Sec. 1 Policy
It is the policy of the United States to protect its welfare and security, and the welfare and security of its citizens, from criminal actors. Such criminal actors may include foreign nationals with criminal histories who have entered or remained in the United States in violation of the immigration laws of the United States or who otherwise seek to violate the criminal laws of the United States. It is also the policy of the United States to cooperate with trusted foreign governments by sharing information concerning convicted felons on a reciprocal basis for border security and immigration purposes. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for safeguarding the borders of the United States by interdicting persons and goods illegally entering the United States; protecting against the entry of dangerous goods, narcotics, and firearms; and detecting, responding to, and interdicting terrorists, drug smugglers, human smugglers, and other persons who seek to harm the United States. To fulfill these responsibilities, and consistent with the policy described above, DHS immigration authorities must access criminal history record information (CHRI) in the custody of Federal criminal justice agencies to the maximum extent permitted by law.