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Terrorism Information Sharing and the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Report Initiative: Background and Issues for Congress [June 10, 2011]
"The imperative for the exchange of terrorism-related intelligence information among law enforcement and security officials at all levels of government is founded on three propositions. The first is that any terrorist attack in the homeland will necessarily occur in a community within a state or tribal area, and the initial response to it will be by state, local, and tribal emergency responders and law enforcement officials. Second, the plotting and preparation for a terrorist attack within the United States (such as surveillance of a target, acquisition and transport of weapons or explosives, and even the recruitment of participants) will also occur within local communities. Third, '[i]nformation acquired for one purpose, or under one set of authorities, might provide unique insights when combined, in accordance with applicable law, with seemingly unrelated information from other sources.' […] The Nationwide SAR Initiative (NSI) is an effort to have most federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement organizations participate in a standardized, integrated approach to gathering, documenting, processing, and analyzing terrorism-related SARs. The NSI is designed to respond to the mandate of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-458), for a 'decentralized, distributed, and coordinated [information sharing] environment ... with 'applicable legal standards relating to privacy and civil liberties.'' This report describes the NSI, the rationale for the sharing of terrorism-related SARs, and how the NSI seeks to achieve this objective. It examines the privacy and civil liberties concerns raised by the initiative and identifies other oversight issues for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2011-06-10
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Organized Crime: An Evolving Challenge for U.S. Law Enforcement [December 23, 2010]
"In the last two decades, organized crime has grown more complex, posing evolving challenges for U.S. federal law enforcement. These criminals have transformed their operations in ways that broaden their reach and make it harder for law enforcement to combat them. They have adopted more-networked structural models, internationalized their operations, and grown more tech savvy. They are a significant challenge to U.S. law enforcement. Modern organized criminals often prefer cellular or networked structural models for their flexibility and avoid the hierarchies that previously governed more traditional organized crime groups such as the Cosa Nostra. Fluid network structures make it harder for law enforcement to infiltrate, disrupt, and dismantle conspiracies. Many 21st century organized crime groups opportunistically form around specific, short-term schemes and may outsource portions of their operations rather than keeping it all 'in-house.' [...] Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, there has been a shift in law enforcement attention and resources toward counterterrorism-related activities and away from traditional crime fighting activities including the investigation of organized crime. Although the effects of organized crime may not be seen in a consolidated attack resulting in the physical loss of life, they are far-reaching--impacting economic stability, public health and safety, as well as national security. One challenge facing law enforcement is that the federal investigation of organized crime matters has not historically been a centralized effort, and there is no single agency charged with investigating organized crime in the way the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been designated the lead investigative agency for terrorism. Further, resources to tackle this issue are divided among federal agencies and little consensus exists regarding the scope of the problem, the measurable harm caused by these groups, or how to tackle them. As such, Congress may exert oversight regarding the federal coordination of organized crime investigations. Policymakers may also debate the efficacy of current resources appropriated to combat organized crime."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Finklea, Kristin M.; Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2010-12-23
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American Jihadist Terrorism: Combating a Complex Threat [September 20, 2010]
"This report describes homegrown violent jihadists and the plots and attacks that have occurred since 9/11. 'Homegrown' and 'domestic' are terms that describe terrorist activity or plots perpetrated within the United States or abroad by American citizens, legal permanent residents, or visitors radicalized largely within the United States. The term 'jihadist' describes radicalized individuals using Islam as an ideological and/or religious justification for their belief in the establishment of a global caliphate, or jurisdiction governed by a Muslim civil and religious leader known as a caliph. The term 'violent jihadist' characterizes jihadists who have made the jump to illegally supporting, plotting, or directly engaging in violent terrorist activity. The report also discusses the radicalization process and the forces driving violent extremist activity. It analyzes post-9/11 domestic jihadist terrorism, describes law enforcement and intelligence efforts to combat terrorism and the challenges associated with those efforts. It also outlines actions underway to build trust and partnership between community groups and government agencies and the tensions that may occur between law enforcement and engagement activities. One appendix provides details about each of the post-9/11 homegrown jihadist terrorist plots and attacks. A second appendix describes engagement and partnership activities by federal agencies with Muslim-American communities. Finally, the report offers policy considerations for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Randol, Mark A.; Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2010-09-20
