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Fact Sheet: Select Homeland Security Accomplishments For 2006

Release Date: December 29, 2006

Securing The Nation’s Transportation System: Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

  • TSA Responds to Liquid Explosive Threat in London:In response to the foiled terror plot in England, TSA trained its 43,000 security officers to address the threat of liquid explosives in a matter of hours. After two days security wait times returned to normal levels. Six weeks later, after conducting extensive explosive testing with our federal partners, TSA again proved its flexibility by modifying its ban on liquids by allowing limited quantities onboard aircraft. Again, efficiency was not seriously affected and in fact wait times during the Thanksgiving holiday were slightly lower than in 2005.
  • TSA Strengthens Air Cargo Security: In Fall 2006, TSA issued two security directives requiring inspection of 100 percent of high risk cargo, as well as packages tendered to airlines at the ticket counters. TSA also expanded the use of explosives detection canine teams to screen cargo and added 100 air cargo inspectors.
  • TSA Screens 700,000 Port Workers: TSA conducted more than 700,000 name-based security threat assessments on port workers. In partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard, TSA issued a proposed rule and will soon issue a final rule that clears the path to begin enrollment for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program in early 2007.
  • TSA Raises Freight Rail Security Baseline: TSA worked with freight rail stakeholders to mitigate the greatest vulnerability in freight rail transportation—the standing Toxic Inhalation Hazard (TIH) rail car. These efforts provide for minimizing the occurrence of unattended TIH cars in High Threat Urban Areas, and if they are present, lowering the cars’ standstill times and providing protection or surveillance. TSA also published a notice of proposed rulemaking that would require a secure chain of custody for certain security sensitive materials and a car location reporting requirement allowing DHS to locate any car containing security sensitive materials at any time.
  • TSA Commences Baseline Security Evaluations for Mass Transit and Passenger Rail Systems: Through this program, 100 nation-wide Surface Transportation Inspectors reviewed implementation of 17 Security and Emergency Management Action Items that TSA and the Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (DOT/FTA) jointly developed, in coordination with the Mass Transit Sector Coordinating Council. Implementation of the action items helps elevate security readiness throughout the public transportation industry by establishing baseline measures.
  • TSA Strengthens TSO Workforce: TSA has enhanced the TSO workforce through increased focus on IED training, lower injury rates, new career opportunities, and a new performance incentive system.

Strengthening Border Security: Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

