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U.S. Department of Homeland Security Weekly Digest Bulletin

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
*FACT SHEET: DHS Completes First Phase of AI Technology Pilots, Hires New AI Corps Members, Furthers Efforts for Safe and Secure AI Use and Development* "10/30/2024" 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of Public Affairs

________________________________________________________________________

*FACT SHEET: DHS Completes First Phase of AI Technology Pilots, Hires New AI Corps Members, Furthers Efforts for Safe and Secure AI Use and Development

*"The Department Continues to Lead in the Integration of AI for its Missions While Combatting its Adversarial Use One Year After President Biden’s Landmark Executive Order"

WASHINGTON – In the year since President Biden issued his landmark Executive Order (EO) 14110, “Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence [ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2023/10/30/executive-order-on-the-safe-secure-and-trustworthy-development-and-use-of-artificial-intelligence/ ],” the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has taken bold action to responsibly leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to advance the homeland security mission. As directed by the President, DHS has deepened its commitment to protecting individuals’ privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties; promoting national AI safety and security; and strengthening AI leadership through innovation and strong partnerships. As AI technology rapidly reshapes our world, DHS will continue to advance international cooperation in an effort to enhance global awareness and response to the threats as well as our ability to harness its potential.

To learn more about DHS’s work in AI, visit the Artificial Intelligence at DHS [ https://www.dhs.gov/ai ] webpage

*Successfully Tested the Effectiveness of 3 AI Pilot Programs, While Protecting Civil Rights, Privacy, and Civil Liberties

*In March 2024, DHS became the first federal agency to roll out a comprehensive “AI Roadmap [ https://www.dhs.gov/publication/ai-roadmap ]” to integrate the technology into a variety of uses. The AI Roadmap announced three Generative AI (GenAI) pilots to test the effectiveness of GenAI solutions and their potential to enhance mission specific capabilities in a safe, responsible, and effective way. These pilot programs were housed in the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

By October 2024, DHS has successfully tested these pilot programs, while protecting civil rights, privacy, and civil liberties. The Department gained valuable insights into the real-life impact of GenAI tools as well as their limitations. Learnings from these pilots will help guide the development and deployment of other AI tools throughout the Department.

* "USCIS: Improving Training Capacity and Experience - "The USCIS pilot introduced a training application that allowed immigration officers to interact with the GenAI tool to practice conducting an interview with a refugee/asylum seeker. The USCIS pilot successfully supplemented officers’ training by giving them opportunities to practice eliciting testimony. Officers gave positive reviews for the program’s ease-of-use and the ability to access it on their own schedule. Based on the success of the pilot, USCIS and DHS are looking at how GenAI can be used in other training scenarios as a supplemental tool to better prepare the next generation of DHS officers. The USCIS pilot is only used in officer training and is not used for immigration eligibility determinations.

* "HSI: Strengthening Investigative Processes" - HSI’s pilot focused on utilizing large language models (LLMs) to produce summaries of HSI-approved law enforcement reports to bolster investigative processes and optimize the efficiency and precision of investigative summaries. It also enabled semantic search, a search engine technology that interprets the meaning of words and phrases to enable law enforcement officers to search through millions of reports easily. The pilot showed that these were valuable tools to enhance investigative processes. The HSI pilot, which was developed using an open-source AI model, found that open-source models provided the flexibility necessary to experiment and measure effectiveness. HSI professionals continue to test and optimize the use of open-source models in supporting law enforcement investigations.

* "FEMA: Increasing Community Resilience – "Communities can help build their resilience to emergencies by developing hazard mitigation plans, but these plans can be challenging and time consuming to produce, particularly for communities that lack sufficient resources. FEMA’s pilot used a LLM to help state and local governments generate draft plans customized to meet their needs and understand risks and mitigation strategies. FEMA learned that increasing user understanding of AI and receiving feedback directly from community users is an important first step to integrating GenAI into any existing process. FEMA is using lessons learned from the pilot to help determine how the technology can best support their mission.

