U.S. Dept of State- Bureau of Diplomatic Security

at , Arlington , 22201 United States

1. Government Organization

The U.S. Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) is the federal law enforcement arm of the United States Department of State. The majority of its Special Agents are members of the Foreign Service and federal law enforcement agents at the same time.

Description

The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) is responsible for providing a safe and secure environment for the conduct of U.S. foreign policy. Every diplomatic mission in the world operates under a security program designed and maintained by Diplomatic Security. In the United States, DS investigates passport and visa fraud, conducts personnel security investigations, and protects the Secretary of State and high-ranking foreign dignitaries and officials visiting the United States. Diplomatic Security trains foreign civilian law enforcement officers in disciplines designed to reduce the threat and repercussions of terrorism throughout the world. Through the Office of Foreign Missions, the bureau manages reciprocity and immunity issues for foreign diplomats in the United States. DS's role evolves to meet new challenges. DS special agents are protecting the President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, as well as training an Afghan force to take over the responsibility. Analyzing the Threat -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Through our Office of Intelligence and Threat Analysis, the Bureau monitors and analyzes intelligence on terrorist activities and threats directed against Americans and U.S. diplomatic facilities overseas, as well as threats against the Secretary of State, senior U.S. officials, visiting foreign dignitaries, resident foreign diplomats, and foreign missions in the United States for which DS has a protective security responsibility. During 1998, DS recorded over 3,000 threats and incidents against U.S. interests overseas, an increase of over 100 percent compared to the same time the previous year. In support of operational and policy decisionmaking by senior Department officials, the Bureau provides real-time assessments and longer term evaluations on threats to U.S. interests from terrorism, political violence, and crime. Covering the Threat at Home -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The cornerstone of any good security and law enforcement organization is its ability to conduct thorough investigations. Special agents in Washington and our 22 offices throughout the United States investigate more than 4,000 passport and visa fraud violations each year. These felonies are often committed in connection with other more serious crimes by individuals looking to change their identities and conceal their activities and movements. For example, a passport fraud investigation laid the groundwork for the conviction of those individuals involved in the bombing of the World Trade Center. In 1999, the DS Los Angeles Field Office led a visa fraud investigation that resulted in the arrests of several individuals who were illegally aiding members of the terrorist organization Mujahedin-e Khalq to enter the United States. DS has investigated other cases of passport and visa fraud that have been connected to drug trafficking, international organized crime, money laundering, pedophilia, and murder. Our investigations help secure U.S. borders and protect the national security of the United States. In addition to passport and visa fraud, DS conducts protective intelligence investigations into threats made against the Secretary of State, other Department employees, facilities here and abroad, foreign dignitaries under our protection, and foreign missions in the United States. Since the East African bombings, DS has investigated thousands of threats directed at our missions and personnel around the world. Our agents administer the interagency Rewards for Justice Program, which allows the Secretary of State to offer rewards of up to $25 million for information that either prevents or resolves acts of international terrorism against U.S. interests worldwide. This program played a significant role in the capture of infamous international terrorists, such as Ramzi Yousef and Mir Aimal Kasi, and with the prevention of a number of potential terrorist acts. In the past few years, more than $49 million has been paid to people who have come forward with information. There is no doubt that information received under the Rewards Program has put terrorists behind bars, saved thousands of innocent lives, and is a key component of the U.S. Government's fight against international terrorism. (Please visit the Rewards for Justice site.) DS also administers the Rewards for War Crimes Information Program, which pays up to $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of an individual indicted for serious violations of international humanitarian law by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. In addition to criminal investigations, the Bureau conducts personnel security investigations of ambassadorial nominees, employees, applicants, contractors, and others seeking access to State Department information or facilities. Each year, we process an average of 14,000 security clearances. Helping Other Nations Fight Terrorism -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The war against international terrorism is one that the United States cannot wage alone. Through the Antiterrorism Assistance Program (ATA), DS arranges for training in the United States and abroad for civilian security personnel from friendly governments in police procedures focused on terrorism. Since the program's inception in 1983, more than 20,000 foreign students from over 100 countries have received training in bomb