransomware, including via increased resilience and investigative and judicial action, and on raising public awareness on how to protect networks and avoid having to pay ransom. The United States and European Union will continue to explore ways to enhance international cooperation in the fight against ransomware, involving all relevant stakeholders.
The United States and the European Union discussed the benefits and risks of using artificial intelligence technologies in justice and home affairs matters. They affirmed their shared commitment to use those technologies in a responsible and trustworthy manner, so as to ensure effective action against crime while fully respecting individual rights and liberties. They further discussed digital challenges and tools, and vowed to work to address other shared challenges and further improve international cooperation.
The United States and the European Union exchanged views on areas for further cooperation in the justice field. They committed to enhance cooperation on environmental crime, including by cooperating to hold accountable persons who commit and profit from environmental crimes. Further, they agreed to enhance police and judicial cooperation against transnational crime and terrorism, including with support from Europol and Eurojust, and discussed how best to support the rule of law and ensure equal access to justice.
The United States and the European Union affirmed their commitment to prevent and combat terrorism and to continue working together to address and combat existing and emerging threats. The two sides agreed on the key role of battlefield information for screening and vetting at external borders, as well as investigation and prosecution of suspected terrorists. The two sides also praised the effective operational work of, and information exchange between, EU and U.S. authorities. In this regard, the United States and the European Union discussed the challenges to international security arising from the current situation in Afghanistan.
The United States and the European Union expressed concern with the rise of violent extremism, as well as other crimes motivated by hate, racism, and xenophobia. They stressed their willingness to work jointly to identify and prevent transnational links between extremist groups.
The United States and the European Union reiterated their mutual commitment to exchange Passenger Name Record (PNR) data to ensure the safety of their citizens while protecting the privacy of travellers. They will continue to work together in a constructive way on the findings and recommendations of the joint evaluation of the PNR Agreement. Both sides highlighted the importance of PNR data processing as a key instrument to prevent, detect, investigate, and prosecute terrorism and combat serious crime, including child exploitation. They further reaffirmed their intention to work together to uphold and promote high standards for the global use of PNR data, including in the context of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
The United States and the European Union exchanged views on recent developments of their respective migration and asylum policies and welcomed the recent re-enactment of the U.S.-EU Migration Platform as a forum for dialogue on such matters. The two sides addressed, in particular, the migration challenges arising from the situation in Afghanistan, which calls for a comprehensive response of the international community, addressing both the related humanitarian needs and the prevention of irregular migration, and the fight against migrant smuggling and human trafficking. The United States and the European Union condemned in the strongest terms the state-sponsored instrumentalisation and exploitation of migrants and agreed to work together to prevent such phenomena, including through outreach to relevant third countries.
The United States and the European Union welcomed the recent designation of Croatia as the newest member of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP), which represents a great achievement towards full visa reciprocity for all EU Member States. The two sides reiterated their willingness to pursue ongoing efforts in the context of the tripartite process and bilateral discussions. The European Union updated the United States on the successful use of the EU Digital COVID Certificate as the international standard to safely facilitate freedom of movement in the European Union and worldwide.
Finally, the United States and the European Union agreed to meet again, in France, in the first half of 2022.

Keywords: International Partnership
Topics: International Engagement

DHS News Releases

DHS Announces Commitment to Enhance Protections for Stateless Individuals in the United States

— December 15^th 2021 at 17:36

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security announced its commitment to adopt a definition of statelessness for immigration purposes and enhance protections for stateless individuals living in the United States. Through the adoption of a standardized definition of statelessness, the Department will ensure it can recognize unique barriers encountered by stateless persons and better identify and protect such individuals.

“Statelessness presents significant humanitarian concerns that require a careful and thoughtful response specifically tailored to the distinct and diverse needs of stateless persons,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “DHS is committed to pursuing initiatives to enhance recognition of, and protections for, vulnerable populations, including stateless individuals within the United States.”

DHS recognizes that a significant number of stateless individuals reside in the United States and that such individuals face an assortment of serious challenges and obstacles, such as a lack of identity documents. The actions announced today will reduce barriers to accessing legal immigration status and associated benefits.

As an initial step, DHS will adopt a definition of statelessness for immigration purposes and build a process for making statelessness determinations. In coordination with the Department of State, DHS will work to identify and catalogue barriers to legally available immigration relief and benefits faced by stateless persons. DHS will explore possible avenues to reduce or eliminate such barriers. DHS also commits to establishing a process to increase the data available on stateless persons in the United States and will examine the means through which DHS could facilitate work and travel for stateless persons.

DHS will engage on a continuing basis with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), interagency partners, and the public to communicate its commitments, to receive feedback on proposed initiatives, and importantly, to announce further actions to support stateless individuals in the United States, helping to address the global issue of statelessness.

Keywords: Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

DHS News Releases

DHS Announces “Hack DHS” Bug Bounty Program to Identify Potential Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities

— December 14^th 2021 at 17:14

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the launch of “Hack DHS,” a bug bounty program to identify potential cybersecurity vulnerabilities within certain DHS systems and increase the Department’s cybersecurity resilience. Through Hack DHS, vetted cybersecurity researchers who have been invited to access select external DHS systems (“hackers”) will identify vulnerabilities (“bugs”) that could be exploited by bad actors so they can be patched. These hackers will be rewarded with payments (“bounties”) for the bugs they identify.

“As the federal government’s cybersecurity quarterback, DHS must lead by example and constantly seek to strengthen the security of our own systems,” said Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The Hack DHS program incentivizes highly skilled hackers to identify cybersecurity weaknesses in our systems before they can be exploited by bad actors. This program is one example of how the Department is partnering with the community to help protect our Nation’s cybersecurity.”

Hack DHS will occur in three phases throughout Fiscal Year 2022, with the goal of developing a model that can be used by other organizations across every level of government to increase their own cybersecurity resilience. During phase one, hackers will conduct virtual assessments on certain DHS external systems. During the second phase, hackers will participate in a live, in-person hacking event. During the third and final phase, DHS will identify and review lessons learned, and plan for future bug bounties.

Hack DHS, which will leverage a platform created by the Department’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), will be governed by several rules of engagement and monitored by the DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer. Hackers will disclose their findings to DHS system owners and leadership, including what the vulnerability is, how they exploited it, and how it might allow other actors to access information. The bounty for identifying each bug is determined by using a sliding scale, with hackers earning the highest bounties for identifying the most severe bugs.

Hack DHS builds on the best practices learned from similar, widely implemented initiatives across the private sector and the federal government, such as the Department of Defense’s “Hack the Pentagon” program. DHS established its first bug bounty pilot program in 2019 as a result of provisions authored by Senator Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.), Senator Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.), and Rep. Scott Taylor (R-Va.) that passed into law as part of the SECURE Technology Act. This law permits the Department to compensate individuals chosen to evaluate DHS systems by mimicking hacker behavior.

Keywords: Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics: Cybersecurity, Secretary of Homeland Security

DHS News Releases

Statement from Secretary Mayorkas on President Biden’s Customer Experience Executive Order

— December 13^th 2021 at 18:07

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas released the following statement on President Biden’s Executive Order, Transforming Federal Customer Experience and Service Delivery to Rebuild Trust in Government:

“Today’s Executive Order is a historic step forward in ensuring that all Americans who interact with the federal government can more easily access its programs and services. The Department of Homeland Security is committed to ensuring the public can seamlessly interact with its agencies and offices and is taking key steps to reduce administrative burdens and improve efficiency, equity, and accessibility throughout the customer experience.”