*
Hired 31 New Experts to the “AI Corps” Who are Helping Responsibly Leverage AI Across DHS Mission Areas

*As part of the Department’s “AI Corps” hiring sprint [ https://www.dhs.gov/news/2024/02/06/dhs-launches-first-its-kind-initiative-hire-50-artificial-intelligence-experts-2024 ], DHS has onboarded 31 technology experts since February 15. This effort remains one of the most significant AI-talent recruitment initiatives of any federal civilian agency. To date, these experts have provided critical technical support and conducted extensive evaluations across multiple priority projects, significantly advancing the understanding and application of AI technologies within DHS.

* The AI Corps partnered with the DHS Supply Chain Resilience Center (SCRC) to investigate how AI could be used to forecast the impacts of critical supply chain disruptions to public safety and security. This sprint included requirements development, use case mapping, market research, and system demonstrations. The AI Corps was able to guide the SCRC on the path to evaluate the technical landscape and provide recommendations to support mission needs.

* Members from the AI Corps supported the HSI GenAI pilot in creating a first-of-its-kind LLM-powered tool to search and produce summaries of HSI approved law enforcement reports and information that is obtained through the standard legal process. The team provided technical expertise to incorporate the latest approaches in advanced AI search and generative summaries. This preliminary work was crucial in demonstrating the potential of the technology.

*Collaborated with the AI Board to Provide Guidance on Safe and Secure Development and Deployment of AI Technology in U.S. Critical Infrastructure

*At the request of the President, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas established the Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Board [ https://www.dhs.gov/artificial-intelligence-safety-and-security-board ] (the Board) to advise the Secretary, the critical infrastructure community, other private sector stakeholders, and the broader public on the safe and secure development and deployment of AI technology in our nation’s critical infrastructure. Officially launched in April, the Board announced a membership of 23 representatives from a range of sectors, including software and hardware companies, critical infrastructure operators, public officials, the civil rights community, and academia.

Secretary Mayorkas convened the Board three times since May 2024. The Department with the Board’s close consultation have been developing guidance to improve AI safety and security across the AI ecosystem. The deployment of safe, secure, and trustworthy AI generates consumer trust and fuels adoption and innovation. AI can substantially improve the services the nation’s critical infrastructure provides if we secure systems against safety and security threats.

*Defended against AI-enabled Cyber threats to U.S. Critical Infrastructure

*To protect U.S. networks and critical infrastructure, DHS is adapting and incorporating the National Institute of Standards and Technology’s (NIST) AI Risk Management Framework and other appropriate guidance into actionable guidelines for use by critical infrastructure owners and operators. DHS and the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) published “Safety and Security Guidelines for Critical Infrastructure Owners and Operators [ https://www.dhs.gov/publication/safety-and-security-guidelines-critical-infrastructure-owners-and-operators ]” in April 2024 to address cross-sector AI risks that impact the safety and security of critical infrastructure systems and their functions. DHS and CISA developed these guidelines in coordination with the Department of Commerce, the Sector Risk Management Agencies (SRMAs), and other critical infrastructure sector regulators, and have continued to develop and publish additional best practices at the intersection of AI and cyber defense. To aid in the detection and remediation of vulnerabilities in critical U.S. Government software, systems, and networks, CISA also completed a pilot for AI-enabled vulnerability detection and provided a report [ https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/pilot-artificial-intelligence-enabled-vulnerability-detection ] on the pilot to the White House in July 2024.

*Provided** Technical Expertise to Counter Threats from Adversarial AI

*Under the EO, the DHS Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD), in partnership with the DHS Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) is working to counter chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological (CBRN) threats enabled by AI systems. DHS delivered a report to the President that examines and provides recommendations on how to better understand and mitigate the risk of AI being misused to assist in the development or use of CBRN. This report, released to the public in June [ https://www.dhs.gov/publication/fact-sheet-and-report-dhs-advances-efforts-reduce-risks-intersection-artificial ], identifies the trends in AI and types of AI models, including foundation models and Biological Design Tools, that might present or intensify biological and chemical threats to the United States. It offers recommendations to mitigate potential threats to national security in the training, deployment, publication, and use of AI models and associated data. as well as underscoring the vital role of safety evaluations and whole-of-community guardrails.

