A FEW OF THE CHANGES DHS HAS MADE TO PROTECT THE U.S.:

Before 9/11

Osama bin Laden summoned operatives to discuss using commercial aircraft as weapons and list potential targets in the United States.

Now

The private sector and the Department of Homeland Security rely on an informationsharing security strategy to identify individuals with the goal of preventing terrorists from entering the country Before 9/11

The hijackers began to obtain passports and visas to travel to the U.S.

Now

Federal agencies have a better capacity to vet individuals applying for visas. The Visa Security Program is now operational at 41 posts in 28 countries.

April 2001

The hijackers began arriving in the U.S. on tourist visas with cash and travelers checks acquired in the Middle East.

Today

The Terrorist Screening Center, the National Counterterrorism Center and other federal entities analyze travel-related data to find patterns of suspected terrorists. The databases have helped intercept suspicious terrorists as well as cargo.

2001

The hijackers enrolled in flight schools and took surveillance flights.

Now

“Fusion” centers throughout the country serve as focal points at the state and local level to share threat- and vulnerabilityrelated information.

The Nationwide Suspicious Activity Reporting Initiative and the National Crime Information Center have watch lists for law enforcement officers to use.