The President’s Executive Order, explicitly designed to reduce the “time tax” imposed on people who interact with federal agencies, builds on a long list of initiatives launched by DHS this year to eliminate unnecessary administrative barriers and burdens related to disaster assistance, immigration, trade and travel facilitation, and much more.

Under today's Executive Order, the Department’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will:

develop a streamlined, online disaster assistance application;
work with states to proactively update existing rules and policies on supporting documentation needed for disaster assistance to reduce burdens to applicants and increase accessibility;
test the use of innovative technologies at airport security checkpoints to reduce passenger wait times; and,
provide new opportunities for the public to more efficiently connect with TSA, including through online chat options, improved communication during additional screenings, and other mechanisms to receive customer feedback to inform future improvements to the customer experience.

DHS interacts more frequently on a daily basis with the American public than any other federal agency, from travelers moving through our air, land, and sea ports of entry to businesses importing goods into the country to immigrants applying for benefits. The Department will continue to take proactive steps to ensure the public can efficiently access the services and programs it offers, including by increasing transparency and accessibility through policy and regulatory changes, and improving the digital experience for DHS customers.

Keywords: Executive Order, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Topics: Secretary of Homeland Security

DHS News Releases

Secretary Mayorkas Swears in Chris Magnus as CBP Commissioner

— December 13^th 2021 at 16:44

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas today delivered the Oath of Office to Chris Magnus, the fifth Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

“Chris Magnus has decades of experience as a law enforcement officer and I am pleased he will now serve as the Commissioner of CBP,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “He is assuming the leadership of an extraordinary organization that fulfills the vital mission of protecting our borders and advancing lawful trade and travel. I am immensely grateful to Troy Miller, who has served as the Acting Commissioner with tremendous skill and integrity. Mr. Miller will serve as CBP’s Deputy Commissioner. Commissioner Magnus and Deputy Commissioner Miller, along with the entire CBP leadership team and its great workforce, will propel the agency forward with dignity, integrity, transparency, and accountability.”

In addition to Secretary Mayorkas, Commissioner Magnus was joined by his husband, Terrance Cheung, Deputy Commissioner Troy Miller, Executive Assistant Commissioner Benjamine Huffman, CBP Chief of Staff Lise Clavel, and members of the DHS and CBP workforce.

Prior to joining CBP, Commissioner Magnus served as the Police Chief of Tucson, Arizona. Commissioner Magnus has also served as police chief in Fargo, ND and Richmond, CA. Commissioner Magnus grew up in Lansing, MI. He earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice and his master’s degree in labor relations from Michigan State University.

Magnus was confirmed on December 7, 2021.

Secretary Mayorkas Swears in Chris Magnus as CBP Commissioner (DHS Photo by Benjamin Applebaum/Released)

View Original

Keywords: Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

DHS News Releases

Secretary Mayorkas Congratulates Department Recipients of 2021 Presidential Rank Award

— December 10^th 2021 at 15:18

WASHINGTON – Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas today congratulated the 27 members of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) workforce who received the 2021 Presidential Rank Award (PRA).

“Congratulations to the DHS recipients of the prestigious 2021 Presidential Rank Award, the Nation’s highest civil service recognition, for their exceptional displays of leadership and service,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “Every single recipient of this award has made a lasting impact on our Department and the Federal government through their talent, integrity, and dedication to our critical mission. In recognizing these incredible public servants for their transformative work, we also celebrate the colleagues who support them. The accomplishments of one are made possible by the contributions of all.”

DHS employees selected by President Biden to receive the prestigious awards include:

Distinguished Senior Executive Service (SES) Rank Awards

The Distinguished Rank Award is presented to leaders who achieve sustained extraordinary accomplishments and is given to only one percent of career SES members.

Angela S. Bailey, Management Directorate
Stacey Fitzmaurice, Transportation Security Administration
David M. Kohl, Transportation Security Administration
Joseph Maher, Office of the General Counsel
Gary C. Rasicot, U.S. Coast Guard
Keith Turi, Federal Emergency Management Agency

Meritorious Senior Executive Service (SES) Rank Awards
The Meritorious Rank Award is presented to leaders for sustained accomplishments and is awarded to only 5 percent of career SES members and SL/ST employees.

Jerry W. Agnew, Transportation Security Administration
Alexis Amparo, Federal Emergency Management Agency
David F. Bassett, Transportation Security Administration
Robert P. Burns, Science and Technology Directorate
Kelli Ann Burriesci, Transportation Security Administration (Now at Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans)
Donna P. Campagnolo, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
Kimberly Cheatle, U.S. Secret Service
Susan C. Dunbar, Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Paul Fujimura, Transportation Security Administration
Karen E. Hanlon, Transportation Security Administration
Melanie Harvey, Transportation Security Administration
Jennifer B. Higgins, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
James V. Johnson, Science and Technology Directorate
Francine J. Kerner, Transportation Security Administration
Calvin M. Lederer, U.S. Coast Guard
Troy A. Miller, Customs and Border Protection
Corey Price, Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Timothy Robbins, Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Gregory L. Teets, Federal Emergency Management Agency
Kimberly Walton, Transportation Security Administration
Kelly Wheaton, Transportation Security Administration

A Presidential Rank Award is one of the most prestigious awards in the federal career civil service, and these awards are critical to recognizing the hard work and important contributions of dedicated civil servants in the American federal workforce. This year, 230 winners from 37 federal agencies were selected by the President for their exceptional leadership, accomplishments, and service over an extended period of time. These individuals are all members of the Senior Executive Service (SES), Senior-Level (SL) and Scientific and Professional (ST) corps.

Read the full announcement from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) here. The complete list of the Presidential Rank Awards may be found on OPM’s website. More information on the program and winners can be found on the OPM blog.

Keywords: Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

DHS News Releases

DHS to Request Public Input on How the U.S. Government Can Prevent Family Separations at the U.S. Border

— December 9^th 2021 at 14:01

WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced its request that the public provide recommendations on how to permanently protect against the prior administration’s practice of intentionally separating families at the border to deter others from migrating to the United States.

“It is unconscionable to separate children from their parents as a means to deter migration,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “I have met with separated families and heard firsthand of the immense trauma they have suffered. We have an obligation to reunite separated families and ensure this cruel practice never happens again.”

The Request for Public Input will publish in the Federal Register on Friday, December 10. Comments will be accepted for 30 days until January 10, 2022. Individuals may submit comments by following the instructions in the Federal Register notice. Public feedback will be used to help develop recommendations to President Biden on how to prevent the Federal Government from implementing in the future the cruel and inhumane practice of intentionally separating families at the border as a tool of deterrence.

President Biden issued an Executive Order in February 2021 establishing the Interagency Task Force on the Reunification of Families. The Task Force, in coordination with non-governmental organizations and interagency partners, has established a process to identify families separated under the prior administration’s Zero-Tolerance policy—pursuant to which families were intentionally separated—and reunify them in the United States. Families reunified in the United States, or those seeking to enter the United States for the purposes of reunification, are eligible for humanitarian parole and to receive support services.

