Homeland Security Acts and Orgs

Campus Hate Crimes Right to Know Act of 1997: Amended the Higher Education Act of 1965, mandating the disclosure of all criminal incidents showing evidence of prejudice against a protected class.

Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996: Prohibits intentionally destroying a religious property due to religious, racial, or ethnic characteristics, and/or obstructing a person's free exercise of religious beliefs through force or threat.

Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): This is responsible for administering immigration and naturalization adjudication functions.

Coast Guard: It is the only military organization within the Department of Homeland Security, responsible for protecting ports, maintaining border security, and coordinating intelligence with government entities.

Criminal terrorism: This is driven by engaging in criminal activity for profit, exemplified by drug cartels in Mexico.

Department of Homeland Security: Established in 2003 after the September 11 attacks, a Cabinet-level department responsible for protecting the US from terrorist attacks, and responding to attacks, man-made accidents, and natural disasters.

Dissident terrorism: Terrorist activities against the government committed by rebellious groups.

Domestic terrorism: Unlawful use or threatened use of force or violence by a group or individual based in the US to intimidate or coerce for political or social objectives.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA): Focuses on emergency management and recovery from catastrophic events at local and national levels.

Fundraising: Used by terrorist organizations to finance their activities.

Game theory: Assesses scenarios using simulation gaming models to understand behavior in competitive situations and advise on optimal strategies.

Hate Crime Statistics Act of 1990: Mandated the Attorney General to develop guidelines and collect data on crimes showing evidence of prejudice based on protected classes, as part of the Uniform Crime Reporting Program.

Hate crimes: Traditional offenses (assault, murder, vandalism) with an additional factor of bias against a protected class.

Homeland security: A national effort to prevent terrorist attacks, reduce vulnerability to terrorism, and minimize damage from attacks.

Human rights: Universal values and legal guarantees that protect individuals against actions or omissions by government agents that infringe on fundamental freedoms, entitlements, and human dignity.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): A federal agency focused on identifying criminal activities and vulnerabilities that threaten the country.

Matthew Shephard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009: Makes it unlawful to willfully cause bodily injury, or attempt to, with a dangerous weapon when the offense is committed because of the actual or perception of a protected class.

Mission distortion: Occurred after the creation of the Department of Homeland Security in 2003, when agencies acquired new responsibilities but were still expected to continue their original missions.

Model state legislation for hate crimes/violence against people experiencing homelessness: Designates homelessness as a protected class.

Money laundering: A process of "cleaning" funds obtained through illegal activities.

National Counterterrorism Center: Provides the Department of State with statistical information on terrorism.

Religious terrorism: Terrorist acts legitimized by religious dogma.

Secret Service: A federal agency responsible for safeguarding the financial infrastructure and payment systems, as well as protecting national leaders and visiting foreign leaders.

State-sponsored terrorism: Terrorist acts facilitated by a state or government against perceived enemies.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA): Provides security for all types of transportation, including screening at commercial airports.

USA Patriot Act of 2001: Focuses on collecting communications and data, conducting foreign-intelligence investigations, controlling money laundering, and enhancing national border security.

Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994: Amended the Hate Crime Statistics Act to enhance penalties for offenses involving bias motivation.