Showing posts with label DHS. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DHS. Show all posts

Friday, April 16

Napolitano's Meeting With University Presidents

“America’s colleges and universities play a vital role in developing the next generation of homeland security leaders,” said Secretary Napolitano. “I look forward to expanding our partnerships with academic institutions on educational programs and hiring initiatives that enhance our capabilities to protect our nation against evolving threats.”

During the meeting, Secretary Napolitano highlighted the Department’s strong partnerships with universities including support for training, coursework in homeland security-related fields and industries, and for research and development in science and technology, such as the DHS Centers of Excellence, which bring together multidisciplinary homeland security research and education assets of more than 200 institutions across the country.
http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1271440147685.shtm

Napolitano Remarks to Law Enforcement Leaders

“The men and woman of our state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies serve our country honorably every day,” said Secretary Napolitano. “The Department of Homeland Security is committed to doing everything we can to support these officers on the frontlines by providing the critical training and information they need to do their jobs to secure our nation from the threats we face.”

http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1271428926276.shtm

Friday, June 5

Secretary Napolitano Announces $60 Million in Operation Stonegarden Grants for Border States

U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS)
http://www.dhs.gov/ynews/releases/pr_1244070019405.shtmSecretary Janet Napolitano today announced fiscal year 2009 Operation Stonegarden grants?totaling $60 million?for 13 border states and the Territory of Puerto Rico to enhance the capabilities of federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement agencies to jointly secure U.S. borders and territories.

?Operation Stonegarden grants direct critical funding tostate, local and tribal law enforcement operations across the country,? said Secretary Napolitano. ?I am proud to announce that the 2009 funding provides additional flexibility to ensure that our first responders are equipped with the resources they need to confront the complex and dynamic challenges that exist along our borders.?

The 2009 allocations reflect President Obama?s increased emphasis on the Southwest border in response to cartel violence along the U.S.-Mexico border. Based on greater risk, heavy cross-border traffic and border-related threat intelligence, nearly 76 percent of Operation Stonegarden funds will go to Arizona, California, New Mexico and Texas?up from 59 percent in fiscal year 2008.

Fiscal year 2009 Operation Stonegarden funds will be used for additional law enforcement personnel, overtime, travel and other related costs in order to further increase our presence along the borders. This risk-based allocation of resources complements ongoing DHS efforts?including the Southwest Border Initiative and U.S. Border Patrol deployment at the Northern border. By the end of fiscal year 2010, DHS plans to add nearly 700 additional agents at the U.S.-Canada border.

This year, eligibility for Operation Stonegarden awards was expanded to include 39 applicants?24 more than fiscal year 2008?encompassing states with international land and coastal borders.
FY 2009 Operation Stonegarden Grant Program
State

Amount
Arizona
$ 12,774,896
California
$ 11,919,340
Idaho
$ 229,008
Maine
$ 1,524,973
Michigan
$ 2,047,093
Minnesota
$ 1,005,561
Montana
$ 1,813,102
New Mexico
$ 3,981,414
New York
$ 3,558,187
North Dakota
$ 1,138,829
Puerto Rico
$ 529,947
Texas
$ 16,719,377
Vermont
$ 501,079
Washington
$ 2,257,194
Total
$ 60,000,000

Secretary Napolitano made the announcement as part of a two-day visit to the Southwest border, during which she joined U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder and Office of National Drug Control Policy Director Gil Kerlikowske to unveil the 2009 National Southwest Border Counternarcotics Strategy; announced the formation of the Homeland Security Advisory Council Southwest Border Task Force; and met with state and local law enforcement and first responders to discuss issues affecting Southwest border states.

Operation Stonegarden is appropriated by the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2009. For more information on Operation Stonegarden, visit www.dhs.gov and at www.fema.gov/government/grant/opsg/index.shtm.

DHS distributes port and mass transit grants

The Homeland Security Department is distributing $300 million in economic stimulus law funds for port and mass transit grants for projects that include high-tech identification cards and domain-awareness solutions, officials announced.

The department is making available $150 million from the stimulus law available for the Port Security Grant Program, in addition to $389 million already allocated by Congress for fiscal 2009, Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a May 29 news release.

The port program pays for technology and equipment to protect against terrorism, including maritime domain-awareness solutions, risk-management capabilities, protections against improvised explosive devices. It also can be used to support implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential, which is an identification card that contains a photo and digitized fingerprint information.