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Violence Against Women Act: Overview, Legislation, and Federal Funding [May 10, 2012]
"This report provides a brief legislative history of VAWA [Violence Against Women Act] and an overview of the crimes addressed through VAWA. It then discusses legislation that would reauthorize VAWA and selected issues. The Appendix of this report outlines funding information for VAWA authorized programs from FY2008 through FY2012."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seghetti, Lisa M.; Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2012-05-10
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American Jihadist Terrorism: Combating a Complex Threat [January 23, 2013]
"This report describes homegrown violent jihadists and the plots and attacks that have occurred since 9/11. For this report, 'homegrown' describes terrorist activity or plots perpetrated within the United States or abroad by American citizens, legal permanent residents, or visitors radicalized largely within the United States. The term 'jihadist' describes radicalized individuals using Islam as an ideological and/or religious justification for their belief in the establishment of a global caliphate, or jurisdiction governed by a Muslim civil and religious leader known as a caliph. The term 'violent jihadist' characterizes jihadists who have made the jump to illegally supporting, plotting, or directly engaging in violent terrorist activity. The report also discusses the radicalization process and the forces driving violent extremist activity. It analyzes post-9/11 domestic jihadist terrorism and describes law enforcement and intelligence efforts to combat terrorism and the challenges associated with those efforts. Appendix A provides details about each of the post-9/11 homegrown jihadist terrorist plots and attacks."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2013-01-23
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Border Security: Understanding Threats at U.S. Borders [February 21, 2013]
"The United States confronts a wide array of threats at U.S. borders, ranging from terrorists who may have weapons of mass destruction, to transnational criminals smuggling drugs or counterfeit goods, to unauthorized migrants intending to live and work in the United States. Given this diversity of threats, how may Congress and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) set border security priorities and allocate scarce enforcement resources? In general, DHS's answer to this question is organized around risk management, a process that involves risk assessment and the allocation of resources based on a cost-benefit analysis. This report focuses on the first part of this process by identifying border threats and describing a framework for understanding risks at U.S. borders. DHS employs models to classify threats as relatively high- or low-risk for certain planning and budgeting exercises and to implement certain border security programs. Members of Congress may wish to use similar models to evaluate the costs and benefits of potential border security policies and to allocate border enforcement resources. This report discusses some of the issues involved in modeling border-related threats. Understanding border risks begins with identifying key threats. At their roots, border-related threats are closely linked to the flow of people (travelers) and goods (cargo) from one country to another. Any smuggled item or individual hidden among the legitimate flows potentially constitutes a threat to U.S. security or interests."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Rosenblum, Marc R.; Bjelopera, Jerome P.; Finklea, Kristin M.
2013-02-21
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Federal Bureau of Investigation and Terrorism Investigations [January 14, 2013]
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI, the Bureau) is the lead federal law enforcement agency charged with counterterrorism investigations. Since the September 11, 2001 (9/11) attacks, the FBI has implemented a series of reforms intended to transform itself from a largely reactive law enforcement agency focused on investigations of criminal activity into a more proactive, agile, flexible, and intelligence-driven agency that can prevent acts of terrorism. This report provides background information on key elements of the FBI terrorism investigative process based on publicly available information. It discusses 1. several enhanced investigative tools, authorities, and capabilities provided to the FBI through post-9/11 legislation, such as the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001; the 2008 revision to the 'Attorney General's Guidelines for Domestic FBI Operations' (Mukasey Guidelines); and the expansion of Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF) throughout the country; 2. intelligence reform within the FBI and concerns about the progress of those reform initiatives; 3. the FBI's proactive, intelligence-driven posture in its terrorism investigations using preventative policing techniques such as the 'Al Capone' approach and the use of agent provocateurs; and 4. the implications for privacy and civil liberties inherent in the use of preventative policing techniques to combat terrorism. This report sets forth possible considerations for Congress as it executes its oversight role. These issues include the extent to which intelligence has been integrated into FBI operations to support its counterterrorism mission and the progress the Bureau has made on its intelligence reform initiatives."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2013-01-14
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Domestic Terrorist Threat: Background and Issues for Congress [January 17, 2013]
"Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11), domestic terrorists--'people who commit crimes within the homeland and draw inspiration from U.S.-based extremist ideologies and movements'--have not received as much attention from federal law enforcement as their foreign counterparts inspired by Al Qaeda. This was not necessarily always the case. The FBI reported in 1999 that '[d]uring the past 30 years, the vast majority--but not all--of the deadly terrorist attacks occurring in the United States have been perpetrated by domestic extremists.' […] This report provides background regarding domestic terrorists--detailing what constitutes the domestic terrorism threat as suggested by publicly available U.S. government sources. It illustrates some of the key factors involved in assessing this threat and concludes by examining potential issues for Congress. This report does not discuss in detail either violent jihadist-inspired terrorism or the federal government's role in counterterrorism investigations. It is meant to be read in conjunction with CRS [Congressional Research Service] Report R41780, 'The Federal Bureau of Investigation and Terrorism Investigations'; CRS Report R42553, 'Countering Violent Extremism in the United States'; and CRS Report R41416, 'American Jihadist Terrorism: Combating a Complex Threat', which provide greater context in these areas."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2013-01-17
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Organized Crime: An Evolving Challenge for U.S. Law Enforcement [January 6, 2012]
"In the last two decades, organized crime has grown more complex, posing evolving challenges for U.S. federal law enforcement. These criminals have transformed their operations in ways that broaden their reach and make it harder for law enforcement to combat them. They have adopted more-networked structural models, internationalized their operations, and grown more tech savvy. They are a significant challenge to U.S. law enforcement. Modern organized criminals often prefer cellular or networked structural models for their flexibility and avoid the hierarchies that previously governed more traditional organized crime groups such as the Cosa Nostra. Fluid network structures make it harder for law enforcement to infiltrate, disrupt, and dismantle conspiracies. Many 21st century organized crime groups opportunistically form around specific, short-term schemes and may outsource portions of their operations rather than keeping it all 'in-house.' [...] Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, there has been a shift in law enforcement attention and resources toward counterterrorism-related activities and away from traditional crime fighting activities including the investigation of organized crime. Although the effects of organized crime may not be seen in a consolidated attack resulting in the physical loss of life, they are far-reaching--impacting economic stability, public health and safety, as well as national security. In July 2011, the Obama Administration issued its Strategy to Combat Transnational Organized Crime. It addresses the fact that federal investigation of organized crime matters has not historically been a centralized effort. Regardless, there still is no single agency charged with investigating organized crime in the way the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has been designated the lead investigative agency for terrorism. Further, resources to tackle this issue are divided among many federal agencies. As such, Congress may exert its oversight authority regarding the federal coordination of organized crime investigations via the 2011 strategy. Policymakers may also debate the efficacy of current resources appropriated to combat organized crime."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Finklea, Kristin M.; Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2012-01-06
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Federal Bureau of Investigation and Terrorism Investigations [December 28, 2011]
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI, the Bureau) is the lead federal law enforcement agency charged with counterterrorism investigations. Since the September 11, 2001 (9/11) attacks, the FBI has implemented a series of reforms intended to transform itself from a largely reactive law enforcement agency focused on investigations of criminal activity into a more proactive, agile, flexible, and intelligence-driven agency that can prevent acts of terrorism. This report provides background information on key elements of the FBI terrorism investigative process based on publicly available information. It discusses 1) several enhanced investigative tools, authorities, and capabilities provided to the FBI through post-9/11 legislation, such as the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001; the 2008 revision to the Attorney General's Guidelines for Domestic FBI Operations (Mukasey Guidelines); and the expansion of Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF) throughout the country; 2) intelligence reform within the FBI and concerns about the progress of those reform initiatives, 3) the FBI's proactive, intelligence-driven posture in its terrorism investigations using preventative policing techniques such as the 'Al Capone' approach and the use of agent provocateurs; and 4) the implications for privacy and civil liberties inherent in the use of preventative policing techniques to combat terrorism. This report sets forth possible considerations for Congress as it executes its oversight role. These issues include the extent to which intelligence has been integrated into FBI operations to support its counterterrorism mission and the progress the Bureau has made on its intelligence reform initiatives."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2011-12-28