detection, crime scene investigations, airport and building security, maritime security, and dignitary protection. These officials are now better prepared to fight terrorism and protect Americans overseas in times of crisis. DS has received numerous stories from foreign police officers who have used their ATA training successfully to counter terrorist situations in their countries Making a Safe Environment for American Diplomacy -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Bureau of Diplomatic Security (DS) is a unique organization which plays an essential role within the United States Department of State. The Bureau's personnel, who include special agents, engineers, diplomatic couriers, Civil Service specialists, and contractors, work together as a team to ensure that the State Department can carry out its foreign policy missions safely and securely. (For more information about a career in the Bureau of Diplomatic Security, please see Career Opportunities.) Diplomatic Security has a broad scope of global responsibilities, with protection of people, information, and property as its top priority. Overseas, DS develops and implements effective security programs to safeguard all personnel who work in every U.S. diplomatic mission around the world. In the United States, the Bureau protects the Secretary of State, the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and foreign dignitaries below the head-of-state level who visit the United States. DS develops and implements security programs to protect all (more than 90) domestic State Department facilities as well as the residence of the Secretary of State. The Bureau also assists foreign embassies and consulates in the United States with the security for their missions and personnel. In addition to protective responsibilities, DS investigates passport and visa fraud, conducts personnel security investigations, and issues security clearances. With the addition of the Office of Foreign Missions to DS in 1996, we also assumed the responsibilities of servicing and regulating the activities of all foreign missions in the United States. Protecting Diplomats and Other Dignitaries -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diplomatic Security protects more dignitaries than any other agency in the U.S. Government. DS special agents guard the Secretary of State 24 hours a day, seven days a week, everywhere he/she goes in the world. In addition to the Secretary, our agents protect the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and foreign dignitaries below the level of head of state who visit the United States (approximately 150 each year). Protection is afforded to a foreign dignitary on the basis of perceived threat level and that country's willingness to provide the same level of protection for our diplomats in their country. Through the years, DS has provided security to a diverse number of individuals. Among those foreign dignitaries who have received DS protection are foreign ministers, former heads of state, members of the British royal family, representatives of the Middle East Peace Delegations, the Secretary General of NATO, Palestinian Authority Chairman Yassar Arafat, Boris Yeltsin and Nelson Mandela (prior to their becoming heads of state), and even the Dalai Lama. Each Fall, DS protects about 30 foreign dignitaries in New York during the United Nations General Assembly, a very personnel-intensive and demanding event. Preparations for UNGA begin in January and continue through early September, when virtually every special agent moves to New York for the duration of the General Assembly. DS also provides security for special events. In October 1998, the Bureau took charge of security for the Middle East Peace Summit at the Wye River Plantation in Maryland. The Bureau also cosponsored security with the Secret Service during the NATO 50th Anniversary in April 1999 in Washington, an event where security became even more critical in light of the NATO air strikes against the former Yugoslavia. DS special agents protected the Israeli and Syrian foreign ministers during the Israel-Syria Peace Talks held in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, in Fall 1999. During the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, DS protected a dozen foreign dignitaries in addition to the entire Israeli Olympic Team. Protecting Our Information -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- While the threat of international terrorism is our primary concern today, there is no question that, despite the end of the Cold War, incidents of espionage against the United States continue. Hostile intelligence groups still try to gather information from our facilities in the United States and from our missions abroad through surveillance, electronic eavesdropping, and attempts to recruit and manipulate our employees into committing acts of espionage. DS personnel respond to these attempted attacks with numerous countermeasure and detection methods. DS' uniformed guard force provides access control to more than 90 Department of State facilities around the United States, while Marine Security Guards control access to our missions abroad. DS security engineers monitor and negate electronic threats directed toward our embassies, while our intelligence and information security experts educate employees on counterintelligence and possible vulnerabilities that might be exploited by foreign intelligence agencies. Our special agents investigate alleged espionage incidents and conduct damage assessments of confirmed acts of espionage. With the rapid advancement of computer technology, the threat of unauthorized access to information has increased significantly. Under the auspices of our computer security professionals, DS develops and tests security standards that are built into