Today, I am proud to announce the launch of the redesigned Blue Campaign, the Department of Homeland Security’s unified voice for combating human trafficking.

Human trafficking is often hidden in plain sight, even in our own communities. Everyone has a role to play in combating human trafficking. Increased awareness and training will lead to more tips, which will result in more victims being identified and rescued.

Working together with law enforcement, government, nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector, the Blue Campaign strives to protect the basic right of freedom and bring those who exploit human lives to justice. Together, we can take comprehensive action to stop this horrible crime, to rescue its victims, and to put its perpetrators behind bars.

The Blue Campaign is offering new, comprehensive resources for recognizing the indicators of human trafficking and knowing how to report suspected instances of human trafficking to law enforcement, as well as resources for potential victims.

I encourage you to take a moment to learn more about human trafficking and how everyone can join in the fight. Please visit www.dhs.gov/bluecampaign to learn more, take the training, print the posters, and share the PSA to educate yourself and your community about human trafficking.

Learn more about the fight to end human trafficking here.

Flying on the U.S. side of the U.S.-Mexico border and overlooking the Rio Grande River, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano tours the border in a U.S. Customs and Border Protection Office of Air and Marine helicopter over Clint, Texas, Feb. 5, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

Last week, I travelled to San Diego, CA and Clint and El Paso, TX where I saw firsthand the need for more modernized immigration laws that make it harder for criminals and transnational criminal organizations to operate, while encouraging immigrants to choose to pursue a pathway to legal immigration rather than breaking the law.

See a photo gallery of Secretary Napolitano's visit

Over the past four years, we have dedicated historic levels of personnel, technology, and resources to the Southwest border, and undertaken an unprecedented effort to transform our Nation's immigration enforcement systems into one that focuses on public safety, border security, and the integrity of the immigration system. We have matched our success at the border with smart, effective immigration enforcement, with a focus on identifying and removing criminal aliens and other public safety threats, recent border crossers, repeat violators, and employers who break the law. We have also increased funding to our state and local law enforcement partners to make sure they have the resources they need.

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano attends an operational briefing from the federal agencies assigned to border and maritime security operations at U.S. Coast Guard Station San Diego, Calif., Feb. 4, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

The results of these efforts are clear. Attempts to cross the border illegally are down nearly 80 percent from their peak, seizures of illegal drugs, weapons and other contraband are up, and some of the safest communities in America are found in our border states.

Our immigration system has been broken for too long, and Congress must act. At the Department of Homeland Security, we look forward to continuing to work closely with our many federal, state, local, and tribal partners, to build on the historic progress that we have made to help us keep our communities safe and secure.

Today I visited Joplin, Mo. with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and FEMA Deputy Administrator Rich Serino, to survey the progress of recovery efforts on the ground. When I last visited Joplin in June, I told our team of federal, state, local and community partners that we would not leave until the job was finished and today, three months later, we remain committed to helping the people of Missouri rebuild.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan (end of counter), Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano (middle) and FEMA Deputy Administrator Richard Serino (right) purchase a drink at the Joplin High School coffee shop. The coffee shop is a student run business to help purchase items for the temporary high school as their original high school was destroyed in the May tornado

As I toured the areas affected by the May 2011 tornado, the scale of devastation is still difficult to comprehend. We know that the recovery process will take time, but it’s inspiring to see the work already underway. Despite the destruction of its campus, Joplin High School started its school year on-time, which is a testament to the resiliency of the Joplin community. At DHS, we often talk about the importance of engaging the entire community in responding to and recovering from disasters. Joplin is a community determined to bounce-back, and they are a true model for others.

This Administration is committed to supporting recovery efforts in Joplin and other areas impacted by natural disasters. We will continue to work with affected communities and I personally look forward to going back to Joplin to see the progress firsthand.  

Watch Secretary Napolitano's video on remembering 9/11 here.

The Secretary of Homeland Security reflects on how one of our nation's darkest days showed us some of the best of America. She pays tribute to those who lost their lives that day, and says the anniversary is an opportunity for Americans to recommit to the ideals of service and sacrifice. Secretary Napolitano also reminds Americans that our homeland security begins with hometown security.   