  • President Successfully Deploys 6,000 National Guard to Border: In support of the President’s initiative to deploy up to 6,000 National Guard personnel to the Southwest border, Border Patrol launched Operation Jumpstart. In addition to the National Guard deployment, Border Patrol staffing increased by 8 percent, from 11,265 to 12,349.
  • Increased Border Security At and Between the Nation's Ports of Entry: CBP Border Patrol agents reduced the number of apprehensions at the borders by more than 8 percent in fiscal year 2006. As a result of targeted coordinated enforcement efforts, CBP Border Patrol reduced non-Mexican illegal alien apprehensions by 35 percent. In fiscal year 2006, CBP Border Patrol seized more than 1.3 million pounds of marijuana and 11,900 pounds of cocaine between the ports of entry. CBP officers at the nation's ports of entry seized more than 644,000 pounds of marijuana, arrested more than 23,000 suspected criminals, interdicted more than 209,000 inadmissible aliens and 1.628 million agricultural interceptions (meats and plants).
  • Increased Border Security Draws Reduction in Apprehensions: CBP Border Patrol agents reduced the number of apprehensions at the borders by more than 8 percent compared to last year. As a result of targeted enforcement efforts and close coordination with other federal, state, tribal and local agencies, the Border Patrol saw a 35 percent decrease in the number of apprehensions of non-Mexican illegal aliens compared to 2005.
  • CBP Deploys Over 880 Radiation Portal Monitors at Land and Sea Ports: CBP deployed 280 new radiation portal monitors throughout the Nation’s ports of entry, bringing the number of radiation portal monitors to 881 at the Nation’s land and sea ports of entry.
  • CSI Expands to 50 Ports, Covering Over 80 Percent of Containers: CBP expanded the Container Security Initiative (CSI), increasing participating ports to 50 in fiscal year 2006. CSI now covers more than 80 percent of U.S.-bound maritime containers.
  • Processed 61 Repatriation Flights: During the evacuations from Lebanon, DHS facilitated the processing of 61 civilian and military repatriation flights or 11,287 U.S. citizens, while continuing to be vigilant in identifying any individuals who would try and enter the U.S. fraudulently or with malicious intent. DHS fully vetted all arriving persons and ensured that all persons were checked for terrorism links, criminal warrants, immigration and other violations. Federal Air Marshals, Aviation Security Inspectors and Transportation Security Officers were also deployed to key sites both in the U.S. and abroad to facilitate secure flight and screening operations. 
  • DHS Awards SBInet Contract to Boeing: DHS awarded a contract to Boeing Co. to implement SBInet along the Northern and Southern Borders. The program will provide DHS with the best possible tools to detect, identify, classify, respond to and resolve illegal entry attempts at our land borders.
  • CBP Increases Capability to Secure the Northern Border: CBP Air and Marine opened its third of 5 Air Branches planned for the Northern Border of the United States. The Great Falls Air Branch, Montana joins the Bellingham, Washington, and Plattsburgh, New York, Air Branches in supporting Homeland Security efforts along the northern tier.
  • Ports of Entry Inspections Form First Line of Defense at Land Borders: CBP officers inspected 422 million travelers, more than 132 million cars, trucks, buses trains, vessels and aircraft. CBP Officers inspected 1.19 million private vehicles, 11.48 million trucks and more than 1 million aircraft.
  • CBP Immigration Advisory Program (IAP) Enhances Security: The IAP enhances security by preventing terrorists and other high-risk passengers from boarding aircraft destined for the United States. Since its inception in 2004, IAP teams have made more than 1,000 no-board recommendations for high-risk or inadequately documented passengers. IAP accomplishments equate to approximately $1.6 million in cost avoidance associated with detaining and removing passengers who would have been returned after having been refused admission to the United States, and $1.5 million in potential air carrier potential savings.

Protecting National Security and Upholding Public Safety: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

  • “Catch and Return” Replaces “Catch-and-Release” Along the Borders: The practice of “catch and release” for non-Mexican aliens existed for years and was one of the greatest impediments to gaining control of the border. In 2006, the Department of Homeland Security and ICE re-engineered the detention and removal process to effectively end this practice along the border, an accomplishment that many considered impossible in 2005 when only approximately 29 percent of apprehended non-Mexican aliens were detained along the border.
  • ICE Sets New Record for Worksite Enforcement: More than 4,300 arrests were made in ICE worksite enforcement cases, more than seven times the arrests in 2002, the last full year of operations for U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.
  • ICE Sets New Record for Compliance Enforcement: ICE completed 5,956 compliance enforcement investigations resulting in the administrative arrest of 1,710 overstay and status violators, a 75 percent increase over the number of administrative arrests in FY 2005.
  • ICE Sets New Record for Alien Removals: ICE removed a record 189,670 illegal aliens from the country this fiscal year, a twelve percent increase over the number of removals during the prior fiscal year. ICE also increased its detention bed space by 6,300 during fiscal year 2006. Combined with fiscal year 2007 enhancements, ICE is now funded for a total of 27,700 beds.
  • ICE Nearly Triples the Number of Fugitive Operations Teams: ICE nearly tripled the number of fugitive operations teams deployed nationwide from 18 to 50. These additional teams maximized the efficiency of ICE immigration enforcement efforts to locate, apprehend and remove fugitive aliens, nearly one-third of whom have criminal histories.
  • ICE Dismantles one of the World’s Most Powerful Drug Cartels: ICE concluded a 15-year probe into Colombia’s Cali drug cartel, once responsible for 80 percent of the world’s cocaine supply, with guilty pleas by its leaders and a $2 billion forfeiture settlement. More than 141 members of this organization have been arrested, indicted or convicted as part of this ICE case.
  • ICE Targets Transnational Gangs: Through Operation Community Shield, ICE arrested roughly 2,290 violent gang members nationwide in 2006, of which 1,073 had convictions for violent crimes. Since its inception in 2005, Operation Community Shield has resulted in the arrest of 3,700 gang members.

