ESTABLISHMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WORKING GROUP

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEGUCIGALPA 003463 SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CEN, ALSO FOR D/HS, HOMELAND SECURITY GROUP C O R R E C T E D C O P Y (PARA 2 LAST WORD) E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/24/2012 TAGS: PTER CVIS PREL PGOV APER KCRM SNAR HO SUBJECT: ESTABLISHMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY WORKING GROUP REF: SECSTATE 263389 Classified By: Ambassador Larry Palmer; Reasons 1.5 (B) and (D). ¶1. (U) SUMMARY: Per reftel, Post has established a Homeland Security Working Group (HSWG) in order to focus on and support "homeland security abroad" in Honduras. Post will incorporate its HSWG responsibilities into the existing work of its Counternarcotics/Law Enforcement Committee (CNLE). END SUMMARY. ¶2. (C) Per reftel, Post determined it appropriate to establish its HSWG by way of assigning the new homeland security duties and responsibilities into the existing work of its Counternarcotics/Law Enforcement Committee. Post's CNLE meets biweekly and is comprised of representatives from the Political, Consular, Economic and Public Affairs Sections, as well as RSO, DEA, TAT, INS, DAO, MILGP, JTF-Bravo, ICITAP and ORCA. ¶3. (U) The CNLE Committee deals with a variety of counternarcotics, law enforcement and security issues in addition to counterterrorism matters. Additionally, the CNLE addresses customs, container, and port security, maritime operations and immigration and visa Viper issues. A chief focus of the CNLE has been the growing nexus of drugs-for-arms deals between drug traffickers and Colombian terrorist groups that are taking place in Honduras. The functions of the existing CNLE fit hand-in-glove with HSWG responsibilities. The representatives who participate on the CNLE are the same individuals who would coordinate HSWG functions. Therefore, Post has determined that the CNLE Committee will become the CNLE/HSWG Committee. Palmer