---
kind: "section"
citation: "6 U.S.C. § 475"
title: "6"
title_heading: "Domestic Security"
number: "475"
heading: "Transnational Criminal Investigative Units"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/6/475"
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"
---

# §475. Transnational Criminal Investigative Units

- (a) **In general—** The [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16), with the concurrence of the Secretary of State, shall operate Transnational Criminal Investigative Units within [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security Investigations.
- (b) **Composition—** Each Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit shall be composed of trained foreign law enforcement officials who shall collaborate with [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security Investigations to investigate and prosecute individuals involved in transnational criminal activity.
- (c) **Vetting requirement—**
  - (1) **In general—** Before entry into a Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit, and at periodic intervals while serving in such a unit, foreign law enforcement officials shall be required to pass certain security evaluations, which may include a background check, a polygraph examination, a urinalysis test, or other measures that the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16) determines to be appropriate.
  - (2) **Leahy vetting required—** No member of a foreign law enforcement unit may join a Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit if the [Secretary](/usc/6/101.md?p=16), in coordination with the Secretary of State, has credible information that such foreign law enforcement unit has committed a gross violation of human rights, consistent with the limitations set forth in [section 2378d of title 22](/usc/22/2378d.md).
  - (3) **Approval and concurrence—** The establishment and continued support of the Transnational Criminal Investigative Units who are assigned under [paragraph (1)](#c-1)—
    - (A) shall be performed with the approval of the chief of mission to the foreign country to which the [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15) are assigned;
    - (B) shall be consistent with the duties and powers of the Secretary of State and the chief of mission for a foreign country under [section 4802 of title 22](/usc/22/4802.md) and [section 3927 of title 22](/usc/22/3927.md), respectively; and
    - (C) shall not be established without the concurrence of the Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
  - (4) **Report—** The Executive Associate [Director](/usc/6/677a.md?p=3) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security Investigations shall submit a report to the Committee on Foreign Relations of the Senate, the Committee on [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security and Governmental Affairs of the Senate, the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate, the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the House of Representatives, the Committee on [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security of the House of Representatives, and the Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives that describes—
    - (A) the procedures used for vetting Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit members to include compliance with the vetting required under this subsection; and
    - (B) any additional measures that should be implemented to prevent [personnel](/usc/6/101.md?p=15) in vetted units from being compromised by criminal organizations.
- (d) **Monetary stipend—** The Executive Associate [Director](/usc/6/677a.md?p=3) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security Investigations is authorized to pay vetted members of a Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit a monetary stipend in an amount associated with their duties dedicated to unit activities.
- (e) **Annual briefing—** The Executive Associate [Director](/usc/6/677a.md?p=3) of [Homeland](/usc/6/101.md?p=1) Security Investigations, during the 5-year period beginning on December 23, 2022, shall provide an annual unclassified briefing to the congressional committees referred to in [subsection (c)(4)](#c-4), which may include a classified session, if necessary, that identifies—
  - (1) the number of vetted members of Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit in each country;
  - (2) the amount paid in stipends to such members, disaggregated by country;
  - (3) relevant enforcement statistics, such as arrests and progress made on joint investigations, in each such country; and
  - (4) whether any vetted members of the Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit in each country were involved in any unlawful activity, including human rights abuses or significant acts of corruption.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 107–296, title VIII, § 890C, as added Pub. L. 117–263, div. G, title LXXI, § 7105(b)(1), Dec. 23, 2022, 136 Stat. 3623.)