Summary

Counterterrorism is a priority homeland security mission over which the Department of Homeland Security has surprisingly little direct authority. Terrorism is defined under Title 18 Section 2331 US Code as a violent crime with the intent to coerce US government. It is a crime distinguished by motive. Individuals or groups who plot or commit crimes with the purpose of coercing US government are guilty of terrorism and are called terrorists. The best defense against terrorism is actionable intelligence; obtaining the information necessary to stop an attack before it begins. The FBI is the lead federal agency responsible for domestic intelligence, and the CIA is the lead federal agency responsible for foreign intelligence. It is their mission to identify terrorists and stop them before they act. DHS works with the FBI and CIA, together with the 17 members of the Intelligence Community, and share terrorist information through the National Counterterrorism Center. DHS also works together with State and Local law enforcement to gather and disseminate terrorist threat intelligence through 72 nation-wide Fusion Centers.