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A National Special Security Event (NSSE) is an event deemed by the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to be an attractive target for terrorists, due to the event's visibility or political connection. An NSSE designation puts the United States Secret Service in charge of event security, the Federal Bureau of Investigation in charge of law enforcement activity, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency in charge of recovery management.
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Authority
NSSE procedures were established by President Bill Clinton in a portion of Presidential Decision Directive 62 in May 1998, which set out the security roles for federal agencies at major events.[1] The Presidential Threat Protection Act of 2000 (Pub.L. 106-544, signed into law on 2000-12-19) added special events explicitly to the powers of the United States Secret Service in 18 U.S.C. § 3056.
Procedure
A number of factors are taken into consideration when designating an event as a National Special Security Event. Department of Homeland Security press releases usually cite the following factors:[2]
- Anticipated attendance by dignitaries. Events attended by officials of the United States government or foreign dignitaries may create an independent federal interest to ensure that the event transpires without incident and that sufficient resources are brought to bear in the event of an incident.
- Size of the event. A large number of attendees and participants generally increases security requirements. In addition, larger events are more likely to draw the attention of terrorists or other criminals, particularly those interested in employing weapons of mass destruction.
- Significance of the event. Some events have historical, political, or symbolic significance that may heighten concern about possible terrorist acts or other criminal activity.
When an NSSE is declared, the Secret Service becomes the lead agency for the security planning for the event; the FBI takes lead responsibility for counterterrorism, counterintelligence, criminal investigations; and FEMA takes lead responsibility for crisis management. Like the FBI and FEMA, the Secret Service brings in local law enforcement, public safety, and military experts to assist with developing the plan, and give them the special guidance and training to operate within the security plan.[2]
Typical NSSE security measures include:
- Heavy police (days off and leaves may be canceled) and military presence[citation needed]
- Police dogs[2]
- Surveillance
- Sharpshooters
- Flight restrictions around the area[citation needed]
- United States Coast Guard patrols[citation needed]
- Increased railroad security[citation needed]
- Extensive road closures[2]
Events
18 U.S.C. § 3056 paragraph (e)(2) requires that, at the end of each federal fiscal year, the executive branch report to Congress which events were designated NSSEs, and what criteria were used to make the designations.
Typical types of NSSEs are state funerals, major political conventions, and the State of the Union addresses.[3]
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References
- ^ "National Special Security Events". United States Secret Service. http://www.secretservice.gov/nsse.shtml. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
- ^ a b c d "Fact Sheet: National Special Security Events". Office of the Press Secretary, United States Department of Homeland Security. 2006-12-29. http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1167323822753.shtm. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "CSR Report for Congress - National Special Security Events". Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress. 2008-03-19. http://opencrs.cdt.org/getfile.php?rid=63386. Retrieved 2008-11-05.
- ^ a b "A Partial Administration Timeline of Homeland Security Actions through May 29 of 2002". United States Department of Homeland Security. 2005-12-21. http://www.dhs.gov/xabout/history/editorial_0114.shtm. Retrieved 2008-02-01.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Designation of the President's State of the Union Address as a National Special Security Event". Office of the Press Secretary, United States Department of Homeland Security. 2008-01-28. http://www.dhs.gov/xnews/releases/pr_1201541187429.shtm. Retrieved 2008-02-01. "Since 1998, the Secret Service has led federal security operations at 24 National Special Security Events, including President Gerald Ford's state funeral, the 2005 Presidential Inauguration, the 2004 Republican and Democratic National Conventions, President Ronald Reagan's state funeral in 2004, and the last three State of the Union Addresses."
External links
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