The Task Force is led by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. In addition to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the President’s Interagency Task Force on the Reunification of Families includes the Department of State, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Justice.

Keywords: Family Reunification, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics: Secretary of Homeland Security

DHS News Releases

Homeland Secretary and Top Cybersecurity Officials Meet with Silicon Valley Leaders to Stress Cybersecurity Priorities

— December 8^th 2021 at 03:17

SAN FRANCISCO – Secretary of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas, National Cyber Director Chris Inglis, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) Director Jen Easterly, and DHS Under Secretary for Policy Rob Silvers met yesterday with industry leaders in technology, business, and cybersecurity to discuss how the federal government and the private sector can better and more proactively partner to tackle the most pressing cybersecurity challenges.

“Cybersecurity threats impact individuals, communities, and organizations of all sizes. Increasing nationwide cybersecurity resilience is a top priority for DHS and the Biden-Harris Administration,” said Secretary Mayorkas.  “We are taking proactive steps to elevate our operational cooperation with the private sector to new heights, prioritizing our shared goal of defending a secure digital future.”

“Cybersecurity is a team sport and we each have a vital role to play,” said National Cyber Director Chris Inglis.  “Collaborating with the private sector is instrumental in the Administration’s holistic approach to tackling some of the Nation’s challenging cybersecurity issues.  That is why I welcomed the opportunity to meet with government and industry leaders in Silicon Valley to build those relationships and identify areas and opportunities for collaboration. I look forward to continued participation in this important effort.”

Yesterday’s meeting included substantive discussions aimed at improving cybersecurity-related public-private partnerships, including by strengthening operational collaboration and defining metrics of success. The discussion, which was rooted in a comprehensive analysis of the evolving threat environment, focused on what government and industry can do together to build global cybersecurity resilience.

"CISA’s Joint Cyber Defense Collaborative (JCDC) is uniquely positioned to be the front door to government for cybersecurity defense. The JCDC brings together in one place the talent, expertise, and capabilities of the federal cybersecurity ecosystem with the ingenuity, innovation, and imagination of the private sector to plan and exercise against the most serious threats; and drive down risk to the Nation at scale,” said CISA Director Jen Easterly. “I was thrilled to meet yesterday with members of the JCDC and other key industry leaders to discuss how to strengthen operational collaboration and information sharing to help protect the American people and our critical infrastructure.”

“Our strategy is to operationalize our industry partnerships to protect our critical infrastructure from cybersecurity threats,” said DHS Under Secretary for Policy Rob Silvers.  “Yesterday’s discussion with industry leaders was an opportunity to hear from them about what they need from the government to do so and how we can better work together toward our shared goals.  We will continue to build on this public-private partnership to protect the American people.”

Meeting attendees included senior leaders representing: 

AT&T
Broadcom
Cisco
Cloudflare
Google
Juniper Networks
Lumen
Mandiant
Microsoft
Palo Alto Networks
Recorded Future
SecureWorks
Tenable
VMWare

Keywords: Cyber, Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Public-Private Partnership, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics: Cybersecurity

DHS News Releases

DHS Announces Deadline Extension for National Climate Resilience Prize Competition

— December 7^th 2021 at 15:17

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the deadline for submissions for the DHS Cooling Solutions Challenge has been extended to February 24, 2022.

DHS first announced the prize competition in September 2021. The competition is the first of a new series of prize competitions focused on strengthening nationwide resilience to climate change. American innovators are encouraged to develop groundbreaking solutions for climate change-related hazards facing communities across our country. Winners will receive cash prizes from a total pool of $195,000 for their innovative solutions.

The cooling challenge is being led by DHS’s Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) and Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The challenge incentivizes American innovators to find new ways to protect people at risk of heat-related illness or death during extreme heat events or in connection with other disasters. Extreme heat is the Nation’s leading cause of weather-related deaths, and as extreme heat disproportionately harms underserved communities, developing new and better ways to protect people on the hottest days will advance equity in disaster preparedness and response efforts.

DHS administers prize competitions using authority provided under the America COMPETES Act. Challenges are open to individuals who are over the age of 18 and are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents at the time of submission, as well as to U.S. entities that are incorporated in and whose primary place of business is in the United States. Federal entities or federal employees acting within the scope of their federal employment are not eligible to participate. Eligibility is subject to verification by DHS. This verification occurs before cash prizes are awarded.

Visit Challenge.gov for information about how to apply and to learn more.

Keywords: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Science and Technology
Topics:

DHS News Releases

DHS Highlights Efforts to Address Human Trafficking

— December 3^rd 2021 at 14:49

Combating human trafficking is a top priority for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Biden-Harris Administration. Today, the White House released an updated National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, which focuses on four key U.S. and global anti-trafficking efforts: prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnerships. DHS, a leader in the fight against human trafficking, helped develop the White House whole-of-government National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking.

DHS is supporting and implementing the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking by

Building DHS capacity and bolstering partnerships with industry to prohibit forced labor in supply chains.
Developing improvements to prevent human trafficking of foreign workers and students.
Strengthening efforts by DHS personnel to identify and respond to human trafficking they may encounter in daily work. For example, Transportation Security Officers and U.S. Custom and Border Patrol agents are trained to identify indicators of human trafficking- while interacting with the traveling public at airports and ports of entry.
Improving access to immigration assistance programs for victims of human trafficking.
Increasing coordination with law enforcement agencies and the social media and technology industry to hold traffickers accountable and dismantle human trafficking networks.
Enhancing initiatives that combat forced labor and traffickers’ illicit use of financial systems.

DHS has a long-standing commitment to combat human trafficking. In the last fiscal year, DHS has made tremendous progress on this issue.

DHS Fiscal Year 2021 Highlights to Combat Human Trafficking

DHS established the Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT), a DHS-wide effort led by ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), dedicated to aligning DHS’s capabilities and expertise to advance counter human trafficking law enforcement operations, protect victims, and enhance prevention efforts.
CBP detained about 1,500 shipments (up from 324 the previous year) and seized 57 shipments with a combined estimated value of $485 million dollars (up from $55 million the previous year). CBP issued seven significant Withhold Release Orders (WROs) to prevent merchandise produced with forced labor abroad from being imported into the United States.
The number of HSI human trafficking cases increased from 947 to 1,111. Arrests increased from 1,746 to 2,360. And 728 victims were identified and assisted.
New Continued Presence requests increased to the highest it has been in 10 years and HSI issued publicly the first-ever comprehensive Continued Presence Resource Guide.
FLETC trained more than 3,300 federal law enforcement officers through its federal basic training programs on indicators of human trafficking.
USCIS approved 559 T visas for trafficking victims and 451 T visas for their family members. Also, USCIS is now issuing Bona Fide Determinations for U visa applicants, which brings them protection from removal and access to work authorization much sooner.
ICE Enforcement & Removal Operations now has human trafficking POCs in every office and has collaborated with Blue Campaign on posters and materials to distribute.
Blue Campaign provided 68 human trafficking presentations to over 4,500 Federal, Non-Governmental Organization, law enforcement, congressional, and general public attendees. Additionally, 28 new partners have joined the Blue Lightning Initiative, including its first ever university and private security firm. Blue Campaign also developed: three new trainings for youth program professionals, front line convenience store employees, and campus law enforcement and created two animated videos for youth (ages 11-17) and the trucking industry.