Protecting the Public, the Environment & U.S. Economic Interests: U.S. Coast Guard

  • U.S.Coast Guard Christens First New High Endurance Cutter in Over 35 Years: The U.S. Coast Guard christened the Coast Guard cutter Bertholf, the first new high endurance cutter to be built in more than 35 years and the first National Security Cutter in its Deepwater acquisition program. The cutter was designed to satisfy the Coast Guard's multi-mission responsibilities in homeland security, national defense, marine safety and environmental protection. The Coast Guard cutter Bertholf will play an important role in enhancing the Coast Guard's operational readiness, capacity and effectiveness at a time when the demand for its services has never been higher.
  • U.S. Coast Guard Implements National Capital Region Air Defense Mission: The U.S. Coast Guard officially assumed responsibility for air intercept operations in the nation's capital from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Coast Guard will support the North American Aerospace Defense Command's mission with its rotary wing air intercept capability. Coast Guard HH-65C helicopters and crews will be responsible for intercepting unauthorized aircraft which fly into an air defense identification zone that surrounds Washington.
  • U.S. Coast Guard Arrests "Tijuana Cartel” Drug Lord: In August, off the coast of San Diego, the U.S. Coast Guard, along with federal drug agents, arrested Mexican drug lord Francisco Javier Arellano-Felix, leader of a major violent gang, known as the Tijuana Cartel, responsible for digging elaborate tunnels to smuggle drugs under the U.S. border.
  • U.S.Coast Guard Set Records for Drug Seizures and Arrests: This year, counter-drug boardings from U.S. and Royal Navy vessels resulted in all-time records for seizures and arrests. The 93,209 pounds of drugs that were seized was more than the combined amount seized in the last two years.

Preventing or Mitigating the Effects of Catastrophic Terrorism: Science and Technology (S&T)

  • DHS Launches the Air Cargo Explosives Detection Pilot Program: The $30 million program, launched at San Francisco International Airport and at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, is designed to capture vital information associated with enhanced air cargo screening and inspection, and will provide critical knowledge to help TSA make future decisions and assist in technological research and development planning for the national air cargo security infrastructure.
  • S&T Announces National Interoperability Baseline Survey Results: The Office for Interoperability and Compatibility’s SAFECOM program has released the final results of its National Interoperability Baseline Survey, fielded earlier this year to measure the capacity for interoperable communications among emergency response agencies nationwide. By identifying the Nation’s interoperability capacities, survey findings will help policy makers and emergency response leaders make informed decisions about strategies for improving interoperability and target resources. The landmark analysis surveyed 22,400 law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical service agencies nationwide, and had a response rate of approximately 30 percent. 
  • TSA Conducts Rail Security Explosives Detection Pilot Programs:  Rail Security Explosives Detection Pilot Programs were conducted in Baltimore, MD and Jersey City, NJ to test and evaluate security equipment and operating procedures as part of DHS’s broader efforts to protect citizens and critical infrastructure from possible terrorist attacks.
  • S&T Breaks Ground for the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center(NBACC): The facility will comprise roughly 160,000 gross square feet with a concentration of research and associated space. NBACC will support a staff of approximately 120, and will house two centers, the Biological Threat Characterization Center and the National Bioforensic Analysis Center.
  • DHS Awards Contracts to Support Emerging Counter-MANPADS Technologies:   S&T completed Phase II of a multi-phase program to migrate onboard military countermeasures technology to commercial aircraft to protect against shoulder-fired, anti-aircraft missiles, known as Man-Portable Air Defense Systems (MANPADS). Under Phase III of the program S&T and its industry partners are collecting operations, support, and performance data. Additionally, S&T selected three firms to receive $7.4 million in combined contract awards to assess alternative methods to counter the MANPADS threat.

