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]

In 2009, the section was merged 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, before 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 Barack Obama as the Assistant Security of Homeland Security for the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.[4]

Notable cases

• United States v. Charles Taylor, Jr. (aka Chuckie Taylor, aka Charles McArthur Emmanuel, aka Roy Belfast) (son of Charles Taylor, former warlord of Liberia)[5]
• 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)[6]

References

1. "International Aspects Of Criminal Immigration Enforcement". Immigration Daily. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
2. "Genocide and the Rule of Law. Before the Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law". Senate Judiciary Committee. Retrieved December 15, 2007.^[permanent dead link‍]
3. "No Safe Haven: Accountability for Human Rights Violators in the United States. Before the Subcommittee on Human Rights and the Law". Senate Judiciary Committee. Archived from the original on February 28, 2008. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
   - "From Nuremberg to Darfur: Accountability for Crimes Against Humanity". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved October 4, 2008.
4. "John Morton to Lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement". Retrieved February 23, 2008.
5. "Taylor Jr. to stand trial on charges of torture abroad". CNN. September 27, 2008. Retrieved September 28, 2008.
   - "First Prosecution in the United States for Torture Committed Abroad" (PDF). Human Rights Watch. August 26, 2008. Retrieved October 4, 2008.
6. "Series of Errors Doomed Stevens Prosecution". ALM Law. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved April 6, 2009.

External links

• Official DSS website