---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 459"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "459"
heading: "Office of International Affairs"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/459"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — Homeland Security Organization"
  - "Subchapter VIII — Coordination with Non-Federal Entities; Inspector General; United States Secret Service; Coast Guard; General Provisions"
  - "Part H — Miscellaneous Provisions"
---

# §459. Office of International Affairs

- (a) **Establishment—** There is established within the Office of the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) an Office of International Affairs. The Office shall be headed by a [Director](/usc/6/677a.md?p=3), who shall be a senior official appointed by the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16).
- (b) **Duties of the Director—** The [Director](/usc/6/677a.md?p=3) shall have the following duties:
  - (1) To promote information and education exchange with nations friendly to the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) in order to promote sharing of best practices and technologies relating to [homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) security. Such exchange shall include the following:
    - (A) Exchange of information on research and development on [homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) security technologies.
    - (B) Joint training exercises of first responders.
    - (C) Exchange of expertise on [terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18) prevention, response, and crisis management.
  - (2) To identify areas for [homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) security information and training exchange where the [United States](/usc/6/101.md?p=19-A) has a demonstrated weakness and another friendly nation or nations have a demonstrated expertise.
  - (3) To plan and undertake international conferences, exchange programs, and training activities.
  - (4) To manage international activities within the [Department](/usc/6/101.md?p=5) in coordination with other Federal officials with responsibility for counter-[terrorism](/usc/6/101.md?p=18) matters.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title VIII, § 879, Nov. 25, 2002, 116 Stat. 2245.)