§475 Transnational Criminal Investigative Units

Summary

The Secretary of Homeland Security, with the agreement of the Secretary of State, must run Transnational Criminal Investigative Units (TCIUs) 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 crime that crosses borders. Before joining and at regular times while serving, those foreign officers must pass security checks. These checks may include a background check, a polygraph, a urinalysis, or other tests the Secretary decides. No one may join if there is credible information their foreign unit committed a gross human rights violation, consistent with section 2378d of title 22. Setting up and supporting TCIUs must have the chief of mission’s approval, follow the State Department’s duties, and have the concurrence of the Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. The Executive Associate Director of HSI must report to specified Senate and House committees on how vetting is done and how to keep members safe from criminal compromise. That official may pay vetted members a stipend tied to unit duties. For five years starting December 23, 2022, the Executive Associate Director must give annual unclassified briefings (with a classified option) to those committees showing member counts by country, stipend amounts by country, enforcement results, and any unlawful acts by vetted members, including human rights abuses or major corruption.