DHS Secretary Napolitano Issues Immigration and Border Security Action Directive

On January 30, U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced a wide-ranging action directive on immigration and border security. The directive requires specific DHS offices and components to “work together and with state and local partners to review and assess the plans and policies” to address:

• criminal and fugitive aliens;
• legal immigration benefit backlogs;
• southbound gun smuggling;
• cooperation with the National Guard at or near the border;
• widows and widowers of U.S. citizens whose petitions for the alien spouse’s immigration were denied;
• immigration detention centers (detention standards); and
• electronic employee verification.

For each assessment, a final report is due by February 20, 2009.