6 USC 473 - Cyber Crimes Center, Child Exploitation Investigations Unit, Computer Forensics Unit, and Cyber Crimes Unit

U.S Code last checked for updates: May 02, 2024

§ 473.

Cyber Crimes Center, Child Exploitation Investigations Unit, Computer Forensics Unit, and Cyber Crimes Unit

(a)

Cyber Crimes Center

(1)

In general

(2)

Purpose

(b)

Child Exploitation Investigations Unit

(1)

In general

(2)

Functions

The CEIU—

(A)

shall coordinate all United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement child exploitation initiatives, including investigations into—

(i)

child exploitation;

(ii)

child pornography;

(iii)

child victim identification;

(iv)

traveling child sex offenders; and

(v)

forced child labor, including the sexual exploitation of minors;

(B)

shall, among other things, focus on—

(i)

child exploitation prevention;

(ii)

investigative capacity building;

(iii)

enforcement operations; and

(iv)

training for Federal, State, local, tribal, and foreign law enforcement agency personnel, upon request;

(C)

shall provide training, technical expertise, support, or coordination of child exploitation investigations, as needed, to cooperating law enforcement agencies and personnel, which shall include participating in training for Homeland Security Investigations personnel conducted by Internet Crimes Against Children Task Forces;

(D)

shall provide psychological support and counseling services for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel engaged in child exploitation prevention initiatives, including making available other existing services to assist employees who are exposed to child exploitation material during investigations;

(E)

is authorized to collaborate with the Department of Defense and the National Association to Protect Children for the purpose of the recruiting, training, equipping and hiring of wounded, ill, and injured veterans and transitioning service members, through the Human Exploitation Rescue Operative (HERO) Child Rescue Corps program 1

 So in original. Probably should be “Program”.

; and

(F)

shall collaborate with other governmental, nongovernmental, and nonprofit entities approved by the Secretary for the sponsorship of, and participation in, outreach and training activities.

(3)

Data collection

The CEIU shall collect and maintain data concerning—

(A)

the total number of suspects identified by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement;

(B)

the number of arrests by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in child exploitation investigations, disaggregated by type, including—

(i)

the number of child victims identified through investigations carried out by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and

(ii)

the number of suspects arrested who were in positions of trust or authority over children;

(C)

the number of child exploitation cases opened for investigation by United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and

(D)

the number of child exploitation cases resulting in a Federal, State, foreign, or military prosecution.

(4)

Availability of data to Congress

(5)

Cooperative agreements

(6)

Acceptance of gifts

(A)

In general

(B)

Exemption from Federal Acquisition Regulation

(7)

Reports

Not later than 1 year after May 29, 2015, and annually for the following 4 years, the CEIU shall—

(A)

submit a report containing a summary of the data collected pursuant to paragraph (3) during the previous year to—

(i)

the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate;

(ii)

the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate;

(iii)

the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate;

(iv)

the Committee on Homeland Security of the House of Representatives;

(v)

the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives; and

(vi)

the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives; and

(B)

make a copy of each report submitted under subparagraph (A) publicly available on the website of the Department.

(c)

Computer Forensics Unit

(1)

In general

(2)

Functions

The CFU—

(A)

shall provide training and technical support in digital forensics and administer the Digital Forensics and Document and Media Exploitation program to—

(i)

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel; and

(ii)

Federal, State, local, tribal, military, and foreign law enforcement agency personnel engaged in the investigation of crimes within their respective jurisdictions, upon request and subject to the availability of funds;

(B)

shall provide computer hardware, software, and forensic licenses for all computer forensics personnel within United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement;

(C)

shall participate in research and development in the area of digital forensics and emerging technologies, in coordination with appropriate components of the Department; and

(D)

is authorized to collaborate with the Department of Defense, the National Association to Protect Children, and other governmental entities for the purpose of recruiting, training, equipping, and hiring wounded, ill, and injured veterans and transitioning service members, through the Human Exploitation Rescue Operative (HERO) Child Rescue Corps program ¹.

(3)

Cooperative agreements

(4)

Acceptance of gifts

(A)

In general

(B)

Exemption from Federal Acquisition Regulation

(d)

Cyber Crimes Unit

(1)

In general

(2)

Functions

The CCU—

(A)

shall oversee the cyber security strategy and cyber-related operations and programs for United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement;

(B)

shall enhance United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s ability to combat criminal enterprises operating on or through the Internet, with specific focus in the areas of—

(i)

cyber economic crime;

(ii)

digital theft of intellectual property;

(iii)

illicit e-commerce (including hidden marketplaces);

(iv)

Internet-facilitated proliferation of arms and strategic technology; and

(v)

cyber-enabled smuggling and money laundering;

(C)

shall provide training and technical support in cyber investigations to—

(i)

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement personnel; and

(ii)

(D)

shall participate in research and development in the area of cyber investigations, in coordination with appropriate components of the Department; and

(E)

is authorized to recruit participants of the Human Exploitation Rescue Operative (HERO) Child Rescue Corps program ¹ for investigative and forensic positions in support of the functions of the CCU.

(3)

Cooperative agreements

(e)

HERO Child-Rescue Corps 2

 So in original. “Program” probably should be inserted at end of heading.

(1)

Establishment

(A)

In general

(B)

Private sector collaboration

(2)

Purpose

(3)

Functions

The HERO Child-Rescue Program shall—

(A)

provide, recruit, train, and equip participants of the Program in the areas of digital forensics, investigation, analysis, intelligence, and victim identification, as determined by the Center and the needs of the Department; and

(B)

ensure that during the internship period, participants of the Program are assigned to investigate and analyze—

(i)

child exploitation;

(ii)

child pornography;

(iii)

unidentified child victims;

(iv)

human trafficking;

(v)

traveling child sex offenders; and

(vi)

forced child labor, including the sexual exploitation of minors.

(f)

Paid internship and hiring program

(1)

In general

(2)

Internship positions

(3)

Placement

(A)

In general

(B)

Preference

(4)

Term of internship

(5)

Rate and term of pay

After completion of initial group training and upon beginning work at an assigned office, a participant appointed to an internship position under this subsection who is not receiving monthly basic pay as a member of the Armed Forces on active duty shall receive compensation at a rate that is—

(A)

not less than the minimum rate of basic pay payable for a position at level GS–5 of the General Schedule; and

(B)

not more than the maximum rate of basic pay payable for a position at level GS–7 of the General Schedule.

(6)

Eligibility

(7)

Hero Corps hiring

(g)

Authorization of appropriations

(1)

In general

(2)

Allocation

(Pub. L. 107–296, title VIII, § 890A, as added Pub. L. 114–22, title III, § 302(b)(1), May 29, 2015, 129 Stat. 251; amended Pub. L. 115–392, § 23(a), (b), Dec. 21, 2018, 132 Stat. 5261, 5262; Pub. L. 117–347, title I, § 105(b), Jan. 5, 2023, 136 Stat. 6203.)

cite as: 6 USC 473