Homeland Security Archives

General

The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security Publish Final Rule on Procedures

The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security Publish Final Rule on Procedures for Asylum and Withholding of Removal (STL.News) Today, the Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security (collectively, the Departments) announced the forthcoming publication of a Final Rule that will streamline and enhance procedures for the adjudication of claims for asylum, withholding of removal, and protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT) regulations. The Final Rule, consistent with the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), will enable the Departments to more effectively separate baseless claims from meritorious ones. This will better ensure groundless claims do not delay or divert resources from deserving claims, and in particular, will better ensure the security of ...

Politics

Boston, LA, CA file Amicus Brief in Support of Harvard, MIT Lawsuit against Dept. of Homeland Security

The cities are supporting blocking a federal policy that would deny visas to international students Boston, MA (STL.News) Mayor Martin J. Walsh Monday announced the City of Boston and the City of Los Angeles together with 24 American cities, counties and towns, filed an amicus brief in the Harvard College and Massachusetts Institute of Technology lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The lawsuit follows a recently announced policy that would deny visas to international students whose classes are fully online this fall as part of their college's COVID-19 safety plan. "The Trump administration is trying to use this rule to pressure schools to open in the fall, but now is not the time for reckless, politically-motivated actions," wrote Mayor Walsh in a letter to U.S. Imm...

Politics

Arizona Officials Join Acting Secretary Wolf to Mark Completion of 100 Miles of New Border Wall System

YUMA, AZ (STL.News) Today, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf was joined by United States Senator Martha McSally, Yuma Mayor Douglas Nicholls, U.S. Border Patrol Yuma Sector Chief Patrol Agent Anthony Porvaznik, and Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot to announce the Federal government has completed construction on the first 100 miles of new border wall system along the southwest border. “As of today, we have completed the first 100 miles of new border wall system on the southwest border. New wall has been constructed in every border state from California to Texas. This is a milestone for our entire country, and this would not have been possible without the President’s steadfast determination and leadership,” said Acting Secretary Wolf. “The new border wall system is an und...

Politics

U.S. and Panama Sign a Letter of Intent to Increase Security Cooperation

WASHINGTON, DC (STL.News) Today, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad F. Wolf and Panamanian Minister of Public Security Rolando Mirones signed a Letter of Intent for Security Cooperation at DHS headquarters in Washington, DC, to improve the two countries’ collaborative security efforts. “Today marks a big step forward in confronting the significant security challenges across Central America together with our partners in Panama,” said Acting Secretary Wolf. “As a natural geographic choke point for migrants coming north from South America, Panama is strategically important to address the migration crisis that has been affecting nearly the entire hemisphere. With this Letter of Intent, the United States and Panama are expanding our cooperation to confront transnational criminal orga...

Politics

Homeland Security News: Acting Secretary McAleenan traveling to Tucson

WASHINGTON, DC (STL.News) The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the following statement: Today, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan is traveling to Tucson, Arizona, to participate in a celebration of life ceremony for U.S. Border Patrol Agent Robert Hotten, who lost his life last Sunday on duty. While in Tucson, the Acting Secretary, joined by Acting Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection Mark Morgan and Chief of the U.S. Border Patrol Carla Provost, will meet with Robert’s family and fellow agents to personally offer condolences.

Politics

Homeland Security News: Acting Secretary McAleenan Signs Letter of Intent with Government of El Salvador

WASHINGTON DC (STL.News) – Wednesday, at the Presidential Palace in San Salvador, El Salvador, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan signed a Letter of Intent with the Salvadoran Minister of Justice and Security Rogelio Rivas to intensify bilateral cooperation in four areas to address irregular migration from Central America and combat transnational criminal organizations. “I would like to thank President Bukele for his partnership and for hosting me for productive discussions that solidified our commitments to partner on strategies to address irregular migration and target gangs and human smugglers, together,” said Acting Secretary McAleenan. “DHS is grateful to work closely with our Salvadoran counterparts to address the crisis faced in the region. At the same time,...

Politics

DHS Acting Deputy Secretary Pekoske Joins the Five Eyes in London to Discuss Emerging, Ongoing Security Threats

WASHINGTON DC (STL.News) — Last week, Homeland Security Acting Deputy Secretary David P. Pekoske attended the Five Country Ministerial in London, England, alongside Attorney General William P. Barr to represent the U.S. and to discuss the protection of each nation from active and emerging security threats. Five Eyes refers to the security alliance forged between the U.S., U.K., Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, who have each vowed to work together in matters of national security, intelligence, counter terrorism, and cyber vulnerabilities. The Acting Deputy Secretary and Attorney General Barr joined the Home Affairs, Interior Security, and Immigration Ministers of the Five Eyes countries in a series of ministerial sessions to confront threats, including: cybersecurity, emerging technolo...

Politics

Homeland Security Acting Secretary McAleenan Traveling to Yuma, AZ

WASHINGTON DC (STL.News) - The US Department of Homeland Security released the following statement: Today, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan will be traveling to Yuma, AZ to meet with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Arizona National Guard personnel, tour border facilities, and speak with federal, state, and local elected officials. The Acting Secretary will first meet with local elected officials to discuss the effects that the humanitarian and security crisis on the Southwest border is having on their communities. He will then meet with DHS field leadership, including CBP and ICE personnel who are working to manage the crisis on a daily basis in Yuma. Following that, Acting Secretary McAleenan will travel to San Luis to tour the border and port of...

