Search Results for keywords:"Homeland Security"

The memorandum titled "Preserving and Fortifying Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)" outlines a directive by the President to maintain and strengthen the DACA program. Established during the Obama-Biden Administration, DACA provides temporary relief from deportation for certain undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children, allowing them to work and contribute to the economy. The memorandum instructs the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Attorney General, to take appropriate actions to uphold the program, ensuring that it aligns with existing laws. It also specifies that the memorandum does not create any legal rights for individuals against the United States or its agencies.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has issued a 60-day notice inviting public comments on revisions to its information collection process. This involves consolidating previous evaluation instruments into two forms used by three FEMA offices to assess training programs. The notice aims to reduce paperwork burdens and improve data collection, impacting state, local, and tribal governments, as well as the private sector. Comments are requested on whether these changes will enhance performance evaluation and information collection efficiency.

In a memorandum, the U.S. President reinstates Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) for certain Liberian nationals living in the United States. This decision extends their stay and employment authorization until June 30, 2022, allowing them more time to apply for lawful permanent resident status under the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) provision. The memorandum outlines specific categories of individuals who are ineligible for this extension, such as those denied LRIF status or deemed a threat to U.S. interests. The President also directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to publish this memorandum and ensure efficient processes for renewing employment documents.

The Department of Homeland Security's U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is seeking public feedback on its proposal to extend the use of an information collection tool called Form I-134A. This form is used to assess if U.S.-based individuals can financially support certain immigrants during their temporary stay in the U.S., as part of several programs, including Uniting for Ukraine and Family Reunification Parole processes. The public can submit comments for 60 days to evaluate the necessity and efficiency of the information collection, which affects over a million respondents annually. The USCIS is also collecting biometric data to verify identities and conduct background checks as part of this process.

The Secretary of Homeland Security has extended a finding of a mass influx of aliens at the southern U.S. border, which originally went into effect in January 2025. This finding, which will last for 180 days, allows the federal government to request assistance from state and local governments to manage immigration law enforcement. The extension is due to concerns of potential increases in illegal entries, criminal activity, and overwhelming demands on law enforcement and immigration resources. This decision aims to maintain operational control over the border to ensure the safety and welfare of residents across all 50 states.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is inviting public comments until May 13, 2025, on its Information Collection Request for the Case Assistance Form, DHS Form 7001, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act. The form, used by individuals and employers facing issues with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), has been revised for usability, focusing on streamlining sections and enhancing online features. These improvements include a progress bar, adaptive questions based on user responses, and a web portal for checking case status and uploading documents. The changes aim to make the form more user-friendly and efficient, reducing the average completion time from 50 minutes and addressing issues highlighted in a recent usability study.

In response to COVID-19, the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security issued a declaration on January 27, 2021, stating that a national emergency exists. This declaration directs the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to implement measures to ensure the safety of individuals using or working in the transportation system. Consistent with previous orders and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the key actions is the requirement for people to wear masks on transportation and at transportation hubs to help reduce the spread of the virus.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has submitted a revised information collection request for the Federal Flight Deck Officer (FFDO) Program to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for approval. This program allows TSA to screen, train, and authorize volunteer pilots, flight engineers, and navigators to protect aircraft against criminal acts. The revision eliminates a verbal interview and permits online submission of some responses. Public comments on the proposed data collection are invited until January 6, 2025.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is planning to prepare a programmatic environmental assessment (PEA) to evaluate the potential environmental impacts of counter-unmanned aircraft systems (C-UAS) activities across the country. These systems are used to track and control drones, which have become a security concern. DHS seeks public comments on relevant environmental issues by April 7, 2025. The assessment will guide decision-making and establish practices to reduce environmental effects, with coordination from agencies with specific expertise or legal jurisdiction.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has announced an update to the major disaster declaration for Ohio, originally declared on April 8, 2019. This amendment, effective December 28, 2020, appoints Joseph Cirone as the new Federal Coordinating Officer, replacing Steven W. Johnson. The notice also includes several Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) numbers that are relevant for reporting and accessing disaster-related funds.