Strategic Plan

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Fiscal Years 2014-2018 Strategic Plan

Analysis

Direction

Vision

A homeland that is safe, secure, and resilient against terrorism and other hazards, where American interests, aspirations, and way of life can thrive.

Mission

To provide essential support to national and economic security

Values

unnamed value

Goals

Terrorism & Security

Goal Statement: PREVENT TERRORISM AND ENHANCE SECURITY

Preventing terrorism is the cornerstone of homeland security. Within this mission we focus on the goals of preventing terrorist attacks; preventing and protecting against the unauthorized acquisition or use of chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear materials and capabilities; and reducing risk to the Nation’s most critical infrastructure, key leaders, and events.

Objectives:

• Authorities & Assets
• IEDs
• Information
• Leaders, Facilities & Events
• Investigations
• Nuclear Forensics
• Critical Infrastructure, Leadership & Events
• Attacks
• Assessment
• Protective Measures
• Critical Infrastructure
• Materials & Weapons
• Protectees
• Forensic Data
• Chemical, Radiological & Nuclear Materials
• Deterrence & Disruption
• Nuclear Detection
• Biological Incidents
• Information Sharing
• Research & Development
• Acquisition & Movement
• Intelligence, Information Sharing, Security & Response
• Chemical Facilities
• Events
• Violent Extremism
• Problem Solving & Integration
• Transportation Security
• Vulnerabilities
• Technologies
• Federal Facilities, Employees & Visitors

Borders

Goal Statement: SECURE AND MANAGE OUR BORDERS

Secure, well-managed borders must not only protect the United States against threats from abroad, they must also safeguard and expedite the flow of lawful trade and travel. Achieving this end requires that we focus on three interrelated goals: 1) secure U.S. air, land, and sea borders and approaches; 2) safeguard and expedite lawful trade and travel; and 3) disrupt and dismantle transnational criminal organizations and other illicit actors. The 2014 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review defined a risk segmentation approach to managing the flows of people and goods: minimize disruption to and facilitate safe and secure inbound and outbound legal flows of people and goods; prioritize efforts to counter illicit finance and further increase transnational criminal organization perception of risk through targeted interdiction and other activities, while continuing to increase efficiencies in operations; and counter terrorist travel into the United States, terrorism against international travel and trade systems, and the export of sensitive goods and technology. Building on that work, the U.S. Southern Border and Approaches Campaign Planning Effort (2014), one of the first management imperatives from the Unity of Effort Initiative, articulates four mutually-supporting key areas of effort for securing the southern border and approaches: 1) segment and expedite flows of people and goods at ports of entry; 2) strengthen the security and resilience of the global supply chain and the international travel system; 3) combat transnational organized crime and terrorism; and 4) prevent illegal flows of people and goods between ports of entry.

Objectives:

• Nodes, Conveyances & Pathways
• Illicit Financing
• Trade & Travel
• Transit
• Import & Entry
• Illicit Actors
• Standards
• Cargo
• Export & Exit
• Trade, Economic Security & Competitiveness
• TCOs
• Criminal Organizations & Illicit Actors
• Security
• Deterrence

Immigration Laws

Goal Statement: ENFORCE AND ADMINISTER OUR IMMIGRATION LAWS

Immigration is essential to our identity as a nation of immigrants. Most American families have an immigration story, some recent, some more distant. Many immigrants have taken on great risks to work and contribute to America’s prosperity or were provided refuge after facing persecution abroad. Americans are extremely proud of this tradition. Smart and effective enforcement and administration of our immigration laws remains a core homeland security mission. The following priorities from the 2014 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review inform the strategic approach in this mission area: 1) Building a stronger, smarter border enforcement system; 2) Achieving smart and effective interior enforcement; 3) Creating a 21stCentury legal immigration system; 4) Facilitating reunions for long-separated families; 5) Creating an earned path to citizenship; and 6) Enhancing management and organization to develop a responsive immigration system.

Objectives:

• Immigration Decisions
• Unlawful Immigration
• Arrests, Detentions & Removal
• Situational Awareness
• Travel Documents
• Immigration Benefits
• Lawful Immigration
• Immigration Services
• Unlawful Immigration
• Criminal Aliens
• Immigration System
• Integration
• Benefit & Information Services
• Demand

Cyberspace

Goal Statement: SAFEGUARD AND SECURE CYBERSPACE

Each and every day, the United States faces a myriad of threats in cyberspace, from the theft of trade secrets, payment card data, and other sensitive information through cyber intrusions to denial-of-service attacks against Internet websites and attempted intrusions of U.S. critical infrastructure. DHS works closely with government and private sector partners to strengthen cybersecurity capabilities, investigate cybercrime, and share actionable information to ensure a secure and resilient cyberspace that protects privacy and civil rights and civil liberties by design, supports innovation and economic growth, and supports public health and safety. The 2014 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review outlines four strategic priorities to safeguard and secure cyberspace: 1) Strengthen the security and resilience of critical Infrastructure against cyber attacks and other hazards; 2) Secure the federal civilian government information technology enterprise; 3) Advance cyber law enforcement, incident response, and reporting capabilities; and 4) Strengthen the cyber ecosystem.

Objectives:

• Networks, Tools & Information
• Vulnerabilities & Resilience
• International Engagement
• Cyber Technology
• Awareness & Best Practices
• Information & Intelligence
• Law Enforcement, Incident Response & Reporting
• Incidents
• Investigations, Experts & Methods
• Illicit Usage
• Government IT
• R&D
• Cyber Ecosystem
• Cybersecurity Professionals
• Critical Infrastructure
• Interdependencies & Cascading Impacts
• Services & Functions
• Investigations
• Policy & Standards
• Policies & Best Practices
• Cybercrime
• Products, Services & Solutions

Preparedness & Resilience

Goal Statement: STRENGTHEN NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS AND RESILIENCE

Despite ongoing vigilance and efforts to protect the United States and its citizens, major accidents, disruptions, and natural disasters, as well as deliberate attacks, will occur. The challenge is to build the capacity of American society to be resilient in the face of disruptions, disasters, and other crises. Our goals in this mission require us to: 1) enhance national preparedness; 2) mitigate hazards and vulnerabilities; 3) ensure effective emergency response; and 4) enable rapid recovery. The 2014 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review reaffirms the Whole Community approach to national preparedness and resilience, which calls for the investment of everyone -- not just the government -- in preparedness efforts. Whole Community is a means by which emergency managers, organizational and community leaders, government officials, private and nonprofit sectors, faith-based and disability organizations, and the general public can collectively understand and assess the needs of their respective communities as well as determine the best ways to organize and strengthen their assets, capacities, and interests.

Objectives:

• Maritime Incidents
• Capabilities
• Planning Frameworks
• Community Specific Risks
• Planning & Reachback
• Hazards & Vulnerabilities
• Empowerment
• Vulnerability
• Tools & Technical Assistance
• Preparedness
• Grants