Keeping America’s Doors Open While Ensuring National Security: U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services(USCIS)

  • USCIS Eliminates Backlog: Through increased productivity, reengineered processes, and automated services, USCIS eliminated case backlogs of applications for immigration services and benefits, reducing the backlog from 3.8 million cases in January 2004 to less than 10,000 at the end of September 2006.
  • USCIS Establishes National Security and Records Verification Directorate: To combat fraud and criminal activity, USCIS established the National Security and Records Verification Directorate, deploying hundreds of officers who specialize in the detection of fraudulent documentation and immigration scams to USCIS field offices and centers throughout the United States.
  • Basic Pilot Employment Eligibility Verification Program Enrolls 11,000 Employers: USCIS enrolled more than 12,500 employers and businesses in the Basic Pilot Employment Eligibility Verification Program. This program verifies the work authorization of more than one million new hires a year at 47,000 hiring sites across the United States through online employment authorization checks against Social Security Administration and DHS databases.
  • USCIS Expands Electronic Filing: USCIS expanded opportunities for customers to file service or benefit applications electronically, and then track the status of their cases online through the USCIS.gov Web site. To further simplify immigration processing, new biometric standards were developed that permit USCIS to store electronic fingerprints, photographs, and signatures.
  • USCIS Welcomes New American Service Members: USCIS naturalized members of the United States armed forces during special overseas ceremonies in Afghanistan, Djibouti, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Kenya, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and in the South Pacific aboard the USS Kitty Hawk. This year, USCIS welcomed more than 1,604 new Americans during these ceremonies.

Establishing A Nimble, Effective Emergency Response System: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

  • Rebuilding FEMA as the Preeminent Emergency Management Agency for the Nation: FEMA is concentrating efforts on improving core competencies, in such areas as Incident Management, Operational Planning, Disaster Logistics, Emergency Communications, Public Communication and Customer Service. FEMA is also focused on improving its business process to develop a strong foundation to support its mission, and has undertaken agency-wide organizational assessments in areas that range from human resources and logistics, to budgeting, communications, financial management, procurement and data systems management.
  • DHS Pre-Designates Disaster Coordination Teams: In preparation for the 2006 hurricane season, DHS pre-designated five teams to coordinate the federal government’s role in support of state and local governments preparing for, and responding to major natural disasters. In total, 27 federal officials were appointed, each with unique expertise and experience.
  • FEMA Achieves Key Developments in Assisting Disaster Victims: FEMA increased registration capability to 200,000 a day through its toll-free registration number, online registration process, registering individuals in shelters and using mobile units; increased home inspection capacity to 20,000 a day; activated a contract to assist in identity verification in future disasters; and tightened processes to speed up delivery of needed aid while simultaneously reducing waste, fraud and abuse.
  • FEMA Strengthens Logistics Management Capabilities: FEMA implemented the Total Asset Visibility (TAV) program to provide enhanced visibility, awareness, and accountability over disaster relief supplies and resources. It assists in both resource flow and supply chain management. FEMA implemented Phase One of TAV in the hurricane-prone Gulf Coast States for the 2006 hurricane season and plans to expand it to all the regions. Interagency Agreements, Memoranda of Understanding, and private sector contracts were also developed to strengthen disaster logistics capabilities.
  • FEMA Improves Communications and Situational Awareness: Real time information sharing is already occurring. To improve upon existing systems, DHS has initiated technological advances and elevated the standard by using satellite imagery, upgrading radios, and employing frequency management. The new National Response Coordination Center at FEMA is now operable. In addition, Mobile Registration Intake Centers, logistics supply systems and total asset visibility programs have been implemented.
  • Real time information sharing is occurring at all levels including local, state and federal. Advances in technology are being utilized; satellite imagery, upgraded radios and frequency management are the new standard.
  • FEMA Enlists Seasoned Leadership Team: In addition to the confirmation of Director R. David Paulison, FEMA has built a strong team of leaders across the organization who each bring more than 20 years of experience in emergency management or applicable fields. FEMA has also filled nine out of ten Regional Director positions with the same standard of experience, illustrating the vital importance of strong regional leadership, and is in the process of filling the last position.

