A primary mission of the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS) is to ¿prevent terrorist attacks within the U.S., reduce the vulnerability of the U.S. to terrorism, and minimize the damage, and assist in the recovery from terrorist attacks that do occur in the U.S.¿ Since its inception, DHS has had an intelligence component to support this mission. Following a reorganization of the DHS in 2005, a strengthened Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A) was established. This report provides an overview of DHSI, and examines how it is organized and supports key departmental activities to include homeland security analysis and threat warning; border security; critical infrastructure protection; and sharing of info. with, state, local, and private sector partners.

Prior to 9/11, it was possible to make a distinction between ¿domestic intell.¿ ¿ law enforcement info. collected within the U.S. ¿ and ¿foreign intell.¿ ¿ military, political, and economic intell. collected outside the country. Today, threats posed by terrorist groups are now national security threats. This report provides a conceptual model of how to frame HSINT, including geographic, structural/statutory, and holistic approaches. The report argues that there is, in effect, a Homeland Security Intell. Community. State and local leaders believe there is value to centralizing intelligence gathering and analysis in a manner that assists them in preventing and responding to local manifestations of terrorist threats to their people, infrastructure, and other assets. Illus.