Deck 15: Homeland Security

Question 1

Are domestic terrorists a real threat?

Answer 1

Domestic terrorism involves groups or individuals who operate without foreign direction entirely within the United States and target elements of the U.S. government or citizens. The 1995 Federal Building explosion in Oklahoma City and the pipe bomb explosion in Centennial Olympic Park during the 1996 Summer Olympic Games underscore the ever-present threat that exists from individuals determined to use violence to advance their agendas. Domestic terrorists represent extreme right-wing, extreme left-wing, and special-interest beliefs. All are dangerous and have no limitations on who, what, when, or where they will strike.

Question 2

How do we balance our civil liberties and our personal security?

Answer 2

This is a very good question. The government has the responsibility of protecting its citizens from terrorists but also from the government itself. The USA Patriot Act was enacted in the immediate aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. The act has 10 sections or titles outlining new powers for government operations. Titles I, II, III, IV, and VII specifically affect law enforcement's role in antiterrorist activities. For security purposes, many Americans agree that some inconvenience is worth the security that it provides. But, again, we are faced with the question: Who is going to police the police?

Question 3

What is Secure Communities, and how has it been utilized?

Answer 3

Secure Communities uses an already-existing federal information-sharing partnership between the ICE and the FBI. This partnership helps to identify criminal aliens without imposing new burdens on law enforcement. Secure Communities was started in 2008 in 14 jurisdictions and is now in more than 1,700. All jurisdictions along the Southwest border are currently included in the program with the goal of having all jurisdictions in the United States in the program by 2013.
The process of identifying an individual from the arrest to removal begins at the local level.
When a local or state law enforcement officer makes an arrest, the fingerprints of that individual are submitted electronically to the FBI. The FBI checks its database, and if the individual is identified as an illegal who has previously made contact with ICE, the FBI coordinates with ICE to hold the individual on an ICE detainer or immigration hold. The ICE hold will allow the person to be held in custody for an additional 48 hours to allow ICE time to conduct an interview and determine if the individual should be held for deportation proceedings.
The FBI has further extended its identification capabilities through a project called Next Generation Identification (NGI) that matches fingerprints, iris scans, and facial recognition technology. The project integrates all three methods of identification in an effort to speed identification of wanted individuals. This is another step toward biometric identification of people.
The Secure Communities program is not without controversy. Although it was originally intended to target "serious convicted felons," it has caused others who are only here illegally to be deported as well. Several states are trying to withdraw from the program, most notably Illinois, and the California legislature is considering legislation to allow participation in the program by local law enforcement to be voluntary.
In response to the Secure Communities program, Georgia, Alabama, and most notably Arizona (with the passage of SB 1070) have attempted to implement laws that will allow their law enforcement personnel to enforce immigration laws in their states. In the case of Arizona and Georgia, the federal courts have stayed the provisions of the laws pending further hearings. In August 2011, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) notified 39 governors that the fingerprint-sharing program of Secure Communities did not need the approval of their state to operate in it and that the DHS had voided previous agreements signed authorizing their participation.

Question 4

According to the FBI, terrorism is the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or a segment thereof, to further political or social objectives. Terrorism has impacted the United States on many different levels and has required military and police forces to make significant changes in how they operate and investigate certain crimes and behaviors. These changes are a direct response to the events on September 11, 2001 and how vulnerable Americans felt.
One of the main objectives of the Patriot Act was to remedy the lack of communication between federal agencies trying to fight terrorism. In addition, it gives law enforcement new abilities to search, seize, detain, or eavesdrop in pursuit of possible terrorists.
This scenario focuses on terrorism and homeland security.
A newly proposed state law in Texas will significantly expand immigration regulations to include the immediate deportation of any undocumented immigrant. The legislation has received a lot of attention throughout the country and there have been daily bomb threats targeting the capital. According to intensive investigation by analysts, these threats appear to be coming from a Middle Eastern male connected to a terrorist group. However, local criminals sometimes use this type of message to throw off investigators.
You are the police captain in charge of security at the state capital. You have been tasked with finding a solution to increase security, but your financial budget to do so is very limited. However, the military has offered to cover all security-related expenses if you label this incident as a "homeland security" threat, including assistance to establish a fusion center. From your experience, you know such a label will provide you with financial resources, but it will cause a tremendous amount of public scrutiny and will significantly increase police-community tensions.

