An Overview of DHS s Role and Missions. James McCament Chief of Legislative Affairs, USCIS

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1 An Overview of DHS s Role and Missions James McCament Chief of Legislative Affairs, USCIS

2 DHS s Operational Components Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Transportation Security Administration (TSA) U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) U.S. Secret Service (USSS) 2

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4 DHS s Core Mission Areas 1. Preventing Terrorism and Enhancing Security 2. Securing and Managing our Borders 3. Enforcing and Administering our Immigration Laws 4. Safeguarding and Security Cyberspace 5. Ensuring Resilience to Disasters 4

5 1 Preventing Terrorism and Enhancing Security 5

6 Building the Homeland Security Enterprise DHS and its partners have worked since 9/11 to build a new homeland security enterprise to better mitigate and defend against dynamic threats, minimize risks, and maximize the ability to respond and recover from attacks and disasters of all kinds. 6

7 Preventing Terrorism and Enhancing Security Protecting the United States from terrorism is the founding mission of DHS. Threats from terrorism continue to evolve. More and more, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officers, as well as citizens, businesses, and communities are on the front lines of detection and prevention. Homeland security starts with hometown security and we all have a role to play. 7

8 Preventing Terrorism and Fusion Centers Enhancing Security DHS supports 72 state and major urban area fusion centers Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative Trains state and local law enforcement to recognize behaviors and indicators related to terrorism, crime and other threats 8

9 Preventing Terrorism and Enhancing Security If You See Something Say Something Campaign A simple and effective program to raise public awareness of indicators of terrorism, crime and other threats, and emphasize the importance of reporting suspicious activity to the proper law enforcement authorities 9

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11 Preventing Terrorism and Enhancing Security National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) DHS recently replaced the color-coded alert system with NTAS. NTAS allows DHS to provide timely, detailed information about terrorist threats to the public Sign up to receive NTAS alerts Visit dhs.gov/alerts Follow NTAS on 11

12 Preventing Terrorism and Risk-Based Security Enhancing Security DHS focuses on risk-based, intelligence-driven security across all modes of transportation. This approach emphasizes pre-screening for passengers and cargo to expedite travel for individuals that law enforcement knows the most about, while focusing limited resources on those who pose the greatest threat to the nation s transportation networks 12

13 Preventing Terrorism and Secure Flight Enhancing Security DHS prescreens 100 percent of passengers on flights flying to, from, or within the U.S. against government watchlists. Visa Security Program ICE deploys trained special agents overseas to high-risk areas to identify terrorist and criminal threats before they reach the U.S. 13

14 Preventing Terrorism and Enhancing Security Strengthening Global Supply Chain Security Air Cargo Screening Container Security Initiative International engagement DHS works closely with international partners to strengthen the security of the networks of global trade and travel 14

15 2 Securing and Managing Our Borders 15

16 Securing and Managing Our Borders Protecting the nation's borders land, air, and sea from the illegal entry of people, weapons, drugs, and contraband is vital to our homeland security, as well as economic prosperity. 16

17 Securing and Managing Our Borders Over the past several years, DHS has deployed unprecedented levels of personnel, technology, and resources to the Southwest border, while making critical security improvements along the Northern border. 17

18 Securing and Managing Our Borders The Border Patrol is better staffed today than at any time in its 87-year history. Along the Southwest border, DHS has increased the number of boots on the ground from approximately 9,100 Border Patrol agents in 2001 to more than 18,000 today. 18

19 Securing and Managing Our Borders The Southwest border is safe and open for business. Illegal immigration attempts, as measured by Border Patrol apprehensions, have decreased 36 percent in the past two years. Seizures of drugs, weapons and currency have increased across the board. Some of the communities with the lowest rates of violent crime are in the Southwest border region. 19

20 Securing and Managing Our Borders Mayors, police chiefs, community leaders, and recently an array of publications have reiterated the Southwest border is safer than ever before. USA Today analysis July 2011: U.S. border cities were statistically safer on average than other cities in their states. Those border cities, big and small, have maintained lower crime rates than the national average ( U.S. border cities prove havens from Mexico s drug violence, USA Today, 7/15/11) 20

21 Securing and Managing Our Northern Border Borders DHS has made critical security improvements, investing in additional Border Patrol agents, technology, and infrastructure 21

22 3 Enforcing and Administering Our Immigration Laws 22

23 Enforcing and Administering Our DHS is working to make sure that our limited resources are applied in a way that enhances public safety, border security, and the integrity of the immigration system, while respecting the rule of law. Immigration Laws 23

24 Enforcing and Administering Our Immigration Laws One of the first steps we took was the implementation of common sense policies that govern the allocation of our enforcement resources. We established, as a top priority, the identification and removal of public safety and national security threats. Secretary Napolitano, Remarks at American University, 10/5/

