For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010
WASHINGTON - Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano yesterday met with Brazilian Minister of External Relations Antonio de Aguiar Patriota to discuss the U.S.-Brazil Homeland Security Dialogue that will highlight joint efforts to enhance domestic security, facilitate legitimate trade and travel, secure the global supply chain, and promote civil aviation security.
“Brazil is one of the United States’ closest partners in protecting the Americas from evolving threats,” said Secretary Napolitano. “This Dialogue will affirm our ongoing commitment to enhance aviation and global supply chain security, and facilitate legitimate trade and travel.” Secretary Napolitano and Minister Patriota agreed that the first meeting of the U.S.-Brazil Homeland Security Dialogue will be held in 2013.
This dialogue marks the next step in our partnership with Brazil. In July, Secretary Napolitano traveled to Brasilia and Sao Paulo, Brazil with U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner David V. Aguilar and Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Alan Bersin, and signed a Joint Statement of Intent on Travel Facilitation with Minister Patriota—establishing a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Working Group, which met for the first time in Washington, D.C. on Oct. 22nd. While in Brazil, Secretary Napolitano also signed a Joint Statement on Global Supply Chain Security with Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega and Director of Customs Carlos Alberto Freitas Barreto; an agreement on combating human trafficking with President of the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court and Chief Justice Carlos Ayres Britto; and a Joint Statement of Intent on Civil Aviation Security with Minister of Civil Aviation Wagner Bittencourt.
For more information, visit www.dhs.gov.
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