all computer systems used by the Department. In addition, the Bureau, through the Diplomatic Courier Service, ensures the secure movement of classified U.S. Government material all over the world. These materials often are more than just papers and files; diplomatic pouches can contain thousands of pounds of equipment and construction materials bound for sensitive posts. Providing Security Assistance to American Business Overseas -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The economic and national prosperity of the United States depends on a strong and vigorous private sector that is able to conduct business safely and securely throughout the world. In addition to protecting our people, information, and property, DS, through the Emergency Supplemental (ESS), works with the U.S. private sector on security issues abroad. The Council, one of the preeminent public-private partnerships in the United States today, was established in 1985 and is cochaired by DS. It consists of 25 representatives from the U.S. Government and the American private sector that work together to promote open lines of communication between government and the U.S. business community on overseas security issues of mutual concern. The Council operates an electronic database that can be accessed via the internet by ESS's constituency. This database contains a directory of all Foreign Service posts by country, including regional security officers, police organizations, State Department travel advisories, security and crime situations, terrorism profiles, significant anniversary dates, and messages highlighting information of interest to American business travelers. Since its inception, over 1,700 U.S. companies have repeatedly sought assistance from the Council. Please visit the OSAC website: www.ds-osac.org from an Internet capable computer. Securing Our Embassies Overseas -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The protection of life is the most critical element of the DS mission, and is an absolute requirement for the global conduct of foreign affairs. With the emergence of terrorist coalitions that operate across international borders, the threat of terrorism against U.S. interests is greater than it ever has been. Clearly, we can no longer consider any U.S. mission overseas as being in a low-threat environment. As a result, Diplomatic Security is more dedicated than ever to its mission of providing a secure living and working environment for our Foreign Service colleagues as they implement foreign policy and promote U.S. interests around the world. DS special agents serving in regional security offices anchor our overseas security efforts and provide the first line of defense for our personnel, their families, U.S. diplomatic missions, and national security information. More than 400 DS special agents in over 160 countries advise chiefs of mission on all security matters and develop and implement the programs that shield each U.S. mission and residence overseas from physical and technical attack. Special agents, in concert with other mission or post elements, formulate plans to deal with various emergency contingencies ranging from hostage taking to evacuations. Often in times of crisis and political instability, DS special agents rely on the U.S. military for assistance. Since the early 1990s, special agents have worked closely with the military, especially the U.S. Marine Fleet Antiterrorism Security Teams, which have provided emergency force protection support for Department of State operations in a number of countries when the host government was unable to do so. In addition, special agents are the primary liaison with foreign police and security services overseas in an effort to obtain support for U.S. law enforcement initiatives and investigations. Much of the investigative and law enforcement liaison work done by special agents abroad is on behalf of other federal, state, and local agencies. The Bureau receives more than 5,000 requests for overseas investigative assistance from U.S. law enforcement each year, and has achieved noteworthy success in locating and apprehending wanted fugitives who have fled the United States. DS special agents also provide unclassified security briefings and other professional advice to U.S. businesses overseas. While special agents face a tremendous challenge in implementing a mission's security program, it is clearly one that cannot be handled alone. In the challenge to safeguard our personnel and sensitive information overseas, DS security engineering officers (SEOs) augment the efforts of the security office. SEOs are the primary developers and promulgators of technical policy and regulations. They design or develop, implement, and manage security equipment programs at our missions abroad. In a constantly changing technical environment, SEOs are responsible for maintaining our technical security posture at all our diplomatic posts in order to provide a secure working environment. SEOs also work to detect and prevent loss of sensitive information from technical espionage. Besides SEOs, special agents depend upon Marine Security Guards, U.S. Navy Seabees, local guards, cleared American guards, local investigators, host government officials, and other DS elements domestically and abroad to provide assistance in combating criminal, intelligence, and terrorist threats against U.S. interests worldwide. These entities play a crucial role in the overall DS security efforts overseas. At some of our highest threat posts, further security assistance is often needed. In those instances, DS dispatches Mobile Security Teams from Washington to conduct training for embassy personnel, their dependents, and local guards in protective tactics such as attack recognition, self-defense, hostage survival, and defensive driving. These