Social Security and OIG Hold Second Annual - - - Slam the Scam - - - Day

Social Security and Office of the Inspector General Hold Second Annual ‘Slam the Scam’ Day | site |



(Information contained in U.S. Social Security Administration press release dated: March 4, 2021) The Social Security Administration and the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) have once again joined forces to raise public awareness about Social Security imposter scams during the second annual ‘Slam the Scam’ Day on March 4. Social Security scams - in which fraudsters mislead victims into making cash or gift card payments to fix purported Social Security number problems or to avoid arrest - are the #1 type of government imposter fraud reported to the Federal Trade Commission and Social Security. The agency has made concerted efforts to address this issue, including partnering with other Federal and State agencies to identify and pursue scammers, increasing employee and public outreach and education, raising awareness through marketing in post off...

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas Announces Family Reunification Task Force Principles and Executive Director | site |




(Information contained in U.S. Department of Homeland Security [DHS] press release dated: March 1, 2021) Washington - - Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas announced today the principles of the Family Reunification Task Force and the appointment of the Task Force’s Executive Director, Michelle Brané. “We are dedicating our resources throughout the Department of Homeland Security and the federal government, and bringing our full weight to bear, to reunite children who were cruelly separated from their parents,” said Secretary Mayorkas, who serves as the Chair of the Task Force. “It is our moral imperative to not only reunite the families, but to provide them with the relief, resources, and services they need to heal.” Secretary Mayorkas announced that Michelle Brané will serve as ...

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Statement on First Step in Process to Address Individuals in Mexico with Active MPP Cases| site |



Access b-roll of the processing at San Ysidro Port of Entry here.


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Homeland Security [DHS] press release dated: February 19, 2021) Today, DHS began the first step in a phased approach to restore safe and orderly processing at the Southwest Border. DHS and its international partners have now initiated the virtual registration process for individuals who had been forced to return to Mexico under the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) and have a pending case before the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR). The United States is continuing to strictly enforce existing immigration laws and border security measures. Individuals should not approach the border, including at designated ports of entry, unless and until they are approved and receive appointment information...

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas’ Call with Canadian Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Blair | site |



(Information contained in U.S. Department of Homeland Security [DHS] press release dated: February 19, 2021) Washington - - Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas spoke with Canadian Federal Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Bill Blair to discuss a wide range of security issues, including border safety measures in the COVID-19 environment, domestic violent extremism, cybersecurity, and gun control. Secretary Mayorkas and Minister Blair discussed the shared priority of securing our borders, while ensuring that essential trade and travel remain open to strengthen our economic security. They agreed that our nations must each continue to take steps to address the growing threat of domestic violent extremism, work together to defend our cyber networks, and tackle cr...

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Announces Process to Address Individuals in Mexico with Active MPP Cases | site |



(Information contained in U.S. Department of Homeland Security [DHS] press release dated: February 11, 2021) Washington - - Building on a series of Executive Orders last week, the Biden Administration is announcing another step in our phased strategy to reform the nation’s immigration system. Beginning on February 19, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin phase one of a program to restore safe and orderly processing at the southwest border. DHS will begin processing people who had been forced to “remain in Mexico” under the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP). Approximately 25,000 individuals in MPP continue to have active cases. Individuals should not take any action at this time and should remain where they are to await further instructions. We will soon announce a virtual registration process that will be ac...

U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas’ Call with Pedro Pierluisi, Governor of Puerto Rico | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Homeland Security [DHS] press release dated: February 5, 2021)

Secretary Mayorkas spoke by phone yesterday with Puerto Rico Governor Pedro Pierluisi. This was the Secretary’s first call to a U.S. Governor since being sworn-in on February 2. During the conversation, Secretary Mayorkas underscored the Department’s commitment to ensuring the safety and security of Puerto Rico and the more than 3 million Americans who live there. FEMA Acting Administrator Bob Fenton also joined the call to discuss the devastating impact of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017. They agreed that critical work still needs to be done for Puerto Rico to rebuild and recover. Secretary Mayorkas pledged his full support to help Puerto Rico strengthen its resilience to future natural disasters and other threats....

Secretary Mayorkas on Immigration Reform Executive Orders | site |



(Information contained in U.S. Department of Homeland Security [DHS] press release dated: February 2, 2021)

Secretary Mayorkas released the following statement in support of today’s Presidential Executive Orders to reform our immigration processes: “Today President Biden signed a series of Executive Orders to help restore trust in our immigration system, re-open and reform our asylum process, secure the southwest border by addressing the root causes of migration, and reunite families separated under the Trump Administration. In keeping with our commitment to protect the American people, our homeland, and our values, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security welcomes the President’s action to ensure that our immigration system represents the empathy of the American people. “These Executive Orders will allow DHS to take immediate action to address the most pressing challenge...

Alejandro Mayorkas Sworn in as Secretary of Homeland Security | site |



(Information contained in U.S. Department of Homeland Security [DHS] press release dated: February 2, 2021)

Washington - - Today, Alejandro Mayorkas was officially sworn in as the seventh Secretary of Homeland Security. Secretary Mayorkas took the oath this afternoon after the Senate voted to confirm him. As Secretary of Homeland Security, Mayorkas now leads the third largest federal department in the United States, which includes the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Transportation Security ...

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Statement on Equal Access to COVID-19 Vaccines and Vaccine Distribution Sites | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Homeland Security [DHS] press release dated: February 1, 2021) DHS and its Federal government partners fully support equal access to the COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine distribution sites for undocumented immigrants. It is a moral and public health imperative to ensure that all individuals residing in the United States have access to the vaccine. DHS encourages all individuals, regardless of immigration status, to receive the COVID-19 vaccine once eligible under local distribution guidelines. DHS carries out its mission, including all areas within its COVID-19 response, without discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, or other protected class, and in compliance with law and policy. Further, DHS supports the equitable and efficient distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine to all populati...

Acting Secretary Pekoske Directs TSA to Mitigate Spread of COVID-19 Through the Transportation System | site |


(Information contained in U.S. Department of Homeland Security [DHS] press release dated: January 31, 2021)

Today the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security announced the issuance of a National Emergency Determination to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. This determination enables TSA to implement President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel. TSA will require individuals to wear a mask at TSA screening checkpoints and throughout the commercial and public transportation system. Imposing these proven public health measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 will mitigate the safety and security threat COVID-19 poses to transportation and contribute to the overall national effort to reduce the transmission of the disease....