DHS is home to the Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCHT), which integrates the efforts of every component within DHS involved in combating human trafficking. DHS efforts range across criminal investigations, victim assistance, identifying and reporting human trafficking, external outreach, intelligence, and training. The CCHT better equips and positions DHS to accomplish and improve every aspect of its counter human trafficking efforts.

The DHS Blue Campaign educates the public, law enforcement, non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders through partnerships, advertisements, and social media about the indicators of human trafficking and how to report it.

In October, on the first anniversary of the CCHT, DHS released new initiatives across components to highlight the victim centered approach to combat sex trafficking and forced labor. In October, Secretary Mayorkas also directed DHS components to incorporate a victim-centered approach into all policies, programs, and activities governing DHS interactions with victims of crime.

Learn more about DHS’s efforts to combat trafficking.

Keywords: Blue Campaign, Center for Countering Human Trafficking, Combatting Human Trafficking, Human Trafficking
Topics: Human Trafficking

DHS News Releases

DHS Statement on Operational Implementation of MPP

— December 3^rd 2021 at 02:22

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is closely coordinating the court-mandated reimplementation of the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) with the Government of Mexico (GOM).

DHS is working with the Department of State and GOM to provide safe transport to and from certain locations in Mexico to U.S. ports of entry to attend court hearings and to facilitate access to safe and secure shelters in Mexico.

DHS will begin the court-mandated reimplementation in one location on December 6, and quickly expanding across the Southwest Border based on discussions with the GOM to address security concerns and operational constraints.

Keywords: Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP)
Topics:

DHS News Releases

DHS Announces New Cybersecurity Requirements for Surface Transportation Owners and Operators

— December 2^nd 2021 at 19:00

WASHINGTON – DHS’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today announced two new Security Directives and additional guidance for voluntary measures to strengthen cybersecurity across the transportation sector in response to the ongoing cybersecurity threat to surface transportation systems and associated infrastructure. These actions are among several steps DHS is taking to increase the cybersecurity of U.S. critical infrastructure.

“These new cybersecurity requirements and recommendations will help keep the traveling public safe and protect our critical infrastructure from evolving threats,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “DHS will continue working with our partners across every level of government and in the private sector to increase the resilience of our critical infrastructure nationwide.”

TSA is increasing the cybersecurity of the transportation sector through Security Directives, appropriately tailored regulations, and voluntary engagement with key stakeholders. In developing its approach, including these new Security Directives, TSA sought input from industry stakeholders and federal partners, including the Department’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), which provided expert guidance on cybersecurity threats to the transportation network and countermeasures to defend against them.

The TSA Security Directives announced today target higher-risk freight railroads, passenger rail, and rail transit, based on a determination that these requirements need to be issued immediately to protect transportation security. These Directives require owners and operators to:

designate a cybersecurity coordinator;
report cybersecurity incidents to CISA within 24 hours;
develop and implement a cybersecurity incident response plan to reduce the risk of an operational disruption; and,
complete a cybersecurity vulnerability assessment to identify potential gaps or vulnerabilities in their systems.

TSA is also releasing guidance recommending that all other lower-risk surface transportation owners and operators voluntarily implement the same measures. Further, TSA recently updated its aviation security programs to require that airport and airline operators implement the first two provisions above. TSA intends to expand the requirements for the aviation sector and issue guidance to smaller operators. TSA also expects to initiate a rule-making process for certain surface transportation entities to increase their cybersecurity resiliency.

These efforts are part of a series of new steps to prioritize cybersecurity across DHS. Secretary Mayorkas first outlined his vision for the Department’s cybersecurity priorities in March, which included a series of focused 60-day sprints designed to elevate existing work, remove roadblocks to progress, and launch new initiatives and partnerships to achieve DHS’s cybersecurity mission and implement Biden-Harris Administration priorities. To learn more about the sprints, please visit www.dhs.gov/cybersecurity.

To view TSA’s Security Directives and guidance documents, please visit: www.tsa.gov/for-industry/surface-transportation-cybersecurity-toolkit.

Keywords: Aviation Security, Cybersecurity, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), Rail Security, Transportation, Transportation Sector, Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
Topics: Cybersecurity, Critical Infrastructure Security, Transportation Security

DHS News Releases

DHS, Justice, and State Prepare for Court-Ordered Reimplementation of MPP

— December 2^nd 2021 at 14:56

WASHINGTON – As required by a federal court order, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has been working in good faith to re-implement the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) program. Today, in coordination with the Departments of State and Justice, DHS announced key changes to MPP to address humanitarian concerns raised by the Government of Mexico and shared by the U.S. Government. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas has repeatedly stated that MPP has endemic flaws, imposed unjustifiable human costs, pulled resources and personnel away from other priority efforts, and failed to address the root causes of irregular migration.

To comply with the court order, however, DHS will be ready to reimplement MPP once the Government of Mexico makes a final and independent decision to accept the return of individuals enrolled in the program, subject to certain humanitarian improvements. These key changes include a commitment that proceedings will generally be concluded within six months of an individual’s initial return to Mexico; opportunities for enrollees to secure access to, and communicate with, counsel before and during non-refoulement interviews and immigration court hearings; improved non-refoulement procedures; and an increase in the amount and quality of information enrolled individuals receive about MPP. DHS will exclude particularly vulnerable individuals from being enrolled in MPP. In addition, DHS will provide COVID-19 vaccinations for all persons enrolled in MPP.

The U.S. Government will work closely with the Government of Mexico to ensure that there are safe and secure shelters available for those enrolled in MPP; that individuals returned under MPP have secure transportation to and from U.S. ports of entry; and that MPP enrollees are able to seek work permits, healthcare, and other services in Mexico.

On October 29, 2021, Secretary Mayorkas issued a new memorandum announcing and explaining his decision to terminate the program. This Administration, however, remains under a court order requiring it to reimplement MPP in good faith, which it will abide by even as it continues to vigorously contest the ruling.

Once the court injunction is lifted, MPP will be terminated.

The Administration remains committed to building a safe, orderly, and humane immigration system that upholds our laws and values. DHS also continues to process individuals in accordance with U.S. law and our mission.

Keywords: Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP)
Topics:

DHS News Releases

Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman Publishes New Resources to Expand Community Outreach Efforts

— December 1^st 2021 at 17:48

The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CIS Ombudsman) recently published new resources on its website to raise awareness of the office’s mission and to reach a broader population of stakeholders. The CIS Ombudsman is dedicated to improving the quality of citizenship and immigration services delivered to the public by providing individual case assistance, identifying systemic issues, and making recommendations to improve the administration of immigration benefits by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).

“I applaud the Administration’s commitment to identifying barriers that impede access to immigration services and benefits, a focus closely aligned with the CIS Ombudsman’s statutory mission,” said Phyllis A. Coven, CIS Ombudsman. “The President’s recent executive orders open the door for enhanced collaboration with USCIS and opportunities to maximize our office’s contributions to creating a more responsive and transparent immigration system.”