-What is the organization of individuals from federal, state, county, and municipal law enforcement agencies in an area whose focus is homeland security?

A) a fusion center
B) a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Court
C) a Border Patrol task force
D) a Homeland Security task force

Question 5

According to the FBI, terrorism is the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or a segment thereof, to further political or social objectives. Terrorism has impacted the United States on many different levels and has required military and police forces to make significant changes in how they operate and investigate certain crimes and behaviors. These changes are a direct response to the events on September 11, 2001 and how vulnerable Americans felt.
One of the main objectives of the Patriot Act was to remedy the lack of communication between federal agencies trying to fight terrorism. In addition, it gives law enforcement new abilities to search, seize, detain, or eavesdrop in pursuit of possible terrorists.
This scenario focuses on terrorism and homeland security.
A newly proposed state law in Texas will significantly expand immigration regulations to include the immediate deportation of any undocumented immigrant. The legislation has received a lot of attention throughout the country and there have been daily bomb threats targeting the capital. According to intensive investigation by analysts, these threats appear to be coming from a Middle Eastern male connected to a terrorist group. However, local criminals sometimes use this type of message to throw off investigators.
You are the police captain in charge of security at the state capital. You have been tasked with finding a solution to increase security, but your financial budget to do so is very limited. However, the military has offered to cover all security-related expenses if you label this incident as a "homeland security" threat, including assistance to establish a fusion center. From your experience, you know such a label will provide you with financial resources, but it will cause a tremendous amount of public scrutiny and will significantly increase police-community tensions.

-One of the main objectives of what act was to remedy the lack of communication between federal agencies trying to fight terrorism?

A) the Patriot Act
B) the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act
C) the National Security Letters Act
D) the Joint Terrorism Task Force Act

Question 6

What Would You Do?
You are the police captain in charge of security at the state capital, and you have been assigned the task of increasing security. The governor has been calling you because she is worried about increased tensions between the public and the police. She wants to know how you will increase security without increasing police-community tensions. She is putting daily pressure on you to come up with an immediate and effective solution. She is worried that if you label this situation a terrorist/homeland security threat, several activist groups will protest, which will definitely tie up more police resources.
-What would you do?

Question 7

Taking advantage of available funds from the military by labeling this a threat to homeland security provide you with resources which will greatly increase the likelihood that you will find the culprits and prevent a terrorist bombing. Money from the military will help offset the police resources necessary to deal with the community. If you do not take advantage of the financial assistance from the military you will have to tell the governor that you need her to find the funds to support increased security.

-Which of the following is the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) definition of terrorism?

A) the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or a segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives
B) the intelligence reform, where the government acts to prioritize strategic operational planning by integrating all instruments of mass destruction
C) the lawful or nonviolent threats or acts of threats toward military personnel in a designated war zone
D) premeditated, nonpolitically involved, nonviolent actions perpetrated against combatant targets

Question 8

Taking advantage of available funds from the military by labeling this a threat to homeland security provide you with resources which will greatly increase the likelihood that you will find the culprits and prevent a terrorist bombing. Money from the military will help offset the police resources necessary to deal with the community. If you do not take advantage of the financial assistance from the military you will have to tell the governor that you need her to find the funds to support increased security.

-Radical and criminal groups have frequently used terrorist tactics to influence what type of opinion?

A) public
B) government
C) gang
D) private

Question 9

What Would You Do?
The governor wants you to release the voicemails to the media and public so people can make their own decision regarding a label of terrorism or homeland security threat. She is placing intense daily pressure on you and has even suggested you should be removed from this position and demoted because you aren't moving fast enough.
-What would you do?

