For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010

"It is with great sadness that I learned this weekend of the fatal shooting of three contractors stationed at the Herat Training Center in Herat, Afghanistan. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of former U.S. Border Patrol Agent and retired ICE Agent Benjamin Monsivais, retired CBP Port Director Joseph Perez, and retired Her Majesty?s United Kingdom Revenue and Customs Officer David Chamberlain.
 
All three individuals were supporting Afghan Border Police training efforts when they came under attack. Their tragic deaths remind us of the dangers facing our men and women overseas, and the many sacrifices they make on our behalf every day.
 
Two other individuals were wounded in this senseless attack. We pray for the swift recovery and continued safety of former Border Patrol Agent Dana Hampton and language assistant Aimal Formully. We also applaud the tremendous bravery and heroism of the CBP Border Patrol Agent who responded to the attack and prevented the gunman from causing further harm and injury to others."
 
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For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010

WASHINGTON?Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano today spoke with Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper and Aurora Mayor Steve Hogan to express her condolences and offer any support necessary in the ongoing investigation into the shooting in Aurora, Colo. Secretary Napolitano reiterated the Administration?s support for the federal, state and local authorities who responded to this horrific event and the people of Aurora during this difficult time.

For more information, visit www.dhs.gov.

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For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010

?I am deeply saddened by the terrible shooting in Aurora, Colorado. Federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies continue to respond to this horrific event and I have directed the Department of Homeland Security to provide any support necessary in the ongoing investigation. We are committed to bringing those responsible to justice. Our hearts and prayers go out to anyone impacted by this tragedy, especially the family and friends of those killed or injured.?

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For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010

WASHINGTON?Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Australian Minister for Home Affairs Jason Clare today announced the secondment of an Australian Customs and Border Protection Service officer to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 

The Australian Customs and Border Protection officer will be seconded to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Intelligence and Investigations Liaison and the International Targeting Center. The Australian Customs and Border Protection Officer?s role will focus on the joint targeting and analysis of criminal syndicates and the establishment of a Collaborative Targeting Framework between the United States and Australia.

?Our economic and security partnership with Australia continues to grow,? said Secretary Napolitano. ?We will work together to develop a cooperative and global approach to the challenges and threats we all face.?

?The Australian and United States Customs and Border Protection agencies work very closely together.  This is the next step.  Embedding our experts inside United States Customs and Border Protection will improve our ability to target the activities of potential terrorists, drug smugglers and other organised criminals who try to target Australia,? said Mr. Clare.

This follows the Joint Statement Regarding the Development of a Framework for Cooperative International Targeting and Assessment by Secretary Napolitano and Mr. Clare on May 4, 2012?outlining the intentions of the United States and Australia to increase their capacity to identify high risk actors and activities at the earliest point possible.

For more information, visit www.dhs.gov.

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For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010

WASHINGTON?Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate today traveled to Williamsburg, Va. to participate in the Council of Governors Meeting. Secretary Napolitano delivered remarks highlighting the importance of public and private sector collaboration on cybersecurity and the Department?s efforts to secure cyberspace.

?Protecting critical infrastructure and cyberspace ? including the systems and networks that support the financial services, energy and defense industries ? requires all of us working together,? said Secretary Napolitano. ?From government and law enforcement to the private sector and members of the public, everyone has a role to play in protecting against cyber threats.?

During her remarks, Secretary Napolitano highlighted the importance of cyber preparedness and the role of states in responding to cyber incidents. To this end, DHS engages the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center to promote information sharing, early warnings and alerts, mitigation strategies, training and exercises, and for maintaining overall situational awareness.

In addition to protecting civilian government networks, DHS also works with owners and operators of critical infrastructure to help them secure their own networks, by conducting risk assessments and developing plans to mitigate risks.  Last year, the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team, DHS? 24-hour watch and warning center, responded to more than 106,000 incident reports, and released more than 5,000 actionable cybersecurity alerts and information products to public and private sector partners.

On January 11, 2010, President Obama issued an Executive Order establishing the Council of Governors as a mechanism for state and federal officials to discuss issues pertaining to the National Guard and homeland security.

For more information, visit www.dhs.gov.

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For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico?Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Acting Commissioner David V. Aguilar and Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Alan Bersin traveled to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and San Juan, Puerto Rico today.