DHS in April completed a rollout of the TWIC to 1.2 million seaport workers. The department is currently testing readers to process the cards.

The department also announced $150 million in economic stimulus funds for the Transit Security Grant Program to support security solutions at mass transit stations and facilities, in addition to the $389 million already allocated by Congress for the year.

Eligible programs include support for explosive detection screening and security improvements to high-density tunnels, stations and bridges.
http://washingtontechnology.com/articles/2009/06/01/dhs-distributes-port-and-mass-transit-grants.aspx

Wednesday, February 11

DHS Enforcement News available with updates

Border Patrol Agents Arrest 77 in Arizona
February 9, 2009 (Tucson, Ariz.) - CBP agents arrested 77 Mexican nationals after camera operators identified the unusually large group crossing the international border fence from Mexico. As the group crossed, a coordinated effort between agents of the Douglas and nearby Naco stations, along with Customs and Border Protection Air and Marine, resulted in the arrest of 77 individuals. More at CBP.gov
CBP Agents Arrest 12 Illegal Aliens
February 4, 2009 (San Clemente, Calif.) - Border Patrol agents apprehended 12 Mexican nationals suspected of illegally entering the country at sea using a smuggling boat. More at CBP.gov
ICE Teams Arrest 95 in Georgia, Carolinas
February 3, 2009 (Atlanta) - ICE officers arrested 92 fugitives aliens and three immigration violators throughout Georgia and the Carolinas during a four-day initiative. Of those arrested, 92 had final orders of deportation, three were immigration violators encountered during the course of the targeted operation; 24 of those arrested had previous criminal convictions that spanned from DUI, larceny and felony credit card fraud, assault, and first degree burglary. More at ICE.gov
ICE Arrests 117 in Florida
February 3, 2009 (Miami) - ICE officers arrested 117 fugitive aliens and immigration violators during a five-day fugitive enforcement operation. ICE officers arrested 89 immigration fugitives who ignored lawful orders of removal and 28 other immigration violators. Of the 117 arrested, 30 had criminal histories that spanned from assault, battery, DUI, aggravated battery, trespassing, larceny, burglary, resisting arrest, soliciting prostitution, cocaine possession, marijuana possession, molestation and transporting narcotics. More at ICE.gov
Coast Guard Conducts Two Migrant Interdictions
February 1, 2009 (San Diego) - The U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team San Diego interdicted two separate vessels that tried to illegally enter the U.S. The eight illegal immigrants identified on board were turned over to Maritime Task Force officers for further processing. U.S. Customs and Border Protection marine enforcement agents took custody of the two vessels. More at USCG.mil

