DETROIT, MI – U.S. Senator Gary Peters (MI), Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, was joined by U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro N. Mayorkas for a series of events in metro Detroit to discuss the critical role DHS plays in protecting Michigan communities. Peters and Mayorkas met with faith and community leaders to discuss threats to houses of worship and DHS resources that are available to help them secure their congregations against security threats. They also met with leaders of Michigan’s Arab and Muslim American communities to discuss civil rights issues, including travel screening processes. Peters and Mayorkas then concluded their visit by touring DHS facilities and meeting with employees of the U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) that are housed at Selfridge Air National Guard Base.
“I was honored to host Secretary Mayorkas in Michigan today to meet with key community leaders and discuss the important role that Department of Homeland Security and its hardworking personnel play in keeping Michigan communities safe and secure,” said Senator Peters. “Whether it’s facilitating efficient trade and travel at our airports and Northern Border crossings, ensuring our houses of worship are safe from terrorist attacks, or preventing illegal drugs from reaching our communities – the Department of Homeland Security’s work affects every Michigander’s daily life. I am grateful to Secretary Mayorkas for committing his time to meet with Michiganders, and I look forward to continuing to work with him to address the many security challenges facing our state and our entire nation while protecting Americans’ civil rights and liberties.”
“I was very proud to visit Michigan’s metro Detroit area, which embraces the diversity of its people, to meet with members of different communities about how we continue building trust,” said Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas. “We built the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships to reach out to communities, to show not only that we are worthy of their trust but also that we are here to serve them, and to help them keep their communities safe and secure. With help of Chairman Peters and the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, in 2022, DHS will provide $250 million in Nonprofit Security Grant funding to communities across the country.”
During the visit, Peters and Mayorkas met with faith and community leaders at the Zekelman Holocaust Center in Farmington Hills to hear firsthand how rising threats and attacks against houses of worship are affecting Michiganders and discuss how DHS’ Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) can provide important resources to help secure these facilities against targeted attacks. Peters has long championed the in-demand NSGP, and most recently helped secure $250 million for the program as part of the government funding bill signed into law earlier this week.
Peters and Mayorkas also met with leaders of Michigan’s Arab and Muslim American communities in Dearborn to discuss ongoing concerns related to travel screening processes conducted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and CBP, as well as other important civil rights issues.
Finally, Peters and Mayorkas concluded their visit at Selfridge Air National Guard Base in Macomb County to highlight the installation’s critical national security footprint. Peters and Mayorkas met with base leadership and DHS personnel from several DHS components who work on critical national security missions from the base, including the U.S. Coast Guard, Homeland Security Investigations, and Customs and Border Protection.
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