Find the Correct DHS Headquarters Address, Component Contact and Approved Visitor Route
The Department of Homeland Security building is not a public walk-in service center. DHS headquarters operates from a secure federal campus, while immigration, customs, airport security, disaster aid and cyber reports are handled by separate DHS components.
This guide explains the St. Elizabeths headquarters address, why 2700 and 2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue appear in official records, when the Nebraska Avenue Complex is relevant, how to prepare for an approved visit and which agency should receive your request.
Choose the Exact DHS Action You Need
DHS Contact Route Finder
Select the result you need. The tool will direct you away from the headquarters building when another DHS component is responsible.
DHS Headquarters Phone Numbers and Core Contact Details
Why DHS Headquarters Has Several Washington Addresses
Address |
What it represents |
How the public should use it |
|---|---|---|
U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Washington, DC 20528 |
General federal mailing address |
Use only when official instructions do not provide a street address or Mail Stop |
2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20528 |
Headquarters mailing location |
Add the exact office name and four-digit Mail Stop supplied by the recipient |
2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE, Washington, DC |
GSA property address |
GSA lists this as the location of the historic Center Building at St. Elizabeths |
St. Elizabeths West Campus |
Consolidated DHS headquarters campus |
Use the precise gate, building and arrival directions provided by the DHS host |
3801 Nebraska Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 |
Nebraska Avenue Complex |
Visit only when a DHS office or host specifically directs you to the NAC |
245 Murray Lane SW or another component address |
Component-specific office |
Follow the address printed on the component’s official form, notice or contact page |
Prepare for a DHS Headquarters Visit Without Being Turned Away
Confirm that the meeting is actually in person
Ask whether the meeting is virtual, at St. Elizabeths, at the Nebraska Avenue Complex or at another DHS component office.
Obtain the host’s full contact details
Save the host’s name, office, phone number and meeting confirmation. The central operator may not be able to replace a missing visitor sponsor.
Ask for the exact building, gate and arrival time
St. Elizabeths is a large secure campus. A street address alone is not enough to identify the correct security checkpoint or destination.
Confirm identification requirements
Bring the valid photo identification specified by the host. Confirm that the name provided for visitor clearance matches the identification exactly.
Request accommodations in advance
Tell the hosting office before the visit when you need mobility, communication, interpretation or other reasonable accommodation support.
Follow all security and device instructions
Secure federal facilities may limit items, photography, recording, parking, drop-offs and electronic devices. Follow the invitation rather than assumptions from another federal building.
Call the host if the arrival instruction fails
Do not move between gates or attempt to enter another campus area without authorization.
Bring
- Meeting confirmation
- Host’s full name
- Host’s phone number
- Exact building or gate
- Accepted photo identification
- Accommodation confirmation
Do not assume
- The campus accepts walk-ins
- 2700 and 2707 are interchangeable entrances
- Parking is publicly available
- A mailed appointment notice applies to headquarters
- Another DHS facility uses the same rules
- The operator can create visitor clearance
Do Not Use DHS Headquarters for These Common Services
Your question |
Correct agency or service |
Best starting action |
|---|---|---|
Immigration application, green card, citizenship or case status |
USCIS |
Use the USCIS online account or call 800-375-5283 |
ICE detention location or field-office matter |
ICE |
Use the ICE detainee locator or official ICE contact directory |
Border inspection, customs, I-94 or trusted-traveler issue |
CBP |
Use the CBP information center or the specific port, airport or program contact |
Airport screening, prohibited items or TSA PreCheck |
TSA |
Use TSA Contact Center, AskTSA or the PreCheck provider instructions |
Disaster assistance or FEMA application status |
FEMA |
Use DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362 |
Cybersecurity incident or vulnerability report |
CISA |
Use the official CISA Report page and choose the correct incident type |
Secret Service office, financial crime or protective matter |
U.S. Secret Service |
Use the Secret Service field-office or official contact page |
Security incident at a federal building |
Federal Protective Service |
Call 877-437-7411; call 911 for an immediate emergency |
Fraud, waste, abuse or employee misconduct involving DHS |
DHS OIG |
Submit an OIG Hotline complaint or call 800-323-8603 |
General department policy or unknown headquarters office |
DHS headquarters |
Call the operator at 202-282-8000 or use the official Contact Us directory |
Open the Correct Official DHS Service
How to Address Mail to DHS Headquarters
Preferred headquarters format
U.S. Department of Homeland Security
2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE
Mail Stop ####
Washington, DC 20528-####
The four-digit ZIP extension normally corresponds to the Mail Stop supplied by the office.