The CIS Ombudsman is committed to engaging with the public through a multilayered outreach approach, with an emphasis on outreach to vulnerable and underserved populations. The CIS Ombudsman engages regularly with a broad range of stakeholders across the country to understand their concerns and identify trends and areas in which individuals and employers encounter problems when seeking immigration benefits from USCIS. The CIS Ombudsman has also released new resources to assist customers who contact USCIS for assistance. These resources include:

A tip sheet on how to communicate effectively with the USCIS Contact Center;
An informational video (in English) that provides an overview of the CIS Ombudsman’s mission and highlights examples of the types of case assistance provided by the office; and
Translations of the CIS Ombudsman’s informational brochure and case assistance infographic in the following languages: Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French, Haitian Creole, Portuguese, Russian, Somali, and Vietnamese. These materials provide step-by-step instructions on how to submit a request for case assistance to the CIS Ombudsman using Form DHS-7001, along with an overview of the request for case assistance process.

Established by Congress as part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the CIS Ombudsman is dedicated to improving the quality of citizenship and immigration services delivered to the public by providing individual case assistance, engaging with immigration stakeholders across the country to gather feedback, identifying systemic issues, and making recommendations to improve the administration of immigration benefits in the United States.

For more information, and to access additional materials to help individuals navigate the immigration process, visit the CIS Ombudsman’s resources webpage.

Keywords: Office of the Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman (CISOMB)
Topics: Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman

DHS News Releases

DHS Begins Implementation of Immigration Enforcement Priorities

— November 29^th 2021 at 18:13

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security today announced it will begin implementation of the Guidelines for the Enforcement of Civil Immigration Law signed by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas on September 30.

“Today is an important step forward in ensuring that our workforce is empowered to exercise its prosecutorial discretion and focus its enforcement efforts on those who pose a threat to our national security, public safety, and border security,” said Secretary Mayorkas. “DHS will carry out our mission to safeguard our country justly and humanely. In making our enforcement decisions, we will focus our efforts on the greatest threats while also recognizing that the majority of undocumented noncitizens, who have been here for many years and who have contributed positively to our country’s well-being, are not priorities for removal.”

With the new guidelines, officers will, to the fullest extent possible, obtain and review the entire criminal record, administrative record, and any other investigative information available, to include both aggravating and mitigating factors, in making their enforcement decisions. This will ensure a thorough and case-by-case assessment of whether enforcement action is warranted and appropriate, thus allowing DHS to focus its limited resources on cases of greatest importance to the national interest.

Officers are receiving continuous training on the guidelines and participating in small group sessions to ensure consistent application of the guidelines nationwide. Officers also are receiving ongoing web-based and in-person training to ensure effective implementation.

As described in the September 30th memo announcing the new guidelines, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will ensure there is a fair and equitable case review process that affords noncitizens and their representatives an opportunity to obtain expeditious review of an enforcement action taken. ICE will be issuing a memo in short order describing this process.

Secretary Mayorkas will continue to hold engagements with the DHS workforce and leadership across the country, as well as with a range of stakeholders including law enforcement, civic, and community leaders as the new guidance is implemented.

Keywords: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics: Secretary of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement

DHS News Releases

Operation Allies Welcome Announces Departure and Resettlement of Last Afghan Nationals from Fort Lee, Virginia

— November 17^th 2021 at 14:34

WASHINGTON — Today, Operation Allies Welcome (OAW) resettled the last group of Afghan nationals from Fort Lee, Virginia, the first of eight Department of Defense (DOD) installations established to temporarily house vulnerable Afghans, including those who are Special Immigrant Visa (SIV) applicants. To date, more than 25,000 Afghan evacuees have been resettled in communities across our country. These resettlement efforts are led by the Department of State in close coordination with more than 200 local resettlement affiliates across the United States.

“This historic milestone highlights the ongoing commitment and perseverance we have witnessed to safely welcome our Afghan allies to the United States through a whole-of-society effort,” said Robert J. Fenton, Jr., Senior Response Official for Operation Allies Welcome. “As we complete operations at Fort Lee, we are incredibly proud of the collaboration that has led to the resettlement of more than 25,000 vulnerable Afghans, including those who worked on behalf of the United States, into local communities across our country.”

DOD continues to provide temporary housing facilities for the remaining approximately 45,000 vulnerable Afghans who are in the process of completing their resettlement while at the following seven military installations: Camp Atterbury, Indiana; Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey; Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico; Fort Bliss, Texas; Fort Pickett, Virginia; Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia; and Fort McCoy, Wisconsin. While on these installations, Afghan evacuees have access to a range of services, including medical care and resettlement services, and they can apply for work authorization.

“Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and Guardians have given – and continue to give – steadfast support as part of Operation Allies Welcome,” said U.S. Air Force Gen. Glen D. VanHerck, U.S. Northern Command commander. “Last summer, Fort Lee was the first of eight DOD installations to welcome Afghans as they underwent the resettlement process, and today the task force at Fort Lee is the first to bid farewell to the Afghans as they proceed on to their lives in America.”

Prior to entering the United States, Afghan evacuees must successfully complete a rigorous, multi-layered screening and vetting process that includes biometric and biographic screenings conducted by intelligence, law enforcement, and counterterrorism professionals from the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), and other Intelligence Community partners. Afghan evacuees also receive critical vaccinations – which include measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR), varicella, polio, COVID-19, and others – as a condition of their humanitarian parole. All OAW arrivals are tested for COVID-19.

###

Keywords: Operation Allies Welcome
Topics:

DHS News Releases

DHS Update Regarding the Investigation of Horse Patrol Activity in Del Rio, Texas on September 19, 2021

— November 16^th 2021 at 13:23

WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) provides this update regarding the investigation of horse patrol activity in Del Rio, Texas on September 19, 2021. The activity under investigation, which was captured in photographs and video that circulated nationwide, occurred during the large gathering of Haitian and other migrants near the International Bridge.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) initially referred the investigation to DHS’s Office of Inspector General (OIG). The OIG declined to investigate and referred the matter back to CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). OPR then immediately commenced investigative work, including its review of videos and photographs and the interview of witnesses, employees, and CBP leadership. OPR has followed customary process in its investigation of this matter.

Once completed, the results of the investigation will be provided to CBP management to determine whether disciplinary action is appropriate and, if so, the specific discipline to be imposed. At that time, the employees will be afforded due process, including an opportunity to respond, and any corrective actions will comport with applicable laws and regulations. The disciplinary process, which is separate from the fact-finding investigation, is subject to certain timelines established in CBP’s labor-management agreement with the employees’ union of the United States Border Patrol.

DHS remains committed to conducting a thorough, independent, and objective investigation. DHS will share information, as available, consistent with the need to protect the integrity of the investigation and individuals’ privacy.