In Santo Domingo, they met with President Leonel Fernandez and Dominican Republic officials to discuss law enforcement cooperation and ongoing efforts to combat illicit trafficking. Secretary Napolitano signed a Joint Statement of Intent on Aviation Security, a Joint Statement on Combating Trafficking in Persons, and a Joint Statement on Global Supply Chain Security with Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Morales Troncoso and Minister of the Armed Forces Lieutenant General Jaoquin Virgilio Perez. Secretary Napolitano also met with Attorney General Radhames Jiménez and other law enforcement and military leaders.

DHS is partnering with Caribbean nations to enhance border security in the region through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI). DHS is conducting border security training in conjunction with CBSI to increase partner nation capacity to secure their borders. Through CBSI and other bilateral aid, the United States is providing almost $20 million dollars to the Dominican Republic over several years to assist with security enhancements. In addition, CBP operates the Container Security Initiative in a number of Caribbean countries, including the Dominican Republic, to prescreen U.S.-bound shipping containers to detect and interdict dangerous cargo including radiological and nuclear materials.

While in San Juan, Puerto Rico, they met with Governor Luis Fortuño, Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi and Puerto Rico Police Department Superintendent Héctor Pesquera to underscore the department?s commitment to collaborating with local law enforcement in the region.  Secretary Napolitano also met with DHS officials stationed in Puerto Rico, who are members of the Puerto Rico Interagency Public Safety Working Group (PSWG).  In March 2011, the President?s Task Force on Puerto Rico?s Status stood up a working group co-chaired by the Department of Justice and DHS to coordinate and collaborate on initiatives to enhance Puerto Rico?s security and safety.

For more information, please visit www.dhs.gov.

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For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010

SÃO PAULO, Brazil - Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner David V. Aguilar and Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Alan Bersin today were in São Paulo, Brazil where they met with international counterparts and the American Chamber of Commerce.

"As our countries and societies become more connected and dependent upon shared systems of transportation, commerce, and communications, we must work together to address shared threats," said Secretary Napolitano. "We continue to collaborate with our international partners to strengthen aviation security and the global supply chain, and facilitate legal travel and trade, which are critical to our economy."

During her remarks at the American Chamber of Commerce, Secretary Napolitano highlighted areas of international collaboration, including joint efforts to strengthen global supply chain security and facilitate travel and trade. In January, President Obama signed an Executive Order announcing new initiatives to increase travel and tourism in the United States, establishing goals for processing visas and foreign visitors. As part of this Executive Order, the Department of Homeland Security will support efforts to increase non-immigrant visa processing capacity for Brazilians by 40 percent in the coming year and expand the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) and travel by nationals of VWP countries. The VWP enables nationals of 36 participating countries to travel to the U.S. for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.

While in São Paulo, Secretary Napolitano met with the Council of the Americas, São Paulo Mayor Gilberto Kassab, the São Paulo Secretary of Security Edsom Ortega and the Intellectual Property Rights Task Force to discuss information sharing, intellectual property rights enforcement, and combating counterfeiting and piracy of media.

Yesterday, Secretary Napolitano traveled to Brasilia and met with Minister of Finance Guido Mantega, Director of Customs Carlos Alberto Freitas Barreto, and President of the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court and Chief Justice Carlos Ayres Britto to discuss joint efforts to combat human trafficking, enhance aviation and global supply chain security, and facilitate legitimate trade and travel. Secretary Napolitano also met with Minister of Civil Aviation Wagner Bittencourt and Foreign Minister Antonio de Aguiar Patriota to discuss collaborative efforts to secure aviation security and combat transnational crime.

Tomorrow, Secretary Napolitano will be in the Dominican Republic to meet with President Leonel Fernández and Dominican Republic officials to discuss law enforcement cooperation and ongoing efforts to combat illicit trafficking. Secretary Napolitano will later travel to Puerto Rico to meet with Governor Luis Fortuño, Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi and Department of Homeland Security officials stationed in Puerto Rico.

For more information, visit www.dhs.gov.

For Immediate Release
DHS Press Office
Contact: 202-282-8010

BRASILIA, Brazil - Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner David V. Aguilar and Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Alan Bersin today traveled to Brazil where they met with international counterparts to discuss joint efforts to combat human trafficking, enhance aviation and global supply chain security, and facilitate legitimate trade and travel.

