DHS plays a critical role in ensuring artificial intelligence (AI) safety and security nationwide. The Department uses AI responsibly to advance its homeland security mission while protecting the privacy and individual rights of the American public.

CBP Uses AI to Keep Fentanyl and Other Drugs Out of the Country

In 2023, a car driving north from Mexico approached the Point of Entry at San Ysidro. Almost immediately, one of U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) Machine Learning (ML) models identified a suspicious pattern in the car’s border crossing history and flagged it for further review, which revealed 75 kilograms of narcotics hidden in the vehicle and led to the arrest of the driver.

HSI Uses AI to Investigate Heinous Crimes

In August 2023, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) announced the completion of one of the most successful operations ever against online child sexual abuse. Operation Renewed Hope resulted in the identification of 311 previously unknown victims of sexual exploitation in less than a month by using AI and ML models, developed in partnership with the Science and Technology Directorate, to enhance old images and give investigators new leads using facial recognition. The operation also led to the rescue of several abuse victims and the arrests of multiple suspected perpetrators, including one international criminal.

Secretary Mayorkas Speaks About AI at DHS

“We must address the many ways in which artificial intelligence will drastically alter the threat landscape and augment the arsenal of tools we process to succeed in the face of these threats. Our Department will lead in the responsible use of AI to secure the homeland and in defending against the malicious use of this transformational technology.”

– Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas

Watch Secretary Mayorkas speak about the importance of AI at DHS in his 2023 State of the Homeland Address.