DHS roundtable encourages effective information sharing among law enforcement partners

The 7th Annual Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Law Enforcement Shared Mission Community (LESMC) Roundtable was held at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) headquarters in Washington, D.C., Aug. 11-12. This year’s theme was “Leveraging Information as a Force Multiplier.”

The LESMC is a chartered DHS-level organization that was formed in 2007 in furtherance of the mission to unite the Department’s components into One DHS. The event, the only one of its kind within the Department, continues this pursuit in accordance with our Unity of Effort initiative by encouraging candid discussion on how to improve internal and external information sharing and cooperation between DHS law enforcement components and its stakeholders.

The LESMC Roundtable featured several keynote speakers and panel members who discussed information sharing in the national security realm; challenges along the Southern Border; sharing channels among federal, state, local, tribal and territorial entities; unity of effort and policy, deconfliction, oversight and implementation challenges. The LESMC Roundtable also recognized individual and team achievements in the categories of “Trailblazer,” “Visionary,” “Luminary” and “Outstanding Achiever.” ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Executive Associate Director Peter Edge presented the awards.

Speaking on information sharing and deconfliction, DHS Under Secretary Office of Intelligence and Analysis General (Ret.) Francis Taylor, said, "Enhancing the exchange and integration of information and intelligence across the Department is key to protecting the Homeland. The Secretary’s Unity of Effort initiative is helping break down barriers and address the many challenges we face. Components and elements across DHS must be able to access each other’s information seamlessly and share that information with other appropriate stakeholders. We also need ensure to that our state, local, tribal, territorial, and private sector partners have the information and support they need from us to do their jobs.”

Robert Mocny, Director of the DHS Office of Biometric Identity Management and Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Information Sharing Policy, moderated a panel discussion that focused on biometric information sharing. Mocny pointed out the increased threats posed by foreign fighters and others with harmful intent who try to hide behind the anonymity of global travel. He said, “With this new environment, we have not only an opportunity, but a real obligation, to share more information on bad guys so we can disrupt their travel.”

Mocny asked the participants to consider ways to increase information sharing, saying: “The challenges we face (whether from legal, policy, or current practices that impede the sharing of information) must be overcome to make sure we are giving component operations the right information to do their job; while at the same time, giving our allies the information they need to disrupt the travel of those who could do us all harm.”

This year’s LESMC Roundtable was co-chaired by Deputy Assistant Director for Law Enforcement Information Sharing Douglas Henkel of ICE ERO and Acting Deputy Assistant Director, Information Management Directorate of ICE HSI Christopher Walker.

Also in attendance were guests from the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Office of National Intelligence and National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.