Before mailing
- Confirm the responsible DHS component
- Use the exact office name
- Obtain the correct Mail Stop
- Follow the form’s filing instructions
- Keep proof of delivery when appropriate
- Do not mail sensitive originals unnecessarily
Common DHS Mailing Problems and the Correct Fix
Problem |
Why it causes delay |
Best correction |
|---|---|---|
Mail addressed only to “DHS Building” |
No responsible office or component is identified |
Add the office name and Mail Stop |
Using 2700 instead of official mailing instructions |
2700 is the GSA property location for the Center Building |
Use 2707 and the exact Mail Stop when instructed for headquarters mail |
Sending USCIS forms to DHS headquarters |
USCIS forms use form-specific lockbox or filing addresses |
Use the address on the current USCIS form page |
Sending a FOIA request by ordinary mail or email |
DHS changed its FOIA intake procedure in January 2026 |
Use the official online FOIA submission process |
Using the headquarters comment line for a case |
The comment line is not an immigration, disaster or traveler case system |
Contact the responsible component with the case or receipt number |
Submit a DHS FOIA Request Through the Correct Online Component
Important 2026 filing change
Effective January 22, 2026, DHS states that it no longer accepts hard-copy mailed or emailed FOIA and Privacy Act requests for DHS records. Use the official online submission route.
Search already-published records first
Check the DHS FOIA Library, component reading rooms and public reports before filing a new request.
Choose the component that created the record
A USCIS immigration file, CBP travel record, ICE record, TSA record and headquarters policy record may be processed by different FOIA offices.
Describe the record—not only the topic
Include dates, names, locations, record type, case number and the office likely to maintain it.
Complete identity verification when requesting your own records
Follow the online instructions for certification of identity or authorization. Do not upload unrelated sensitive documents.
Save the request number
Use it to check status, communicate with the FOIA office and identify the request in later correspondence.
Emergency, Security, Cyber and Misconduct Reporting Routes
Situation |
Correct action |
Do not use |
|---|---|---|
Immediate threat to life or active crime |
Call 911 |
Do not wait for the DHS headquarters operator or an online form |
Security issue at a federal building |
Federal Protective Service: 877-437-7411 |
Do not use the headquarters comment line |
Cybersecurity incident or vulnerability |
Use CISA’s official reporting route |
Do not email sensitive incident details to a generic DHS address |
Waste, fraud, abuse or mismanagement involving DHS |
DHS OIG Hotline: 800-323-8603 |
Do not treat a headquarters receptionist as an investigative intake office |
Immigration or customs violation tip |
Use the official ICE or CBP tip channel matching the issue |
Do not visit the secure headquarters campus |
Discrimination, civil-rights or accessibility complaint |
Use the DHS civil-rights or accessibility complaint process |
Do not send a vague letter without the responsible program and facts |
Send a Media Inquiry That Can Be Routed Quickly
Headquarters media email
- Your full name
- News organization
- Phone and email
- Specific DHS component
- Clear questions
- Publication deadline and time zone
Use component media contacts when
- The story concerns a specific CBP port or border event.
- The request concerns an ICE enforcement action.
- The question concerns TSA operations at an airport.
- The story concerns a FEMA disaster declaration.
- The subject is a CISA cyber advisory or incident.