CWMD also developed a strategy to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of synthetic nucleic acid synthesis screening, helping to prevent the misuse of AI for engineering dangerous biological materials. Working closely with the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, DHS will help advance safety in this important industry. CWMD and S&T will also support the Department of Commerce’s AI Safety Institute in evaluating CBRN risks from AI systems, ensuring DHS’s unique expertise in these areas are a part of AI Safety Institute’s effort to promote AI safety.

--

In accordance with the DHS' Compliance Plan [ https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2024-09/2024_0923_cio_dhs_compliance_plan_omb_memoranda.pdf ]for OMB Memorandum M-24-10 [ https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwiy3_-ejKCJAxWTElkFHV7vMEIQFnoECAsQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.whitehouse.gov%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2024%2F03%2FM-24-10-Advancing-Governance-Innovation-and-Risk-Management-for-Agency-Use-of-Artificial-Intelligence.pdf&usg=AOvVaw3hACLTyEDh5mfmJaoor6xJ&opi=89978449 ], the Department will continue its work to advance AI governance and innovation while managing risks from the use of AI in the Federal Government, particularly those affecting the rights and safety of the public.

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*Register for the Inaugural DHS SBIR P0/WER Symposium – November 20* "10/30/2024" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;!-- /*start reset css*/ div { line-height: 1; } body, table, td, p, a, li, blockquote { -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; } body { -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: none; } table { border-spacing: 0; } table, td { mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; } img { -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; } body { margin: 0; padding: 0; } img { border: none !important; height: auto; line-height: 1; outline: none; text-decoration: none; } table td { border-collapse: collapse !important; } .preheader { display: none !important; visibility: hidden; opacity: 0; color: transparent; height: 0; width: 0; } /*end reset css*/ a[x-apple-data-detectors] { color: inherit !important; text-decoration: none !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; line-height: inherit !important; } /* outlook.com line-height control */ .ExternalClass p, .ExternalClass span, .ExternalClass font, .ExternalClass td {line-height: 100%} /* Pagewatch Style */ .rss_item {margin:0 0 20px;} .rss_item .rss_title {text-align: left; color: #000000; margin: 0px; font-size: 17px; line-height:1.2; font-family: book antiqua, palatino;} .rss_item .rss_title a { color:#00568c; text-decoration:none;} .rss_item .rss_description a { color:#00568c; text-decoration:underline;} .rss_item .rss_pub_date {text-align: left; color: #666666; margin: 0 0 10px 0; font-size: 13px; line-height:1.2; font-family: book antiqua, palatino;} .rss_item .rss_description {text-align: left; color: #000000; margin: 0px; font-size: 15px; line-height:1.2; font-family: book antiqua, palatino;} .rss_item .rss_description p {margin:0 0 10px 0; line-height:1.4;} .rss_item .rss_description li {margin:0 0 7px 0; line-height:1.2;} table#yahoo .govd_template_image { max-width: 100% !important; max-width:100%; } table#yahoo .govd_template_image, table#yahoo .govd_template_image img { height:auto !important; height:auto; } @media only screen and (max-device-width: 480px) { table#yahoo, table#yahoo table { position: relative; } table#yahoo .govd_header { max-width: 480px !important; } table#yahoo .govd_hr img, table#yahoo .govd_hr_inner img { display:none !important; } table#yahoo img { max-width: 400px !important; width: 100% !important; } table#yahoo .govd_template_image { height: auto !important; max-width: 400px !important; width: auto !important; margin:0 !important; } table#yahoo table.gd_combo_table .govd_template_image { margin:0 5px 5px 5px !important; } table#yahoo #main-header .govd_template_image { max-width: 480px !important; width: 100% !important; } table#yahoo .govd_content_container .govd_image_display { margin-left:0 !important; } table#yahoo .container-fill, table.gd_tbl_wrap, table.gd_tbl_wrap table { max-width: 480px !important; } .main-table, .mobile-footer, .mobile-tagline, table.gd_tbl_wrap, table.gd_tbl_wrap table { width:100% !important; min-width:100% !important; max-width:480px !important; } table#yahoo .tablecell, .tablecell { width:100% !important; display: block !important; } table#yahoo p, table#yahoo p span, table#yahoo .gd_p, table#yahoo li { font-size:13pt !important; } table#yahoo #view-in-browser p, table#yahoo #view-in-browser p span, table#yahoo #view-in-browser .gd_p, table#yahoo #view-in-browser li { font-size:8pt !important; } table#yahoo h1 { font-size:18pt !important; } table#yahoo h2 { font-size:16pt !important; } table#yahoo h3 { font-size:14pt !important; } table#yahoo #main-body .govd_hr {background:transparent none !important;} .mobile-hide {display:none !important;} .mobile-padding {padding:0 !important;} .mobile-columns {padding:10px 20px !important;} } --&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

