Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano today met with National Academy of Sciences President Ralph Cicerone and National Academy of Engineering President Charles Vest to discuss ways to further increase the ongoing collaboration between DHS and the science and technology community to develop innovative initiatives to help protect our nation from threats.

This spring, Homeland Security Secretary Napolitano will deliver commencement addresses at three ceremonies.

Secretary Napolitano highlighted the United States’ significant progress in securing the U.S.-Mexico border one year after the Obama administration announced the Southwest Border Initiative—a series of unprecedented steps to crack down on Mexican drug cartels by deploying additional personnel and technology, increasing information sharing, working closely with the Mexican government, and improving federal coordination with state, local and tribal law enforcement authorities.

Secretary Napolitano delivered remarks to female law enforcement agents and officers from across the Department at the U.S. Secret Service’s headquarters—honoring the service and sacrifices of women in law enforcement on our nation’s frontlines every day as part of National Women’s History Month.

Secretary Janet Napolitano met with stakeholders to discuss ongoing efforts to work together to create a comprehensive approach to immigration reform.

“I applaud the Department of Justice and the FBI for leading the effort culminating in today’s guilty plea, and I commend the men and women of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the DHS Office of Intelligence & Analysis who played critical roles as part of a true interagency investigation.”

Testimony of Margo Schlanger, Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment, “Working with Communities to Disrupt Terror Plots” at the Cannon House Office Building on March 17, 2010.

Secretary Napolitano visited the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco, Ga., to observe a demonstration of a flying-while-armed training for law enforcement and deliver remarks about FLETC’s role in training law enforcement agents and officers from dozens of federal, state, local and tribal agencies in order to help keep Americans and their communities safe and secure.

Attorney General Eric Holder and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Deputy Secretary Jane Holl Lute joined Finnish Interior Minister Anne Holmlund to sign a Preventing and Combating Crime (PCC) Agreement—allowing for the enhanced exchange of biometric and biographic data to bolster counterterrorism and law enforcement efforts in both the United States and Finland while protecting individual privacy.