Set forth below is a more detailed overview of the key steps of the investigative and disciplinary processes that govern this kind of matter:

CBP’s Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is the office charged with investigating alleged misconduct of CBP employees.
In accordance with DHS policy, OPR refers all allegations of serious misconduct against law enforcement officers to the DHS Office of Inspector General (OIG).
OPR may share its initial findings with the United States Attorney’s Office to alert federal prosecutors of the facts of the case and ensure that administrative actions do not inadvertently compromise any potential criminal investigation. Depending on the circumstances, OPR may wait to interview the subject(s) of an investigation until the U.S. Attorney makes a decision on whether or not to pursue the case.
If the U.S. Attorney accepts the case, OPR coordinates with the Department of Justice on the investigation. In most situations, OPR defers to the prosecuting entity, which generally means that it will wait for the completion of the criminal case before conducting interviews of the subjects involved.
If the U.S. Attorney declines the case, OPR continues with the final steps remaining in the investigation. The results of the completed investigation are then provided to CBP management to evaluate whether disciplinary action is warranted.
In determining what disciplinary action to take, deciding officials are typically required to consider a number of factors, referred to in case law as the Douglas Factors (based on criteria set forth in the 1981 case, Douglas vs. Veterans Administration), to include an analysis of the nature and seriousness of the action; the employee’s role and position, work record, and disciplinary history; the notoriety of the offense; and the consistency of the proposed penalty with discipline imposed for analogous offenses.
The employee is issued a decision letter in which the individual is advised of the decision, which charges were sustained or not sustained, the factors considered in deciding on the chosen disciplinary action, and appeal rights, if any. For certain types of disciplinary actions, such as long suspensions and removal actions, the agency is required by law to provide at least 30 days’ notice and an opportunity to respond before effectuating the discipline.
The appeal avenues available to the employee depend on the type of discipline imposed, the employee’s employment history, and the employee’s bargaining unit status. Depending on the circumstances, employees have the right to the following processes: review by the Merit Systems Protection Board; review by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission; a negotiated grievance procedure and arbitration; and an internal administrative grievance procedure. Which of those processes would apply depends on the circumstances.

Keywords: Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
Topics: Border Security

DHS News Releases

Statement from Secretary Mayorkas on the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act

— November 15^th 2021 at 22:23

Today, President Biden signed into law the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. This infrastructure bill delivers historic investments in our Nation’s crumbling infrastructure and, in doing so, creates millions of jobs and provides much-needed relief to disadvantaged communities across our country.

I was honored to be present at the President’s signing ceremony today. Our Department of Homeland Security will receive significant funds to advance our work on behalf of the American people. The bipartisan bill delivers almost $8 billion to our Department, including:

$430 million to CBP for the construction and modernization of our land ports of entry and equipment and fixtures for operations.
$434 million to the Coast Guard for better housing for service members, safety and training facilities, family support and child development centers, and shore construction.
Almost $6.8 billion to FEMA, to be allocated as follows:
- $67 million for dam safety and assistance to states;
- $2.2 billion for federal assistance through grants and programming;
- $1 billion for disaster relief funding over the next five years; and
- $3.5 billion for the National Flood Insurance Program.
$135 million to CISA for risk management operations, stakeholder engagement, and cyber response and recovery efforts over the next five years.
$157.5 million to S&T for critical infrastructure security and resilience research and development.

In addition, GSA will receive more than $3 billion for critical investments in CBP’s Border Patrol stations and land ports of entry.

The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will have a profound impact on our Department and our ability to execute our mission. The funds we receive will support and advance your incredible work to keep our homeland secure.

Keywords: Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

DHS News Releases

DHS Launches Innovative Hiring Program to Recruit and Retain World-Class Cyber Talent

— November 15^th 2021 at 13:12

WASHINGTON – Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched the Cybersecurity Talent Management System (CTMS), a new personnel system that will enable DHS to more effectively recruit, develop, and retain our Nation’s top cybersecurity professionals. CTMS will enable DHS to fill mission-critical cybersecurity positions by screening applicants based on demonstrated competencies, competitively compensating employees, and reducing the time it takes to be hired into the Department. Employees hired through this system will join the new DHS Cybersecurity Service, the Nation’s preeminent federal cybersecurity team working to protect U.S. critical infrastructure and the American people from cybersecurity threats, and increase nationwide resilience.

“The DHS Cybersecurity Talent Management System fundamentally re-imagines how the Department hires, develops, and retains top-tier and diverse cybersecurity talent,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “As our Nation continues to face an evolving threat landscape, we cannot rely only on traditional hiring tools to fill mission-critical vacancies. This new system will enable our Department to better compete for cybersecurity professionals and remain agile enough to meet the demands of our critical cybersecurity mission.”

Federal hiring practices need to meet mission and market demands in the dynamic field of cybersecurity. CTMS is one tool that will help DHS overcome challenges related to recruiting, developing, and retaining top-tier cybersecurity talent.

DHS will initially leverage CTMS to fill high-priority jobs at the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and DHS Office of the Chief Information Officer. Beginning in 2022, DHS Cybersecurity Service jobs will be available across several DHS agencies with a cybersecurity mission.

CTMS builds on the Department’s efforts to create a robust, diverse cybersecurity workforce and fill critical positions. Earlier this year, Secretary Mayorkas announced the most successful cyber hiring initiative in the Department’s history and established the Secretary’s Honors Program to recruit talented recent graduates.

To learn more about CTMS and jobs in the DHS Cybersecurity Service, visit dhs.gov/cybersecurityservice. To apply for jobs in the DHS Cybersecurity Service, visit http://dhscs.usajobs.gov/Home.

Keywords: Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

DHS News Releases

DHS Issues National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin

— November 10^th 2021 at 20:49

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas issued a National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) Bulletin regarding the current heightened threat environment across the United States. This NTAS Bulletin replaces the current Bulletin, which was set to expire tomorrow at 2:00 pm.

As of November 10, 2021, DHS is not aware of an imminent and credible threat to a specific location in the United States. The United States continues to face a diverse and challenging threat environment as we approach several religious holidays and associated mass gatherings that in the past have served as potential targets for acts of violence. Through the remainder of 2021 and into 2022, domestic violent extremists (DVEs), including racially or ethnically motivated violent extremists and anti-government/anti-authority violent extremists, will continue to pose a significant threat to our homeland. Of note, DVEs and those inspired or motivated by foreign terrorists and other malign foreign influences will continue to exploit online forums to influence and spread violent extremist narratives and promote violent activity. The ongoing global pandemic continues to exacerbate these threats. Further, foreign terrorist organizations and DVEs continue to attempt to inspire potential followers to conduct attacks in the United States, including by exploiting recent events in Afghanistan.

“DHS has renewed its commitment to work with our partners across every level of government, the private sector, and local communities to combat all forms of terrorism and targeted violence. We have also renewed our commitment to communicate with the American public often about the evolving threat landscape,” said Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Today, we are issuing the fourth NTAS Bulletin since January 2021. The threat stream has not changed significantly; however this is an important product that keeps the public updated about threats facing the United States and underscores the importance of the public to staying vigilant and reporting suspicious activity to law enforcement.”

Individuals can report suspicious activity and threats of violence, including online threats, to local law enforcement, FBI Field Offices, or a local Fusion Center. DHS and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will continue to provide guidance to state, local, tribal, territorial, and campus law enforcement and public safety partners about the current threat environment. DHS is also engaging industry partners to help identify and respond to the spread of disinformation, conspiracy theories, and false narratives on social media and other online platforms, while protecting privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.

Under the Biden-Harris Administration, DHS is prioritizing combating all forms of terrorism and targeted violence and increased information sharing as part of the National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism. To this end, the Department has taken several steps to include increasing efforts to share timely and actionable information and intelligence to the broadest audience at the lowest classification possible, establishing a dedicated domestic terrorism branch within its Office of Intelligence & Analysis, forming the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships (CP3) to provide communities with the tools to help individuals before they radicalize to violence, and increasing investments in grant programs to strengthen nationwide capabilities to detect and protect against these threats.

