An overview congressional research service summary the emphasis of counterterrorism policy in the united states since al qaedas attacks of september 11, 2001 911 has been on jihadist terrorism. Additionally, it outlines actions that could enhance domestic counterterrorism efforts. Finally, it may be of value to explore how domestic terrorism fits into the obama administrations community outreachdriven strategy to quell terrorism related radicalization in the united states. A reflection on domestic terrorism in the united states. These events and others have led to heightened security measures in the united states. We face terrorist organizations backed by state sponsors. How radicalization to terrorism occurs in the united states i ational institute of justice nij. Transnational terrorism, security, and the rule of law ttsrl, 20 stated that 80% of lone wolf terrorism attacks in the united states have come from within. Even as we experience success in the war on terrorism, new enemies may emerge.
Militant extremists in the united states council on foreign. C 23315 defines domestic terrorism as activities that involve acts dangerous to human life that are a violation of the criminal laws of the united states or of any state, appear to be intended to intimidate or coerce a civilian population. And while authorities say the threats posed by homegrown islamic extremism is growing, the fbi has reported that roughly twothirds of terrorism in the united states was conducted by nonislamic. According to this perspective, a bombing plot involving u. A brief history of terrorism in the united states the atlantic. Nov 21, 2019 domestic terrorism in the united states consists of acts of terrorism carried out by u. Terrorism in the united states, by united states federal bureau. Domestic terrorism is the unlawful use, or threatened use, of force or violence by a group or individual based and operating entirely within the united states or its. Aug 23, 2012 while domestic terrorism is currently at the peak of the cycle in the united states, it is important to remember that most domestic terrorism cases tend to be simple attacks conducted by a lone actor or small cell. Particular attention has been paid to scenarios in which a biological agent capable of persontoperson transmission, such as smallpox, is intentionally released among civilians. Domestic terrorism in the united states consists of acts of terrorism carried out by u. United states government interagency domestic terrorism concept of operations plan conplan open pdf 219 kb the concept of operations plan conplan is designed to provide overall guidance to federal, state and local agencies concerning how the federal government would respond to a potential or actual terrorist threat or incident that occurs in the united states, particularly one.
According to the office of united states attorneys. Domestic terrorism or homegrown terrorism is any act terrorism carried out by citizens of a given country against citizens of the same country. Applicants should propose research projects that will primarily benefit, and have clear implications for, criminal justice agencies and their attendant communities at. The threat of domestic terrorism also remains persistent overall, with actors crossing the line from exercising first amendmentprotected rights to committing crimes in furtherance of violent agendas. This thesis synthesizes existing studies, reports, and expert testimony concerning domestic terrorism and the roles of domestic intelligence agencies, law enforcement, and the public, and proposes the development and implementation of a formal. An indepth analysis of domestic terror incidents in the united states.
The terrorism and extremist violence in the united states. How radicalization to terrorism occurs in the united. Peterson a thesis submitted to johns hopkins university in. It includes the names of perpetrators and victims and the date and location of each incident, among other types of data. Department of homeland security strategic framework for.
Jan 18, 2018 the adl and the trump administration differ. What is domestic terrorism and what can the law do about it. This has become ever more important as the united states experiences increased incidents of violence, and threats of violence, perpetrated on behalf of extremist rightwing ideologies. There are no good terrorists, domestic or international. Domestic terrorism involves violence against the civilian population or infrastructure of a nationoften but not always by citizens of that nation and often with the intent to intimidate, coerce, or influence national policy. Domestic terrorism in the united states between 1980 and 2000 consisted of incidents confirmed as or suspected to be terrorist acts. Mueller pdf files with commentary at politicalscience. A in the first such report, data on incidents or attempted incidents of domestic terrorism and international terrorism that have occurred in the united states since april 19, 1995, disaggregated by fiscal year, including, with respect to each such incident, the number and type of property crimes, the number and type of actual and attempted. Domestic terrorism or homegrown terrorism is a form of terrorism in which victims within a country are targeted by a perpetrator with the same citizenship as the victims. The concern generated by terrorism has focused attention on federal, state, and local law enforcement preventive and preparedness measures and, in particular, on the. Department of homeland securitys founding, foreign terrorist. Thus, the united states will confront the threat of terrorism for the foreseeable future.
We must confront this terrorism in the same way we have confronted terrorist attacks on the united states by foreign extremists. Additionally, it outlines actions that could enhance domestic counter terrorism efforts. Finally, it may be of value to explore how domestic terrorism fits into the obama administrations community outreachdriven strategy to quell terrorismrelated radicalization in the united states. Peterson a thesis submitted to johns hopkins university in conformity with the requirements for. Why would there be a limit to just terrorist acts between those two dates. Applicants should propose research projects that will primarily benefit, and have clear implications for, criminal justice agencies and their attendant communities at the state, local, and tribal levels. This thesis contends that the domestic terrorism threat in the united states is equally as significant as international terrorism, if not more, and the current domestic terrorism law is inadequate and requires repair. Pdf on mar 27, 2014, ashlie perry and others published home grown terrorism in the united states us causes, affiliations and policy implications find, read and cite all the research you. Both international and domestic terrorism are defined in federal law. We must be proactive in addressing domestic terrorism by developing and modifying our strategies to meet the insidious and dynamic threat to our society. It is time for congress to enact a federal offense of.
