The National Vetting Center

On February 6, 2018, President Donald J. Trump signed a National Security Presidential Memorandum to establish a National Vetting Center (NVC), which will be led by the Department of Homeland Security. The NVC will coordinate the efforts of Federal officials to vet people seeking to enter or remain within our country.  It will help fulfill President Donald J. Trump’s requirement that departments and agencies improve their coordination and use of intelligence and other information to identify potential threats to national security, border security, homeland security, and public safety.

• Ensuring the safety and security of the American people is the highest priority for this Administration.

• This includes conducting vetting activities to identify individuals who present a threat to national security, border security, homeland security, or public safety. 

• The ad hoc nature of current Federal vetting efforts impedes our ability to keep up with today’s threats.

• The President’s National Security Presidential Memorandum directs Federal departments and agencies to improve their coordination and use of intelligence and other information to identify potential threats to national security, border security, homeland security, and public safety.

• As part of these efforts, the Administration will establish the NVC, led by the Department of Homeland Security, which will coordinate vetting efforts throughout the Federal Government and apply an integrated approach that leverages relevant information from across the Nation’s national security apparatus, consistent with law and policy.  

• The NVC will improve the Government’s ability to identify terrorists, criminals, and other nefarious actors, including those who seek a visa, visa waiver, or an immigration benefit, or a protected status; attempt to enter the United States; or are subject to an immigration removal proceedings.  

• The NVC will develop an integrated approach to use relevant information, as appropriate, from across the Federal Government to protect our Nation.

• The NVC’s operations will be governed by a National Vetting Governance Board, which will establish both a dedicated legal working group and a separate dedicated privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties working group to ensure compliance with applicable law and protect individuals’ privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.

• The President has directed the development of an implementation plan to operationalize the NVC, ensure it receives appropriate support from departments and agencies, and set up the National Vetting Governance Board.  The implementation plan must be developed within the next six months.

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