25 Enforcing and Administering Our Immigration Laws Over the past few years, DHS has achieved significant results in implementing an effective immigration enforcement strategy. In FY 2011, nearly 55 percent of individuals removed were convicted of felonies or misdemeanors an 89 percent increase in the removal of criminals since FY ICE removed 396,906 individuals the largest number in the agency's history. 25

26 Enforcing and Administering Our Immigration Laws Facilitating the legal immigration process USCIS redesigned the Permanent Resident Card ( green card ) and the Certificate of Naturalization to incorporate new security features. DHS formalized a longstanding policy to expedite and streamline the citizenship process for men and women serving in America's armed forces USCIS provides educational resources and information about citizenship Citizenship Public Education and Awareness Initiative 26

27 Enforcing and Administering Our Immigration Laws Secretary Napolitano congratulates Flor Dominguez, 95, sworn in as an American citizen during a naturalization ceremony in December 2009 in New York City. 27

28 Enforcing and Administering Our Immigration Laws Combating human trafficking DHS launched the Blue Campaign to Combat Human Trafficking a Department-wide initiative to combat human trafficking through enhanced public outreach, victim assistance, and law enforcement training and initiatives 28

29 4 Safeguarding and Securing Cyberspace 29

30 Safeguarding and Securing Cyberspace DHS has made significant strides in enhancing the security of the nation's critical physical infrastructure as well as its cyber infrastructure and networks. Today's threats to cybersecurity require the engagement of the entire society from government and law enforcement to the private sector and importantly, members of the public to block malicious actors while bolstering defensive capabilities. 30

31 Safeguarding and Securing Cyberspace Reducing cyber threats and vulnerabilities EINSTEIN system Helps block malicious actors from accessing federal executive branch civilian networks. EINSTEIN 2 is an automated cyber surveillance system that monitors federal internet traffic for malicious intrusions. Trusted Internet Connections DHS works to reduce and consolidate the number of external connections that federal agencies have to the Internet in order to limit the number of potential vulnerabilities to government network. 31

32 Safeguarding and Securing Cyberspace Coordinating response to cyber incidents National Cyber Incident Response Plan Enables DHS to coordinate the response of multiple federal agencies, state and local governments, international partners and private industry to incidents Plan was tested during CyberStorm III national exercise, which simulated a large scale attack on the nation s critical infrastructure 32

33 Safeguarding and Securing Cyberspace Coordinating response to cyber incidents National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) A 24-hour watch and warning center that serves as the nation's principal hub for cyber incident response Building a world-class cybersecurity team DHS is hiring a diverse group of cybersecurity professionals to secure the nation s digital assets 33

34 Safeguarding and Securing Cyberspace Raising public awareness DHS s Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign A year-round national public awareness effort to engage and challenge Americans to join the effort to practice and promote safe online practices. 34

35 5 Ensuring Resilience to Disasters 35

36 Ensuring Resilience to Disasters DHS provides the coordinated, comprehensive federal response in the event of a terrorist attack, natural disaster or to other large-scale emergencies, and works with federal, state, local, and private sector partners to ensure a swift and effective recovery effort. Using a Whole Community approach, DHS leads efforts to build a ready and resilient nation. 36

37 Ensuring Resilience to Disasters Emergency response Spring 2011 Alabama tornadoes More than 2 million liters of water, 1 million meals, roughly 60,000 tarps and other supplies had arrived or were in route within days of the storm Hurricane Irene Craig Fugate and the people at FEMA, Secretary Napolitano and President Obama have been with us since day one, and actually, before the storm arrived, they were here Maryland Gov. Martin O Malley 37

38 Ensuring Resilience to Disasters Disaster assistance President Obama has signed 225 major disaster declarations This administration has obligated over $14.5 billion in assistance for individuals, local and state governments, and private nonprofits. 38

39 Ensuring Resilience to Disasters Enhancing Emergency Communication Infrastructure National Emergency Communications Plan The first nationwide strategic plan to improve emergency communications and drive measurable progress. Urban Area Emergency Communications In 2010, OEC worked with 60 urban areas to assess emergency communications All 60 urban areas successfully demonstrated responselevel emergency communications 39

40 Ensuring Resilience to Disasters Whole Community approach Recognizes that individuals, families and communities are our greatest assets Emergency response is a team effort: FEMA and partners at the federal level State, local and tribal governmental partners Non-governmental organizations like faith-based and non-profit groups Private sector The public 40

41 Learn More About DHS Read DHS s /11 Commission Progress Report Watch the Secretary s first annual state of homeland security address Visit the DHS blog, or follow us on 41