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Terrorism Information Sharing and the Nationwide Suspicious Activity Report Initiative: Background and Issues for Congress [December 28, 2011]
"The 2004 National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States (the 9/11 Commission) cited breakdowns in information sharing and the failure to fuse pertinent intelligence (i.e., 'connecting the dots') as key factors in the failure to prevent the 9/11 attacks. Two of the efforts undertaken since 2001 to tackle these issues included: Congress mandating the creation of an information-sharing environment (commonly known as the 'ISE') that would provide and facilitate the means of sharing terrorism information among all appropriate federal, state, local, and tribal entities and the private sector through the use of policy guidelines and technologies. States and major urban areas establishing intelligence fusion centers to coordinate the gathering, analysis, and dissemination of law enforcement, homeland security, public safety, and terrorism intelligence and analysis."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2011-12-28
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American Jihadist Terrorism: Combating a Complex Threat [November 15, 2011]
"This report describes homegrown violent jihadists and the plots and attacks that have occurred since 9/11. 'Homegrown' and 'domestic' are terms that describe terrorist activity or plots perpetrated within the United States or abroad by American citizens, legal permanent residents, or visitors radicalized largely within the United States. The term 'jihadist' describes radicalized individuals using Islam as an ideological and/or religious justification for their belief in the establishment of a global caliphate, or jurisdiction governed by a Muslim civil and religious leader known as a caliph. The term 'violent jihadist' characterizes jihadists who have made the jump to illegally supporting, plotting, or directly engaging in violent terrorist activity. The report also discusses the radicalization process and the forces driving violent extremist activity. It analyzes post-9/11 domestic jihadist terrorism and describes law enforcement and intelligence efforts to combat terrorism and the challenges associated with those efforts. It also outlines actions underway to build trust and partnership between community groups and government agencies and the tensions that may occur between law enforcement and engagement activities. One appendix provides details about each of the post-9/11 homegrown jihadist terrorist plots and attacks. A second appendix describes engagement and partnership activities by federal agencies with Muslim-American communities. Finally, the report offers policy considerations for Congress. There is an 'executive summary' at the beginning that summarizes the report's findings, observations, and policy considerations for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2011-11-15
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Domestic Terrorist Threat: Background and Issues for Congress [May 15, 2012]
"The emphasis of counterterrorism policy in the United States since Al Qaeda's attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11) has been on jihadist terrorism. However, in the last decade, domestic terrorists--people who commit crimes within the homeland and draw inspiration from U.S.-based extremist ideologies and movements--have killed American citizens and damaged property across the country. Not all of these criminals have been prosecuted under terrorism statutes. This latter point is not meant to imply that domestic terrorists should be taken any less seriously than other terrorists. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) do not officially list domestic terrorist organizations, but they have openly delineated domestic terrorist 'threats.' These include individuals who commit crimes in the name of ideologies supporting animal rights, environmental rights, anarchism, white supremacy, anti-government ideals, black separatism, and anti-abortion beliefs. The boundary between constitutionally protected legitimate protest and domestic terrorist activity has received public attention. This boundary is especially highlighted by a number of criminal cases involving supporters of animal rights--one area in which specific legislation related to domestic terrorism has been crafted. The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act (P.L. 109-374) expands the federal government's legal authority to combat animal rights extremists who engage in criminal activity. Signed into law in November 2006, it amended the 1992 Animal Enterprise Protection Act (P.L. 102-346). […] This report provides background regarding domestic terrorists--detailing what constitutes the domestic terrorism threat as suggested by publicly available U.S. government sources. It illustrates some of the key factors involved in assessing this threat and concludes by examining potential issues for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2012-05-15
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Public Mass Shootings in the United States: Selected Implications for Federal Public Health and Safety Policy [April 16, 2013]
"This report focuses on mass shootings and selected implications they have for federal policy in the areas of public health and safety. While such crimes most directly impact particular citizens in very specific communities, addressing these violent episodes involves officials at all levels of government and professionals from numerous disciplines. […] This report does not discuss gun control policies and does not systematically address the broader issue of gun violence, which can include topics such as gun-related suicide and a wide variety of gun-related crimes. Also, it is not intended as an exhaustive review of federal programs addressing the issue of mass shootings."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.; Bagalman, Erin; Finklea, Kristin M. . . .
