The Department of Homeland Security, also known as the DHS, is an orginization that is set in place to protect and secure the United States from the many threats, inside and outside of the country, that compromise the safety of our nation. With over two hundred and forty thousand employees, the Department of Homeland Security works in many different areas of the nation to keep the people safe and secure. They are largely focused on prepping for terrorist attacks and everything that would come with an attack on our nation. This focus on terrorism has caused considerable controversy and criticism, including many accusations of violating civil rights with this orginization. After the terrorists attack on September 11, 2001, also known as …show more content…
This has caused much criticism and even fear among the people, as they feel violated in their civil rights with the orginization constantly watching and monitoring their actions. It also means that they are not as focused on other issues in America, since they're so worried about terrorism only. An example of this is the hurrican Katrina incident in 2005, where almost one thousand five hundred people died and thousands of others were left stranded for days after the storm. This was a rough time for the Department of Homeland Security, as their response the the storm and to help the people was very slow. They were heavily criticized for a very long time after this ordeal and it is still thought of when people think of the …show more content…
They are only looking out for any suspicious activity that could potentially lead to another attack on our country. They believe in protecting the civil rights that were given to us in the Constitution and never try to violate any of those rights. If they were blatantly violating the rights of American citizens, the Department of Homeland Security would have already failed and would not have gotten the country anywhere. However, they have not failed and are bringing this nation in the right direction towards
In society today many citizens feel violated with the security methods taken by homeland security. “On September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks against the United States marked the beginning of the global war on terrorism. The methods used are justifiable as they provide protection against possible threats or attacks. This attack on U.S. soil increased surveillance of both American citizens and foreign nationals” (Andrew, C., & Walter,
The Department of Homeland Security plays in a very important part in terrorism. DHS protect the United States from foreign and domestic threats to the United States. One of the missions is to find and destroy any weapon of mass destruction. Cyberspace is a threat to the United States in the technology field. DHS have to stop threats, hazards and disasters in its tracks at large public gatherings.
Homeland Security is a relatively new concept that became a national issue following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001. There are multiple definitions that define what Homeland Security is. According to Defining Homeland Security: Analysis and Congressional Consideration, “Homeland Security, regardless of the definition or strategic document, is a combination of law enforcement, disaster, immigration, and terrorist issues. It is the responsibility of civilian agencies at all levels. It is a coordination of efforts at all levels of government” (Reese, 2013). The 2010 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review and Report defines Homeland Security as” a concerted national effort to ensure a homeland that is safe, secure, and resilient against terrorism and other hazards where American interests, aspirations, and ways of life can thrive”. (Homeland Security, 2010) There are multiple Federal, State and Local agencies involved in
The United States Department of Homeland Security also known as the DHS is a federal agency designed to protect the United States against threats. Its responsible for keeping and ensuring the safety and security of the nation from terrorist attacks and other disasters. The DHS has three independent branches consisting of the United states citizenship and immigration services which are to advance national security, to wipe out migration case overabundances, and to enhance client administrations.There is also the Federal Emergency Management Agency also knows as FEMA is to facilitate the reaction to a calamity that has happened in the United States and that overpowers the assets of neighborhood and state experts. The legislative head of the state
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was constructed during the time of government reorganization and has become the largest restructured group in the American government in more than a half-century. The restructuring incorporated the association of constituents and agencies from diverse organizations to form an integrated section centered on homeland security. Statistically the DHS offered job opportunities by consuming roughly 240,000 citizens in 2015 only and spending nearly $61 billion. On account, the third largest agency in the Cabinet has spent $544 billion approximately on its programs since 2003 (Congressional Budget Office, 2012). Senate has given The Department of Homeland Security the responsibility of safeguarding the country.
The actual founding principal to this department is the first mission, is to prevent terrorist attacks and enhance security in the United States. Since the 2001 attack on the Twin Towers our airline security has amped one-hundred percent. Because of this event airports are able to use so many different systems to check people for weapons such as, x-ray machine screenings of people to a physical pat down. These security checks can happen at any point in an airport. Security is so technically advanced now that they can see through clothes and make out a full image of ones body shape, some people find this to be an invasion of privacy and a major problem. Prior to 911 the anyone could walk into a airport terminal without having to go through any security, or showing a passport. Change is never
The United States has numerous divisions, however the stand out that attempts to guarantee the wellbeing is the Executive Department of Homeland Security. Built up in 2002 by the Homeland Security Act, this division attempts to counteract, get ready, identify, react, and recoup from terrorist movement. Of the numerous individuals from the president's bureau, the Secretary of Homeland Security is the leader of the this division. The Department of Homeland Security's employment is to helps the fitting organizations with insight, gathering endeavors, and disseminating data. Alongside these employments, it additionally surveys, assesses and keep up government security techniques, and crisis reaction arranges (Mockaitis).
