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TSC Vision & Mission

Vision & Mission

The Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) was established by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 6 which directed that a center be established to consolidate the government’s approach to terrorism screening and to provide for the appropriate and lawful use of terrorist information in screening processes. The TSC began operations on December 1, 2003.

Vision

To be the U.S. government's primary resource for known or suspected terrorist watchlisting, screening, and intelligence sharing through customer service and focused mission support.

Mission

To consolidate the U.S. government’s approach to terrorism screening and provide for the appropriate and lawful use of terrorist information in screening processes while protecting privacy and safeguarding civil liberties.

What We Do

Support the Front Line Against Terrorism

That’s what the Terrorist Screening Center, or TSC, is all about. Born out of the events of 9/11 and created in 2003, the TSC maintains the U.S. government’s consolidated Terrorist Watchlist—a single database of identifying information about those known or reasonably suspected of being involved in terrorist activity. By supporting the ability of front-line screening agencies to positively identify known or suspected terrorists trying to obtain visas, enter the country, board aircraft, or engage in other activity, the consolidated Terrorist Watchlist is one of the most effective counterterrorism tools for the U.S. government.

Consolidate the Government’s Watchlists into a Single Database

Before the TSC was created, various government agencies maintained nearly a dozen separate watchlists designed to screen persons of interest to U.S. law enforcement and intelligence officials. While some lists were shared, there was little integration and cooperation, and there was no central clearinghouse where all law enforcement and government screeners could access the best information about a potential person of interest. That all changed when TSC consolidated the government’s approach to terrorism screening and today, the TSC is the global authority for watchlisting and identifying known and suspected terrorists.

Maintain the Terrorist Watchlist, the No-Fly List, and the Selectee List

The Terrorist Watchlist (a.k.a., the Terrorist Screening Database or TSDB), contains thousands of records that are updated daily and shared with federal, state, local, territorial, tribal law enforcement, and Intelligence Community members as well as international partners to ensure that individuals with links to terrorism are appropriately screened. The No-Fly and Selectee Lists are two much smaller subsets of the Terrorist Watchlist.

Protect Privacy and Safeguarding Civil Liberties

The TSC only receives information collected by other government entities with pre-existing legal authority to do so. Each agency that contributes data to the TSC must comply with the law as well as its own policies and procedures to protect privacy rights and civil liberties.

Why We Do It

It’s very simple: to protect against future terrorist attacks in the United States and its allies.