DHS Equity Action Plan

Advancing Equity at DHS

In January 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order 13985 on “Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government.” The Executive Order outlines a whole-of-government mandate to advance equity for the American public through a comprehensive approach to all government practices, including: management; policymaking (including through regulation and guidance); procurement, contracting, and budgeting; delivery of benefits and services; and data collection, reporting, and use, to tangibly improve the lives of every person across the nation, in particular, those who have been underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by persistent poverty and inequality.

DHS, along with other departments and agencies across the Federal Government, answered the call to review its programs and policies and assess whether members of underserved communities face systemic barriers in accessing benefits and opportunities available pursuant to those policies and programs. In April 2022, DHS released its first Equity Action Plan, setting forth strategies to advance equity in seven areas of focus. 

On February 16, 2023, President Biden issued Executive Order 14091, “Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities through the Federal Government.”  This Executive Order requires agencies to formally establish equity teams led by senior designees reporting to the agency secretary and directs agencies to develop agency equity plans every year. The EO also tasks agency heads with integrating equity-advancing strategies across agency planning processes and seeking community input as plans are developed.

The 2023 Update to the DHS Equity Action Plan builds on the progress made pursuant to DHS’s inaugural Equity Action Plan, the foundational plan developed to advance equity across DHS operations and activities.  The 2023 Update highlights DHS’s accomplishments over the past three years and identifies nine focus areas to comprehensively advance equity across the Department’s policies, programs, and operations. The Update emphasizes DHS’s commitment to embed equity at the center of the agency’s mission. 

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DHS Equity Action Plan

DHS Equity Action Plan (2022) identified seven key programs with the greatest potential for advancing equity in DHS operations and activities. The programs were selected based on input from the DHS Equity Task Force in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget, as well as public feedback and input from stakeholder organizations representing underserved communities. The key program areas include:

1. Applying for naturalization
2. Accessing humanitarian protection during immigration processing
3. Bidding on DHS contracts
4. Countering all forms of terrorism and targeted violence
5. Filing complaints and seeking redress in DHS programs and activities
6. Airport screening
7. Accessing Trusted Traveler Programs

2023 Update

DHS selected the nine focus areas in the 2023 Update based on their potential for advancing equity and in light of feedback from external stakeholders representing underserved communities:

1. Reduce barriers to citizenship and naturalization through continued evaluation of programs, policies, and outreach opportunities.
2. Promote equitable use of AI technology across the Department through the development and application of new guidance as well as intra-agency coordination. 
3. Counter Domestic Violent Extremism and targeted violence through a public health-informed approach.
4. Advance equity for persons who are Limited English Proficient (LEP) by strengthening language access programs.
5. Advance equity in DHS’s screening activities through updates to training, policy, and procedures.
6. Advance equity for the 574 federally recognized Tribal Nations and their citizens by ensuring appropriate Tribal consideration and representation in the Department’s work.
7. Advance equity for persons seeking humanitarian protection during immigration processing by strengthening programs available to assist them.
8. Advance equity in the FEMA Individual Assistance Program to increase participation of undeserved communities.
9. Advance equity through Community Disaster Resilience Zones.