Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano announced two days ago a cooperative effort with faith- and community-based groups to better meet the security demands of many recent immigrant populations. Their goal is to create an efficient information-sharing network among themselves. Napolitano’s announcement followed a meeting with leaders from the Muslim, Sikh, South Asian, and Arab communities.
To explain the rational behind their joint decision, Secretary Napolitano said, "In times of crisis, leaders of faith-based communities and other grassroots organizations often play a critical role in the broad and timely dissemination of accurate information." She continued, "Strengthening our partnerships with faith- and community-based groups will allow improved information sharing and better coordination in preparing for, assessing and responding to threats."
The announcement did not specify what was meant by “times of crisis”.
The announcement also did not detail any further the “faith- and community-based groups”. Most likely included are the Volags, resettlement agencies, and other faith- and community-based organizations.
Secretary Napolitano did mention the American Jewish community’s already well-established Secure Community Network as “a model for information sharing with faith- and community-based communities designed to quickly improve overall security awareness in a crisis situation,” upon which they would find “ways to expand and enhance current initiatives and partnerships.”
The cooperation will be through DHS’s Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties.
Separately, on Monday, Eric Schwartz, Assistant Secretary of State for Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM), announced an increase in PRM grant funding per capita to local resettlement agencies, the extra funding going directly to the refugee and to the agency’s overhead costs.
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More initial further information:
“Community Outreach” (accessed 30 January 2010), “Readout of Secretary Napolitano's Meeting with Faith-Based and Community Leaders” (accessed 28 January 2010), “Secure Community Network” (30 January 2010).
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