RELATED:
President Obama called on the American people to come together in the spirit of service on the tenth anniversary of the September 11th attacks

See more video remembrances of September 11 from Cabinet members
Attorney General Eric Holder
Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta
Secretary of Veterans' Affairs Eric Shinseki

To date, DHS has identified over $1 billion in cost avoidances and cuts as a result of these efforts. Additionally, our fiscal year 2012 budget request included more than $800 million in reductions associated with administrative savings and Efficiency Review initiatives currently underway, from efforts to buy smarter and manage our real estate and space usage more efficiently, to cutting spending on professional services contracts, printing, supplies and materials, travel, and training.

And just last week, we began implementing an initiative from the 2010 President’s SAVE Award, submitted by Paul Behe, a DHS employee from Customs and Border Protection. This initiative changes current DHS practices by posting notices of seized property online instead of in print newspapers – avoiding approximately $1 million annually in advertising costs.

The Campaign to Cut Waste will establish a new Government Accountability and Transparency Board that will bring together the nation’s top waste, fraud and abuse watchdogs to ensure we bring the kind of unprecedented transparency and accountability we saw in the Recovery Act to all federal spending, and will require Cabinet agencies like DHS to report regularly on their progress in cutting waste and improving effectiveness.  

In the current economic environment, all agencies must continue to maximize the effectiveness of every taxpayer dollar we receive. DHS will work closely with our partners across the Federal government on the Campaign to Cut Waste, continuing our unprecedented work to increase the accountability, efficiency, and effectiveness of our services and programs. 

Find more information on DHS’s efforts to cut waste through the efficiency review.

The devastating storms and tornadoes that have swept across Missouri, Alabama and other parts of our nation this week are a vivid reminder that disasters of all kinds can strike at any time, and it is vital that all of us, including members of our nation's emergency management team and the American public, are prepared to act.

Yesterday, I traveled to St. Louis to tour the Lambert-St. Louis International Airport, which suffered severe damage when tornadoes struck the region last weekend. During my visit, I had the opportunity to meet with some of the heroic TSA workers who were on duty during the tornadoes and played a key role in helping the airport re-open quickly. Additionally, FEMA teams were already on-site to assess the damage and assist with the process of getting the airport fully functional again.  At my direction, FEMA also has deployed personnel to the state’s emergency operation center to help coordinate assistance and work side-by-side with its state and local partners.

While in St. Louis, I also joined Secretary Arne Duncan and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon at Carnahan High School of the Future to participate in the Great Central U.S. ShakeOut--the largest-ever, multi-state earthquake drill to be held in the United States, and the first major drill to take place along the New Madrid Seismic Zone, which was the site of one of the worst earthquakes in U.S. history nearly 200 years ago.  In total, 2,644 K-12 schools and 117 colleges participated in the ShakeOut, along with businesses, local, state and federal government agencies, child care centers, and many other organizations.  The exercise will go a long way in helping us be prepared in the event of a major earthquake.

In light of recent events from Japan to Missouri to Alabama, we recognize that preparedness and education are vital to our ability to respond to unforeseeable events like earthquakes, storms and other natural disasters. Every individual plays an important role in building a national culture of readiness and resilience and we encourage every American to learn what they can do to help their families, businesses and communities be prepared and stay safe in any emergency.

Today, we stand with the communities affected by these terrible storms, in Missouri, Alabama and in other states across our nation.  We offer them our help and our prayers as they work to rebuild and recover.

Janet Napolitano is the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

In today’s threat environment – more than ever – we know that our security is a shared responsibility and the best security strategy is one that gets the public involved. That’s why the Department of Homeland Security is focused on strengthening our country’s defenses by getting all stakeholders – including the public – the information and resources they need in order to play their part in helping to secure the country.

