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Fact Sheet: Homeland Security Agencies Protect National Special Security Events

Release Date: 05/28/04 00:00:00

G-8 Summit in Georgia Will Utilize Many Departmental Assets

As Secretary Ridge announced several weeks ago, the country is entering a period in which there are several high profile events that the Department of  Homeland Security believes could be attractive targets for terrorists. Across the country, there will be an increase in security --from a more pronounced local  law enforcement presence to extra Homeland Security assets deployed during special events. Certain events designated as National Special Security Events  (NSSEs) - the G-8 Sea Island Summit, Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention - will receive additional assistance from both  the federal government and state and local authorities. The upcoming G-8 Summit, taking place in Georgia from June 8-10, is an illustrative example of how  the many agencies of DHS work together with the relevant local authorities toward the common goal of homeland security. Although Homeland Security is  unable to provide specific information with respect to the security plan surrounding the G-8 Summit, below is an overview of how Homeland Security agencies  are working together to provide security at one of our nation's most visible events.

United States Secret Service (USSS)

  • The U.S. Secret Service is the lead agency for the design, coordination and implementation of the operational security plan for the G-8 Sea Island Summit. This entails creating the overall security blueprint plan with partner state and local agencies, and providing leadership to the participating federal  entities.

  • The Secret Service and its law enforcement partners will emphasize the importance of prevention and deterrence for the G-8 Summit as well as preparation to handle a variety of potential situations which may arise during the course of this event.

  • Should the need arise for a response to a tactical threat, the Secret Service will be prepared to respond by employing a number of specialized units with unique expertise.

  • For security reasons specific methods of protection and preparation are not revealed, however, there is a tremendous amount of advance planning  and coordination in the areas of venue, motorcade and airspace security, communication, credentialing and training. Secret Service began developing G-8 security plan in 2003.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

  • ICE is providing the second largest cadre of federal law enforcement personnel in support of security and public safety efforts at the G-8 Summit.

  • ICE Office of Investigations is deploying a large number of Special Agents, and many government owned vehicles, to comprise units focusing on security  aspects of the G-8.

  • ICE Federal Protective Service (FPS) will deploy personnel to Savannah, Brunswick and St. Simons Island. Their mission is to ensure public safety and continuity of operations at federal facilities in the area. The FPS deployment includes K-9 Explosive Detection teams, uniformed officers, intelligence and undercover agents, bicycle and motorcycle officers, rapid response teams and WMD/HAZMAT technicians.

  • FPS will position one Mobile Command Vehicle (MCV) in Savannah and another in Brunswick to serve as force multipliers for federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. MCV's are highly advanced communication centers, with capacity to operate as primary or backup radio base stations for all levels of law enforcement, monitor video cameras from U.S. government facilities, retrieve other types of closed circuit video signals, and receive real-time aircraft video feeds.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

  • FEMA is the lead agency responsible for consequence management for all National Special Security Events and will be in charge of providing emergency management coordination and any needed response and recovery assets.

  • FEMA is providing multiple disaster response teams, capabilities, and assets to support the event including the following: urban search and rescue task forces; National Disaster Medical System teams, facilities and coordination with the local medical community; pharmaceutical stockpile; strategic national stockpile cache; emergency management teams and emergency response teams; emergency command and control capabilities; logistical and  communications support.

Coast Guard

  • As the primary federal maritime law enforcement agency, Coast Guard personnel will provide comprehensive waterside coverage on and over the water for  the G-8 Sea Island Summit coordinating closely with state, local and other federal maritime law enforcement assets.

  • Numerous Coast Guard units and personnel will be involved in this event including boat crews, law enforcement boarding teams, pilots and aircrew, support personnel and a wide variety of Coast Guard assets.

  • Coast Guard helicopters will assist in security zone surveillance and enforcement as well as air interdiction efforts.

  • The Coast Guard's Captain of the Port has worked closely with commercial shipping interests and other waterway users to minimize the effects of security  zone enforcement on recreational boating, commercial fishing and the free flow of commerce into and out of the Ports of Brunswick and Savannah.

Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

  • Approximately 700 official international attendees will arrive during the week of June 7th to attend the Summit. CBP will be responsible for smoothly  processing these visitors into the United States. In addition, numerous "advance teams" will arrive at least 10 days in advance of the Summit. CBP Field  Liaison Division will coordinate with the Department of State to handle all requests for port courtesies to ease entry processing into the United States for this  event.

  • CBP will coordinate with the Secret Service to provide x-ray equipment to scan commercial vehicles and delivery trucks as they enter the venue  area. Similar screening tactics were used during the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.

Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC)

  • FLETC, which is only minutes from Sea Island will provide logistical, training, and contingency support to numerous federal, state and local  agencies. Housing and transportation issues will also be supported by FLETC staff.

  • The Joint Information Center (JIC) will be located at the FLETC campus in Brunswick, GA. This multi-agency media support unit will concentrate on  collecting and disseminating information about Summit security activities to the more than 4000 expected press.

Transportation Security Administration (TSA)

  • TSA screeners will be deployed to help provide physical security screening at various venue sites.

  • TSA will provide security screeners, Assistant Federal Security Directors for Law Enforcement, and aviation security inspectors to assist with  screening Summit visitors and attendees.  

  • TSA is taking steps to enhance aviation security at affected commercial and general aviation airports near the multiple G-8 venues. Additional  surveillance activities including increasing random inspections and perimeter security checks will take place. Town hall meetings with pilots from these airports have also occurred to increase their awareness of security precautions.

Information Analysis and Protection Directorate (IAIP)

IAIP is supporting the G-8 Summit by ensuring real time connectivity and information sharing among all DHS components and State and Local partners. IAIP's Homeland Security Operations Center (HSOC) is DHS' national-level hub for operational communication and information sharing pertaining to significant events. The HSOC maintains and provides situational awareness on homeland security matters for the Secretary of Homeland Security, the White House Security Council and the federal community. For this event, HSOC has:

  • Coordinated with all elements of DHS and our State and Local partners to establish full connectivity among the security elements at the site of the  G-8 Summit, and between those elements and HSOC. This will ensure the timely sharing of any threat information, intelligence, and operational information pertinent to the security of the event with all involved elements, and will ensure HSOC provides situational awareness of the event to the Secretary and other senior leaders.

  • HSOC is dispatching three officials to the Summit to establish a multi-agency command center to provide 24-hour onsite monitoring of the event. They will be joined by representatives of IAIP's Office of Information Analysis and Office of Infrastructure Protection, the Science and Technology Directorate, and the Office of Public Affairs to provide in-depth support to the Principal Federal Official assigned for the Summit.

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This page was last modified on 05/28/04 00:00:00