Building a Culture of Preparedness: Emergency Preparedness

  • DHS Awards $2.6 Billion for Preparedness: Included in this total, approximately $1.7 billion in Homeland Security Grant funds has been awarded to state and local governments for equipment, training, exercises and various other measures designed to increase the level of security in communities across the nation. $400 million in grants was awarded to strengthen the nation’s ability to prevent, protect against, respond to, and recover from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies that could impact this country’s critical infrastructure. Almost $300 million was also distributed in fire grants to fire departments and EMS organizations to enhance their response capabilities and to more effectively protect the health and safety of the public and emergency response personnel with respect to fire and all other hazards.
  • DHS Reviews 131 State and Local Emergency Plans: By reviewing state and local disaster plans, collocating decision-makers, and pre-designating federal leadership, DHS is improving coordination across all levels of government. Through the Nationwide Plan Review, DHS completed visits to 131 sites (50 states, 6 territories, and 75 major urban areas) and reviewed the disaster and evacuation plans for each. These reviews will allow DHS, states and urban areas to identify deficiencies and improve catastrophic planning.
  • DHS Completes National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP): The NIPP is a comprehensive risk management framework that clearly defines critical infrastructure protection roles and responsibilities for all levels of government, private industry, nongovernmental agencies and tribal partners.
  • DHS Receives New Authority to Enhance Chemical Security: DHS was given authority by Congress to implement risk-based security standards for chemical facilities that present high levels of security risk. This allows the department to recognize the significant investments that responsible facilities have made in security, while providing the department with authority to ensure that high-risk facilities have adequate safeguards in place. 

Transforming U.S. Border Management & Immigration Systems: US-VISIT

  • DHS and DOJ Begin to Establish Interoperability: DHS and the Department of Justice began the initial phase of establishing interoperability between the US‑VISIT program’s Automated Biometric Identification System (IDENT) and the FBI’s Integrated Automated Fingerprint Identification System (IAFIS) fingerprint databases. This interoperability will increase DHS and the State Department’s ability to screen travelers, increase accuracy of matching, and provide greater ability to match against latent prints.
  • DHS Tests Biometric Verification At Sea: US-VISIT has teamed with the U.S. Coast Guard to test mobile biometrics collection at sea. The U.S. Coast Guard and US-VISIT began a pilot program to collect biometric information—digital fingerprints and photographs—from migrants interdicted while attempting to unlawfully enter U.S. territory through the Mona Passage, the body of water between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
  • US-VISIT Deploys E-Passport Readers to 33 Airports: US-VISIT completed deployment of e-Passport readers to 33 U.S. airports so that ports of entry have the capability to compare and authenticate data in e-Passports issued by Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries.

Protecting Our Nation from Dangerous Goods: Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNDO)

  • DNDO Awards over $1 Billion for Next Generation Nuclear Detection Devices: DNDO announced the award of Advanced Spectroscopic Portal (ASP) program contracts totaling $1.15 billion to enhance the detection of radiological and nuclear materials at the nation’s ports of entry. ASP models were deployed to the Nevada Test Site, where they will be tested using nuclear threat material. Portals have also been delivered to the New York Container Terminal for data collection.
  • DNDOEstablishes Nuclear Forensics Center: DNDO established the National Technical Nuclear Forensics Center to collect and analyze material evidence in order to identify and ultimately prosecute those responsible for any potential act of nuclear terrorism.

Training Our Front Line Officers: Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)

  • FLETC Trains 51,000: Over 51,000 federal, state, local, tribal, campus and international law enforcement agents and officers were trained by FLETC on topics including border security, and the prevention and detection of nuclear, radiological or biological attacks.

