For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010
Washington, D.C.—Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano today delivered remarks about the Department's ongoing efforts—and announced new steps—to bolster security along the Southwest border.
"Over the past 18 months, this administration has devoted more resources—including manpower, technology and infrastructure—to the Southwest border than at any point in America's history," said Secretary Napolitano. "We are committed to further bolstering our cooperation with our state, local and tribal law enforcement partners as we continue to implement strong, smart and effective enforcement strategies along our borders and throughout the nation."
In her remarks, Secretary Napolitano reiterated the administration's continued commitment to building on these successes and addressing current challenges with our federal, state, local, tribal and Mexican partners in order to keep our communities safe from threats of border-related violence and crime.
Secretary Napolitano also announced a series of new, common-sense steps to support law enforcement efforts throughout the country—beginning with a new partnership between DHS and the Major Cities Chiefs Association to create a "Southwest Border Law Enforcement Compact" that will enable non-border states and local law enforcement agencies to detail officers to state and local law enforcement agencies along the Southwest border.
Additional measures announced today include new partnerships with state and local law enforcement; expanded information sharing capabilities among law enforcement partners; enhanced technology and targeting to crack down on smuggling; additional tools to enforce our immigration laws while prioritizing the arrest and removal of dangerous criminal aliens; and increased cooperation with Mexico—already at unprecedented levels.
A fact sheet on the new measures as well as successes in the past 18 months can be found here.
Secretary Napolitano also highlighted President Obama's recent request for $500 million in supplemental funds to bolster law enforcement efforts at the Southwest border, and his decision to deploy an additional 1,200 National Guard troops to assist the ongoing efforts to secure the border and combat drug cartels.
For more information, visit www.dhs.gov.
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