2013-04-16
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Federal Bureau of Investigation and Terrorism Investigations [April 24, 2013]
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI, the Bureau) is the lead federal law enforcement agency charged with counterterrorism investigations. Since the September 11, 2001 (9/11) attacks, the FBI has implemented a series of reforms intended to transform itself from a largely reactive law enforcement agency focused on investigations of criminal activity into a more proactive, agile, flexible, and intelligence-driven agency that can prevent acts of terrorism. This report provides background information on key elements of the FBI terrorism investigative process based on publicly available information. It discusses [1] several enhanced investigative tools, authorities, and capabilities provided to the FBI through post-9/11 legislation, such as the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001; the 2008 revision to the 'Attorney General's Guidelines for Domestic FBI Operations' (Mukasey Guidelines); and the expansion of Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF) throughout the country; [2] intelligence reform within the FBI and concerns about the progress of those reform initiatives; [3] the FBI's proactive, intelligence-driven posture in its terrorism investigations using preventative policing techniques such as the 'Al Capone' approach and the use of agent provocateurs; and [4] the implications for privacy and civil liberties inherent in the use of preventative policing techniques to combat terrorism. This report sets forth possible considerations for Congress as it executes its oversight role. These issues include the extent to which intelligence has been integrated into FBI operations to support its counterterrorism mission and the progress the Bureau has made on its intelligence reform initiatives."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2013-04-24
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American Jihadist Terrorism: Combating a Complex Threat [December 7, 2010]
"This report describes homegrown violent jihadists and the plots and attacks that have occurred since 9/11. 'Homegrown' and 'domestic' are terms that describe terrorist activity or plots perpetrated within the United States or abroad by American citizens, legal permanent residents, or visitors radicalized largely within the United States. The term 'jihadist' describes radicalized individuals using Islam as an ideological and/or religious justification for their belief in the establishment of a global caliphate, or jurisdiction governed by a Muslim civil and religious leader known as a caliph. The term 'violent jihadist' characterizes jihadists who have made the jump to illegally supporting, plotting, or directly engaging in violent terrorist activity. The report also discusses the radicalization process and the forces driving violent extremist activity. It analyzes post-9/11 domestic jihadist terrorism, describes law enforcement and intelligence efforts to combat terrorism and the challenges associated with those efforts. It also outlines actions underway to build trust and partnership between community groups and government agencies and the tensions that may occur between law enforcement and engagement activities. One appendix provides details about each of the post-9/11 homegrown jihadist terrorist plots and attacks. A second appendix describes engagement and partnership activities by federal agencies with Muslim-American communities. Finally, the report offers policy considerations for Congress."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.; Randol, Mark A.
2010-12-07
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American Foreign Fighters and the Islamic State: Broad Challenges for Federal Law Enforcement [September 19, 2014]
"The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has assessed that the terrorist group known as the Islamic State (IS, previously referred to as ISIS or ISIL) currently poses no specific or credible threat to the homeland. The Director of the National Counterterrorism Center (NCTC), Matthew G. Olsen, has also noted that, 'any threat to the U.S. homeland from these types of extremists is likely to be limited in scope and scale,' perhaps involving individuals acting without specific IS direction. In this vein, policy makers continue to voice concerns about American IS fighters who may leave Syria or Iraq, return to the United States, and strike targets on their own at home. This CRS [Congressional Research Service] Insight offers a framework for considering the challenges to domestic security posed by American IS fighters and outlines some of the ways that U.S. law enforcement responds to such challenges."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2014-09-19
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Domestic Federal Law Enforcement Coordination: Through the Lens of the Southwest Border [June 3, 2014]
From the report: "Task forces, and more broadly inter-agency cooperation, have become familiar law enforcement tools to combat innovative, aggressive, and far reaching criminal and homeland security adversaries in the last three decades. One would be hard-pressed to identify a part of the United States with a greater proliferation of law enforcement task force activity targeting a vast array of threats and actors than the Southwest border region. Federal enforcement and security priorities geared toward stemming drug trafficking and terrorism surface in unique ways along the border. Many federally led domestic efforts to coordinate counterdrug and counterterrorism policing exist in the 150-mile-wide belt north of the U.S.- Mexican border that stretches from the Gulf Coast to the West Coast.[…] While law enforcement coordination may be a central facet to operations 'throughout' the country, this report highlights the issue through analysis of activities along the Southwest border. As such, examples of law enforcement coordination along the Southwest border are sprinkled--in text boxes--throughout the body of the report in an effort to highlight some of the concepts discussed. The task force activities highlighted by no means represent an exhaustive list of task force operations along the Southwest border."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.; Finklea, Kristin M.
