ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is effectively contributing to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s (FBI) Joint Terrorism Task Force (JTTF) counterterrorism efforts by leveraging its authorities, experience, skills, and staffing. However, existing agreements and guidance on HSI’s participation in the JTTF and its terrorism financing investigations are outdated. Additionally, we determined existing agreements and policy impose restrictions that delay and hinder sharing and access to information in the JTTF. We recommended DHS JTTF contributors evaluate and update agreements governing JTTF participation as needed. HSI should renegotiate and update the 2003 agreement on terrorism financing, as well as update its related guidance accordingly. We also recommended DHS coordinate with Department of Justice and Department of State, as well as within the DHS, to develop agreements to allow for the more direct sharing of critical investigative information. We made five recommendations that aim to improve counterterrorism efforts and information sharing. DHS concurred with two recommendations and non-concurred with three.
Open Recommendations
| Recommendation Number | Significant Recommendation | Recommended Questioned Costs | Recommended Funds for Better Use | Additional Details | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No | $0 | $0 | ||
| We recommend the Under Secretary, Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Management, coordinate with DHS JTTF contributors to: - ensure agreements governing participation in the JTTF are binding; - evaluate whether new agreements or terms governing JTTF participation are required; and - develop guidance defining each DHS JTTF contributors' authorities, roles and responsibilities, skill sets, and access to systems. | |||||
| 2 | No | $0 | $0 | ||
| We recommend the HSI Executive Associate Director renegotiate and update the existing 2003 MOA with DOJ on terrorism financing investigations to ensure: - all appropriate action to align guidance on handling of terrorism cases with current operations; - essential requirements defined in DHS Management Directive 0450.1 are included; and - a review and modification process is established to reflect future operational changes. | |||||
| 4 | No | $0 | $0 | ||
| We recommend the Under Secretary, Office of Strategy, Policy, and Plans, in consultation with the Under Secretary of Management, coordinate with DOJ and State to develop an agreement that facilitates the direct sharing of passport information within the JTTF environment through State's formal MOU process. | |||||
| 5 | No | $0 | $0 | ||
| We recommend the Under Secretary of Management coordinate with the Information Sharing and Safeguarding Governance Board to ensure: - ICE and TSA develop an agreement for TSA to directly process Secure Flight data requested for use by JTTF or HSI JTTF agents investigating terrorism activities or performing task force specific missions, and - DHS JTTF contributors mitigate data restrictions or delays pertaining to law enforcement and intelligence investigations. | |||||
