ABSTRACT
Law enforcement is heading toward uncharted waters. Besides dealing with criminal activity and enforcing state statutes, law enforcement personnel are at the time of writing in a war with a front line that has no defined latitude or longitude. Foreign terrorist organizations (FTOs) are foreign organizations that are designated by the secretary of state in accordance with section 219 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), as amended. The Bureau of Counterterrorism in the State Department (CT) continually monitors the activities of terrorist groups active around the world to identify potential targets for designation. Once a target is identified, CT prepares a detailed administrative record, which is a compilation of information, typically including both classified and open-source information, demonstrating that the statutory criteria for designation have been satisfied. Many groups have had a presence or a following, or have conducted business in the United States.