Question 10

Summary A
Releasing the voicemails to the media/public will please the governor and may result in the public supporting labeling the case a threat to homeland security. Alternatively, the public may think this is a local issue. If the problem is local, releasing the voicemails may spur a community member to come forward with information related to the case.
To learn more, see "State and Local Law Enforcement Efforts for Homeland Security."
Summary B
Refusing to release the voicemails to the media/public will anger the governor and may put your job at risk. However, releasing the voicemails could be giving the culprit(s) the audience they want to spur them to take action.
To learn more, see "State and Local Law Enforcement Efforts for Homeland Security."
Choosing not to take advantage of available funds from the military means you lose the resources from the military. You will have to tell the governor that you need her to find the funds to support increased security. Labeling the threats as a scheme by local criminals should result in less tension between your agency and the community and thus, less need for additional resources.
As your team of investigators pore through all the evidence, they are able to utilize high-tech voice analysis to determine the identity of the person leaving daily bomb threats. The suspect is Mohamed Akbar Mohamed, a 24-year-old male born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Your investigators determine he has been posting antigovernment messages on his social media accounts and has traveled to Afghanistan three times over the past two years to participate in ISIS training camps. Given that new information, you're reconsidering labeling this issue a terrorist threat.

-Which of the following is the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) definition of terrorism?

A) the unlawful use of force or violence against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or a segment thereof, in furtherance of political or social objectives
B) the intelligence reform, where the government acts to prioritize strategic operational planning by integrating all instruments of mass destruction
C) the lawful or nonviolent threats or acts of threats toward military personnel in a designated war zone
D) premeditated, nonpolitically involved, nonviolent actions perpetrated against combatant targets

Question 11

Summary A
Releasing the voicemails to the media/public will please the governor and may result in the public supporting labeling the case a threat to homeland security. Alternatively, the public may think this is a local issue. If the problem is local, releasing the voicemails may spur a community member to come forward with information related to the case.
To learn more, see "State and Local Law Enforcement Efforts for Homeland Security."
Summary B
Refusing to release the voicemails to the media/public will anger the governor and may put your job at risk. However, releasing the voicemails could be giving the culprit(s) the audience they want to spur them to take action.
To learn more, see "State and Local Law Enforcement Efforts for Homeland Security."
Choosing not to take advantage of available funds from the military means you lose the resources from the military. You will have to tell the governor that you need her to find the funds to support increased security. Labeling the threats as a scheme by local criminals should result in less tension between your agency and the community and thus, less need for additional resources.
As your team of investigators pore through all the evidence, they are able to utilize high-tech voice analysis to determine the identity of the person leaving daily bomb threats. The suspect is Mohamed Akbar Mohamed, a 24-year-old male born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Your investigators determine he has been posting antigovernment messages on his social media accounts and has traveled to Afghanistan three times over the past two years to participate in ISIS training camps. Given that new information, you're reconsidering labeling this issue a terrorist threat.

-Radical and criminal groups have frequently used terrorist tactics to influence what type of opinion?

A) public
B) government
C) gang
D) private

Question 12

What Would You Do?
The governor of Texas demands an immediate decision from you. She insists this security threat is not terrorist related and says that labeling it as such will cause unnecessary public outrage and tension. She tells you that she doesn't want any more riots to occur because she is up for reelection in six months. She promises you a promotion to the rank of assistant chief if you make the decision not to label this threat a homeland security/terrorist incident.
-What would you do?

Question 13

What does the term homeland security refer to?

A) the unlawful use of force or violence to intimidate or coerce a government
B) efforts made since 9/11 to protect the United States from terrorist acts
C) the analysis of all intelligence related to terrorism and counterterrorism
D) the protection of Americans against violence coming from within the country

Question 14

Which agency was created to serve as the primary organization in the U.S. government for integrating and analyzing all intelligence pertaining to terrorism and counterterrorism and for conducting strategic operational planning?

A) National Counterterrorism Center
B) U.S. Department of Homeland Security
C) U.S. Department of Defense
D) Joint Terrorism Task Forces

Question 15

Why do loosely affiliated international radical extremists pose the most urgent threat to the United States?

A) They view terrorism as a tool of foreign policy.
B) They can travel freely and are generally unknown to law enforcement.
C) They are autonomous organizations with their own infrastructures and personnel.
D) They can plan and mount terrorist campaigns overseas.

Question 16

Which of the following is classified as a biological weapon?

A) gas canister
B) anthrax
C) liquid explosive
D) suicide bomb

Question 17

Which type of terrorism involves people who operate without foreign direction entirely within the United States and target elements of the U.S. government or citizens?

A) domestic terrorism
B) national terrorism
C) international terrorism
D) residential terrorism

Question 18

The FBI determined that the primary suspect in the bombing in Centennial Olympic Park at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics Games was __________.

