Latest news and press releases.
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Biden Administration Begins This Week to Reunite Families Separated Under the Prior Administration
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas and the Family Reunification Task Force announced that the Biden Administration will begin to reunite families who were unjustly separated at the United States-Mexico border under the prior administration.
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Infographic: DHS Action on the Southwest Border Yields Results
DHS and HHS were left to rebuild the capacity to shelter and process the children, after having inherited a system that had been entirely dismantled by the prior administration. This infographic demonstrates the tremendous progress that DHS and its partners have made to safely and efficiently transfer unaccompanied children out of CBP custody and into the care of the Department of Health and Human Services.
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Photos: DHS Action on the Southwest Border Yields Results
DHS and HHS were left to rebuild the capacity to shelter and process the children, after having inherited a system that had been entirely dismantled by the prior administration. These photos demonstrate the tremendous progress that DHS and its partners have made to safely and efficiently transfer unaccompanied children out of CBP custody and into the care of the Department of Health and Human Services.
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DHS Announces Steps to Protect Border Communities from Wall Construction
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced initial steps to protect border communities from physical dangers resulting from the previous administration’s approach to border wall construction.
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Statement by Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas on President Biden’s Nomination of Ed Gonzalez for ICE Director
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas released the following statement on President Biden’s nomination of Sheriff Ed Gonzalez to serve as the Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
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DHS Announces New Guidance to Limit ICE and CBP Civil Enforcement Actions In or Near Courthouse
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas directed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to place new limits on civil immigration enforcement actions in or near courthouses. Acting Director of ICE Tae Johnson and Acting CBP Commissioner Troy Miller have issued a memorandum to ICE and CBP personnel pertaining to the limited circumstances in which civil immigration enforcement actions may be carried out in or near a courthouse.
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DHS Announces Operation to Target Criminal Smuggling Organizations
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced a new counter-network targeting operation focused on transnational criminal organizations affiliated with the smuggling of migrants.
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Secretary Mayorkas Swears in Deanne Criswell as FEMA Administrator
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas delivered the oath of office to Deanne Criswell, her first full day as the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
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Secretary Mayorkas Announces Domestic Violent Extremism Review at DHS
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced an internal review to address the threat of domestic violent extremism within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Secretary Mayorkas has made identifying, addressing, and preventing domestic violent extremism across our country a top priority.
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DHS Announces Rescission of Civil Penalties for Failure-to-Depart
At the direction of Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) rescinded two delegation orders related to the collection of civil financial penalties for noncitizens who fail to depart the U.S., stating they run counter to the agency’s best interest.
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DHS Conducts Simulation Experiment to Study Law Enforcement Use of Force, Inform Best Practices for 21st Century Policing
The U.S Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with support from George Mason University and the Homeland Security Systems Engineering and Development Institute (HSSEDI), recently concluded a two-week Use of Force Simulation Experiment (SIMEX) to examine law enforcement use of force and inform best practices for 21st century policing.
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Statement by Secretary Mayorkas on the Confirmation of Deanne Criswell as FEMA Administrator
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas released the following statement on the confirmation of Deanne Criswell as FEMA Administrator.
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Secretary Mayorkas Announces New DHS Commitments to Address the Climate Crisis at Leaders Summit on Climate
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas spoke at the Leaders Summit on Climate where he reaffirmed the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) commitment to adapt and respond to the climate emergency, including by announcing several steps the Department is taking to address this crisis.
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Readout of Secretary Mayorkas’s Virtual Meeting with European Commission’s Commissioner for Justice
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas spoke with the European Commission’s Commissioner for Justice Didier Reynders. During the conversation, they emphasized a shared desire to strengthen U.S.-EU cooperation and discussed the importance of the U.S.-EU Passenger Name Record Agreement.
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DHS to Make Additional 22,000 Temporary, Non-Agricultural Worker Visas Available
As the nation’s economy continues to reopen safely, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is taking action to ensure that American businesses are equipped with the resources needed to recover successfully and contribute to the economic health of local communities. In light of increased labor demands, DHS is announcing a supplemental increase of 22,000 visas for the H-2B Temporary Non-Agricultural Worker program.
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Statement by Secretary Mayorkas on President Biden’s Nomination of Vice Adm. Fagan for USCG Vice Commandant
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas released the following statement on President Biden’s nomination of Vice Adm. Linda L. Fagan to serve as Vice Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.
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Readout of Secretary Mayorkas’s Virtual Meeting with Spain’s Minister of Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas spoke by video teleconference with Spain's Minister of Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska Gómez.
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Flag Officer Announcements
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced that President Biden has made the following U.S. Coast Guard flag officer nominations.
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Readout of Secretary Mayorkas’s Virtual Meeting with Bahraini Minister of Interior General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas met virtually with Bahrain’s Minister of Interior, His Excellency General Sheikh Rashid bin Abdulla Al-Khalifa. Secretary Mayorkas and Minister Al-Khalifa acknowledged the close cooperation and partnership that exists between Bahrain and the United States, which both countries look forward to strengthening.
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Readout of Secretary Mayorkas’s Participation in the annual Five Country Ministerial
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas and U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland participated in the annual Five Country Ministerial (FCM), hosted by New Zealand and joined by the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. Ministers discussed global security initiatives; migration and border security measures during COVID-19; strategies for improving cybersecurity, including tackling ransomware more effectively; addressing threats in online environments; countering foreign interference; and fighting the spread of violent extremism and terrorism.
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Statement by Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas on President Biden’s Nominations for DHS Leadership Positions
Secretary of Homeland Security Mayorkas is excited that President Biden has nominated an extraordinary group of individuals for critical leadership positions in the Department of Homeland Security
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Readout of Secretary Mayorkas’s Meeting with Honduran Foreign Minister Rosales
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas met with Honduran Foreign Minister Lisandro Rosales. During the conversation, Secretary Mayorkas and Foreign Minister Rosales reaffirmed the importance of the U.S.-Honduran partnership and discussed opportunities for enhanced information sharing, increased collaboration on humane approaches toward border security, and migration management.
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Secretary Mayorkas's Statement on FY22 Discretionary Funding Request
The Biden-Harris Administration submitted to Congress the President’s priorities for fiscal year 2022 discretionary spending. The budget invests in key DHS missions, including repairing a broken immigration system, better managing the border with advanced technology, protecting civil rights, and bolstering cyber defenses and resilience.
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Cybersecurity Service Provider Program Passes Milestone
Recently, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Cybersecurity Service Provider (CSP) program provided a cybersecurity assessment of the Department of Justice (DOJ) Security Operations Center (SOC).
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Readout of Secretary Mayorkas’s Meeting with Portugal’s Minister of Internal Administration, Eduardo Cabrita
Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas spoke by video teleconference with Portugal’s Minister of Internal Administration, Eduardo Cabrita. During the conversation, Secretary Mayorkas and Minister Cabrita reaffirmed the importance of the transatlantic relationship and discussed opportunities for increased collaboration to address violent extremism, migration management, and information sharing.