U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 17, 2003
OPERATION LIBERTY SHIELD
Operation LIBERTY SHIELD is a comprehensive national plan designed to
increase protections for America's citizens and infrastructure while
maintaining the free flow of goods and people across our border with
minimal disruption to our economy and way of life. Operation
SHIELD is a multi-department, multi-agency, national team effort. It
includes:
* Increased security at borders
* Stronger transportation protections
* Ongoing measures to disrupt threats
against our nation
* Greater protections for critical
infrastructure and key assets
* Increased public health preparedness
* Federal response resources
positioned and ready
* INCREASED SECURITY AT BORDERS
Maritime
More Patrols - Security has been increased at major U.S. ports and
waterways with more Coast Guard patrols by aircraft, ships and boats.
More Escorts of Passenger Ships - The Coast Guard has increased its
escorts of ferries and cruise ships.
More Sea Marshals - Every high interest vessel arriving or departing
from American ports will have armed Coast Guard Sea Marshals onboard,
closely watching the ship's crew and ensuring that it makes its port
call safely. These merchant ships have cargoes, crewmember(s), or other
characteristics that warrant closer examination.
Selective Maritime Restrictions - The Coast Guard will enforce security
zones in and around critical infrastructure sites in key ports. This
information will be published and announced for those using
waterways.
Land Borders
Increasing Border Surveillance - Surveillance and monitoring of the
borders will be increased with more agents and patrol assets. These
forces will cover areas between major ports of entry.
Increased Border Screening - Customs and Border Protection officers will
increase screenings of vehicles and cargo crossing our land borders.
Officers will conduct more interviews and detailed screenings as people
transit in and out of the
expected to significantly impact the movement of people and cargo across
the border.
Asylum Modifications
Asylum Detainees - Asylum applicants from nations
where al-Qaeda, al-Qaeda sympathizers, and other terrorist groups are
known to have operated will be detained for the duration of their
processing period. This reasonable and prudent temporary action allows
authorities to maintain contact with asylum seekers while we determine
the validity of their claim. DHS and the Department of State will
coordinate exceptions to this policy.
* STRONGER TRANSPORTATION PROTECTIONS
Airports
Increasing Airport Security - The Transportation Security Agency will
implement airport security measures that are proactive, sustainable, and
focused, based on intelligence information. One of the most visible
changes will be increasing the presence of law enforcement officers on
patrol and in airport facilities.
Checking Airport IDs - TSA has advised air carriers to review and ensure
the validity of all personnel ID's for those who have access to the
secure areas. In addition, TSA screeners will continue to remain at a
heightened state of alert.
Airspace Control
Controlling Vital Airspace - New temporary flight restrictions have been
put into place over certain
C. and
traffic in these and other key areas.
Enhancing Rail Security
Improving Rail Bridge Security - State governors
have been asked to provide additional police or National Guard forces at
selected bridges.
Increased Railroad Infrastructure Security - Railroad companies will be
asked to increase security at major facilities and key rail hubs.
AMTRAK
Security Measures - AMTRAK will implement
security measures consistent with private rail companies.
Increasing Railroad Hazardous Material (HAZMAT)
Safety - At the request of the Department of Transportation private
railroad companies will monitor shipments of hazardous material and
increase surveillance of trains carrying this material.
Enhancing Road Security
Government and Industry Teamwork - The
Department of Transportation will work closely with hazardous material
shippers and carriers and encourage them to follow transportation
security checklists and recommendations. Suggested measures include
employee identification checks, communications plans, and emphasis on
operator awareness. U. S. and Canadian authorities will also
coordinate cross-border hazardous material shipments.
* ONGOING MEASURES TO DISRUPT THREATS AGAINST OUR
NATION
Monitoring Terrorist Suspects
Tracking Suspects - The FBI will continue to closely monitor individuals
suspected of links to terrorism.
Identifying Terrorist Supporters - The FBI is working closely with the
Departments of Justice and DHS to identify those that would facilitate
terrorist activity through fundraising, logistical support and
recruitment.
Foreign National Information. - In order to advise members of the Iraqi
community of the FBI's responsibilities in protecting them from hate
crimes, and to elicit information that may be useful to the U.S.
Government in the event of hostilities in Iraq, the FBI, working with
the Department of State and immigration officials, has identified a
number of Iraqi-born individuals in the U.S. that may be invited to
participate in voluntary interviews.
* GREATER PROTECTIONS FOR CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE
AND KEY ASSETS
Protecting Key Economic Centers and Ports
Vital Petro-chemical Facilities - The Coast Guard will provide maritime
protection for petroleum centers located in close proximity to major
coastal population centers.
Strengthening Nuclear Regulatory Safeguards
Facility Security - The Nuclear Regulatory
Commission (NRC) is requiring all licensed users of radioactive material
to take additional security measures.
Protecting Key Infrastructure - The Federal government, state and local
organizations and the private sector are increasing the security
presence at chemical facilities, nuclear power sites, key electrical
grids, bridges, subway systems, and other sites.
Cyber-Security
Monitoring and Vigilance - The Department of Homeland
Security, together with other government agencies, continues to monitor
the Internet for signs of a potential terrorist attack, cyber-terrorism,
hacking, and state-sponsored information warfare. Industry and public
Internet users are reminded of the importance of employing sound
security practices and reporting unusual activity or intrusion attempts
to DHS or local law enforcement.
* INCREASED PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS
Increasing Disease Surveillance and Food Security
Alerting and
Informing the Food Industry - The Department of
Agriculture is alerting producer organizations of the increased threat
status and urging them to implement additional security measures such as
inspecting all vehicles and escorting all visitors to their facilities.
Department of Health and Human Services Outreach - HHS is alerting state
and local health departments, hospitals, and medical care providers to
report any unusual diseases or disease patterns. HHS has put the
Public Health Service Commissioned Corp Readiness Force of doctors,
nurses, and other health care staff on alert status and alerted
emergency support and management teams to possible deployment.
Imported Food Monitoring. HHS has taken aggressive steps to enhance the
inspection of imported food and is coordinating federal, state, and
local communications on imported food issues and potential food
pathogens.
USDA Monitoring of Food Chain - The Department of Agriculture is taking
steps to assure that employees and representatives throughout the food
and agriculture community are alerted and aware of the need for extra
precautions during this time. USDA is encouraging state and private
authorities to monitor feedlots, stockyards, import and storage areas.
* FEDERAL RESPONSE RESOURCES POSITIONED AND READY
National
Emergency Response Teams - DHS has pre-positioned
National Emergency Response Teams (ERT-N) with one team designated for
the National Capital Region. These teams are able to provide onsite
management of federal response efforts.
Incident Teams - USDA Incident Management Teams (IRTs) from the
Forest Service are ready to deploy to an emergency site to manage an
incident with other DHS, federal, state, and local authorities.
DECON Teams Ready - EPA decontamination teams
are on alert and ready to deploy.
In addition to the measures being taken in Operation LIBERTY SHIELD,
members of the public are encouraged to become more informed about the
emergency preparedness measures they can take to protect themselves and
family members.
School Preparedness - On March 6, the Secretary of Education, Rod Paige,
and Secretary Ridge announced a new web site that provides educators and
school administrators with key emergency information to include in their
own preparedness plans. The website includes information covering a
variety of emergencies, including natural disasters, violent incidents,
and terrorist acts. The website is: www.ed.gov/emergencyplan.
READY.GOV - The READY.GOV website and 1-800-Be-Ready line provide
citizens with informative preparedness suggestions and advice for
families.
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