SBIR P0WER Symposium

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On behalf the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program [ https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/sbir ], you’re invited to the *SBIR* *Phase 0* *AWareness Education and Resources (P0**WER) Symposium *on November 20, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. ET in Washington, D.C. and online. This hybrid event is the official launch of SBIR’s Phase 0 initiative that seeks to expand awareness of the DHS SBIR program and provide educational resources for potential applicants.

Register Here [ https://homelandsecurityphase0.dawnbreaker.com/power-symposium/ ]

This hybrid event will feature speakers from across DHS in a series of "Topic Talks "providing information on the 25.1 Solicitation and panel sessions that will provide information on the SBIR proposal review process. This is an excellent opportunity for those interested in learning more about the SBIR Program and DHS Components. In-person attendance is encouraged, but space is limited so register today to secure your seat. Once the event reaches capacity, registrants will still be able register for virtual attendance. Visit the SBIR P0WER Symposium event page for more information [ https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/SBIR_P0wer_Syposium ].

If you would like to receive information on SBIR news and events, sign-up for our mailing list by visiting https://sbir.dhs.gov/sbir/public

For specific questions or information, email STSBIR.PROGRAM@HQ.DHS.GOV

See you in November!
DHS SBIR P0WER Symposium Team

*News Release: DHS S&T, USFA, and FDNY Collaborate on Lithium-Ion Battery Risks at Public Safety Workshop* "10/30/2024" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;!-- /*start reset css*/ div { line-height: 1; } body, table, td, p, a, li, blockquote { -webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; -ms-text-size-adjust: 100%; } body { -webkit-text-size-adjust: none; -ms-text-size-adjust: none; } table { border-spacing: 0; } table, td { mso-table-lspace: 0pt; mso-table-rspace: 0pt; } img { -ms-interpolation-mode: bicubic; } body { margin: 0; padding: 0; } img { border: none !important; height: auto; line-height: 1; outline: none; text-decoration: none; } table td { border-collapse: collapse !important; } .preheader { display: none !important; visibility: hidden; opacity: 0; color: transparent; height: 0; width: 0; } /*end reset css*/ a[x-apple-data-detectors] { color: inherit !important; text-decoration: none !important; font-size: inherit !important; font-family: inherit !important; font-weight: inherit !important; line-height: inherit !important; } /* outlook.com line-height control */ .ExternalClass p, .ExternalClass span, .ExternalClass font, .ExternalClass td {line-height: 100%} /* Pagewatch Style */ .rss_item {margin:0 0 20px;} .rss_item .rss_title {text-align: left; color: #000000; margin: 0px; font-size: 17px; line-height:1.2; font-family: book antiqua, palatino;} .rss_item .rss_title a { color:#00568c; text-decoration:none;} .rss_item .rss_description a { color:#00568c; text-decoration:underline;} .rss_item .rss_pub_date {text-align: left; color: #666666; margin: 0 0 10px 0; font-size: 13px; line-height:1.2; font-family: book antiqua, palatino;} .rss_item .rss_description {text-align: left; color: #000000; margin: 0px; font-size: 15px; line-height:1.2; font-family: book antiqua, palatino;} .rss_item .rss_description p {margin:0 0 10px 0; line-height:1.4;} .rss_item .rss_description li {margin:0 0 7px 0; line-height:1.2;} table#yahoo .govd_template_image { max-width: 100% !important; max-width:100%; } table#yahoo .govd_template_image, table#yahoo .govd_template_image img { height:auto !important; height:auto; } @media only screen and (max-device-width: 480px) { table#yahoo, table#yahoo table { position: relative; } table#yahoo .govd_header { max-width: 480px !important; } table#yahoo .govd_hr img, table#yahoo .govd_hr_inner img { display:none !important; } table#yahoo img { max-width: 400px !important; width: 100% !important; } table#yahoo .govd_template_image { height: auto !important; max-width: 400px !important; width: auto !important; margin:0 !important; } table#yahoo table.gd_combo_table .govd_template_image { margin:0 5px 5px 5px !important; } table#yahoo #main-header .govd_template_image { max-width: 480px !important; width: 100% !important; } table#yahoo .govd_content_container .govd_image_display { margin-left:0 !important; } table#yahoo .container-fill, table.gd_tbl_wrap, table.gd_tbl_wrap table { max-width: 480px !important; } .main-table, .mobile-footer, .mobile-tagline, table.gd_tbl_wrap, table.gd_tbl_wrap table { width:100% !important; min-width:100% !important; max-width:480px !important; } table#yahoo .tablecell, .tablecell { width:100% !important; display: block !important; } table#yahoo p, table#yahoo p span, table#yahoo .gd_p, table#yahoo li { font-size:13pt !important; } table#yahoo #view-in-browser p, table#yahoo #view-in-browser p span, table#yahoo #view-in-browser .gd_p, table#yahoo #view-in-browser li { font-size:8pt !important; } table#yahoo h1 { font-size:18pt !important; } table#yahoo h2 { font-size:16pt !important; } table#yahoo h3 { font-size:14pt !important; } table#yahoo #main-body .govd_hr {background:transparent none !important;} .mobile-hide {display:none !important;} .mobile-padding {padding:0 !important;} .mobile-columns {padding:10px 20px !important;} } --&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

S&T Header banner

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*
News Release: DHS S&T, USFA, and FDNY Collaborate on Lithium-Ion Battery Risks at Public Safety Workshop [ https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/news/2024/10/30/st-usfa-and-fdny-collaborate-lithium-ion-battery-risks-public-safety-workshop ]
*

*NEW YORK* – The Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate [ https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology ] (S&T), in collaboration with the U.S. Fire Administration [ https://www.usfa.fema.gov/ ] (USFA) and Fire Department of the City of New York [ https://www.nyc.gov/site/fdny/index.page ] (FDNY), hosted a comprehensive two-day workshop titled "Charging Forward: Public Safety in Community Electrification". The workshop, led by DHS S&T’s New York City-based National Urban Security Technology Laboratory [ https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/national-urban-security-technology-laboratory ] (NUSTL), convened public safety leaders, first responders, and subject matter experts to address the growing public safety risks posed by lithium-ion batteries when they are improperly used, not safety certified, become damaged or fail.

“With the federal government making historic investments in renewable energy, lithium-ion batteries have rapidly emerged as a leading technology for energy storage,” said Julie Brewer, DHS Deputy Under Secretary for Science and Technology. “However, the increasing number of battery-related fires demonstrates the need for us to know more about the risks to protect both first responders and the public.”

USFA and FDNY leaders echoed the urgency to address the dangers posed by these new technologies. The workshop’s goal is to identify research and development needs that will give public safety officials additional tools and resources as community battery electrification advances.

“Fire risks are evolving and so must our response,” said Dr. Lori Moore-Merrell, U.S. Fire Administrator. “As we continue to prioritize renewable energy, we must also enable research to identify any associated fire risks and prioritize the safety of the men and women tasked with responding to fire emergencies that occur.”