Politics

Homeland Security Acting Secretary Kevin K. McAleenan Traveling to Guatemala City

WASHINGTON DC (STL.News) - The US Department of Homeland Security released the following statement Tuesday, July 30, 2019: Tomorrow, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan will be traveling to Guatemala City, Guatemala to meet with officials regarding the implementation of a number of initiatives to help stem the flow of irregular migration through Guatemala. During his trip, the Acting Secretary will meet with officials from the Government of Guatemala, with whom he signed a cooperative agreement regarding the examination of protection claims on Friday. While in Guatemala City, Acting Secretary McAleenan will also meet with U.S. diplomats, local political and community leaders, members of non-governmental international organizations, and private sector stakeholders. H...

Politics

Homeland Security News: Joint Statement between the U.S. Government, Government of Guatemala

Washington (STL.News) - The U.S. Government and the Government of Guatemala continue to make important progress on a comprehensive regional approach to addressing irregular migration patterns. The two countries are currently cooperating on several initiatives to reduce the flow of irregular migration and ensure the safety and protection of vulnerable populations, especially children. Both countries have entered into several agreements, the terms of which foster collaboration to expand the capacity of migrant reception, adjudication of protection claims, shelter, and removal infrastructure. By working cooperatively and with international organizations, both governments will continue to harmonize immigration regulations, synchronize regional immigration systems to ensure migrants and chil...

Politics

DHS, DOJ Issue Third-Country Asylum Rule

WASHINGTON (STL.News) - On July 16th, a joint Interim Final Rule (IFR) issued by the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security will publish in the Federal Register. This IFR uses the authority delegated by Congress in section 208(b)(2)(C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to enhance the integrity of the asylum process by placing further restrictions or limitations on eligibility for aliens who seek asylum in the United States. Specifically, the Departments of Justice and Homeland Security are revising 8 C.F.R. § 208.13(c) and 8 C.F.R. § 1208.13(c) to add a new bar to eligibility for asylum for an alien who enters or attempts to enter the United States across the southern border, but who did not apply for protection from persecution or torture where it was available in at least on...

General

DHS Acting Secretary McAleenan Travels to Florida for USCG Drug Offload, Hurricane Season Preparedness Briefing

WASHINGTON (STL.News) - On April 6, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan will travel to Fort Lauderdale and Miami, Florida for a two-day trip. The Acting Secretary will view a U.S. Coast Guard cutter drug offload at Port Everglades, receive a briefing and tour of the National Hurricane Center (NHC), and visit with Transportation Security Administration (TSA) personnel at Miami International Airport. McAleenan will view a Coast Guard drug offload and meet with the crew of Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton after they return from a mission that kept thousands of pounds of drugs out of our communities. The Acting Secretary, along with Coast Guard District Seven Commander Peter Brown, Commanding Officer U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Hamilton Mark Gordon, and senior officials from U.S...

Politics

Homeland Security Acting Secretary McAleenan Visits the National Vetting Governance Board to Commend Interagency Cooperation

WASHINGTON (STL.News) - Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan visited the National Vetting Governance Board on Friday to congratulate and thank representatives from multiple agencies for their work on standing up the new National Vetting Center (NVC). In attendance were members from the Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security (DHS), and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, along with several representatives from the Intelligence Community (IC). “Led by DHS, the National Vetting Center is an essential and long-awaited component of the U.S. government’s national vetting enterprise,” Acting Secretary McAleenan said. “The NVC fills a critical need to improve how federal officials identify individuals who may present a th...

General

Homeland Security News: Acting Secretary McAleenan Statement on Synagogue Shooting in Poway, CA

WASHINGTON (STL.News) - On April 27, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin K. McAleenan released the following statement on the synagogue shooting in Poway, California: “On behalf of the Department of Homeland Security, I am deeply saddened to learn of the tragic shooting in Poway, California. Targeted violence committed against any race, religion, creed or ethnic group cannot and will not be tolerated. DHS will take every appropriate action to assist with the investigation and ensure that those affected by this tragedy receive the closure and justice they deserve. We are thankful that one of our own, an off-duty Border Patrol agent, was able to assist in the response and likely prevented the deaths of more worshipers.”

Politics

Homeland Security News: Readout from Acting Secretary McAleenan’s Trip to McAllen

WASHINGTON DC (STL.News) - Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Kevin McAleenan traveled to McAllen, Texas on Tuesday and Wednesday to assess the strategic and operational challenges faced by law enforcement and local communities as they work to confront the ongoing humanitarian and security crisis at the U.S. Southern Border. The Acting Secretary joined the U.S. Border Patrol (USBP) Tuesday for a midnight shift tour of the U.S.-Mexico border – including key crossing points and staging areas central to human smuggling – in order to assess the strategic and operational challenges faced by law enforcement operations in the region. McAleenan expressed appreciation for agents’ unwavering dedication in the face of record migration flows and emphasized the necessity of remaining steadfast in e...