What the Department of Homeland Security Building Actually Refers To
St. Elizabeths West Campus
The West Campus is the principal DHS consolidated-headquarters campus in southeast Washington, DC. GSA controls the federally owned West Campus.
Center Building
GSA lists the historic Center Building at 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE. It is part of the St. Elizabeths National Historic Landmark property.
Nebraska Avenue Complex
The NAC at 3801 Nebraska Avenue NW remains a secure DHS headquarters facility. Use it only when an office, meeting notice or host specifically identifies it.
St. Elizabeths campus scale
- West Campus covers approximately 176 acres.
- It contains numerous historic buildings.
- It is being redeveloped as DHS’s consolidated headquarters.
- GSA describes it as the National Capital Region’s largest federal construction project.
Current redevelopment
- Additional DHS office buildings are under development.
- Work includes infrastructure, utilities and pedestrian connections.
- Parking, security-processing and campus-support improvements are included.
- Historic preservation and environmental requirements apply.
Who Handles DHS Headquarters Construction?
Federal campus development
The U.S. General Services Administration leads redevelopment of the St. Elizabeths West Campus in coordination with DHS.
- Federal real-property planning
- Design and construction contracting
- Historic-preservation compliance
- Environmental review
- Campus infrastructure
- Federal security standards
Not a public permit counter
DHS headquarters does not issue building permits for private homes, businesses or local projects.
- Local projects use the city or county permitting authority.
- Federal contractors use procurement and contract channels.
- Campus construction questions go through GSA or the contracting office.
- Security-sensitive facility information may not be public.
Use the Correct Route for Employment and Federal Contracting
Goal |
Official starting point |
What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
Apply for a DHS job |
DHS Careers and USAJOBS |
Federal résumé, eligibility documents, transcript and vacancy number |
Find an internship or student opportunity |
DHS student and recent-graduate career pages |
Enrollment status, graduation date and required documents |
Find a DHS solicitation |
SAM.gov Contract Opportunities |
UEI, SAM registration, NAICS codes and solicitation number |
Find St. Elizabeths construction information |
GSA St. Elizabeths project page |
Project name, contractor, solicitation or subcontracting scope |
Offer products or professional services |
DHS procurement and small-business resources |
Capability statement, socioeconomic certification and past performance |
Ask about a submitted bid |
Contracting officer named in the solicitation |
Solicitation number and authorized company contact |
Fix Common DHS Headquarters Contact Problems
Problem |
Likely cause |
Best next action |
|---|---|---|
You were told to contact “DHS” but no office was named |
DHS contains multiple operational components |
Identify whether the issue is immigration, border, airport, disaster, cybersecurity, enforcement or headquarters policy |
A map shows both 2700 and 2707 MLK Jr. Avenue |
One is a GSA property location and one is used for headquarters mail |
Follow the exact address and gate supplied by the office or host |
You cannot enter the campus |
No visitor sponsor, wrong gate, wrong campus or identification mismatch |
Contact the host; do not attempt another entrance without instructions |
The headquarters operator cannot answer a case question |
The case belongs to USCIS, ICE, CBP, TSA or FEMA |
Use the component’s case-status or customer-service system |
Mail has no response |
Missing office, Mail Stop or incorrect component address |
Confirm the delivery record and contact the responsible office with the tracking information |
FOIA request was mailed or emailed after January 22, 2026 |
DHS changed to online FOIA intake |
Resubmit through the official online process |
A contractor wants local-building-permit help from DHS |
DHS headquarters is being confused with a local building department |
Contact the city or county permit authority, or use SAM.gov for federal contract work |
You received an unexpected request for money or personal data |
Possible impersonation or scam |
Verify through an independently located .gov contact before responding or paying |
What to Say When You Contact DHS
“I need the DHS office responsible for [specific issue]. This concerns [component, program, location or document]. Which official contact should I use?”
“My host is [name and office], and my meeting is scheduled for [date and time]. Please confirm the campus, building, gate, identification and arrival instructions.”
