June 19, 2006– Vol. 4, Issue No. 22

 
OPERATIONAL NEWS
1. DHS Releases Review of Nationwide Catastrophic Event Preparedness
2. Secretary Commends Congress for Passing Funds for Global War on Terror, Katrina Recovery, and Border Protection
3. TSA Assistant Secretary Sets Tone for Privacy Office Workshop
 
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
4. ICE Apprehends More Than 2,100 in Interior Enforcement Operation
5. USCIS Holds Naturalization Ceremony for Military on Flag Day
6. TSA Speeds Application Process with New Fingerprinting Equipment
  
UPCOMING EVENTS
  
DHS Today is a weekly e-newsletter produced by the Department of Homeland Security, Office of Public Affairs. Send questions, comments, and feedback to the editorial staff at: dhstoday@hq.dhs.gov. https://dhsonline.dhs.gov/portal/jhtml/dc/sf.jhtml?doid=23192

OPERATIONAL NEWS

1. DHS Releases Review of Nationwide Catastrophic Event Preparedness 
 
DHS on Friday released the findings from its national assessment of the country’s catastrophic planning capabilities. Responding to directives from President Bush and the Congress, following Hurricane Katrina, the Nationwide Plan Review looked at whether existing emergency operations plans for states and urban areas are sufficient for managing a catastrophic event. The review also presents conclusions on actions needed by the federal government to improve and coordinate planning.
 
Conducted in all 56 States and territories and 75 urban areas over six months, the Nationwide Plan Review was the most comprehensive assessment of emergency operations plans to date relative to planning for a catastrophic event. Reviewers examined nearly 2,800 emergency operations plans and related documents, with participation from more than 1,000 emergency managers and homeland security officials. 
 
During a briefing last week for reporters about the results, Under Secretary George Foresman said that while states and urban areas have done a good job of preparing for a variety of emergencies, their plans are lacking in preparation for catastrophic events. To address the National Plan Review findings and conclusions, the department has established a National Preparedness Task Force that will oversee DHS efforts to strengthen and systematize catastrophic planning among all levels of government by ensuring lessons from recent disasters are translated into nationwide enhancements for catastrophic planning. 
 
The full announcement and additional information, including a Fact Sheet and initial conclusions, are available at: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/interapp/press_release/press_release_0930.xml
  
2. Secretary Commends Congress for Passing Funds for Global War on Terror, Katrina Recovery, and Border Protection
 
Secretary Chertoff on Thursday commended Congress for giving final passage to the 2006 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for Defense, the Global War on Terror, and Hurricane Recovery. 
 
In his statement, the secretary said, “This important legislation realizes President Bush’s commitment to the vital work of the department, including hurricane relief and border protection.” 
 
The secretary noted that the emergency funding bill will provide $19.8 billion in hurricane disaster assistance to communities and families as they rebuild from last year’s hurricanes, including direct assistance to victims for shelter and medical care. It also helps communities with rebuilding projects, agricultural assistance programs, and public education costs for evacuees. The bill also provides $1.9 billion for border security, including more agents, infrastructure, and detention beds and includes funding for new and expanded Border Patrol stations and checkpoints, better coordination with state and local law enforcement, additional immigration judges and attorneys, and resources to support assistance from up to 6,000 National Guard members at the southern border. 
 
3. TSA Assistant Secretary Sets Tone for Privacy Office Workshop
 
TSA Assistant Secretary Kip Hawley gave the keynote address at the DHS Office of Privacy’s workshop last week, saying that privacy concerns must be built into the foundation of any program designed to protect the country from terrorist attacks. Without the privacy component, a program is not likely to survive very long, he told the audience of mostly DHS program managers.
 
Hawley’s words set the tone for the rest of the first panel’s discussion about what other federal agencies and the private sector are doing to protect personal privacy. A good deal of the discussion focused on what the federal government needs to do in the wake of the loss of personal data on millions of veterans from the Veterans Administration when an employee’s laptop was stolen. The general consensus was that there would be a greater push for performing privacy impact assessments to determine the risk of exposing personal data to people who shouldn’t have it. 
 
The panelists agree that protecting personal data through technological means such as encryption is a highly attractive option, but noted that the cost is prohibitive in many cases. It does come down to organizational leadership and having a buy-in from employees to protect not only their own personal information but that of others, they said. 
 
A transcript of the entire workshop will be available at the Office of Privacy’s Web site, www.dhs.gov/privacy, in about three to four weeks. 
 
