Fact Sheet
News & Happenings
August 3, 2006
Assisting Americans Returning Home From Lebanon
The Department of Homeland Security is working with federal partners to help facilitate the repatriation of American citizens who are evacuating from Lebanon as a result to the ongoing conflict in the region. Flights of evacuees continue to arrive at Thurgood Marshall Baltimore-Washington Airport (BWI) today and over the weekend.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) are surging resources and manpower to help expedite the safe and secure return of Americans and other legitimate immigrants and visitors from the region.
DEPLOYING MANPOWER TO EXPEDITE THE SCREENING PROCESS
TSA is assisting in the evacuation efforts for more than 4,500 American citizens returning home from Lebanon. Security professionals including Federal Air Marshals, Aviation Security Inspectors and Transportation Security Officers have volunteered and deployed to key sites both in the U.S. and abroad to facilitate secure flight and screening operations.
- Federal Air Marshals are currently on mission status assisting with the evacuation in a law enforcement capacity.
- TSA has surged approximately 75 additional Transportation Security Officers to the five airports identified as points of entry for the evacuees (BWI, ATL, PHL, JFK, DFW). TSA is dedicated to ensuring that a stringent security posture is maintained, while keeping wait times at approximately 10 minutes.
- 27 Security Officers have volunteered for international deployment to screen flights carrying evacuees back to the United States from points abroad. An additional 35 are prepared and awaiting deployment.
CLOSELY COOPERATING WITH OTHER AGENCIES AND FOREIGN GOVERNMENTS TO ADDRESS ISSUES OVERSEAS
CBP and TSA continue to work closely with officials across the federal government and overseas to expedite processes while maintaining appropriate security measures.
- Activity Overseas: CBP has been working in close cooperation with officials in the United Kingdom and the State Department to verify identification and resolve any outstanding issues prior to arrival in the United States. TSA’s international office is working with host governments to facilitate outbound security screening in light of the speed and urgency of the evacuation. The Federal Air Marshal Service is also supporting the evacuation of American citizens from Lebanon to ensure their safety and the safety of others.