Coast Guard Rescues, Returns 242 Haitian Migrants
January 30, 2009 (Miami) - The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Diligence returned 242 Haitian migrants to Port-au-Prince, Haiti after the crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Seneca located a grossly overloaded 50-foot sail freighter about 25 miles west of Ile de la Tortue, Haiti and immediately began rescue efforts due to the large number of migrants aboard the unseaworthy vessel and rapidly increasing seas and winds in the area. More at UCSG.mil
Coast Guard Repatriates 61 Haitian Migrants
January 22, 2009 (Miami) - Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Seneca returned 61 Haitian migrants to Cap Haitien, Haiti, after rescuing them from their overloaded vessel in the waters northwest of Pointe Ouest, Ile de la Tortue, Haiti. More at USCG.mil
ICE Team Arrests 45 Aliens in Colorado
January 20, 2009 (Denver) - ICE agents arrested 45 fugitives and immigration violators throughout Colorado during a three-day initiative. Of those arrested, 28 were fugitives who already had final orders of deportation and 17 were immigration violators encountered by ICE officers during their targeted arrests. Of the total arrested, 28 had criminal convictions, including sexual assault of a child, car theft and resisting arrest. More at ICE.gov
ICE Teams Arrest 69 Aliens in Dallas Area
January 16, 2009 (Dallas) - ICE officers arrested 69 fugitive aliens and other immigration violators from China, El Salvador, Guatemala, India, Mexico and Venezuela. Of those arrested, 55 had final orders of deportation and 14 were immigration violators. More at ICE.gov
Coast Guard Repatriates 37 Haitian Migrants
January 15, 2009 (Boston) - Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Seneca returned 37 Haitian migrants to Port au Prince, Haiti. More at USCG.mil
Coast Guard Repatriates 37 Haitian Migrants
January 14, 2009 (Miami) - Crewmembers from the Coast Guard Cutter Seneca returned 37 Haitian migrants to Port au Prince, Haiti. More at USCG.mil
Coast Guard Repatriates 100 Haitian Migrants
January 13, 2009 (Miami) - The Coast Guard Cutter Seneca returned 100 Haitian migrants to Cap Haitien, Haiti, after the Coast Guard Cutters Bear and Seneca rescued them from their grossly overloaded vessel in the waters northeast of Cuba. More at USCG.mil
Coast Guard Repatriates 63 Cuban Migrants
January 7, 2009 (Miami) - The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Chandeleur repatriated 63 Cuban migrants from four separate interdictions at sea in six days to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba. More at USCG.mil
Coast Guard Repatriates 218 Haitian Migrants
January 5, 2009 (Miami) - The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Bear repatriated 218 Haitian migrants from three separate interdictions at sea in five days to Cap Haitien, Haiti. More at USCG.mil
Coast Guard Repatriates 39 Cuban Migrants
January 4, 2009 (Miami) - The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Kodiak Island repatriated 39 Cuban migrants, from three separate interdictions at sea to Bahia de Cabañas, Cuba. More at USCG.mil
ICE Arrests 110 in Florida
December 23, 2008 (Miami) - ICE agents arrested 110 fugitive aliens and immigration violators in a five-day targeted fugitive enforcement operation in Miami, Broward, Palm Beach, Orlando, and Tampa areas. Of those arrested, 81 were immigration fugitives who ignored lawful orders of removal and went into hiding and 24 had criminal histories that spanned from aggravated assault, battery, marijuana possession, cocaine possession, heroin possession, trespassing, disorderly conduct, resisting officer with violence, sexual battery, social security fraud, burglary, carrying concealed firearm, larceny, grand theft and lewd and lascivious assault on a child. More at ICE.gov
ICE Team Arrests 84 Aliens in Dallas
December 19, 2008 (Dallas) - ICE agents arrested 84 fugitive aliens and other immigration violators in Dallas and surrounding communities as part of a five-day operation. Of those arrested, 64 had final orders of deportation; the remaining 20 were immigration violators. More at ICE.gov
ICE-led Operation Nets 6 Gang Members
December 11, 2008 (Sturgis, Mich.) - ICE agents, in partnership with local law enforcement officers, arrested six illegal alien gang members from Mexico. One of the individuals arrested provided fraudulent documents to the gang members. The operation targeted foreign-born members and associates of the Sureños 13 and Southside 18 street gangs. All six of the individuals were illegally present in the U.S. and will face deportation proceedings. More at ICE.gov
ICE Arrests 15 at Indiana Oil Refinery
December 10, 2008 (Whiting, Ind.) - ICE agents arrested 15 illegal aliens working as contract janitorial workers, 14 from Mexico and one from Guatemala. ICE initiated the investigation after receiving information that illegal aliens had access to secure areas of the plant. ICE identifies oil refineries as critical infrastructure, which are vulnerable to sabotage, attack or exploitation. More at ICE.gov
CBP, State Police Arrest 29 Aliens in Louisiana
December 4, 2008 (Lake Charles, La.) - The Lake Charles Border Patrol station assisted Louisiana State Police by translating for 31 Spanish-speaking subjects at a worksite during a search for a fugitive. The wanted subject was not among the group, but 29 of the individuals were illegally present in the United States. More at CBP.gov
ICE Arrests 16 Mexicans in Idaho
December 4, 2008 (Boise, Idaho) - ICE agents arrested 16 Mexican nationals on administrative immigration violations at an Idaho wood framing company. The illegal workers, all of whom are male, were employed by Idaho Truss in Nampa, Idaho, and will be placed in deportation proceedings. Some of the workers may have secured employment using false Social Security numbers and other counterfeit identity documents. More at ICE.gov

Wednesday, January 28

Pacific Shipper Online -- Napolitano refocuses security efforts

Pacific Shipper Online -- Napolitano refocuses security efforts: "In my view — from a prevention and protection stand point, not just aviation, but surface transportation — that is a work in progress,” Napolitano said during her Jan. 15 confirmation hearing. “We haven’t done as much there as we have done on the aviation” side."

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