We’ve begun a great deal of this work by building the capabilities of fusion centers, launching the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative, and expanding the “If You See Something, Say Something,” campaign. Now, we are taking another major step forward through the new National Terrorism Advisory – or NTAS – system. This new system –which will be fully implemented on April 26 – counts on the American public as a key partner in securing our country.

NTAS is built on a clear and simple premise: When a threat develops that could impact you – the public – we will tell you. We will provide whatever information we can so you know how to protect yourselves, your families, and your communities.

Under the new system, DHS will coordinate with other federal entities to issue formal, detailed alerts when the federal government receives information about a specific or credible terrorist threat.  These alerts will include a clear statement that there is an imminent threat or elevated threat, a summary of the potential threat, actions being taken to ensure public safety, and steps that individuals and communities can take to protect themselves and help prevent, mitigate or respond to the threat. These alerts will also have a specified end date.

For Americans, this will mean some visible changes. You won’t hear the old color-code announcements when you go to airports, or see them when you visit a government website. Instead, when a threat arises that could affect you and your family, you will hear about it through an NTAS Alert issued by DHS through official channels, such as the DHS website, the news media, and via social media channels such as Facebook and Twitter.

During past attacks and incidents, we have seen the life-saving contributions of everyday Americans who alert authorities to something suspicious and help avert danger. We strongly believe that, if we are facing a particular threat, the American people should be equipped with whatever information we can provide so you know how to protect yourselves, your families, and your communities. The new NTAS system will do just that, and is an important part of the ongoing efforts to make our country safer and more secure.

Janet Napolitano is the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

I am joining my predecessors, Tom Ridge and Michael Chertoff, today at a public commemoration of the Department’s 8th anniversary. We’ll speak to the history and progress of the last eight years, and to the dedication and service of the more than 230,000 men and women of DHS. A live video stream of the event will be available here.

Since it was formed in 2003, DHS has achieved remarkable progress across our key missions: preventing terrorism; securing our borders; enforcing our immigration laws; securing cyberspace; and ensuring resilience to disasters.

But we know that we have more work to do to counter the evolving threats we face. We must remind ourselves that our mission – a secure homeland – requires our constant vigilance, hard work, and determination to prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from terrorism and other threats.

As I often say, homeland security begins with hometown security. Working hand in hand with first responders, state, local, tribal and territorial governments, community groups, international partners and the private sector, we have made great strides in protecting our nation from terrorism and other threats while building a culture of resiliency and preparedness in our communities. Security is, indeed, a shared responsibility.

I invite you to watch and to learn more about how DHS is working every day to secure our nation. I look forward to the coming years, as we build on the foundation we celebrate today.

Janet Napolitano is the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

The new system, called the National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS), reflects the reality that we must always be on alert and ready.  Under the new, two-tiered system, DHS will coordinate with other federal entities to issue formal, detailed alerts regarding information about a specific or credible terrorist threat. These alerts will include a clear statement that there is an “imminent threat” or “elevated threat.” The alerts also will provide a concise summary of the potential threat, information about actions being taken to ensure public safety, and recommended steps that individuals and communities can take.

When we have information about a specific, credible threat, we will issue a formal alert providing as much information as we can.  Depending on the nature of the threat, the alert may be sent to a limited, particular audience like law enforcement, or a segment of the private sector, like shopping malls or hotels.

The alerts will be more focused to a two-tier system – “imminent” or “elevated threat.” At a minimum, alerts will include a statement of whether there is an imminent or elevated threat.

Or, the alert may be issued more broadly to the American people distributed—through a statement from DHS—to the news media as well as via our website and social media channels such as Facebook, Twitter and our blog.

Since a major change like this can’t happen overnight, today we are beginning a 90-day implementation period in which federal, state and local governments, law enforcement entities, private and non-profit sector partners, airports, and other transport hubs will transition to this new system. We are committed to making sure that we launch NTAS in the right way so it can be the most effective system possible not only for the public, but for all of our partners.  During the implementation period, the old system will remain in place.

The alerts will be specific to the threat.  They may recommend certain actions, or suggest looking for specific kinds of suspicious behavior.  And the alerts will have a specified end date, which will be extended only if additional information becomes available or if the threat evolves.