“Lithium-ion battery fires are one of the most dangerous threats our first responders face in the country’s largest metro area,” said Robert S. Tucker, FDNY Commissioner. “One fatality due to these fires is too many. The tragic loss of lives and property from these incidents underscores why these collaborative workshops are so vital to creating new strategies and tools to allow us to better protect our city and our members.”

The workshop’s discussions focused on understanding community risk considerations with the expansion of energy storage across residential and commercial sectors, potential solutions for complex response, and actionable next steps to support public safety in ensuring the safety and health of our communities.

The workshop is supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Pacific Northwest National Laboratory [ https://www.pnnl.gov/ ] (PNNL). As a result of the workshop, PNNL will work with DHS S&T on producing a comprehensive report offering actionable insights and opportunities for future research, development, and test and evaluation to support public safety.

B-roll [ https://gcc02.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Ffdny.box.com%2Fshared%2Fstatic%2Fw1awmogdqzyjxusj1jxi023mxvcr0vw9.mp4&data=05%7C02%7CAmanda.Farinacci%40fdny.nyc.gov%7C904c741276154580cdef08dcf80e83af%7C32f56fc75f814e22a95b15da66513bef%7C0%7C0%7C638657988439863025%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=cOBz9Ze3YTQqgbvkYOVXNynx1wm9kkYKf4z%2Fp7mk4LA%3D&reserved=0 ] of lithium-ion battery fires, courtesy of FDNY.

*About DHS S&T*

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T) mission is to enable effective, efficient, and secure operations across all homeland security missions by applying scientific, engineering, analytic, and innovative approaches to deliver timely solutions and support departmental acquisitions. Created by Congress in 2003, S&T conducts basic and applied research, development, demonstration, testing and evaluation activities relevant to support Homeland Security and first responder operations and protect critical infrastructure. For more information about S&T, visit scitech.dhs.gov [ https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology ].

# # #

*CRCL October Newsletter* "10/31/2024"

USDHS heading Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Newsletter
USDHS banner

IN THIS ISSUE

*October 2024, Vol. 15, No. 2*

Maryland Test Facility

CRCL Visits Maryland
Test Facility

Earlier this month, CRCL Officer Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia and staff visited the Maryland Test Facility to continue CRCL’s partnership with the DHS Science and Technology Directorate on testing and evaluation of biometric technologies.

Read more... [ https://dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/24_1030_crcl-newsletter-october-2024.pdf ]

CRCL Officer Speaks to Asian Pacific American Bar Assocation
of Pennsylvania

This month, CRCL Officer Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia gave the keynote address at the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Pennsylvania’s Annual Fall Gala. She spoke on her experiences as an attorney of Asian American descent, and how that unique perspective impacts her work in leading the integration of civil rights and civil liberties protections and consideration across DHS.

Read more... [ https://dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/24_1030_crcl-newsletter-october-2024.pdf ] [ https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/crcl_newsletter_october_2020.pdf ]

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DHS Faith-Based Rule

In March 2024, DHS and eight other federal organizations published a joint final rule [ https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2024/03/04/2024-03869/partnerships-with-faith-based-and-neighborhood-organizations ] entitled “Partnerships with Faith-Based and Neighborhood Organizations,” with the goal of expanding the availability of social services to America’s communities, including historically underserved and marginalized communities.

Read more... [ https://dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/24_1030_crcl-newsletter-october-2024.pdf ]

CRCL Hosts a Series of Engagements with New York City Stakeholders

This month, CRCL hosted a series of engagements with a broad range of stakeholders in New York City to discuss language access, legal services, and resources to prevent targeted violence. These events included a host of listening sessions, stakeholder briefings, community meetings, and meet and greets with CRCL Officer Shoba Sivaprasad Wadhia and staff.

Read more... [ https://dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/24_1030_crcl-newsletter-october-2024.pdf ]

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2025 Homeland Threat Assessment

The Department’s 2025 Homeland Threat Assessment [ https://www.dhs.gov/publication/homeland-threat-assessment ] is designed to inform both the public and the Department’s partners of the threats to public safety and security,
in order to assist federal, state, and local partners in preparing, preventing, and responding to an ever-evolving threat environment.