President George W. Bush promised that the new department would "improve efficiency without growing government" and would cut out "duplicative and redundant activities that drain critical homeland security resources (Edwards)." Goals are looked to as limits and thus is causing Homeland Security to subject themselves to failure. From the increasing number of incidents suggest that DHS is trying to act as a domestic police force on matters that do not relate to national threats. The Department of Homeland Security Duties is to work along side local law enforcement, and sometimes they have seniority over them. The goals for different organizations often change so when one, Homeland Security is trying to enforce their rules onto other, who have
Bush spoke to the nation on a televised address to the joint session of Congress on September 20, 2001, with the address he introduced a new term too many Americans known as “Homeland Security”. At the time when Americans were so fearful and patriotic from the uprising of the September 11 attack. Bush’s speech said that “Today, dozens of federal departments and agencies, as well as state and local governments, have responsibilities affecting homeland security.” (Jones & Johnstone 380.) This statement went to announce the first director of the DHS Tom Ridge. The DHS is involved in the civilian area to protect the United States, and outside its borders. Their goal is to prepare for, prevent, and respond to domestic emergencies, especially terrorism. As of March 1, 2003, the DHS assumed the Immigration and Naturalization Service’s duties. By doing this is divided the enforcement and services function into two separate and new agencies. They were known as the Immigration and Custom Enforcement, and Citizenship and Immigration
Homeland security caters for people’s welfare. The welfare issue is addressed in ways such as carrying out thorough investigations on people that are causing disturbance and may take place in distributing disturbing content to children. The country learned a lesson during the 9/11 attack because at the time there lacked good investigations so the terrorists were able to attack the nation with ease. The investigations are made possible since the homeland has the capability to tap in any communications they deem
As a matter of fact, one crucial mission the United States of America strongly abides by would be to prevent terrorism and enhance security. Although America may be one of the strongest countries out there we receive threats on a daily basis and their not from one person or group, they come from neighboring countries or even organizations. Some threats can be such as bombs or cyber threats. Not only at the federal level but in the states, and local law enforcements work together to contribute by staying informed of threats we might face as a country. Before 9/11 homeland security didn’t really enforce enhanced explosive screenings until the incident occurred and it seemed as more, terrorists took control of planes full of innocent passengers and posed serious
They feel this restricts the freedoms of the college students because of their findings that the Department of Homeland Security submitted this information to the Pentagon as a possible terrorist threat due to the information gathered by spying on the students (ACLU). In 2008, the ACLU sued the Department of Homeland Security for the invasion of privacy. The Department of Homeland Security had recently allowed officials to search laptops and electronic devices at the United States borders (Albanesius). This search of personal property could be a violation of the Fourth Amendment which guards against unreasonable searches of one’s possessions and his person. Another amendment that could be found in violation by the Department of Homeland Security because of either of these cases is the Ninth Amendment. Some have found this amendment to be a broad protection of privacy (UMKC Law Dept.). The Christian Science Monitor also voices concern over the pervasiveness of the Homeland Security Act in our daily lives even before the act was passed (Chaddock). These events demonstrate that the Homeland Security Act has some faults that lead to what some perceive as constitutional infringements and little improvement in order at the cost of freedom.
One of the most discussed topics regarding the DHS is the limitations upon the department, based on the rights given to the people by the constitution. For example, people want the government to allow them their privacy and also carry out their duty of making sure the U.S. is safe and secure. This argument provides a great look at the types of problems the DHS has to work around and still effectively perform their duties. How do we provide people with a safe and secure environment without invading their privacy? If the DHS has a stricter enforcement on security, the people will complain that they’re rights are being limited by the government. But, if the DHS does not do enough, they complain that DHS isn’t doing its job. So, the DHS is metaphorically trapped between the rights given to the people by the constitution and being able to carry out the necessary actions to provide a safe/secure environment for
Since the attacks on September 11th, 2001, intelligence activities has been one of the most controversial issues facing this country with one of the most controversial being the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Created in November of 2002 and concepted just two weeks after the attacks, the DHS focuses in five goals; prevent terrorism and enhance security, secure and manage the borders, enforce and administer immigration laws, safeguard and secure cyberspace,
By breaking down the two key words, security and defense, you find how each of these items are married together. Security and defense are to very similar words, one you are securing a given item and the other you are defending. So, wouldn’t you think that homeland defense and homeland security would be the same? You would, but they are not. Homeland defense is the of its self is the infrastructure used to defend us against any sort of external threat. Whereas Homeland Security is the strategy that is used with to combat these sort of things. It goes without saying that the primary mission of homeland security and defense, is to protect the citizens of the United States of America. Within the mission is the tasks, and each individual department has its own specific task. Now, with the specific task comes specific duties, responsibilities, and operations. From personal experience, most operations of within the homeland security/defense real are in some way, shape, or form joint operations. Now each individual knows their specific tasks, duty, and responsibility. Take for example the current situation in New York City and Elizabeth, New Jersey, you have on the ground investigating, the local law enforcement agencies, the ATF, the FBI, and Homeland Security agents. Each agency has their own job and their own input on what needs to be done while on scene. Here is simple breakdown of those task, the local law enforcement agents are first own the scene. They are going to