teams also provide emergency security support to overseas posts, including protective security for chiefs of mission, surveillance detection operations, and assistance with post evacuations. Following the bombings of the U.S. Embassies in Dar es Salaam and Nairobi, security for our missions overseas took on even greater importance. As a result, DS conducted a comprehensive review of security at all U.S. diplomatic missions. Since the bombings, hundreds of DS agents and security engineers have traveled all over the world to augment security at missions abroad and have worked tirelessly to prevent further attacks. With Congressional passage of the $1.4 billion Emergency Embassy Security Supplemental in Fall 1998 (of which the Bureau received about $588 million), DS has taken significant steps to improve security at our missions abroad. While this funding allowed DS to make immediate upgrades to many missions, additional funding is needed to either build new embassies or purchase existing buildings that can be better defended. At this time, the Department and the Administration are working with the Congress to obtain additional funds. Serving the Foreign Diplomatic Community -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Almost everyone recognizes the trademark of the Office of Foreign Missions-the red, white and blue license tag on the diplomatic vehicles negotiating the streets and roadways of the United States. These tags represent just one of the many functions of the Office of Foreign Missions (OFM), which provides services to, and regulates the activities of, 1,700 foreign government missions to the United States and about 55,000 foreign mission members and their dependents. Services are provided to foreign missions in the United States as a reciprocal means of obtaining better treatment by other governments for U.S. missions and personnel overseas. OFM manages five major programs: Diplomatic Motor Vehicles, Travel, Real Property, Customs, and Tax. OFM regional offices in New York City, Chicago, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Honolulu are often the local face of the State Department in their respective regions. To help achieve its goals, OFM and its regional offices collaborate with other offices and bureaus in the Department, as well as other outside organizations. OFM has long conducted outreach programs to disseminate information to local law enforcement agencies on the protections that immunity gives diplomats and consular officials, and what they can do legally with a foreign mission member who breaks the law. In May 1999, OFM teamed with the DS Washington Field Office and the State Department's Senior Coordinator for Consular Notification to conduct joint training in Raleigh, NC, for law enforcement officers and U.S. and States' attorneys involved in the venues of the International Special Olympic Games in June. OFM also explains foreign missions privileges and responsibilities at seminars for local governments and business communities in partnership with representatives from the Office of Protocol and DS Protective Liaison Division. Taxes on goods and services can dramatically increase the operating costs of American embassies and affect the morale of our personnel. OFM has broadly attacked the imposition of such taxation, arguing that it violates the spirit of the Vienna Conventions of Diplomatic and Consular Relations and a number of bilateral treaties. For those countries that do not provide tax relief, OFM will balance the inequity by withdrawing or restricting their tax exemption privileges in the United States. Similarly, OFM works to improve other working and living conditions of the Department's overseas missions. OFM encourages posts to let it know of unwarranted restrictions, delays, or costs imposed by foreign governments on real property transactions, customs procedures, vehicle procurement and operation, and in-country travel. OFM can provide these same conditions for foreign missions in the United States and thereby persuade foreign governments to improve their treatment of U.S. missions. In Summary -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Diplomatic Security is a multifaceted organization that has provided the Department of State with more than 80 years of security and law enforcement excellence. Through our efforts, the Secretary of State and our Foreign Service colleagues can safely implement the foreign policy of the United States worldwide. Our investigations help defend our country from terrorists, drug traffickers, members of organized crime, and others who seek to expand their empires of destruction to the United States. Overseas, our personnel and security programs protect provide the first line of defense for U.S. diplomatic missions against the threats of terrorist, criminal and technical attacks. Diplomatic Security has a very difficult, yet critically important job. The threats we face, particularly from transnational terrorism, are real and growing. Our personnel take their jobs seriously and work together to ensure that the State Department's missions and responsibilities are carried out successfully and securely. While we take great pride in our accomplishments, we realize that there will always be more work to do. As long as our Foreign Service colleagues continue to promote U.S. interests and implement the foreign policy goals of the United States around the world, there will always be a need for the men and women of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security.

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U.S. Dept of State- Bureau of Diplomatic Security is Washington based place and this enity listed in Government Organization category. 22201. Contact phone number of U.S. Dept of State- Bureau of Diplomatic Security: (571) 345-3783