§475 Transnational Criminal Investigative Units

Summary

The Secretary, with the agreement of the Secretary of State, must run Transnational Criminal Investigative Units inside Homeland Security Investigations. Each unit is made up of trained foreign law enforcement officers who work with HSI to investigate and help prosecute people involved in crimes that cross national borders. Before joining and at times while serving, those foreign officers must pass security checks (for example, background checks, polygraphs, or urine tests) or other checks the Secretary finds appropriate. No one may join if the Secretary and Secretary of State have credible information that the unit committed a gross human rights violation, consistent with section 2378d of title 22. Creating and supporting these units needs the approval of the U.S. chief of mission where they serve, must follow the Secretary of State’s and chief of mission’s authorities under law, and needs the Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs’ agreement. The Executive Associate Director of HSI may pay vetted unit members a money stipend tied to their unit duties. That official must report to the relevant Senate and House foreign affairs, homeland security, and judiciary committees about how members are vetted and what else should be done to keep them from being compromised by criminal groups. For five years starting December 23, 2022, the same official must give an annual unclassified briefing (with a classified part if needed) showing for each country: the number of vetted members; stipend amounts by country; enforcement results like arrests and joint investigation progress; and whether any vetted members were involved in unlawful acts, including human rights abuses or major corruption.