2014-06-03
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Immigration Legislation and Issues in the 113th Congress [November 4, 2014]
"Immigration reform was an active legislative issue in the first session of the 113th Congress. The Senate passed the Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act (S. 744), a comprehensive immigration reform bill that includes provisions on border security, interior enforcement, employment eligibility verification and worksite enforcement, legalization of unauthorized aliens, immigrant visas, nonimmigrant visas, and humanitarian admissions. For its part, the House took a different approach to immigration reform. Rather than considering a single comprehensive bill, the House acted on a set of immigration bills that address border security, interior enforcement, employment eligibility verification and worksite enforcement, and nonimmigrant and immigrant visas. House committees reported or ordered to be reported the following immigration bills: Border Security Results Act of 2013 (H.R. 1417); Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement (SAFE) Act (H.R. 2278); Legal Workforce Act (H.R. 1772); Agricultural Guestworker (AG) Act (H.R. 1773); and Supplying Knowledge-based Immigrants and Lifting Levels of STEM Visas (SKILLS Visa) Act (H.R. 2131). […] This report discusses these and other immigration-related issues that received legislative action or have been of significant congressional interest in the 113th Congress. While the report covers S. 744, as passed by the Senate, a more complete treatment of that bill can be found in CRS Report R43097, Comprehensive Immigration Reform in the 113th Congress: Major Provisions in Senate- Passed S. 744. For the most part, DHS appropriations are not covered in this report; FY2014 appropriations are addressed in CRS Report R43147, Department of Homeland Security: FY2014 Appropriations."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Wasem, Ruth Ellen; Siskin, Alison; Lee, Margaret Mikyung . . .
2014-11-04
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Domestic Terrorism Appears to Be Reemerging as a Priority at the Department of Justice [August 15, 2014]
"In June 2014, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced the 'reestablishment' of its Domestic Terrorism Executive Committee, which had been defunct for several years. The committee includes DOJ leaders and is 'co-chaired by a member of the U.S. Attorney community, the [DOJ] National Security Division, and the FBI [Federal Bureau of Investigation].' It is designed to 'coordinate closely with U.S. Attorneys and other key public safety officials across the country to promote information-sharing and ensure an effective, responsive, and organized joint effort.' The reestablishment suggests that officials are raising the profile of domestic terrorism as an issue within DOJ after more than a decade of heightened focus on both foreign terrorist organizations and homegrown individuals inspired by violent jihadist groups based abroad. The amplification of this issue by DOJ may be of interest to congressional policy makers."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2014-08-15
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American Jihadist Terrorism: Combating a Complex Threat [September 20, 2013]
"This report describes homegrown violent jihadists and the plots and attacks that have occurred since 9/11. For this report, 'homegrown' describes terrorist activity or plots perpetrated within the United States or abroad by American citizens, legal permanent residents, or visitors radicalized largely within the United States. The term 'jihadist' describes radicalized individuals using Islam as an ideological and/or religious justification for their belief in the establishment of a global caliphate, or jurisdiction governed by a Muslim civil and religious leader known as a caliph. The term 'violent jihadist' characterizes jihadists who have made the jump to illegally supporting, plotting, or directly engaging in violent terrorist activity. The report also discusses the radicalization process and the forces driving violent extremist activity. It analyzes post-9/11 domestic jihadist terrorism and describes law enforcement and intelligence efforts to combat terrorism and the challenges associated with those efforts. Appendix A provides details about each of the post-9/11 homegrown jihadist terrorist plots and attacks. There is an 'executive summary' at the beginning that summarizes the report's findings."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2013-09-20
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Countering Violent Extremism in the United States [February 19, 2014]
"In August 2011, the Obama Administration announced its counter-radicalization strategy. It is devised to address the forces that influence some people living in the United States to acquire and hold radical or extremist beliefs that may eventually compel them to commit terrorism. This is the first such strategy for the federal government, which calls this effort 'combating violent extremism' (CVE). Since the Al Qaeda attacks of September 11, 2001, the U.S. government has prosecuted hundreds of individuals on terrorism charges. Unlike the necessarily 'secretive' law enforcement and intelligence efforts driving these investigations, the CVE strategy includes sizeable government activity within the 'open marketplace of ideas,' where private citizens are free to weigh competing ideologies and engage in constitutionally protected speech and expression. Some of the key challenges in the implementation of the CVE strategy likely spring from the interplay between the marketplace of ideas and the secretive realm encompassing law enforcement investigations and terrorist plotting. The strategy addresses the radicalization of all types of potential terrorists in the United States but focuses on those inspired by Al Qaeda. To further elaborate this strategy, in December 2011 the Administration released its 'Strategic Implementation Plan for Empowering Local Partners to Prevent Violent Extremism in the United States' (SIP). The SIP is a large-scale planning document with three major objectives and numerous future activities and efforts. The SIP's three objectives involve (1) enhancing federal community engagement efforts related to CVE, (2) developing greater government and law enforcement expertise for preventing violent extremism, and (3) countering violent extremist propaganda."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2014-02-19
