In a move meant to bolster the Department of Homeland Security’s statistical reporting and analysis capabilities while improving data transparency, DHS Secretary Alejandra Mayorkas launched the Office of Homeland Security Statistics (OHSS) last week.
The new office will primarily report on statistics and analysis from throughout the Department and support policy and decision-making with data and evidence. As part of this, it will work with the DHS Chief Data Officer to guide the development of data standards department-wide, including assuming existing work from the Office of Immigration Statistics. Marc Rosenblum, DHS statistical official, will lead the Department.
“The Department of Homeland Security touches the lives of more members of the public on a daily basis than any other federal department, and increasing the transparency, efficiency, and sophistication of our work has been my priority since day one,” Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said. “Opening the Office of Homeland Security Statistics is a milestone in that effort and a significant step forward in our work to modernize the Department. Data-driven decision-making is an integral part of everything we do, and this new office will inform our policymaking, enhance our law enforcement and investigative operations, and allow us to distribute resources, including grants, more effectively. Our increased transparency will inform the American people as we work to fulfill our security and safety mission while safeguarding privacy, civil rights, and civil liberties.”
A new website was launched to support the new office, although it may not see much action until Fiscal Year 2024. Initial data sets should begin to be released in the weeks ahead and will eventually encompass annual, semi-annual, and monthly reports on law enforcement, international trade, cybersecurity, airport screening, and more.
Housed within OHSS will also be the Migration Analysis Center (MAC), a Congressionally-mandated office to research migration.