Diplomatic Security Service

The Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) is a little known law enforcement agency within the U.S. Department of State. Its primary mission is to protect U.S. personnel, property, and information at embassies and missions around the world. In the United States, the DSS safeguards the secretary of state, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, [Page 621]and foreign dignitaries below the head-of-state level. The agency also responds to terrorist attacks against Americans overseas, investigates passport and visa fraud, and issues security clearances to Department of State employees.

The origins of the DSS date back to the period shortly before World War I. At that time, German and Austrian spies were engaged in espionage activities in the United States. The foreign agents were using forged or stolen identity papers. President Woodrow Wilson authorized the secretary of state to form a security agency within the Department of State.

In 1916, the Bureau of Secret Intelligence was formally established under Secretary of State Robert Lansing. The bureau was headed by a chief special agent, who reported directly to the Secretary of State and was responsible for investigating possible espionage activity that was being conducted by foreign agents in the United States.

Two years later, in 1918, Congress enacted a law that required passports for American citizens traveling abroad and visas for people entering the United States. Since the Department of State was the agency that issued passports and visas, the bureau was charged with investigating passport and visa fraud. The bureau was also responsible for protecting visiting dignitaries to the United States.

Following World War II, the bureau created a new Office of Security that was known simply as SY. The new security arm, which was a precursor to the DSS, assigned security personnel to Department of State facilities in the United States and to missions, consulates, and embassies abroad. Then in 1948, the Marine Security Guard Program was created to guard consulates and embassies overseas. The DSS's SY was charged with protecting the domestic security of Department of State facilities and personnel.

By the late 1960s, international terrorism throughout the Middle East, Europe, South America and Asia was becoming more commonplace. SY responded to this increasing terrorist activity by hiring more than 100 new agents and deploying sophisticated security details that included heavily armored vehicles, secure radio equipment, and special weaponry.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s, there were more than 100 terrorist attacks against American citizens and facilities abroad, including the burning of U.S. embassies and the killing of some 300 Americans. In 1984, Secretary of State George Schultz formed a commission to review security arrangements for Department of State personnel and facilities abroad. Retired Admiral Bobby Inman headed this commission that would ultimately transform the Department of State's security agency. In November 1985, the Bureau of Diplomatic Security and the DSS were officially established.

The Omnibus Diplomatic Security and Anti-terrorism Act, which was signed by President Ronald Reagan on August 27, 1986, incorporated many of the recommendations that were set forth by the Inman commission. The new security service, the DSS, was structured as a law enforcement agency that was similar to other federal law enforcement, security, and intelligence agencies.

...