WASHINGTON, D.C– The Department of Homeland Security announced in September it will start giving access to classified military intelligence in Pentagon databases to local and state law enforcement.
The access to the information will be funneled through so-called local and state “fusion centers”. Fusion centers are hubs created for local law enforcement and the intelligence community in an effort to fight terrorism. There are more than seventy known centers across the United States.
The New Jersey State Police operate one of these fusion centers at their West Trenton headquarters. The Regional Operations Intelligence Center (ROIC, pronounced “Rock”) was opened in January of 2007.
Under this initiative, select fusion center personnel with a federal security clearance will be able to access specific terrorism-related information resident on the Department of Defense (DoD) Secret Internet Protocol Router Network (SIPRNet)—a secure network used to send classified data. This classified data will be accessed via DHS’ Homeland Security Data Network (HSDN). DHS will be responsible for ensuring that proper security procedures are followed.
“This initiative reflects the federal government’s strong commitment to improve information sharing with our state, local, and tribal partners,” said DHS Acting Under Secretary for Intelligence and Analysis Bart R. Johnson. “Fusion centers are a critical part of our national security enterprise, and this new tool enables federal agencies to share information with these partners while utilizing our advanced technical capabilities for secure information sharing.”
“With this action, DoD continues its work in supporting states and localities who are leading our efforts to secure the nation from domestic terrorism attacks, said Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Americas’ Security Affairs Paul N. Stockton. “We look forward to exploring other opportunities where DoD can help our state and local partners effectively defeat terrorism.”
The centers have been criticized by civil liberties groups. The American Civil Liberties Union, in particular, has been a vehement critic.
“As fusion centers gain more and more access to Americans’ private information, the information about them being made available to the American public remains woefully inadequate,” Michael Macleod-Ball, Acting Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office, said in a statement. “There is a stunning lack of oversight at these fusion centers and, as we’ve seen, these centers are rapidly becoming a breeding ground for overzealous intelligence activities. Opening the door for domestic law enforcement to gain access to classified military intelligence coupled with no guidelines restricting the military’s role in fusion centers is a recipe for disaster.”
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