This is the fourth NTAS Bulletin issued by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since January 2021, and it will expire on February 8, 2022. The NTAS Bulletin provides the public with information about the threat landscape facing the United States, as well as information about how to report suspicious activity. Read the NTAS Bulletin here.

Keywords: Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS)
Topics:

DHS News Releases

DHS Announces Six New Countries Eligible for the H-2A and H-2B Visa Programs

— November 9^th 2021 at 13:21

WASHINGTON – The Department of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Department of State, has announced six new countries whose nationals are eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B visa programs in the coming year. The notice listing the eligible countries will be published in the Federal Register on Nov. 10, 2021.

“The Department of Homeland Security is committed to working with our interagency partners to ensure that companies in the United States can fill temporary or seasonal jobs for which U.S. workers are not available,” said Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Adding these six new countries will enable their nationals to apply for temporary work in the United States.”

With this Notice, the Secretary of Homeland Security, with concurrence of the Secretary of State, has decided to:

Add Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Republic of Cyprus, the Dominican Republic (currently only eligible for H-2A), Haiti, Mauritius, and Saint Lucia to the list of countries eligible to participate in the H-2A and H-2B programs; and
Remove Moldova as an eligible country for the H-2A visa program because it no longer meets the regulatory standards for that program. However, Moldova’s eligibility for the H-2A program remains effective until Jan. 18, 2022, a full year from the last designation.

In total, nationals from 85 countries will be eligible to participate in the H-2A program and nationals from 86 countries will be eligible to participate in the H-2B program in the coming year.

USCIS may, in its discretion, approve H-2A and H-2B petitions (including those that were pending as of the date of the Federal Register notice), for nationals of countries not on the list of approved countries on a case-by-case basis if doing so would be in the interest of the United States, in accordance with DHS regulations. Eligibility determinations will be made according to all the relevant factors and evidence presented in the case.

For more information on these programs, see the H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers and H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Workers webpages.

Keywords: Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
Topics: Citizenship and Immigration Services

DHS News Releases

DHS Announces Fee Exemptions, Streamlined Processing for Afghan Nationals as They Resettle in the U.S.

— November 8^th 2021 at 19:26

WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that it will exempt filing fees and streamline application processing for Afghan nationals who were paroled into the United States for humanitarian reasons on or after July 30, 2021. These actions will help facilitate their resettlement in the U.S. by streamlining the processing of requests for work authorization, Green Cards, and associated services. DHS is the lead federal agency coordinating Operation Allies Welcome, the ongoing all-of-government effort to resettle vulnerable Afghans, including those who worked on behalf of the United States.

“By providing these evacuees with access to streamlined processing and fee exemptions, we will open doors of opportunity for our Afghan allies and help them begin to rebuild their lives in communities across our country more quickly,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “These actions demonstrate our ongoing commitment to Afghan nationals who provided valuable assistance to the United States over the past two decades as well as other Afghans at risk.”

Approximately 70,000 Afghans have arrived in the United States as part of Operation Allies Welcome. Following the biggest airlift in U.S. history, DHS exercised its discretion to parole many Afghan nationals, on a case-by-case basis, into the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons. Parolees may apply for work authorization using Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization, on the basis of their parole. Afghan nationals will also have the opportunity to apply for immigration benefits such as Afghan special immigrant status, lawful permanent residence, and asylum.

Additional information for Afghans can be found on USCIS's website.

Afghan nationals who were paroled into the United States on or after July 30, 2021 are eligible for the following fee exemptions and streamlined processing:

Fee Exemptions

An initial Form I-765, Application for Employment Authorization;
Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or Adjust Status (if filing Form I-485 as an Afghan special immigrant) or an associated Form I-601, Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility;
Associated biometric services.

Streamlined Processing

An initial Form I-765 for those applying for work authorization on the basis of parole (eligibility category (c)(11));
Form I-485, for applicants seeking to adjust status as an Afghan special immigrant, and any associated Form I-601; or
Form I-589, filed by certain Afghan parolees as described in Section 2502(a) of the Extending Government Funding and Delivering Emergency Assistance Act.

Keywords: Operation Allies Welcome, Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

DHS News Releases

Starting Today Fully Vaccinated Travelers Permitted to Enter U.S. via Land and Ferry Border Crossings

— November 8^th 2021 at 13:23

WASHINGTON – Starting today, foreign nationals who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and have appropriate documentation will be permitted to enter the United States via land ports of entry (POEs) and ferry terminals for non-essential reasons such as tourism. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reminds these travelers to be prepared to (1) provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination, as outlined on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website; and (2) verbally attest to their reason for travel and COVID-19 vaccination status during a border inspection.

“Today, after more than 18 months of pandemic-related travel restrictions, DHS is taking a critical step toward resuming normal travel,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “Travelers who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and have appropriate documentation are now permitted to enter the United States via our land and ferry border crossings for non-essential reasons such as visiting friends and family and engaging in tourism. DHS continues to work closely with our international partners and domestic public health experts to sustainably resume travel while protecting our communities and economic security.”

DHS’s U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is working to prevent long lines at land POEs and ferry terminals as normal travel resumes. However, long lines are expected in the initial days following pent-up demand, and CBP will adjust resources as needed, while continuing to facilitate lawful trade and travel and protect our national security. Travelers are advised to expect longer-than-normal wait times, familiarize themselves with the new guidelines, and have appropriate documentation ready during a border inspection.

U.S. citizens are reminded to bring a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-compliant document, such as a valid U.S. passport, Trusted Traveler Program card, Enhanced Driver’s License, or Enhanced Tribal Card, when re-entering the United States and should be prepared to present a WHTI-compliant document if requested by a CBP Officer during a border inspection. Any non-citizen attempting to enter the United States through illegal means or without appropriate documentation may be subject to expulsion or removal.

To help reduce wait times and long lines, travelers can take advantage of facial biometrics and the CBP One™, which is a single portal for CBP mobile applications and services.

To learn more about the updated requirements for travelers, review the DHS fact sheet.

Keywords: Border Security, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics: Border Security, Secretary of Homeland Security

DHS News Releases

Statement by Secretary Mayorkas on the Nomination of Kenneth L. Wainstein to Lead the DHS Office of Intelligence and Analysis

— November 5^th 2021 at 16:23

WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas released the following statement on the nomination of Kenneth L. Wainstein to serve as Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis at the Department of Homeland Security:

“President Biden has nominated a dedicated public servant, Kenneth L. Wainstein, to lead DHS’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis. Ken has decades of government experience at the highest levels. His deep expertise in national security, counterterrorism, and intelligence matters will benefit our Department and our Nation if he is confirmed. I urge the Senate to swiftly confirm Ken to this critical leadership role.”

Keywords: Deputy Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics: Intelligence and Analysis

DHS News Releases

DHS Selects Northeastern University to Lead Center of Excellence for Engineering Secure Environments from Targeted Attacks

— November 3^rd 2021 at 22:30

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) announced the selection of Northeastern University to lead a consortium of U.S. academic institutions and other partners for a new Center of Excellence for Engineering Secure Environments from Targeted Attacks (ESE). S&T will provide ESE with a $3.6 million grant for its first operating year of a ten-year grant period.

