For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010
LONDON – Today, Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas concluded a four-day trip to Germany and the United Kingdom, where he engaged with international partners on a range of homeland security issues, met with DHS employees, and participated in a panel discussion at the Aspen Global Security Forum.
On Tuesday, Deputy Secretary Mayorkas traveled to Berlin where he met with international counterparts to discuss a range of shared global security-related priorities, including counterterrorism, foreign terrorist fighters, and the importance of information sharing. Deputy Secretary Mayorkas discussed the European migration crisis with his counterparts, focusing on opportunities for the United States and its international partners to enhance information sharing to support counterterrorism cooperation and the screening of migrants and asylum seekers.
In Berlin, Deputy Secretary Mayorkas joined German Federal Ministry of the Interior State Secretary Emily Haber in co-chairing the Security Cooperation Group, the bilateral forum that oversees cooperation between the German Federal Ministry of the Interior and DHS. During the meeting, Deputy Secretary Mayorkas reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to working with its German counterparts to identify and interdict foreign terrorist fighter travel. Deputy Secretary Mayorkas also discussed how DHS routinely shares information with international law enforcement and our counterterrorism allies to ensure collective global security.
On Wednesday, Deputy Secretary Mayorkas traveled to London, where he co-chaired the 21st meeting of the Joint Contact Group (JCG) with Mark Sedwill, the UK Home Office’s Permanent Secretary. Since its June 2003 inaugural meeting, the JCG has provided strategic direction for U.S. – UK homeland security cooperation and collaboration.
Deputy Mayorkas reiterated and reviewed the close partnership and friendship with the UK Home Office, and emphasized cooperation to counter the terrorist threat. He and the Permanent Secretary also discussed opportunities to enhance aviation security by increasing coordination and building upon the strong working relationships between the Transportation Security Administration and the United Kingdom’s Department for Transportation and Home Office.
The Deputy Secretary and the Permanent Secretary signed a JCG Statement of Principles to re-affirm and memorialize the purpose and structure of the JCG, and a Statement of Intent to complete the Preventing and Combating Serious Crime Agreement and to fully deploy the Secure Real Time Platform.
Today, Deputy Secretary Mayorkas delivered remarks on cybersecurity, social media and terrorist recruitment as part of a panel at the Aspen Security Forum: Global in London.
Deputy Secretary Mayorkas and DHS Assistant Secretary for International Affairs and Chief Diplomatic Officer Alan Bersin meet with Home Office Permanent Secretary Sedwill and Office for Security and Counter-terrorism Director General Tom Hurd at the JCG.
(Home Office Photo)
Deputy Secretary Mayorkas and Permanent Secretary Sedwill sign a JCG Statement of Principles and a Statement of Intent.
(Home Office Photo)
Deputy Secretary Mayorkas meets with Permanent Secretary Sedwill to discuss a range of shared global security-related priorities.
(Home Office Photo)
Deputy Secretary Mayorkas participates in a panel discussion at the Aspen Security Forum: Global in London.
(DHS Photo)
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