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Domestic Terrorist Threat: Background and Issues for Congress [February 19, 2014]
"The emphasis of counterterrorism policy in the United States since Al Qaeda's attacks of September 11, 2001 (9/11) has been on jihadist terrorism. However, in the last decade, domestic terrorists--people who commit crimes within the homeland and draw inspiration from U.S.-based extremist ideologies and movements--have killed American citizens and damaged property across the country. Not all of these criminals have been prosecuted under terrorism statutes. This latter point is not meant to imply that domestic terrorists should be taken any less seriously than other terrorists. The Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) do not officially list domestic terrorist organizations, but they have openly delineated domestic terrorist 'threats.' These include individuals who commit crimes in the name of ideologies supporting animal rights, environmental rights, anarchism, white supremacy, anti-government ideals, black separatism, and anti-abortion beliefs."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2014-02-19
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American Jihadist Terrorism: Combating a Complex Threat [February 19, 2014]
"This report describes homegrown violent jihadists and the plots and attacks that have occurred since 9/11. For this report, 'homegrown' describes terrorist activity or plots perpetrated within the United States or abroad by American citizens, legal permanent residents, or visitors radicalized largely within the United States. The term 'jihadist' describes radicalized individuals using Islam as an ideological and/or religious justification for their belief in the establishment of a global caliphate, or jurisdiction governed by a Muslim civil and religious leader known as a caliph. The term 'violent jihadist' characterizes jihadists who have made the jump to illegally supporting, plotting, or directly engaging in violent terrorist activity. The report also discusses the radicalization process and the forces driving violent extremist activity. It analyzes post-9/11 domestic jihadist terrorism and describes law enforcement and intelligence efforts to combat terrorism and the challenges associated with those efforts. Appendix A provides details about each of the post-9/11 homegrown jihadist terrorist plots and attacks. There is an 'executive summary' at the beginning that summarizes the report's findings."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2014-02-19
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Federal Bureau of Investigation and Terrorism Investigations [February 19, 2014]
"The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI, the Bureau) is the lead federal law enforcement agency charged with counterterrorism investigations. Since the September 11, 2001 (9/11) attacks, the FBI has implemented a series of reforms intended to transform itself from a largely reactive law enforcement agency focused on investigations of criminal activity into a more proactive, agile, flexible, and intelligence-driven agency that can prevent acts of terrorism. This report provides background information on key elements of the FBI terrorism investigative process based on publicly available information. It discusses [1] several enhanced investigative tools, authorities, and capabilities provided to the FBI through post-9/11 legislation, such as the USA PATRIOT Act of 2001; the 2008 revision to the 'Attorney General's Guidelines for Domestic FBI Operations' (Mukasey Guidelines); and the expansion of Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTF) throughout the country; [2] intelligence reform within the FBI and concerns about the progress of those reform initiatives; [3] the FBI's proactive, intelligence-driven posture in its terrorism investigations using preventative policing techniques such as the 'Al Capone' approach and the use of agent provocateurs; and [4] the implications for privacy and civil liberties inherent in the use of preventative policing techniques to combat terrorism. This report sets forth possible considerations for Congress as it executes its oversight role. These issues include the extent to which intelligence has been integrated into FBI operations to support its counterterrorism mission and the progress the Bureau has made on its intelligence reform initiatives."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2014-02-19
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Sifting Domestic Terrorism from Other Illegal Activity [June 24, 2015]
"Domestic terrorism cases differ from ordinary criminal activity in key ways. Most importantly, unlike ordinary criminals--who are often driven by self-centered motives such as profit and tend to opportunistically seek easy prey--domestic terrorists are driven by a cause or ideology. If the motives involved eventually align with the definition laid out in 18 U.S.C. §2331(5), presumably the case becomes a domestic terrorist investigation. […] Domestic terrorists are a widely divergent lot, drawing from many philosophies and worldviews to justify their illegal acts. They can be motivated to commit crimes in the name of ideas such as animal rights, environmental rights, white supremacy, anti-government beliefs, and anarchism, for example. Importantly, the expression of these worldviews--minus the commission of crimes--involves constitutionally protected activity. As such, individuals and movements openly and 'legally' espousing such beliefs distance themselves from terrorists who use the ideas to justify their own criminal actions. From the perspective of federal law enforcement, the FBI safeguards against cases focused solely on constitutionally protected activities. All FBI investigations have to be conducted for an authorized national security, criminal, or foreign intelligence collection purpose. Investigations may not solely monitor the exercise of First Amendment rights. Finally, the Department of Justice and the FBI visualize domestic terrorism in terms of threats, not named or designated groups or actors."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2015-06-24
