For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010
LOS ANGELES – Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson today traveled to Los Angeles where he met with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck and other government officials and community leaders to discuss implementation efforts related to executive actions on immigration. He also participated in a community outreach event to provide information on the deferred action policies. Secretary Johnson also led a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) employee town hall to thank employees for their service and for responsibly implementing the Department’s policies and enforcement priorities.
While in Los Angeles, Secretary Johnson participated in a forum with Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and more than 200 community members where he discussed the Department’s implementation efforts related to Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and Deferred Action for Parents of Americans and Lawful Permanent Residents (DAPA). Yesterday, the Department posted online the Frequently Asked Questions and the instructions for sending expanded DACA requests, which USCIS will begin accepting on February 18. Secretary Johnson also reiterated the need for Congress to pass a full-year appropriations bill to fully fund the Department of Homeland Security as soon as possible.
Later, Secretary Johnson delivered remarks to students and faculty at the University of Southern California (USC). During his remarks, Secretary Johnson emphasized the significant progress the Department has made in the last year, and that as long as this Department -- which interfaces with the public more than any other -- is funded by a continuing resolution, there are a whole series of activities vital to homeland security and public safety that cannot be undertaken.
Secretary Johnson also met with USC faculty and staff, as well as researchers and faculty members from the USC-based National Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events (CREATE) Center of Excellence to discuss the important partnership between the Department and the Centers of Excellence in developing innovative solutions to homeland security challenges. Established in 2004, CREATE is the nation’s first independent interdisciplinary national research Center of Excellence based at the University of Southern California.
Tomorrow, Secretary Johnson will travel to Palo Alto to participate in the White House Summit on Cybersecurity and Consumer Protection. Secretary Johnson will be joined at the Summit by Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas, National Protection and Programs Directorate (NPPD) Under Secretary Suzanne Spaulding, Deputy Under Secretary for Cybersecurity and Communications Dr. Phyllis Schneck, and U.S. Secret Service Assistant Director of Training Ed Lowery.
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