“I need to mail [document type] to [office]. Please confirm the complete street address, four-digit Mail Stop and whether online submission is required instead.”
“I am requesting [specific record] created by [office] during [date range]. Which DHS FOIA component should receive the online request?”
“I am [name] with [outlet]. My questions concern [specific DHS component and issue], and my deadline is [date, time and time zone].”
“I am researching solicitation or subcontracting opportunities for [specific St. Elizabeths project]. Which SAM.gov notice or contracting office should I follow?”
Protect Personal Information When Contacting DHS
- Use official .gov websites
- Verify the component before uploading documents
- Use secure case portals when available
- Do not post case numbers publicly
- Do not email payment-card information
- Do not send original identity documents unless required
- Verify unexpected payment instructions
- Keep submission and delivery confirmations
- Use the form’s current edition and address
- Report suspected impersonation through official channels
St. Elizabeths DHS Headquarters Campus Map
Open the Correct DHS Headquarters Resource
Department of Homeland Security Building FAQs
What is the main DHS headquarters phone number?
The Department of Homeland Security headquarters operator number is 202-282-8000. Use component-specific contacts for immigration, customs, airport security, disaster aid and cybersecurity matters.
Where is the main Department of Homeland Security headquarters?
DHS’s consolidated headquarters campus is at the secure St. Elizabeths West Campus in southeast Washington, DC. Headquarters mail commonly uses 2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE with an office-specific Mail Stop.
Why do official sources show both 2700 and 2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue?
GSA lists the historic Center Building at 2700 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE. DHS uses 2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE for headquarters mailing addresses. Visitors must follow the exact gate and building instructions supplied by their host.
Can members of the public visit the DHS headquarters building?
DHS headquarters is a secure federal facility and is not a public walk-in service center. Visitors generally need prearranged official business, a sponsoring host and specific security and arrival instructions.
Is the Nebraska Avenue Complex still a DHS facility?
Yes. The Nebraska Avenue Complex at 3801 Nebraska Avenue NW remains a secure DHS headquarters facility. Visit it only when a DHS office or meeting host specifically directs you there.
Can I visit DHS headquarters for an immigration case?
No. Immigration applications, citizenship matters and USCIS case questions should go through USCIS. ICE detention and enforcement matters should go through ICE, and border or customs issues should go through CBP.
How do I mail something to DHS headquarters?
Use the recipient office’s complete address, normally including 2707 Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue SE and the correct four-digit Mail Stop. Follow component-specific instructions for forms, cases and legal filings.
Can I mail or email a DHS FOIA request?
DHS states that effective January 22, 2026, it no longer accepts mailed or emailed FOIA and Privacy Act requests for DHS records. Submit through the official online FOIA process.
Does DHS headquarters issue public building permits?
No. DHS headquarters is not a city or county building department. Local residential and commercial projects use the appropriate municipal permitting authority. Federal campus contracting opportunities are handled through federal procurement channels.
How do I report fraud, waste or abuse involving DHS?
Use the DHS Office of Inspector General Hotline online or call 800-323-8603. Call 911 for an immediate threat or active emergency.
Accuracy and Source Note
Building-Department.org is an independent informational website and is not the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, GSA or any DHS component. Visitor access, mailing instructions, case services, FOIA submissions and security decisions must be confirmed through official federal channels.
This guide was checked against DHS Contact Us, Direct Contact Information, DHS Mailing Address, DHS FOIA, DHS Media Contacts, DHS OIG, USAGov, GSA St. Elizabeths West Campus and GSA Center Building resources.
Last reviewed: July 21, 2026.
Headquarters locations, visitor procedures, Mail Stops, component contacts and construction activity can change. Confirm time-sensitive details before traveling, mailing sensitive documents or submitting a federal request.

Khushboo Bobade is a public records researcher and editorial writer specializing in government service documentation and construction permit systems.
Her research focuses on explaining building permits, inspection procedures, zoning regulations, and public permit records maintained by local government building departments across the United States.
Professional profile: View LinkedIn Profile
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