For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
September 16, 2003
Homeland Security Presidential Directive/Hspd-6
Subject: Integration and Use of Screening Information
To protect against terrorism it is the policy of the United States to (1) develop, integrate, and maintain thorough, accurate, and current information about
individuals known or appropriately suspected to be or have been engaged
in conduct constituting, in preparation for, in aid of, or related to
terrorism (Terrorist Information); and (2) use that information as
appropriate and to the full extent permitted by law to support (a)
Federal, State, local, territorial, tribal, foreign-government, and
private-sector screening processes, and (b) diplomatic, military,
intelligence, law enforcement, immigration, visa, and protective
processes.
This directive shall be implemented in a manner consistent with the
provisions of the Constitution and applicable laws, including those
protecting the rights of all Americans.
To further strengthen the ability of the United States Government
to protect the people, property, and territory of the United States
against acts of terrorism, and to the full extent permitted by law and
consistent with the policy set forth above:
(1) The Attorney General shall establish an organization to
consolidate the Government's approach to terrorism screening and
provide for the appropriate and lawful use of Terrorist Information in
screening processes.
(2) The heads of executive departments and agencies shall, to the
extent permitted by law, provide to the Terrorist Threat Integration
Center (TTIC) on an ongoing basis all appropriate Terrorist Information
in their possession, custody, or control. The Attorney General, in
coordination with the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland
Security, and the Director of Central Intelligence shall implement
appropriate procedures and safeguards with respect to all such
information about United States persons. The TTIC will provide the
organization referenced in paragraph (1) with access to all appropriate
information or intelligence in the TTIC's custody, possession, or
control that the organization requires to perform its functions.
(3) The heads of executive departments and agencies shall conduct
screening using such information at all appropriate opportunities, and
shall report to the Attorney General not later than 90 days from the
date of this directive, as to the opportunities at which such screening
shall and shall not be conducted.
(4) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall develop guidelines to
govern the use of such information to support State, local,
territorial, and tribal screening processes, and private sector
screening processes that have a substantial bearing on homeland
security.
(5) The Secretary of State shall develop a proposal for my
approval for enhancing cooperation with certain foreign governments,
beginning with those countries for which the United States has waived
visa requirements, to establish appropriate access to terrorism
screening information of the participating governments.
This directive does not alter existing authorities or
responsibilities of department and agency heads to carry out
operational activities or provide or receive information. This
directive is intended only to improve the internal management of the
executive branch and is not intended to, and does not, create any right
or benefit enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the
United States, its departments, agencies, entities, officers, employees
or agents, or any other person.
The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of State,
the Secretary of Homeland Security, and the Director of Central
Intelligence, shall report to me through the Assistant to the President
for Homeland Security not later than October 31, 2003, on progress made
to implement this directive and shall thereafter report to me on such
progress or any recommended changes from time to time as appropriate.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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