This means that the days are numbered for the automated recordings at airports about a color code level that were too often accompanied by little practical information.  This new system is built on the common-sense belief that we are all in this together, and that we all have a role to play.  

NTAS was developed in that same collaborative spirit: it was largely the work of a bi-partisan task force that included law enforcement, former mayors and governors, and members of the previous administration.  

We know that we cannot achieve 100 percent protection against terrorism 100 percent of the time – but by empowering the American public to share the responsibility for safeguarding our communities, and by working with partners across the country, we can – and will – continue to do everything we can to keep our communities and fellow Americans safe.

Agent Terry was killed in the line of duty while confronting several suspects near Rio Rico, Ariz. It is a stark reminder of the very real dangers our men and women on the frontlines confront every day as they protect our communities and the American people.

We are working with other federal, state and local authorities to ensure those responsible for this horrendous act are held responsible. We will leave no stone unturned as we seek justice for the perpetrators.

I want to extend my deepest condolences to Agent Terry’s family at this difficult time. We will honor his memory by remaining resolute and committed to the serious task of securing our nation’s borders. I ask that all of us keep Agent Terry and his family in our prayers.

Janet Napolitano is Secretary of Homeland Security

Over the past several weeks, the President and my fellow Cabinet members have talked about a number of important reasons to support the DREAM Act. Today, I’d like to speak to the important role the DREAM Act would have in promoting public safety though smart and effective immigration enforcement.

By providing a firm, but fair, means for individuals who were brought to the United States as children to adjust their status, the DREAM Act would bolster the Department of Homeland Security’s ability to focus our limited enforcement resources on detaining and removing criminal aliens and those who pose a threat to our national security and public safety. 

Under this Administration, the Department of Homeland Security has deported a record number of illegal aliens convicted of criminal offenses, including 195,000 in fiscal year 2010 – a 70 percent increase in criminal removals compared to 2008. Passage of the DREAM Act would further enhance these efforts.

To be clear, no one who poses a threat to public safety will be able to adjust their status under the DREAM Act. The bill ensures applicants will undergo a rigorous background check, and individuals who committed offenses that are grounds for removal will be barred from relief. It is a narrowly-tailored, bipartisan bill that would allow a select group of immigrant students with great potential to contribute more fully to America.  

Our priority of removing criminal illegal aliens – which the DREAM Act would further enhance – is only one part of this Administration’s broader strategy to secure the border and enforce our nation’s immigration laws. We have more personnel, technology, and infrastructure at the border than ever before, including record numbers of Border Patrol agents and 1,200 National Guard personnel whom the President has authorized to assist at the border. As of this year, we have drone flights covering the southwest border from El Centro, CA to Brownsville, TX, and have more border fencing than at any previous point in history.

The DREAM Act is not a substitute for comprehensive immigration reform.  While the broader immigration debate continues, however, I urge the Congress to pass the DREAM Act and allow those who arrived in this country as children and who want to go to college or serve in our military to adjust their immigration status.  By passing the DREAM Act, Congress can help DHS continue to enhance our immigration enforcement efforts in the way that makes the most sense for our public safety and national security. The U.S. House of Representatives has already acted in a bipartisan manner on this legislation, voting last week to pass the DREAM Act. And soon, the Senate will have the same opportunity to enact the measure. I urge the Senate to do what’s good for our nation’s security, pass the DREAM Act.

Janet Napolitano is Secretary of Homeland Security

Since taking office, the Obama administration has made Gulf Coast rebuilding a top priority. Over the past 20 months, we’ve obligated more than $2.5 billion in funding for new schools and universities, fire houses, police stations, and critical infrastructure, including roads, bridges, hospitals, and public health assets across the Gulf.

Earlier this week, we announced an additional $25 million in newly approved funding for rebuilding projects in Louisiana and Mississippi, the latest in a series of Gulf Coast recovery projects.  These resources are helping revitalize communities, cut through red tape, and get long-delayed construction projects off the ground.

