Legal Definitions - United States Secret Service

The United States Secret Service is a federal law enforcement agency operating under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It has two main responsibilities:

• Providing security for the President, Vice President, their immediate families, former presidents, major presidential and vice-presidential candidates, and visiting foreign heads of state.
• Investigating and preventing financial crimes, particularly those involving the counterfeiting of U.S. currency, various forms of forgery, and complex credit card fraud.

Here are some examples of how the United States Secret Service fulfills its duties:

• Imagine the President is scheduled to deliver a speech at a large university campus. Days before the event, Secret Service agents would meticulously survey the venue, coordinate with local police, establish secure perimeters, and plan escape routes. On the day of the speech, agents would be strategically positioned throughout the campus and in close proximity to the President, ensuring their safety and responding immediately to any potential threats. This demonstrates the Secret Service's critical role in protective security operations for the nation's leaders.

• Consider a situation where a sophisticated criminal network is using advanced printing technology to produce highly convincing counterfeit twenty-dollar bills, which are then circulated through small businesses across multiple states. The United States Secret Service would launch a comprehensive investigation into this operation. Their agents would trace the origin of the fake currency, identify the individuals involved in its manufacture and distribution, and work to dismantle the entire counterfeiting ring, thereby safeguarding the integrity of U.S. currency and the financial system.