“Researching and developing science and technology solutions to combat emerging threats is a top priority for DHS, and I am looking forward to continuing this important work in partnership with Northeastern University,” said Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “The new Center of Excellence will provide improved access to high-quality, university-led research and education resources for the Department and the broader homeland security enterprise, while at the same time training our Nation’s next generation of homeland security leaders.”

Each Center of Excellence is led by a U.S. college or university in partnership with other academic institutions, industry, National Laboratories, and other Federally Funded Research and Development Centers. Additionally, Centers of Excellence partner with other federal agencies; state, local, and tribal governments; non-profits; and first responder organizations.

“ESE’s research agenda will foster a culture of ‘security by design’ to integrate novel engineering design concepts, technologies, and capabilities to detect, deter, mitigate, and respond to targeted attacks.” said Kathryn Coulter Mitchell, the Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary for Science and Technology. “By partnering with universities, S&T delivers innovative, practical, multidisciplinary, customer-driven solutions.”

The ESE research portfolio brings together the best across the nation to ensure DHS counterterrorism capabilities keep pace with new or emerging threats. This includes employing the latest tools, technologies, and protective measures to secure environments that are easily accessible to large numbers of people, such as crowded spaces and public transportation venues. A cornerstone of the ESE is premier training and continuing education for the workforce on the latest methods to identify and protect the nation from terrorist threats.

For more information about the S&T Centers of Excellence click here, and for more information about S&T Office of University Programs click here.

Keywords: Science and Technology
Topics:

DHS News Releases

DHS Releases Details for Fully Vaccinated, Non-Citizen Travelers to Enter the U.S. at Land and Ferry Border Crossings

— October 29^th 2021 at 23:10

WASHINGTON — Today, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced that non-citizen travelers who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and have appropriate documentation will be permitted to enter the United States via land ports of entry (POE) and ferry terminals starting on November 8, 2021. This shift eases long-standing restrictions on non-essential travel, consistent with public health guidance. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will soon share additional information about the steps eligible travelers will need to take to enter the United States under the new rules.

“We are pleased to take another step toward easing travel restrictions at our borders in a manner that strengthens our economy and protects the health and safety of the American public,” said Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “We continue working closely with our international partners to sustainably implement new rules for resuming travel.”

Starting November 8, when arriving at a U.S. land POE or ferry terminal, non-citizen travelers should be prepared to (1) provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, as outlined on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website; and (2) verbally attest to their reason for travel and COVID-19 vaccination status during a border inspection.

Any non-citizen attempting to enter the United States through illegal means or without appropriate documentation may be subject to expulsion or removal. Travelers arriving at a U.S. land POE or ferry terminal should be prepared to present any other relevant documents as requested by a CBP Officer. U.S. citizens are reminded to bring a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI) document, such as a valid U.S. passport, Trusted Traveler Program card, Enhanced Driver’s License, or Enhanced Tribal Card, when re-entering the country and be prepared to present a WHTI-compliant document if requested by a CBP Officer during a border inspection. To learn more about the updated requirements for travelers, click here.

To prevent the spread of COVID-19, CBP implemented temporary travel restrictions on March 20, 2020, which limited travel at land POEs along the U.S. northern and southern borders to essential travel, including travel for lawful trade, emergency response, and public health purposes. Individuals engaged in essential travel will not be required to be vaccinated for COVID-19 at this time. Starting in January 2022, however, all inbound foreign national travelers seeking to enter the United States via land POEs or ferry terminals – whether for essential or non-essential reasons – must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination.

As travel begins to resume, travel volumes and wait times are expected to increase. Travelers should plan for longer than normal wait times and long lines at U.S. land border crossings when planning their trip and are reminded to exercise patience.

To help reduce wait times and long lines, travelers can take advantage of innovative technology, such as facial biometrics and the CBP One™ mobile application, which serves as a single portal for individuals to access CBP mobile applications and services.

Keywords: Coronavirus (COVID-19), Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas
Topics:

DHS News Releases

Fact Sheet: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S. at Land Ports of Entry and Ferry Terminals

— October 29^th 2021 at 22:55

Starting Monday, November 8, 2021, new requirements will go into effect for travelers entering the United States at land ports of entry (POEs) and ferry terminals.

For the first time since March 2020, non-citizen travelers will be permitted to enter the U.S. through a land border or ferry terminal for a non-essential reason (i.e., tourism), provided they are fully vaccinated and can present proof of COVID-19 vaccination status. Unvaccinated travelers may continue to cross the border for essential travel, including lawful trade, emergency response, and public health purposes.

Requirements

As travel begins to resume, travel volumes and wait times are expected to increase. The resources below are intended to prepare travelers and equip them with the information they need to improve their cross-border travel experience. Travelers should plan for longer than normal wait times and long lines at U.S. land border crossings when planning their trip and are reminded to exercise patience.

To help reduce wait times and long lines, travelers can take advantage of innovative technology, such as facial biometrics and the CBP One^TM mobile application, which serves as a single portal for individuals to access CBP mobile applications and services.

Arrival at Land Port of Entry or Ferry Terminal

Starting November 8, when arriving at a U.S. land port of entry or ferry terminal, non-citizen travelers should be prepared to 1) Provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, as outlined on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website 2) Verbally attest to their reason for travel and COVID-19 vaccination status during a border inspection

Fully vaccinated, non-citizen travelers with appropriate documentation will be permitted to enter the United States for non-essential travel via land POE and ferry terminals starting on November 8, 2021.

This shift eases long-standing restrictions on non-essential travel, consistent with public health guidance. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will soon share additional information about the steps eligible travelers will need to take to enter the United States under the new rules.

Starting November 8, when arriving at a U.S. land POE or ferry terminal, non-citizen travelers should be prepared to:

present proof of COVID-19 vaccination as outlined on the CDC website; and,
verbally attest to their non-essential travel and COVID-19 vaccination status.

Individuals engaged in essential travel will not be required to be vaccinated at this time. Starting in January 2022, however, all inbound foreign national travelers crossing U.S. land POEs or ferry terminals – whether for essential or non-essential reasons – must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination.

Click here to see answers to frequently asked questions

Background

In March 2020, to prevent the further spread of COVID-19, the U.S. government issued restrictions on travel into the United States. CBP implemented temporary restrictions limiting entry at the U.S. northern and southern land borders to persons engaged in essential travel, including lawful trade, emergency response, and public health purposes. The White House suspended entry to foreign nationals who had recently been in certain countries. As the COVID-19 pandemic continued, various restrictions and requirements for foreign travel remained in place.

In October 2021, the White House announced that, starting November 8, the U.S. government would move away from the country-by-country restrictions previously applied during the COVID-19 pandemic and adopt travel policies that rely primarily on vaccination to advance the safe resumption of travel.

CDC Resources

International Travel Landing Page
Travel Requirements: Quiz
International Travel: Information for U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, Lawful Permanent Residents, and People Traveling to the U.S. on Immigrant Visas
Non-U.S. Citizen Non-U.S. Immigrants: Air Travel to the United States

Additional Information

Keywords: Border Security, Coronavirus (COVID-19), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Travel
Topics: Border Security, Transportation Security