The Foreign Service Journal, September 2005

To help secure U.S. borders from terrorists, drug traf- fickers and members of organized crime, DS conducts investigations into visa and passport fraud and other crimes. We also investigate threats against State Department personnel and facilities, and U.S. govern- ment employees abroad. In 2004, we helped return 113 fugitives to the United States to face justice, made more than 550 arrests for passport fraud, and made more than 120 arrests for visa fraud. To further protect the integrity of U.S. passports and visas, we have assigned 25 addition- al criminal investigators overseas. DS is looking to con- tinue expanding this successful program in coordination with the Bureau of Consular Affairs. The Bureau of Diplomatic Security also conducts secu- rity clearance investigations. During the past year, DS conducted more than 18,000 background investigations on State Department employees and job applicants. The bureau also cut the average processing time for security clearances from 195 to 97 days. In comparison, most security clearances obtained elsewhere in the federal gov- ernment take an average of 300 days. The DS security and law enforcement team plays a key role in the fight against international terrorism through several important programs: • Our Antiterrorism Assistance Program teaches foreign police and security officers to fight terrorism in their own countries, and provides themwith the necessary equipment to do so. As these countries stop terrorism in their homelands, they also diminish its spread beyond their borders, and add to the safety of diplomats and Americans traveling abroad. • Our Rewards for Justice Program , which offers reward money for information about terrorists, is one of the most valuable assets the U.S. government has in the fight against international terrorism. In 2004 alone, more than $7 million in rewards were approved. The program was instrumental in leading U.S. military forces in Iraq to the location of Uday and Qusay Hussein, the former dic- tator’s sons, in 2003. • The bureau is also dedicated to helping American businesses abroad combat threats from international criminals and terrorists through the Overseas Security Advisory Council . Administered by DS, OSAC facili- tates the exchange of security information with the U.S. private sector abroad. • DS has 20 special agents assigned to FBI Joint Terrorism Task Forces nationwide. One of the bureau’s largest responsibilities is to provide high-level security for State Department officials and for foreign dignitaries who visit the United States. For major multilateral events, this protective function swells immensely. Hundreds of DS agents are deployed to pro- tect the dignitaries, and the entire bureau pours vast amounts of time and resources into securing the events. We did this for the Organization of American States General Assembly in Florida in June, and we do the same every fall for the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Most Foreign Service personnel are familiar with our Diplomatic Courier Service , which ensures the secure movement of classified U.S. government material across international boundaries. Although these materials for- merly were mostly papers and files, now the material includes data processing equipment and construction materials. The Courier Service has improved its opera- tions by virtually ceasing use of military transportation for normal pouch cargo services; instead, it is following best practices learned from top-notch American delivery firms. Through our Office of Foreign Missions , we con- tinue to improve the treatment of U.S. overseas person- nel by the application of reciprocal treatment for foreign missions in the United States. We also work to protect the U.S. public from abuse of privileges and immunities, and better serve the large foreign mission community in the United States. In 2004, DS escorted more than 1,600 senior foreign officials through 30 domestic airports. OFM also secured construction tax-relief agreements from October 2004 through July 2005 that will yield $102 million in foreign tax savings. As with any global security operation, DS must ensure that its assets, people and systems are integrated. Several new DS technology initiatives are underway to help man- age this complex operation. A revolutionary system to enable the Washington-based DS Command Center to remotely monitor security systems at U.S. Foreign Service posts is beginning full deployment, which is expected to take five years to complete. Our engineers have already installed these systems at 23 sites in 17 posts. Another ini- tiative to make consolidated case management systems available to agents worldwide is expected to be operational by late 2005, while yet another initiative to facilitate global personnel management by tracking special agent availabil- ity is already being used on a trial basis. F O C U S 36 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / S E P T E M B E R 2 0 0 5