Secretary Napolitano highlighted the Department's progress in 2011, emphasizing the major steps the Department has taken this year to enhance America's capabilities to secure the nation's borders and engage in smart enforcement of our immigration laws.
- The Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitiveness Declaration, signed by President Obama and Canadian Prime Minister Harper in February 2011, sets out joint priorities to advance both countries' interests in shared security and economic competitiveness. As part of the Action Plan announced in December 2011, DHS is working with U.S. and Canadian partners to develop the next generation of integrated cross-border law enforcement, interoperable radio communications, border wait time measurements, and enhanced air/land/maritime domain awareness, as well as a multitude of initiatives to streamline trusted trader and traveler programs and expedite legitimate travel and trade.
- Secretary Napolitano and Canada's Public Safety Minister Vic Toews announced the Joint Border Threat and Risk Assessment, highlighting the U.S.' and Canada's commitment to identifying and mitigating potential threats of terrorism and transnational organized crime along the shared border.
- CBP developed and successfully implemented a law enforcement effort with the Akwasasne Tribe in northern New York, which includes joint patrols and a tribal cultural awareness program for sector agents.
- CBP expanded unmanned aerial surveillance coverage along the Northern border into eastern Washington, now covering 950 miles of the Northern border. In 2011, CBP Office of Air and Marine provided nearly 1,500 hours of unmanned aerial surveillance along the Northern Border.
- In 2011, CBP opened the Operations Integration Center in Detroit—a first of its kind multi-agency communications center for CBP, DHS, and other federal, state, local, and Canadian law enforcement agencies on the northern border. The Operations Integration Center increases information sharing capabilities leading to seizures of drugs, money and illegal contraband along the U.S./Canadian border within the Detroit Sector area.