6 U.S.C. § 258 — Homeland Security Investigations Victim

Page 138 TITLE 6—DOMESTIC SECURITY § 258 (2) the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate; (3) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate; (4) the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives; (5) the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and (6) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives. (Pub. L. 112–127, § 8, June 5, 2012, 126 Stat. 371.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section was enacted as part of the Border Tunnel Prevention Act of 2012, and not as part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 which comprises this chapter. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries DHS ILLICIT CROSS-BORDER TUNNEL DEFENSE Pub. L. 117–263, div. G, title LXXI, § 7134, Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3649, provided that: ‘‘(a) COUNTER ILLICIT CROSS-BORDER TUNNEL OPER- ATIONS STRATEGIC PLAN.— ‘‘(1) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 23, 2022], the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protec- tion, in coordination with the Under Secretary for Science and Technology, and, as appropriate, other officials of the Department of Homeland Security, shall develop a counter illicit cross-border tunnel op- erations strategic plan (in this section referred to as the ‘strategic plan’) to address the following: ‘‘(A) Risk-based criteria to be used to prioritize the identification, breach, assessment, and remedi- ation of illicit cross-border tunnels. ‘‘(B) Promote the use of innovative technologies to identify, breach, assess, and remediate illicit cross-border tunnels in a manner that, among other considerations, reduces the impact of such activi- ties on surrounding communities. ‘‘(C) Processes to share relevant illicit cross-bor- der tunnel location, operations, and technical infor- mation. ‘‘(D) Indicators of specific types of illicit cross- border tunnels found in each U.S. Border Patrol sector identified through operations to be periodi- cally disseminated to U.S. Border Patrol sector chiefs to educate field personnel. ‘‘(E) A counter illicit cross-border tunnel oper- ations resource needs assessment that includes con- sideration of the following: ‘‘(i) Technology needs. ‘‘(ii) Staffing needs, including the following: ‘‘(I) A position description for counter illicit cross-border tunnel operations personnel. ‘‘(II) Any specialized skills required of such personnel. ‘‘(III) The number of such full time personnel, disaggregated by U.S. Border Patrol sector. ‘‘(2) REPORT TO CONGRESS ON STRATEGIC PLAN.—Not later than one year after the development of the stra- tegic plan, the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection shall submit to the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Homeland Security and Gov- ernmental Affairs of the Senate a report on the im- plementation of the strategic plan. ‘‘(b) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There is au- thorized to be appropriated to the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection $1,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2023 and 2024 to carry out— ‘‘(1) the development of the strategic plan; and ‘‘(2) remediation operations of illicit cross-border tunnels in accordance with the strategic plan to the maximum extent practicable.’’ § 258. Homeland Security Investigations Victim Assistance Program (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Forensic interview specialist The term ‘‘forensic interview specialist’’ is an interview professional who has specialized experience and training in conducting trauma- informed forensic interviews with victims of crime. (2) Victim The term ‘‘victim’’ has the meaning given such term in section 20141(e)(2) of title 34. (3) Victim assistance specialist The term ‘‘victim assistance specialist’’ is a victim assistance professional who— (A) has experience working with victims of crime in a service capacity; (B) has been trained on the exposure of various forms of trauma and other stressors experienced in working with victims; and (C) may have experience working with local government and community-based or- ganizations, including victim advocacy cen- ters, child advocacy centers, child welfare agencies, faith-based organizations, and other social service programs. (b) In general There is established, in Homeland Security In- vestigations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Victim Assistance Program. (c) Functions The Victim Assistance Program shall— (1) provide oversight, guidance, training, travel, equipment, and coordination to Home- land Security Investigations victim assistance personnel throughout the United States; (2) recruit not fewer than— (A) 1 forensic interview specialist and 1 victim assistance specialist for each Home- land Security Investigations Special Agent in Charge office; (B) 1 victim assistance specialist for— (i) every Homeland Security Investiga- tions office participating in a human traf- ficking task force; and (ii) every Homeland Security Investiga- tions office participating in a child sexual exploitation task force; (3) support Homeland Security Investiga- tions regional attache´ offices, to the extent necessary; (4) provide training regarding victims’ rights, victim-related policies, roles of foren- sic interviewers and victim assistance special- ists, and an approach that is— (A) victim-centered; (B) trauma-informed; and (C) linguistically appropriate, to the ex- tent feasible; and (5) purchase emergency items that are need- ed to assist identified victims in Homeland Se- curity Investigations criminal investigations, including food, clothing, hygiene products, transportation, and temporary shelter that is not otherwise provided by a nongovernmental organization. Page 139 TITLE 6—DOMESTIC SECURITY § 271 1 See References in Text note below. (Pub. L. 107–296, title IV, § 447, as added Pub. L. 118–96, § 3(a), Oct. 1, 2024, 138 Stat. 1570.) TERMINATION OF SECTION For termination of section by section 6 of Pub. L. 118–96, see Termination Date note below. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries TERMINATION DATE Section to cease to be effective Oct. 1, 2030, see sec- tion 6 of Pub. L. 118–96, set out as a Termination Date of 2024 Amendment note under section 252 of this title. INVESTIGATORS MAINTAIN PURPOSEFUL AWARENESS TO COMBAT TRAFFICKING TRAUMA PROGRAM Pub. L. 118–96, § 2, Oct. 1, 2024, 138 Stat. 1569, provided that: ‘‘(a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established, in Home- land Security Investigations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Investigators Maintain Pur- poseful Awareness to Combat Trafficking Trauma Pro- gram (referred to in this Act [see Short Title of 2024 Amendment note set out under section 101 of this title] as the ‘IMPACTT Program’). ‘‘(b) FUNCTIONS.—The IMPACTT Program shall— ‘‘(1) provide outreach and training to Homeland Se- curity Investigations employees who have been ex- posed to various forms of trauma in working with victims of human trafficking, including— ‘‘(A) self-awareness training for the relevant em- ployees on recognizing the signs of burnout, com- passion fatigue, critical incident stress, traumatic stress, posttraumatic stress, secondary traumatic stress, and vicarious trauma; ‘‘(B) training material that— ‘‘(i) provides mechanisms for self-care and resil- ience and notification of resources that are avail- able through U.S. Immigration and Customs En- forcement, such as the Employee Assistance Pro- gram, the Peer Support Program, the Chaplain Program, and other relevant accredited programs that are available; and ‘‘(ii) provides examples of potential resources that are available outside of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which may include, faith-based and community-based resources; and ‘‘(C) provide [sic] additional training to first line supervisors of relevant employees on recognizing the signs referred to in subparagraph (A) and the appropriate responses to employees exhibiting such signs; ‘‘(2) include training modules that are carried out by— ‘‘(A) licensed and accredited clinicians who— ‘‘(i) have been trained on the exposure of var- ious forms of trauma and other stressors experi- enced in working with victims; and ‘‘(ii) may have experience working with faith- based organizations, community-based organiza- tions, counseling programs, or other social serv- ice programs; and ‘‘(B) additional subject matter experts who are available; and ‘‘(3) be overseen and coordinated by the Department of Homeland Security Center for Countering Human Trafficking to ensure that— ‘‘(A) appropriate program materials are distrib- uted; ‘‘(B) training is offered to all relevant employees; and ‘‘(C) any needed travel and equipment is pro- vided.’’ PART E—CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES § 271. Establishment of Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services (a) Establishment of Bureau (1) In general There shall be in the Department a bureau to be known as the ‘‘Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services’’. (2) Director The head of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services shall be the Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, who— (A) shall report directly to the Deputy Secretary; (B) shall have a minimum of 5 years of management experience; and (C) shall be paid at the same level as the Assistant Secretary of the Bureau of Border Security. (3) Functions The Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services— (A) shall establish the policies for per- forming such functions as are transferred to the Director by this section or this chapter or otherwise vested in the Director by law; (B) shall oversee the administration of such policies; (C) shall advise the Deputy Secretary with respect to any policy or operation of the Bu- reau of Citizenship and Immigration Serv- ices that may affect the Bureau of Border Security of the Department, including po- tentially conflicting policies or operations; (D) shall establish national immigration services policies and priorities; (E) shall meet regularly with the Ombuds- man described in section 272 of this title to correct serious service problems identified by the Ombudsman; and (F) shall establish procedures requiring a formal response to any recommendations submitted in the Ombudsman’s annual re- port to Congress within 3 months after its submission to Congress. (4) Managerial rotation program (A) In general Not later than 1 year after the effective date specified in section 455,1 the Director of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services shall design and implement a mana- gerial rotation program under which em- ployees of such bureau holding positions in- volving supervisory or managerial responsi- bility and classified, in accordance with chapter 51 of title 5, as a GS–14 or above, shall— (i) gain some experience in all the major functions performed by such bureau; and (ii) work in at least one field office and one service center of such bureau. (B) Report Not later than 2 years after the effective date specified in section 455,1 the Secretary