The Department of Homeland Security is marking its 23rd anniversary Sunday, celebrating more than two decades since its creation in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, even as the agency finds itself in the crosshairs of Democrats amid a partial government shutdown.
Formed in November 2002 and formally commencing operations on March 1, 2003, DHS was established to unify the nation’s domestic security apparatus under one umbrella. Today, it oversees border security, immigration enforcement, cybersecurity, disaster response, counterterrorism operations, and maritime interdiction.
“As the threat landscape continues to evolve, DHS is there. By air, land, sea, or in cyberspace, the DHS workforce boldly confronts the threats our nation faces every day,” Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement marking the anniversary. “We are working diligently to prevent cybersecurity and terror threats, safeguard the southern border, reform our broken immigration system, and help Americans in the face of natural disasters. Our mission could not be achieved without your extraordinary courage and commitment. I am especially grateful to those of you who are serving during the current shutdown without a paycheck.”
With conflict recently erupting in Iran, Noem also emphasized vigilance at home, writing on X that she is “in direct coordination with our federal intelligence and law enforcement partners as we continue to closely monitor and thwart any potential threats to the homeland.”
The anniversary comes at a politically charged moment. DHS has announced it must take steps to preserve limited funds and personnel during the shutdown, even as it continues core national security functions.
Under President Donald Trump and Secretary Noem, department officials point to a slate of enforcement and security actions over the past year as evidence that DHS is fulfilling its founding mission.
According to a statement from the department obtained by The Daily Wire, Border Patrol has recorded nine consecutive months of zero migrant releases at the southern border, ending what officials describe as the Biden administration’s “catch and release” policy. DHS also reports that total border apprehensions during Trump’s first year back in office were lower than a single average month under the previous administration.
Over the last 13 months, nearly 3 million illegal aliens have left the United States amid the administration’s immigration crackdown, including an estimated 2.2 million self-deportations and more than 713,000 deportations, according to DHS. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the department says, arrested 1,538 known or suspected terrorists and removed 1,534, along with thousands of gang members tied to groups such as Tren de Aragua and MS-13.
That aggressive enforcement posture has fueled Democratic opposition and contributed to the funding standoff now affecting the department.
On the cybersecurity front, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency reports blocking billions of malicious connections on federal civilian networks and hundreds of millions more targeting critical infrastructure. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized more than 617,000 pounds of illicit drugs nationwide over the past year, including more than 10,000 pounds of fentanyl. The U.S. Coast Guard intercepted over 547,000 pounds of illegal narcotics — nearly three times its normal annual average — which officials say prevented hundreds of millions of lethal doses from reaching American communities.
DHS also highlights joint efforts with the Department of Health and Human Services to locate 145,000 unaccompanied minors it says were lost under prior border policies, as well as reforms to Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) aimed at accelerating state-led disaster response. President Trump has approved 12 federal emergency disaster declarations in recent months, unlocking additional resources for affected states.
More than two decades after its creation in response to the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil, DHS is marking its anniversary while confronting both evolving global threats and immediate fiscal constraints. Department leadership maintains that the mission remains unchanged: protect the homeland and keep Americans safe, regardless of political or budgetary headwinds.
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