Read more... [ https://dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/24_1030_crcl-newsletter-october-2024.pdf ]

[ https://dhs.gov/sites/default/files/2024-10/24_1030_crcl-newsletter-october-2024.pdf ]

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The goal of this periodic newsletter is to inform members of the public about the activities of the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties. To subscribe to this newsletter, send an email request to crcloutreach@hq.dhs.gov.

Join CRCL on Facebook at: facebook.com/CivilRightsCivilLiberties [ http://www.facebook.com/CivilRightsCivilLiberties ].

CRCL Phone: 202-401-1474 • Toll-Free: 866-644-8360 •
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*DHS Places Additional PRC-Based Textile Companies on the UFLPA Entity List* "10/31/2024" 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

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*DHS Places Additional PRC-Based Textile Companies on the UFLPA Entity List*

"UFLPA Entity List Will Now Restrict Goods from 78 PRC-Based Companies from Entering the United States"

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the addition of textile companies based in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) Entity List. The additions reinforce DHS’s commitment to eradicate forced labor and ensure accountability for the PRC’s ongoing genocide and crimes against humanity against Uyghurs and other religious and ethnic minority groups in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region (XUAR).

Effective November 1, 2024, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will apply a rebuttable presumption that goods produced by Esquel Group, Guangdong Esquel Textile Co., Ltd., and Turpan Esquel Textile Co., Ltd. will be prohibited from entering the United States. The addition of these textile entities builds on DHS’s Textile Enforcement Plan [ https://www.dhs.gov/news/2024/04/05/new-dhs-textile-enforcement-actions-crack-down-illicit-trade-support-500000 ] and demonstrates the FLETF’s commitment to focus on entities in high priority sectors for enforcement under the UFLPA Strategy, including the apparel and cotton and cotton products sectors. In addition to this announcement, Changji Esquel Textile Co., Ltd. will also be removed from one section of the UFLPA Entity Lists and added to another. Goods produced by Changji Esquel Textile Co., Ltd. (also known as Changji Yida Textile Co., Ltd.) will continue to be subject to a rebuttable presumption that they are prohibited from entering the United States.

“Through today’s expansion of the Entity List, we enable American businesses to better assess their supply chains and ensure they do not profit, directly or indirectly, from the use of forced labor,”* said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas.* “Our Department will continue to aggressively enforce the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act and, in doing so, we stand up for human rights, safeguard a free and fair marketplace, and hold perpetrators accountable.

The FLETF – chaired by DHS and whose member agencies also include the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the U.S. Departments of Commerce, Justice, Labor, State, and the Treasury – has now added 78 entities to the UFLPA Entity List since the UFLPA was signed into law in December 2021. The UFLPA Entity List includes companies that are active in the apparel, agriculture, polysilicon, plastics, chemicals, batteries, household appliances, electronics, seafood and textile sectors, among others. Identifying these additional entities provides U.S. importers with more information to conduct due diligence and examine their supply chains for risks of forced labor to ensure compliance with the UFLPA.

“We are uncompromising in removing forced labor from U.S. supply chains,” *said Under Secretary for Policy Robert Silvers, who serves as chair of the Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force.* “Our enforcement efforts are yielding results. Our Administration is committed to advancing this momentum and strengthening accountability across global supply chains.”

The FLETF has reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable information, that the below entities meet the criteria for inclusion in the UFLPA Entity List under Section 2(d)(2)(B)(v) of the UFLPA, which identifies facilities and entities that source material from the XUAR or from persons working with the government of XUAR or the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps for the purposes of the “poverty alleviation” program or the “pairing assistance” program or any other government labor scheme that uses forced labor.

