U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Government Website

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Safely connect using HTTPS

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock () or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  1. Home
  2. About DHS
  3. Site Links
  4. Keywords
  5. Privacy

Privacy

Last Updated: | Press Releases

Secretary Mayorkas Launches New Office of Homeland Security Statistics

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas launched the Office of Homeland Security Statistics (OHSS), which will advance the Department’s statistical reporting and analysis capabilities.

Last Updated: | Publication

DHS/USCIS/PIA-090 USCIS ArcGIS Enterprise System

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) developed the USCIS ArcGIS1 Enterprise System (AES), a Geographic Information System (GIS), which creates maps and geographic data to enable mapping as a common visual language promoting analysis and decision-making. The USCIS ArcGIS Enterprise System allows USCIS to efficiently analyze geographic data about where USCIS-related operations occur and their connections through high-level statistical aggregated reports. The ArcGIS Enterprise System is also used to geospatially display USCIS information via web-based maps to assist with decision-making across the agency and better serve its stakeholders. It will be used in operations to include evaluating office workloads, resource allocation, determining trends of potential fraud, locating current and potential USCIS assets, and identifying employees and facilities that may be at risk from natural disasters. This Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) documents the potential privacy implications associated with the collection, use, and maintenance of personally identifiable information (PII) by the ArcGIS Enterprise System. October 2023

Last Updated: | Press Releases

DHS Announces New Policies and Measures Promoting Responsible Use of Artificial Intelligence

DHS announced new policies to ensure responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) by the Department. The policies, developed by the DHS Artificial Intelligence Task Force (AITF), build on a commitment from the Biden-Harris Administration to manage the risk and harness the benefits of AI. The Department also announced that Secretary Mayorkas has appointed Chief Information Officer (CIO) Eric Hysen as the Department’s first Chief AI Officer.

Last Updated: | Publication

DHS/USCIS/PIA-089 USCIS Outreach and Engagement Program

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), External Affairs Directorate, Digital Services Division conducts outreach and engagement activities aimed at individuals who have applied for immigration benefits through traditional outreach measures such as emails, text messages, third party outreach service providers (e.g., GovDelivery.com), and postcard mailings. USCIS plans to enhance and expand these activities to include outreach through online filing and accounts and web-based tools. These activities will also involve new outreach and engagement avenues and population-specific outreach to promote immigration and naturalization (e.g., noncitizens who have applied for an immigration status or benefit, Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR), asylees, and refugees). These activities will also include outreach via individual notices/letters, interagency focus groups and studies, advertisement campaigns, outreach to non-profit and public organizations, and potentially television and/or radio broadcasts to increase interest in applying to become a naturalized U.S. citizen. 

Last Updated: | Publication

DHS Privacy Office Strategic Plan FY 2023 - 2027

The DHS Privacy Office Strategic Plan supports the Office’s mission of promoting and protecting our shared values of privacy and transparency, while safeguarding the homeland. This page contains the Privacy Office Strategic Plan for FY 2023-FY 2027.

Last Updated: | Publication

DHS/USSS/PIA-031 USSS Incident Driven Video Recording System (IDVRS)

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) U.S. Secret Service (Secret Service or USSS) is deploying Incident Driven Video Recording System (IDVRS) technology that provides enhanced transparency during recorded interactions between officers, special agents, and the public. In conformity with the Executive Order on Advancing Effective, Accountable Policing and Criminal Justice Practices to Enhance Public Trust and Public Safety, and to ensure the smooth implementation of a full IDVRS program across the agency, the Secret Service proposes to develop and deploy IDVRS technology amongst its diverse workforce of Uniformed Division personnel, Special Agents, and Technical Law Enforcement personnel through a multi-year phased plan. IDVRS further allows personnel to safely perform their duties during encounters with the public, while also assisting in the collection of evidence for use in prosecutions. The Secret Service is publishing this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) to assess the privacy risks associated with operational use of incident driven recording technology used during law enforcement interactions with the public, while also outlining the Agency’s intentions regarding footage retention and storage of information collected. This Privacy Impact Assessment discusses testing and evaluation, pending funding and future deployment, and will be updated prior to formal and final deployment. July 2023

Last Updated: | Publication

DHS/TSA/PIA-054 Security Threat Assessments of Certain Surface Transportation Employees

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is proposing a regulation to carry out the provisions of the Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 (9/11 Act), which require TSA to conduct security threat assessments (STAs) of frontline public transportation, railroad employees, and security coordinators for those entities and over-the-road-bus (OTRB) operators. These operators and populations are described in detail below. TSA is conducting this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) pursuant to the E-Government Act of 2002, because the proposed regulation would require these employees to submit personal information to TSA to conduct security threat assessments.

Last Updated: | Site Page

Threads Privacy Policy and Notice

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS or Department) will use this Threads account for external relations (communications/outreach/public dialogue), to make information and services widely available to the general public, and promote transparency and accountability. DHS Office of Public Affairs (OPA) serves as the executive agent for the DHS Threads account and controls who at the Department has access to make changes to the account.

Last Updated: | Press Releases

S&T Seeks Solutions for Privacy Preserving Digital Credential Wallets & Verifiers

DHS S&T announced a new solicitation to create, improve and implement a new set of tools that protect the privacy of individuals when using digital credentials that can be used for a variety of purposes including travel, immigration and citizenship status, employment, residency status and more.

Last Updated: | Publication

DHS/USCIS/PIA-088 Fugitives and Absconders Search Report (FASR)

USCIS is conducting this Privacy Impact Assessment (PIA) to evaluate and mitigate the privacy risks associated with the Fugitives and Absconders Search Report’s collection, use, and maintenance of personally identifiable information (PII).