A) David Brian Stone
B) Jonathan R. White
C) Nidal Malik Hasan
D) Eric Rudolph

Question 19

Which groups profess a revolutionary socialist doctrine and view themselves as protectors of the American people against capitalism and imperialism?

A) right-wing extremist groups
B) special-interest terrorist groups
C) left-wing extremist groups
D) antiabortion terrorist groups

Question 20

Which of the following is an example of a special-interest terrorist group?

A) Animal Liberation Front
B) New World Order
C) Symbionese Liberation Army
D) the Alt Right

Question 21

Why is Jared Loughner, who gunned down U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords and at least 17 others in 2011, considered a "lone wolf" extremist?

A) He openly professed to being an atheist.
B) He operated without ties to any group.
C) He was part of a very small local group.
D) He was the only person carrying a gun at the time of the attack.

Question 22

Which methods include ongoing and coordinated planning, intelligence gathering, and investigating activity by various agencies and prevent acts of terrorism before they occur?

A) reactive
B) dynamic
C) proactive
D) constructive

Question 23

Much of the evidence is present in the debris that follows a terrorist explosion similar to the crime of __________.

A) assault
B) arson
C) burglary
D) extortion

Question 24

Which of the following was established in November 2001 to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce, among other things?

A) the USA Patriot Act
B) the National Security Council
C) the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
D) the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Question 25

Which agency was created in 2003 and was the most significant transformation of the U.S. government since 1947, when President Harry S. Truman merged the various branches of the U.S. Armed Forces into the Department of Defense?

A) the Department of Homeland Security
B) the Immigration and Naturalization Service
C) the Office of the Inspector General
D) the National Incident Management System

Question 26

Alex works for an agency of the Department of Homeland Security that prevents terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States, while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel. What agency does she work for?

A) the Citizenship and Immigration Services
B) the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
C) the U.S. Customs and Border Protection
D) the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

Question 27

What is the Terrorist Watchlist?

A) a list created by the federal government of domestic terrorists
B) a list of people who are not allowed to fly on U.S.-based airlines
C) a list of people imprisoned for previous terrorist attacks
D) a list created by the federal government of people connected to the 9/11 attacks

Question 28

Before the establishment of the this agency, ad hoc task forces of local and federal authorities would be established to investigate each new terrorist case as it occurred, and then disbanded after the investigation. This occurred before the establishment of what agency?

A) the National Security Branch
B) the Secure Communities Program
C) the Next Generation Identification Task Force
D) the Joint Terrorist Task Forces

Question 29

For a long time, most state and local law enforcement administrators viewed terrorism primarily as an international threat. What event occurred that changed these perceptions?

A) the 1993 World Trade Center bombing
B) the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games bombing
C) the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing
D) the 1996 arrest of the Unabomber

Question 30

In which city did police adopt a program to attempt to thwart terrorists by staging random security operations at so-called soft targets, such as city buses and sports arenas, in 2005?

A) Los Angeles
B) New York City
C) Miami
D) Chicago

Question 31

What does the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) initiative of "If You See Something, Say Something" refer to?

A) becoming aware of local officers who do not investigate terrorism
B) reporting behavior that looks like activity related to terrorism
C) becoming involved with specific training related to homeland security
D) patrolling local communities in order to spot terrorist activity

Question 32

Who will usually have the first contact with a terrorist?

A) counterterrorism officials
B) immigration agents
C) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agents
D) local police officers

Question 33

How many sections of the USA Patriot Act outline new powers for government operations?

A) 10
B) 15
C) 12
D) 16

Question 34

Which part of the USA Patriot Act is designed to compensate the families of public safety officers killed during a terrorist attack?

A) Title IV
B) Title VI
C) Title II
D) Title I

Question 35

Which of the following are information requests issued by a local FBI official who certifies that the information is relevant to an international terrorism or foreign intelligence investigation?

A) civil liberty disclosures
B) investigation subpoenas
C) security enforcement documents
D) national security letters

Question 36

In what year did a federal judge rule that the National Security Agency's (NSA's) program of surveillance without warrants was illegal?

A) 2014
B) 2012
C) 2015
D) 2010