Establishing Policy to Protect Our Nation: DHS Policy Office

  • DHS Renegotiates Passenger Name Record Data: DHS successfully renegotiated an interim agreement regarding Passenger Name Record (PNR) data with the European Union, allowing the department to make full use of passenger data as needed to protect our borders. Under the agreement, CBP will have new flexibility to share PNR data with other counter-terrorism agencies within the U.S. government, carrying out the President’s mandate to remove obstacles to counter-terrorism information sharing.
  • Secure Freight Initiative Launches to Begin Screening at Foreign Ports: DHS and the Department of Energy announced the first phase of the Secure Freight Initiative, an unprecedented effort to build upon existing port security measures by enhancing the federal government’s ability to scan containers for nuclear and radiological materials overseas and to better assess the risk of inbound containers. The initial phase involves the deployment of a combination of existing technology and proven nuclear detection devices to six foreign ports: Port Qasim, Pakistan; Puerto Cortes, Honduras; Southampton, United Kingdom; Port Salalah, Oman; Port of Singapore; and the Gamman Terminal at Port Busan, Korea.
  • Administration Announces Security Improvements to Visa Waiver Program: The Administration announced its intention to work with Congress to reform the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), to strengthen security and facilitate international allies’ ability to join the program. A significant component of the proposed reform is the implementation of a secure travel authorization system that would allow us to receive data about travelers from VWP countries before they board a plane.

Always Be Ready: Ready Campaign

  • Ad Council Deems Ready One of the Most Successful Campaigns: The Ad Council declared the Ready Campaign one of the most successful campaigns in its more than 60-year history. The campaign has generated more than $593 million in donated media support. The Web site has received more than 1.9 billion hits, the toll-free number has received more than 272,000 calls and more than 9.7 million Ready materials have been requested or downloaded.
  • Ready Kids Launches in February: Ready Kids, an extension of the Ready campaign, was launched as a tool to help parents and teachers educate children in ages 8-12 about emergencies and how they can help get their family prepared.
  • DHS and the Ad Council Launch New Ads: Together with the Ad Council, DHS released new television, radio, print, outdoor and internet PSAs to support the Ready campaign.

Preparing for & Responding to Incidents of Medical Significance: Office of Chief Medical Officer

  • DHS Coordinates Pandemic Influenza Activities: The Office of the Chief Medical Officer (OCMO) coordinated the department's pandemic influenza preparedness activities, including: serving as DHS representative to White House Homeland Security Council's Pandemic Influenza planning processes (National Strategy, Implementation Plan for National Strategy); overseeing formation and activities of the Department's pandemic working groups; representing DHS at the Department of Health and Human Services' State Pandemic Influenza summits; establishing the Pandemic Influenza Program Office within the OCMO; developing detailed spend plan for and initiated execution of $47 million Avian Influenza supplemental appropriation.

Shaping the Intelligence Network: Intelligence & Analysis (I&A)

  • Fusion Centers Facilitate Flow of Information: I&A began embedding DHS analysts to state and local fusion centers across America. DHS has already deployed personnel to five centers and has provided over $380 million in support of these centers.
  • DHS Enhances Information Sharing with Government and Private Partners: I&A analysts produced and distributed nearly 450 intelligence products which provided actionable information which helped our partners protect their communities and critical infrastructure.
  • Installation Begins on Homeland Security Data Network (HSDN): While an interim capability has been in use for several years, I&A began installing the Homeland Security Data Network, a classified network that will allow the advanced, real-time communications capability to exchange information up to the Secret level with our partners at the federal, state and local level. HSDN will be installed in every fusion center where I&A deploys an officer.

Integrating and Unifying All Aspects of the Screening Process: Office of Screening Coordination

  • Office of Screening Coordination Created:DHS started the Office of Screening Coordination to integrate the department’s terrorist and immigration-related screening efforts, create unified screening standards and policies, and develop a single redress process for travelers. The office will generate new and innovative approaches to how the department detects and interdicts threats of all types and improve the experience for legitimate foreign travelers entering the United States.