We’ve also made tremendous progress since Katrina and Rita in improving our country’s ability to prepare for, respond to and recover from major disasters of all kinds.

An example of this progress is the recovery efforts this summer following the worst flooding in over a century in Nashville, Tenn. These floods took the lives of more than 30 individuals, devastated communities, and  threatened the safety and livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of residents. Despite this historic damage, our swift and effective response demonstrated what a difference preparation, coordination between federal, state, and local governments, and the quick deployment of resources to local communities can make.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an agency within the Department of Homeland Security, played a key role in the government’s response.  But as our FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate would be the first to say, preparing for – and responding to – disasters truly is a shared responsibility.  While we continue to strengthen and streamline efforts to prepare for disasters at the federal level, citizens, families, communities, faith organizations, and businesses all have an important role to play in our collective response to emergencies.

As we remember the tragic events along the Gulf Coast five years ago, please take a moment to visit ready.gov – learn how to prepare an emergency kit, develop a plan for reuniting with family members after a disaster, and ensure you have plans in place for caring for family and friends.  

As the residents of Nashville can attest, we’ve made tremendous progress since August 2005. Working together, we will continue building a stronger and more resilient nation than ever before.

Janet Napolitano is Secretary of Homeland Security

Read more from the Hurricane Katrina: 5 Years of Remembering & Rebuilding series.

Today, I was humbled to join the President at the White House to administer the oath of allegiance to 24 American service members as they became citizens of our nation. These men and women were born in 16 different countries, but they came to the United States sharing a common purpose, and chose to defend their adopted country even before they became citizens.

These men and women are shining examples of the energy, talent, and commitment that immigrants have always brought to our country. I am proud to call each of them fellow Americans.

President Barack Obama, lower left, looks on as 24 active duty service members raise their right hands during a naturalization ceremony in the Rose Garden of the White House, April 23, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Lawrence Jackson)

All of today's new citizens joined or reenlisted in the military after 9/11, and made a commitment to defend America and its ideals even though they could be deployed to a hostile combat zone. But they stepped forward anyway to defend America’s safety and our nation’s ideals. For some of them, this meant serving three tours of duty in Iraq, or celebrating Mother’s Day with their children over videoconference.

While the sacrifice that these men and women have given – even while noncitizens – is extraordinary, their stories are not unique. Since 9/11, 58,000 members of our Armed Forces have become American citizens, oftentimes taking the oath of allegiance while deployed in Iraq or Afghanistan.

President Barack Obama presents Marine Sgt. Ledum Ndaanee, originally from Nigeria, the Outstanding American by Choice award during a naturalization ceremony for active duty service members in the Rose Garden of the White House. Ndaanee served two tours in Iraq where he was wounded by an IED in 2007. April 23, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Chuck Kennedy)

Americans are born in every part of the world, yet – like these men and women who became citizens today – they come to America because of their commitment to our ideals and their belief in the American Dream. Many of them risk their lives for their country even before they officially become citizens. The 24 service members who became Americans today remind us that immigrants like them have always been a tremendous strength of our country. This is a strength that we must continue to foster in the 21st century.

Janet Napolitano is Secretary of Homeland Security

Janet Napolitano is Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security

• U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is configuring it computers to automatically shut down/standby when they are not being used to avoid energy costs.
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection will reduce energy usage by 25% by incorporating solar power in its new Border Patrol Sector Station in El Paso, Texas.
• The new U.S. Coast Guard headquarters facility currently under construction will receive LEED Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council, incorporating state-of-the-art efficiency technologies like green roofs, landscaped courtyards to capture and reuse surface water runoff, and innovative heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems.

That’s why I’m excited by the GreenGov Challenge that runs through the end of the month. It gives federal employees and our men and women in uniform a chance to submit their ideas to make us more environmentally responsible while cutting costs and streamlining operations.

You can submit your ideas at obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/GreenGov through the end of the month. Together, we can make a difference in creating a more efficient and sustainable federal government.

Janet Napolitano is Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security