Human rights violators and war criminals commit heinous acts in conflict zones around the world. They often seek to escape prosecution in their home countries by fleeing to others, and in many cases, they use identity fraud and lies to conceal their pasts.

HSI is committed to ensuring that the United States does not become a safe haven for those who have engaged in these crimes. We work diligently to identify and prevent war criminals and human rights abusers from traveling to and entering the United States, and to investigate those already within our country. We aim to provide justice to victims of these horrific crimes and keep offenders out of our communities and off our streets.

Understanding Human Right Violations and War Crimes

Human rights violators and war criminals have engaged in acts of genocide, torture, rape, extrajudicial killings, recruitment of child soldiers, violations of religious freedom, and other forms of persecution. These actions occur overseas, typically during war or conflict. Many offenders leave their home countries to avoid being brought to justice and seek refuge in other locations.

The United States has federal criminal statutes that make it illegal to commit these acts and then enter the country. Our laws also prohibit Americans from engaging in these acts abroad and allow for the prosecution of war crimes regardless of where the offense occurred or the nationality of the victim or offender.

Additionally, many people who have committed war crimes, torture, genocide or other offenses knowingly misrepresent information to obtain permission to travel to or stay in the United States. HSI has the legal authority to investigate the human rights violations committed and the crimes offenders commit in their attempts to live freely and undetected on U.S. soil.

Human Rights Violations and War Crimes’ Impact

Although human rights violators and war criminals commit their crimes abroad, they pose a threat to our communities in the United States. Our investigations ensure that innocent Americans do not live in the same neighborhoods, shop in the same stores, or otherwise engage with people who have committed these horrific acts.

It’s also important to ensure that lawful travel and immigration systems aren’t exploited by criminals. While our systems can enable victims of atrocities to seek refuge and safely start new lives in the United States, we must ensure that human rights violators cannot evade justice and find safe haven in our country.

HSI’s Response

HSI has the legal authority to investigate violations of U.S. laws that criminalize:

• torture
• war crimes
• recruitment and use of child soldiers
• female genital mutilation
• genocide
• fraud that often occurs when violators attempt to illegally enter or remain in the United States

Our cases are truly global in nature. Our agents investigate human rights violations occurring in Ukraine, Rwanda, Liberia, the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, El Salvador, Cambodia and other locations. Our work centers on the following:

• Identifying and preventing war criminals and human rights violators from coming into the United States. HSI works with partners at home and abroad to share and document information on human rights abusers to prevent them from obtaining permission to travel to the United States.

• Investigating and arresting violators. HSI conducts investigations in the United States and around the world where acts of torture, war crimes, recruitment and use of child soldiers, female genital mutilation and genocide occur. We identify witnesses, victims and evidence that support U.S. prosecutions.

• Supporting efforts to return violators to their home countries to face justice for the crimes they committed there.

• Supporting victims of war crimes and other human rights violations. To build cases against violators, HSI identifies and speaks with victims. We use our Victim Assistance Program to ensure victims receive the support and care they need.

HSI’s global network of special agents, who are assigned to attaché offices at embassies and consulates around the world, plays a key role in our efforts to investigate human rights violations.

The Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center

HSI leads the Human Rights Violators and War Crimes Center, the only U.S. government entity focused entirely on investigating these atrocities.

Center partners include representatives from:

• U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services
• U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• Department of Justice
• Department of State
• Department of Defense

Organized by geographical regions, Center special agents, analysts and historians work collaboratively to prevent the United States from becoming a safe haven for war criminals and human rights violators.

How We Can Help Each Other

Many of our human rights violations and war crime investigations begin with a tip. Community members may report a suspected human rights violator or war criminal who is living in the country.

To report suspicious criminal activity or suspected human rights violators or war criminals, call the HSI Tip Line at 1-877-4-HSI-TIP. Tips may be provided anonymously.