"Brazil is one of the United States' most steadfast allies and partners when it comes to protecting our hemisphere from evolving threats," said Secretary Napolitano. "We're pleased to be working with our Brazilian counterparts on efforts to both ensure national security and facilitate economic security."

In Brasilia, Secretary Napolitano participated in a signing of a Joint Statement on Global Supply Chain Security with Brazilian Finance Minister Guido Mantega and Director of Customs Carlos Alberto Freitas Barreto; an agreement on combating human trafficking with President of the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court and Chief Justice Carlos Ayres Britto; a Statement of Intent to establish a Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Working Group with Foreign Minister Antonio de Aguiar Patriota; and an Joint Statement of Intent on Civil Aviation Security with Minister of Civil Aviation Wagner Bittencourt.

Foreign visitors to the U.S. spent more than $150 billion in 2011 on travel and tourism-related goods and services. VWP facilitates this trade and travel, enabling nationals of 36 participating countries to travel to the U.S. for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa.

During the meetings, Secretary Napolitano underscored DHS' commitment to ensuring a safer, more secure, and more resilient global supply chain. The international community has made significant progress in protecting the global supply chain through Program Global Shield, which was launched in 2011 in collaboration with the World Customs Organization, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, and Interpol. As part of Program Global Shield, 90 participating nations and international organizations?including Brazil?share information in an unprecedented law enforcement effort aimed at combating the theft or illegal diversion of chemicals that can be used to make Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). As of July 2012, Program Global Shield has accounted for 41 seizures of chemical precursors totaling more than 126 metric tons related to the illicit diversion of these chemicals.

Later, in São Paulo, Brazil, Secretary Napolitano will meet with the Council of Americas, American Chamber of Commerce and other local officials before traveling to Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic on July 12-13 to meet with President Leonel Fernandez and Dominican officials to discuss law enforcement cooperation and ongoing efforts to combat illicit trafficking. Secretary Napolitano will later travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico on July 13, and meet with Governor Luis Fortuño, Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi, and DHS officials stationed in Puerto Rico.

For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

"Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Acting Commissioner David V. Aguilar and Assistant Secretary for International Affairs Alan Bersin will travel to Brazil, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico on July 11-13. While in Brazil, Secretary Napolitano will travel to Brasilia and Sao Paulo and meet with her counterparts to discuss joint efforts on global supply chain security, trusted traveler programs, intellectual property rights enforcement, and collaborative efforts to combat human trafficking. The Secretary will also meet with the American Chamber of Commerce and the Council of the Americas.

Secretary Napolitano will travel to Santo Domingo, the Dominican Republic on July 12-13 to meet with President Leonel Fernandez and Dominican Republic officials to discuss law enforcement cooperation and ongoing efforts to combat illicit trafficking.

Secretary Napolitano will later travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico on July 13 and meet with Governor Luis Fortuño, Resident Commissioner Pedro Pierluisi and Department of Homeland Security officials stationed in Puerto Rico.

More details on the trip will be released once they are finalized."

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For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
Contact: 202-282-8010

WASHINGTON? Earlier today, Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Alejandro Mayorkas joined President Barack Obama at the White House for a naturalization ceremony for 25 service members from 17 countries. Secretary Napolitano administered the Oath of Allegiance and delivered congratulatory remarks.

?We have a strong tradition as a welcoming nation, and our efforts ensure that the United States continues to draw people from across the world who contribute in important and innovative ways,? said Secretary Napolitano. ?I am proud to swear in these brave men and women who have come from all over the world to serve our country and become its newest citizens.?

?These 25 exceptional individuals took an oath to ?support and defend the Constitution? before sharing fully in the rights and opportunities it provides,? said Director Mayorkas. ?We are all inspired by their commitment to freedom and service to preserve our great nation.?

To commemorate America?s 236th birthday, USCIS is welcoming more than 4,000 new citizens during special naturalization ceremonies across the United States and overseas. Members of the U.S. armed forces will take the Oath of Allegiance to become citizens during six ceremonies for members of the U.S. armed forces at Kandahar Air Force Base, Afghanistan; U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan in Seoul, South Korea; Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas; Homestead-Miami Speedway in Florida.; the U.S. Ambassador?s Residence in Tegucigalpa, Honduras; and aboard the USS Midway Museum in San Diego.

For more information, visit www.dhs.gov.

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