Domestic Security Section
The Domestic Security Section (DSS) was a component of the United States Department of Justice Criminal Division that was focused on the prosecution of significant alien smuggling organizations,[1] complex immigration frauds, certain violent crime and firearms offenses, crimes committed under the Military Extraterritorial Jurisdiction Act, and serious human rights violations such as war crimes, genocide ,[2] and torture. DSS was the primary DOJ office responsible for pursuing justice against perpetrators of human rights violations. [3][4]
In 2009, the Section was merged was with the Office of Special Investigations to form a new unit of the Criminal Division: the Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Section.
Former Section Chiefs
The Domestic Security Section, prior to reorganization, was headed by a Section Chief, who in turn reported to the Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division through a Deputy Assistant Attorney General.
A former acting chief of the section, John T. Morton, was appointed in mid-2009 by President of the United States Barack Obama to serve as the Assistant Security of Homeland Security for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.[5]
Notable Cases
- United States v. Charles Taylor, Jr. (aka Chuckie Taylor, aka Charles McArthur Emmanuel, aka Roy Belfast) (son of Charles Taylor (Liberia), former warlord of Liberia)[6][7]
- United States v. Steven D. Green
- United States v. Theodore Stevens (Domestic Security Section was added after allegations of prosecutorial misconduct against original prosecution team)[8]
References
- ↑ "International Aspects Of Criminal Immigration Enforcement". Immigration Daily. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee “Genocide and the Rule of Law” Before the Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law. Retrieved on 2007-12-25.
- ↑ Senate Judiciary Committee “No Safe Haven: Accountability for Human Rights Violators in the United States” Before the Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law. Retrieved on 2007-12-25.
- ↑ "From Nuremberg to Darfur: Accountability for Crimes Against Humanity". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
- ↑ "John Morton to Lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement". Retrieved 2008-02-23.
- ↑ "Taylor Jr. to stand trial on charges of torture abroad". CNN. 2008-09-27. Retrieved 2008-09-28.
- ↑ "First Prosecution in the United States for Torture Committed Abroad" (PDF). Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 2008-10-04.
- ↑ "Series of Errors Doomed Stevens Prosecution". Law.com. Retrieved 2009-04-06.