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H.R. 399, the Secure Our Borders First Act of 2015: Report in Brief [January 27, 2015]
"The Secure Our Borders First Act of 2015 (H.R. 399) was introduced on January 16, 2015. On January 21, 2015, an amendment in the nature of a substitute to the bill was offered and marked up. The bill was also reported out of the House Homeland Security Committee on January 21, 2015. This report provides a summary of select provisions in the bill that fall under two major headings--Operational Control of the Borders and Biometric Entry and Exit System. The report concludes with a brief description of additional provisions collected under a third heading--CBP [Customs and Border Protection] Agents and Officers, and Federal Land. Figure 1 [provided in the report] provides a brief sketch of select provisions in H.R. 399 concerning operational control of the border, Figure 2 [also provided] briefly sketches the implementation timeline of the biometric exit data system, and the Appendix lists the reporting requirements in the bill."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Seghetti, Lisa M.; Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2015-01-27
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Islamic State's Acolytes and the Challenges They Pose to U.S. Law Enforcement [June 13, 2016]
"Analysis of publicly available information on homegrown violent jihadist activity in the United States since September 11, 2001, suggests that the Islamic State (IS) and its acolytes may pose broad challenges to domestic law enforcement and homeland security efforts. […] Since 2014, the Islamic State (IS) has become the focal point for the bulk of homegrown violent jihadist terrorist plots. This includes instances in which people in the United States wanted to travel to Syria to fight with extremist groups in the nation's civil war as well as plots to strike domestic targets. Regarding the former, in early 2016, U.S. government officials estimated that about 250 Americans had traveled (or tried to travel) to Syria to fight in the civil war--about 25 had been killed. Regarding the latter, in recent congressional testimony, the Director of National Intelligence, James R. Clapper noted that homegrown actors 'will probably continue to pose the most significant Sunni terrorist threat to the U.S. homeland in 2016.'"
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2016-06-13
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Islamic State's Acolytes and the Challenges They Pose to U.S. Law Enforcement [April 19, 2016]
"Analysis of publicly available information on homegrown violent jihadist activity in the United States since September 11, 2001, suggests that the Islamic State (IS) and its acolytes may pose broad challenges to domestic law enforcement and homeland security efforts. Homegrown IS-inspired plots can be broken into three rough categories based on the goals of the individuals involved. The first two focus on foreign fighters, the last on people willing to do harm in the United States:
[1] The Departed-Americans, often described as foreign fighters, who plan to leave or have left the United States to fight for the Islamic State.
[2] The Returned-American foreign fighters who trained with or fought in the ranks of the Islamic State and come back to the United States, where they can potentially plan and execute attacks at home.
[3] The Inspired-Americans lured-in part-by IS propaganda to participate in terrorist plots within the United States."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2016-04-19
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Sifting Domestic Terrorism from Hate Crime and Homegrown Violent Extremism [June 13, 2016]
"Domestic terrorism, hate crime, and homegrown violent extremism are three fairly distinct concepts that federal law enforcement agencies use to categorize key types of criminals whose illegal activities are at least partly ideologically motivated. […] Domestic terrorism cases differ from ordinary criminal activity in key ways. Most importantly, unlike ordinary criminals--who are often driven by self-centered motives such as profit and tend to opportunistically seek easy prey--domestic terrorists are driven by a cause or ideology. If the motives involved eventually align with the definition laid out in 18 U.S.C. §2331(5), presumably the case becomes a domestic terrorist investigation. […] Current federal law defines hate crimes to include any crime against either person or property in which the offender intentionally selects the victim because of the victim's actual or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, disability, or sexual orientation. Hate crimes may appear to involve ideological issues. However, as described by one FBI official, a 'hate crime' 'generally involve[s] acts of personal malice directed at individuals' and is missing the broader motivations driving acts of domestic terrorism. […] The FBI and DHS have popularized the phrase 'homegrown violent extremist' (HVE). It divides domestic terrorists from U.S.-based terrorists motivated by the ideologies of foreign terrorist organizations. According to DHS and the FBI, a HVE is 'a person of any citizenship who has lived and/or operated primarily in the United States or its territories who advocates, is engaged in, or is preparing to engage in ideologically-motivated terrorist activities (including providing support to terrorism) […]."
Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service
Bjelopera, Jerome P.
2016-06-13
