Nathan Stiefel Citizenship and Immigration Services Deputy Ombudsman | Official Website
On October 7, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) held an awards ceremony at its headquarters in Washington, D.C., where 350 employees were honored with a Secretary’s Award for their contributions to the department's mission.
"Every single day, with great determination, integrity, and skill, the 268,000 men and women of the Department of Homeland Security ensure the safety and security of the American people,” stated Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. He added that these public servants protect various aspects of national security and help communities recover from disasters.
The annual DHS Secretary’s Awards recognize individual and collective achievements within the workforce. This year's awardees included members from several offices such as Civil Rights and Civil Liberties (CRCL), General Counsel (OGC), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
“In recognizing these outstanding DHS personnel with a Secretary’s Award, we recognize all our talented personnel; the achievements of one are not possible without the contributions of others,” said Mayorkas. He also acknowledged the support from families of those serving in DHS.
The recipients this year were involved in significant projects like transitioning to a new pay system for TSA, targeting Transnational Criminal Organizations through operations in regions like Darien Gap, arresting human smugglers, producing intelligence reports, seizing property worth millions, and providing alerts against cyberattacks.
This year marks nine ceremonies across the country honoring over 1,700 employees—the most ever recognized annually by DHS. Last year saw initiatives like improving border processing efficiency and resettling nearly 90,000 Afghans evacuated to the United States.
For more details on awardees: visit 2024 Secretary's Awards | Homeland Security (dhs.gov).
