Washington, DC - Today, Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson met with German Federal Minister of Interior Thomas de Maizière to discuss a range of security issues, including border security, cybersecurity, and counterterrorism.

Secretary Johnson and Minister de Maizière discussed the European migration crisis and the current security situation in Europe following the terrorist attacks in Paris and Brussels, focusing on the importance of effective information sharing and opportunities for the United States and Germany to enhance counterterrorism cooperation, including the screening of travelers and asylum seekers. They also reviewed the Department’s recent measures to increase the security of the Visa Waiver Program, and Secretary Johnson reaffirmed the Department’s commitment to working with its German partners to identify and interdict foreign terrorist fighters.

Secretary Johnson and Minister de Maizière also discussed opportunities to strengthen cybersecurity cooperation between DHS and the German Federal Ministry of Interior. Tomorrow, Minister de Maizière will visit the Department’s National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) to gain a better understanding of DHS’s cyber incident response capabilities.