Secret Service and ICE Did Not Always Adhere to Statute and Policies Governing Use of Cell-Site Simulators – Law Enforcement Sensitive

Date Issued

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Submitting OIG

Department of Homeland Security OIG

Other Participating OIGs

Department of Homeland Security OIG

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

Department of Homeland Security

Components

United States Secret Service (USSS)

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Report Number

OIG-23-17

Report Description

Attached for your action is our final report, Secret Service and ICE Did Not Always Adhere to Statute and Policies Governing Use of Cell-Site Simulators – Law Enforcement Sensitive. We incorporated the formal comments provided by your office.

Report Type

Audit

Agency Wide

Yes

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

Funds for Better Use

Open Recommendations

This report has 6 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use
2	No	$0	$0
We recommend that the Assistant Director, Office of Investigations, United States Secret Service develop and implement internal controls to ensure cell-site simulator users differentiate between cell-site simulator-policy defined exigent circumstances and 18 U.S.C. 3125-defined emergency situations to comply with 18 U.S.C. 3121, et seq., Pen Registers and Trap and Trace Devices.
3	No	$0	$0
We recommend that the Assistant Director, Office of Investigations, United States Secret Service develop and implement internal controls to ensure cell-site simulator users differentiate between cell-site simulator-policy defined exigent circumstances and 18 U.S.C. 3125-defined emergency situations to comply with 18 U.S.C. 3121, et seq., Pen Registers and Trap and Trace Devices.
4	No	$0	$0
We recommend that the Assistant Director, Cyber and Operational Technology, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement develop and implement internal controls to ensure cell-site simulator users differentiate between cell-site simulator policy-defined exigent situations and 18 U.S.C. 3125-defined emergency circumstances to comply with 18 U.S.C. 3121, et seq., Pen Registers and Trap and Trace Devices.
5	No	$0	$0
We recommend that the Assistant Director, Cyber and Operational Technology, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement develop and implement internal controls to ensure cell-site simulator data deletion is accurately documented in the Incident Case Management system.
5	No	$0	$0
We recommend that the Assistant Director, Cyber and Operational Technology, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement develop and implement internal controls to ensure cell-site simulator data deletion is accurately documented in the Incident Case Management system.
6	No	$0	$0
We recommend that the Assistant Director, Cyber and Operational Technology, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement develop and implement internal controls to ensure privacy compliance documentation is completed and approved before developing or procuring information technology that collects, maintains, or disseminates information in identifiable form.