FBI pilot program focused on the Somali-American communities

Earlier this week, Chief Brett Hovington , director of Community Relations Unit, Office of Public Affairs Federal Bureau of Investigation, presented in a Congressional testimony an outlined plan to build understanding and trust between immigrant communities and the U.S.
A great deal of emphasis was of the Community out reach and the especial communities of interest for the FBI. The Community Relations Unit established a Specialized Community Outreach Team (SCOT). Among these communities in the report was the Somali-American community.
In his statement he explained the pilot program and said “The pilot program focused on establishing contacts in the Somali-American communities of Denver, Columbus, Minneapolis, San Diego, Seattle, and Washington, D.C. Why this cities the chief stated that “These cities were selected because they were identified as the largest Somali-American communities in the United States’.
SCOT was established In November 2008, to engage these community and others of especial interest. The team comprised of special agents, analysts, community outreach specialists, and personnel with language or other specialized skills, assists field offices with establishing new contacts in key communities. Said Chief Hovington.
Somali the homeland of these large communities became a breading ground of terrorists. It is the base of Al-shabab meaning “the youth” that has ties with Al-Qaeda. Al-shabab radicalized Americans to their cause, citing their recruitment of the first U.S. citizen suicide bomber and their potential role in the disappearance of more than a dozen Somali American youths.  The real concern is about the potential for terrorist activity that will constitute a potential threat to the security of this country.
Chief Hovington clearly states the main objective of the pilot program, he said in his statement: “The intent of this new engagement strategy is to use the best practices in community outreach and tailor them to assist in efforts to engage communities that are particularly insular or where barriers of fear or suspicion of law enforcement exist”. In the pilot program field offices were helped to develop relationships with organizations and individuals in the Somali community who are well positioned to fill outreach gaps and assist in developing a more positive dialogue with the community.