DHS OIG, OIG-07-68, A Review of Homeland Security Activities Along a Segment of the Michigan-Canadian Border (Unclassified Summary) (2007)

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Office of Inspector General A Review of Homeland Security Activities Along a Segment of the Michigan-Canadian Border (Unclassified Summary) OIG-07-68 August 2007 Unclassified Summary We reviewed DHS’ efforts to secure the border between the cities of Detroit and Port Huron against threats targeted at, through, and between five specific ports of entry. Our objective was to identify the challenges facing DHS components charged with securing that segment of the border, and to determine what steps are being taken to meet those challenges. We also assessed DHS’ interactions with its international, federal, state, local, and private sector partners who also claim some jurisdictional responsibility for border security operations. We conducted site visits of all five ports of entry.

We interviewed department officials from each of the relevant DHS components in the Washington, DC area, as well as in Detroit and Port Huron, Michigan. We also met with officials from several federal, state, and local agencies, as well as those in the private sector. In addition, we reviewed relevant intelligence reports, risk and threat assessments, management directives, standard operating procedures, and statistical data. We identified several concerns regarding the integration and dissemination of intelligence, the protection of critical infrastructure/key resources, local targeting capabilities, the extent of local performance measures, and the need for additional technological resources.

We are recommending that DHS increase its local intelligence presence; better coordinate the funding of protective measures for critical infrastructure/key resources; introduce additional standard operating procedures at the ports of entry; and deploy additional technological resources along the border. DHS is already taking steps toward remedying some of these issues in response to concerns that were raised during the course of our review. Unclassified Summary A Review of Homeland Security Activities Along a Segment of the Michigan-Canadian Border Additional Information and Copies To obtain additional copies of this report, call the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at (202) 254-4199, fax your request to (202) 254-4305, or visit the OIG web site at www.dhs.gov/oig. OIG Hotline To report alleged fraud, waste, abuse or mismanagement, or any other kind of criminal or noncriminal misconduct relative to department programs or operations: • Call our Hotline at 1-800-323-8603; • Fax the complaint directly to us at (202) 254-4292; • Email us at [email protected]; or • Write to us at: DHS Office of Inspector General/MAIL STOP 2600, Attention: Office of Investigations - Hotline, 245 Murray Drive, SW, Building 410, Washington, DC 20528, The OIG seeks to protect the identity of each writer and caller.