Strengthening and Unifying DHS Operations And Management: DHS Management

  • Chief Human Capitol Office Moves Forward with Performance Management Goals: DHS deployed its performance management program and its automated system to approximately 10,000 employees in multiple components and trained 350 senior executives and more than 11,000 managers and supervisors in performance leadership.
  • The Office of Security Completes HSPD-12 Goals: The Office of Security met all Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD) 12 requirements by deploying an HSPD-12 compliant credentialing system and associated policy and procedures. This new credential meets all federal requirements for interoperability and security.
  • The Chief Procurement Office Exceeds Small Business Goals: DHS awarded approximately 34 percent of DHS prime contracts to small businesses, exceeding the goal by 4 percent.
  • Chief Information Office Stands Up New Data Center: Data Center Services completed the Stennis Space Center Data Center Construction Phase I, 24,000 square feet, on time and the first application has been transferred to this data center.

Countering the Drug Threat to the United States: Counternarcotics Enforcement (CNE)

  • National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Implementation Plan Closes Gaps: On August 18th, 2006, DHS and the Department of Justice (DOJ), serving as co-chairs and represented by the Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement (CNE) and the Office of the Deputy Attorney General (ODAG) respectively, submitted a National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy and Implementation Plan to the International Drug Control Policy Coordinating Committee (IDC-PCC). This 235 page document identifies the major goals, objectives, and resource requirements for closing gaps in U.S. and Mexico counternarcotics capabilities along the Southwest Border.
  • Statement of Intent Specifies Department’s Effort Level in Counternarcotics Operations: The Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement, in collaboration with the DHS Components, developed a document that formally specifies the Department’s intended baseline level of effort (personnel and resources) that will be made available to support counternarcotics operations. This Interagency Statement of Intent, required by the National Interdiction Command and Control Plan, will assist operational commanders in allocating resources to collect drug-related intelligence, as well as support operations that interdict drug smugglers in South America, Central America, the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific regions.

Protecting America and Preserving Our Freedoms: Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL)

  • CRCL Implements New Training Through The Civil Liberties University: The Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, working with component offices throughout DHS, developed a number of useful training products and posters for DHS personnel, including: an hour-long training on the introduction to Arab American and Muslim American Cultures; on-line training that emphasizes the core elements of the National Detention Standards developed by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Detention and Removal Office; two posters that provide guidance on how to screen and, if necessary, search individuals who wear common Muslim and Sikh head coverings; and an educational poster on how to screen those of the Sikh faith who carry a kirpan, or ceremonial religious dagger.
  • CRCL Implements Effective Processing of EEO Complaints: The Equal Employment Opportunity Program has developed an effective process for issuing Final Actions by hiring subject-matter experts, having a multi-tier quality control process, utilizing contractor support and exercising strong project management controls. The first priority has been addressing the oldest cases received from DHS’s legacy organizations. The oldest case pre-dated DHS by 16 years. As of December 1, 2006, CRCL received over 3812 EEO complaints of discrimination for final agency action and over 3576 decisions have been issued.
  • DHS Co-sponsors Working Conference on Emergency Management and Individuals with Disabilities and the Elderly: CRCL, in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services, co-sponsored a working conference on June 28-30, 2006. The conference brought together Governor-appointed State teams to connect State emergency management officials with key disability and aging experts to work toward integration of efforts within their jurisdiction’s emergency management framework; to facilitate cooperative planning with senior officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency regions; and to identify and institute measurable outcomes and systems for tracking results.
  • CRCL Continues Engagement with American Arab, Muslim, Sikh, South Asian and Other Ethnic and Religious Communities: CRCL has actively lead or participated in regularly-scheduled meetings with representatives from the American Arab, Muslim, Sikh, and South Asian communities in Houston, Los Angeles, Detroit, Chicago, Buffalo, and Washington, DC. CRCL has also established working relationships with immigration advocacy groups concerned with border security and naturalization policies, and with leaders of the disability community to discuss emergency preparedness issues, particularly in the context of natural disasters.

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This page was last reviewed/modified on December 29, 2006.