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
                            
4. ICE Apprehends More Than 2,100 in Interior Enforcement Operation 

ICE Assistant Secretary Julie Myers and Director of ICE Office of Investigations Marcy Forman at a news conference announcing the results of Operation Return to Sender. ICE Photo	
ICE Assistant Secretary Julie Myers on Wednesday announced that ICE agents and officers have apprehended approximately 2,179 criminal aliens, illegal alien gang members, fugitive aliens, and other immigration status violators as part of a nationwide immigration enforcement operation that began last month.
 
Dubbed “Operation Return to Sender,” the initiative began on May 26 and concluded June 13. Virtually every field office in the nation from ICE’s Office of Investigations and its Office of Detention and Removal Operations carried out the enforcement operation in conjunction with numerous state and local law enforcement agencies. 
 
Among the 2,179 individuals arrested in the operation, roughly half had criminal records for crimes that ranged from sexual assault of a minor to assault with a deadly weapon, to abduction. For example, approximately 146 of those arrested had convictions for sexual offenses involving minors. In addition, roughly 367 of the arrested aliens were members or associates of violent street gangs, including Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13). Finally, roughly 640 of those arrested were fugitive aliens who had been issued final orders of removal by an Immigration judge but failed to comply.
 
More information about this announcement is available at: http://www.dhs.gov/dhspublic/display?theme=43&content=5689&print=true

5. USCIS Holds Naturalization Ceremony for Military on Flag Day
 
USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez, on Wednesday (Flag Day) administered the Oath of Allegiance to 150 military personnel and new Americans from 45 countries on board the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, homeported in Norfolk, Va. 

Sailors aboard the USS George Washington who took the Oath of Allegiance and became new U.S. Citizens on Flag Day. USCIS Photo	
Many of the new citizens recently returned from military service in the Middle East. General Peter Pace, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, gave the keynote address to the new citizens. Alfonso Aguilar, Chief of the USCIS Office of Citizenship, read the Preamble of the Constitution and delivered remarks. Phyllis Howard, USCIS Washington, D.C. District Director, lead the presentation of candidates and the call of countries. 

 
6. TSA Speeds Application Process with New Fingerprinting Equipment
 
To streamline transportation security officer (TSO) hiring for the heavy summer travel season, TSA’s Information Technology Division (ITD) deployed a temporary fingerprinting solution to speed application processing. 
 
One-day training classes for federal security director (FSD) staffs began in early May. Once trained, staffs immediately started taking fingerprints of TSO applicants for processing. A highly-skilled and innovative team assembled, tested, troubleshot, and configured 200 fingerprinting scanner kits for use by FSD staffs. 
 
Working long hours, the team overcame contractual issues, logistical details, technical constraints, and software and hardware problems to make this solution a reality in only two weeks. Typically, 30 to 60 days would have been needed. TSA’s offices of Human Capital, Security Operations, and Acquisition partnered with the ITD on the monumental effort.

UPCOMING EVENTS
June 19 – Assistant Secretary for Policy Stewart Baker and ICE Assistant Secretary Julie Myers testify before the Senate Judiciary Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship Subcommittee on “Immigration Enforcement at the Workplace: Learning From the Mistakes of 1986,” Washington, D.C.
 
June 20 - U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral William Baumgartner testifies before the House Transportation and Infrastructure Coast Guard and Merchant Marine Subcommittee on the U.S. Coast Guard’s fiscal year 2007 authorization, Washington, D.C.
 
Andy Mitchell of the Office of Grants and Training delivers remarks at the National Sheriffs Association Conference on the Homeland Security Grant Program, Orlando, Fla.
 
June 21 – Under Secretary for Preparedness George Foresman testifies before the House Homeland Security Committee on “DHS Terrorism Preparedness Grants: Risk Based or Guess Work,” Washington, D.C.
 
June 22 – CBP Office of Field Operations Executive Director Robert Jacksta testifies before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Trade, Tourism and Economic Development Subcommittee on the state of the U.S. tourism industry, Washington, D.C.
 
USCIS Director Emilio Gonzalez delivers remarks at the National American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Conference on immigration issues, San Antonio, Texas.
 
USCIS Director Gonzalez delivers congratulatory remarks to 200 new citizens at the San Antonio Naturalization Ceremony and presents two Outstanding American by Choice Certificates, San Antonio, Texas.
 
ICE Deputy Assistant Director of the Office of Investigations Paul Kilcoyne testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee on “Internet Data Brokers and Pretexting: Who Has Access to Your Private Records?” Washington, D.C.
 
June 23 – Secretary Michael Chertoff participates in a panel sponsored by the Heritage Foundation titled “‘24’ and America’s Image in Fighting Terrorism: Fact, Fiction, or Does it Matter?” Washington, D.C.
                        
USCIS Director Gonzalez delivers congratulatory remarks to 40 uniformed members of the U.S. Army at a naturalization ceremony, Ft. Hood, Texas.

threat level: yellow