Section 23315 of the federal criminal code defines domestic terrorism as a lifeendangering federal or state crime, committed within the united states, with the apparent intent to coerce or intimidate a civilian. This background report presents information from the global terrorism database gtd on terrorist. Online message boards that fuel hatred and nurture domestic terrorists must be dismantled. To counter terrorism, the fbis top investigative priority, we use our investigative and intelligence capabilities to neutralize domestic extremists and help dismantle terrorist networks worldwide. Muslim homegrown terrorism in the united states the belfer. According to ttsrl 20, lone wolf terrorism is more widespread in the united states than in other countries, with u. Aug 10, 2019 many in the public do not understanding that domestic terrorism is a definition and not a federal crime that can be prosecuted. Penalties should be the same for both foreign based or domestic acts of terrorism. For decades, the united states and our friends abroad have waged the long struggle against the terrorist menace.
Although we have seen a recent increase in terrorism in the united states, there are not more terrorist attacks in the united states or domestic terrorist attacks defined another way. Pdf home grown terrorism in the united states us causes. Domestic terrorisms lack of designation also results in no effective measure for understanding the size, shape, and scale of each violent extremist threat. Ideological motivations of terrorism in the united states. The terrorism and extremist violence in the united states tevus database integrates four opensource data sets to facilitate more robust and sophisticated analyses of the behaviors, operations, and activities of violent extremists within the united states. Strategic framework for countering terrorism and targeted violence. How the usa patriot act redefines domestic terrorism. A person engages in domestic terrorism if they do an act dangerous to human life that is a violation of the criminal laws of a state or the united states, if the act appears to be intended to. Concerning domestic terrorism, the united states may, once again, be failing to connect the dots. Texas and the united states in the production of this state intelligence estimate.
Study of terrorism and responses to terrorism start. Many in the public do not understanding that domestic terrorism is a definition and not a federal crime that can be prosecuted. The ecdb is a database of the attacks committed by far rightists, radical islamists and animal and environmental rights extremists in the united states since 1990. Domestic terrorism includes acts within the territorial u. This paper examines the forgotten history of counterterrorism in the united states during the 1970s and early 1980s.
The statutory definition of domestic terrorism in the united states has changed many times over the years. United states has received relatively little analytical attention. Where are the incidents before 1980 and after 2000 to be found. This solicitation seeks to build knowledge and evidence related to strategies for effective prevention of terrorism in the united states. Domestic terrorism is the unlawful use, or threatened use, of violence by a group or individual based and operating entirely within the united states or its territories without foreign direction committed against persons or property to intimidate or coerce a government, the civilian population, or any segment thereof, in furtherance of. The united states faces an increasingly complex, and evolving, threat of terrorism and targeted violence. Domestic terrorism in the united states scholarworks walden. Domestic terrorism is terrorist activities that focus on facilities or populations without. Ideological motivations of terrorism in the united states, 19702016 between 1970 and 2016 terrorist attacks in the united states were motivated by a variety of ideological perspectives.
The racism and domestic terrorism that took the lives of our brothers and sisters the weekend of august 34 must be rooted out. National strategy counterterrorism the white house. United states government interagency domestic terrorism. While domestic terrorism is currently at the peak of the cycle in the united states, it is important to remember that most domestic terrorism cases tend to be simple attacks conducted by a lone actor or small cell.
The concern generated by terrorism has focused attention on federal, state, and local law enforcement preventive and preparedness measures and, in particular, on the reevaluation of domestic security policies and procedures nationwide. Domestic terrorism in the united states by phillando a. How radicalization to terrorism occurs in the united states. Contemporary policy debates would benefit from the perspectives that historical analysis can provide. Research and evaluation of domestic terrorism prevention. Deny sponsorship, support, and sanctuary to terrorists17. Background and issues for congress congressional research service summary the emphasis of counterterrorism policy in the united states since al qaedas attacks of september 11, 2001 911 has been on jihadist terrorism.
Largescale quarantine following biological terrorism in the. While not a specific crime, domestic terrorism in the united states can be used as justification for prosecution under federal criminal laws, such as capital murder. U domestic terrorism poses a persistent and varied threat to the state of texas. Concern for potential bioterrorist attacks causing mass casualties has increased recently. It is time for congress to enact a federal offense of domestic terrorism. Domestic terrorism as a separate federal crime existing federal law defines domestic terrorism but does not outlaw it by name. Domestic terrorism in the united states ideology, radicalization, mobilization, and the law by phillando a. Bombings brought to light the evident threat of domestic or homegrown terrorism of our times. The united states department of state defined terrorism in 2003 as. Homegrown terrorists had a median sentence of 20 years for similar crimes. Fbi the terrorist threat confronting the united states. An overview congressional research service 3 consider all terrorist plots occurring within the homeland as acts of domestic terrorism. The united states faces an increasingly complex, and evolving, threat of terrorism.
782 203 505 903 168 1215 355 1400 682 1612 792 1405 336 67 736 1580 1447 1016 1125 776 1273 1398 561 1226 674 58 461 297 668 707