*Esquel Group *(also known as Esquel China Holdings Limited) is a Hong Kong-based vertically integrated textile and apparel company that engages in cotton research, as well as ginning, spinning, knitting, weaving of cotton and cotton products, in the production of textiles, apparel and accessories, including packaging and merchandising of these products. Esquel Group includes a variety of subsidiaries also involved in cotton, textile, clothing, and other products manufacturing, production, and sales, including Changji Esquel Textile Co., Ltd., Turpan Esquel Textile Co., Ltd., and Guangdong Esquel Textile Co., Ltd. The FLETF has reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable information, including publicly available information, that Esquel Group sources cotton from the XUAR. The FLETF therefore determined that the activities of Esquel Group satisfy the criteria for addition to the UFLPA Entity List described in Section 2(d)(2)(B)(v).

*Guangdong Esquel Textile Co., Ltd.* is a company based in Foshan City, Guangdong Province, that is engaged in the manufacture and processing of textiles and apparel. The FLETF has reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable information, including publicly available information, that Guangdong Esquel Textile Co., Ltd. sources cotton from the XUAR. The FLETF therefore determined that the activities of Guangdong Esquel Textile Co., Ltd. satisfy the criteria for addition to the UFLPA Entity List described in Section 2(d)(2)(B)(v).

*Turpan Esquel Textile Co., Ltd. *is a company based in Turpan City, in the XUAR that is engaged in the production and sales of cotton and cotton yarn. The FLETF has reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable information, including publicly available information, that Turpan Esquel Textile Co., Ltd. is sourcing cotton from the XUAR. The FLETF therefore determined that the activities of Turpan Esquel Textile Co., Ltd. satisfy the criteria for addition to the UFLPA Entity List described in Section 2(d)(2)(B)(v).

*Changji Esquel Textile Co., Ltd. *(also known as Changji Yida Textile Co., Ltd.) is a company based in Changji Prefecture, XUAR that is engaged in production and sales of cotton yarn. The company had been included as one of the original twenty entities named to the UFLPA Entity List in June 2022 as an entity that qualified for inclusion under Section 2(d)(2)(B)(i) of the UFLPA. The FLETF has removed Changji Esquel Textile Co., Ltd. from Section 2(d)(2)(B)(i) of the UFLPA Entity List as the FLETF has determined there is no longer reasonable cause to believe that Changji Esquel Textile Co. meets the criteria described in Section 2(d)(2)(B)(i) of the UFLPA. The FLETF, however, has reasonable cause to believe, based on specific and articulable information, including publicly available information, that Changji Esquel Textile Co., Ltd. sources cotton from the XUAR. The FLETF therefore determined that the activities of Changji Esquel Textile Co., Ltd. satisfy the criteria for addition to the UFLPA Entity List described in Section 2(d)(2)(B)(v).

The bipartisan Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, signed into law by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., in December 2021, mandates that CBP apply a rebuttable presumption that goods mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in the XUAR or produced by entities identified on the UFLPA Entity List are prohibited from importation into the United States unless the Commissioner of CBP determines, by clear and convincing evidence, that the goods were not produced with forced labor. CBP began enforcing the UFLPA in June 2022. Since then, CBP has reviewed over 9,700 shipments valued at more than $3.5 billion under the UFLPA. Additionally, Homeland Security Investigations, through the DHS Center for Countering Human Trafficking, conducts criminal investigations into those engaging in or otherwise knowingly benefitting from forced labor, and collaborates with international partners to seek justice for victims.

Today’s announcement supports President Biden’s Memorandum on Advancing Worker Empowerment, Rights, and High Labor Standards Globally. The memorandum represents the first whole-of-government approach to advance workers’ rights by directing federal agencies engaged abroad to advance international recognized labor rights, which includes DHS’s work implementing the UFLPA.

You can read more about the FLETF by visiting: https://www.dhs.gov/uflpa

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*Feature Article: Artificial Intelligence Means Better, Faster and More for First Responders* "10/31/2024"

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[สมาชิกที่ลงทะเบียน]U.S. Department of Homeland Security
[ภาษา]日本語
[แอเรีย]Washington DC, DC

วันที่ลงทะเบียน : 2024/11/17
วันที่โพสต์ : 2024/11/17
วันเปลี่ยนแปลง : 2024/11/17
จำนวนรวมของการเปิดดู : 7 คน

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