The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a report on how it can best prevent, detect, and respond to potential threats related to domestic violent extremism within the Department.
This report is the product of a comprehensive high-level internal review that Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas directed, and it highlights the steps that DHS should take to improve our ability to adequately identify and address related threats. These recommendations will also better enable the Department to continue executing its critical mission and ensure its employees are safe and secure at work.
Among the key recommendations, which the Department is working to implement with urgency, the report highlights the need for clear guidance as to what constitutes violent extremist activity and how to address it, improved workforce training for how to identify and report this activity, and the development of a centralized, DHS-wide investigative case management system and information sharing mechanism for investigating related allegations. Secretary Mayorkas has directed DHS to swiftly implement the report’s recommendations.
“Every day, the more than 250,000 dedicated public servants at DHS work to ensure the safety and security of communities across our country. To ensure we are able to continue executing our critical mission with honor and integrity, we will not tolerate hateful acts or violent extremist activity within our Department,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas.
“The findings of this internal review highlight key steps that our Department will continue to take with urgency to better prevent, detect, and respond to potential internal threats related to domestic violent extremism, and protect the integrity of our mission.”
Over the coming months, DHS will focus on implementing the report’s recommendations to include establishing baseline policies and guidance, promoting employee awareness, and enhancing methods to identify and address violent extremist activity, while continuing to protect privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties. DHS has already begun addressing many of the gaps identified in the report, including by updating related employee training modules and developing guides for leaders to reference when discussing violent extremist activity.
