HSI, El Salvador National Police sign Memorandum of Cooperation

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and El Salvador’s National Police signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) Thursday to further define and strengthen the relationship between the agencies, particularly with regards to the Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU).

HSI hosted the Nov. 14 signing ceremony at the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador. HSI Assistant Director of International Affairs John Connolly signed on behalf of HSI and Director General Rigoberto Pleites Sandoval signed on behalf of the El Salvador National Police.

"The signing of this MOC is a major step in the broader goal of information sharing and building trusted relationships," said Connolly. "The work that our special agents and the El Salvador TCIUs do every day will assist law enforcement in both of our countries in identifying organizations engaged in transnational organized crime."

Through ICE’s Office of International Affairs and the State Department, HSI has 75 offices in 48 foreign countries around the world. This presence includes an on-the-ground relationship-building effort of HSI special agents working closely with foreign law enforcement agencies, and through a robust network of specialized vetted units known as TCIUs. Additionally, HSI brings personnel from host countries to the United States to train at the Department of Homeland Security Federal Law Enforcement Training Center at Glynco, Ga.