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Current National Threat Level is elevated

The threat level in the airline sector is HIGH or Orange. Read more

Meryl Chertoff, wife of Secretary Michael Chertoff, christens the Coast Guard National Security Cutter Bertholf (DHS Photos/Bahler)

Coast Guard Cutter Christened

November 11, 2006 (Pascagoula, Miss.) – The Coast Guard National Security Cutter Bertholf was christened on Veterans Day by Meryl Chertoff, wife of Secretary Michael Chertoff. The cutter, named after the Coast Guard’s first commandant, Ellsworth Price Bertholf, will be the first of eight Legend-class cutters operating as part of the Coast Guard’s Integrated Deepwater Program.

Secretary Chertoff, in his prepared remarks, thanked all the participants who worked to build the Bertholf under difficult conditions following Hurricane Katrina and said the building of the Bertholf represents the department’s commitment to the Deepwater program.
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Border Arrests Decrease 8%

October 30, 2006 – Secretary Michael Chertoff announced that the U.S. Border Patrol arrested 8.4 percent fewer illegal immigrants last fiscal year. "We have begun to see, for the first time, a significant turnaround in terms of the number of illegals that we are finding crossing the border," he said at a press conference with Assistant Secretary Julie Myers of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Chief David Aguilar of the U.S. Border Patrol.

"What is important is to put into place a strategy that, if consistently followed, will put us on a course that will get us security at the border. "
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Visa Waiver Program Countries Meet e-Passport Deadline

October 26, 2006 – The Department of Homeland Security announced that nearly all of the Visa Waiver Program countries have met the requirement for issuing e-Passports which contain a contactless chip with the passport holder’s biographic information and a biometric identifier, such as a digital photograph of the holder.

“The upgrade to e-Passports is a significant advance in preventing terrorists from using lost or stolen passports to obtain entry into the United States,” said Secretary Michael Chertoff.
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