Developments For Securing The Nation's Ports

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security was formed more than a decade ago with a very significant mission of safeguarding America's homeland from hazards, threats, and national disasters. This department conducts its mission through securing the country's borders, preventing terror attacks, and responding to incidents or threats to its citizens (Miller, n.d.). Generally, the most important roles of the Department of Homeland Security are to lead a concerted national effort in securing the United States and preserving the American way of life. The department was established in 2002 in reaction to the 9/11 terror attacks and has since developed a nationwide strategic plan for evaluating and updating its mission statement and effectiveness of operations. These plans can be updated and transformed to accomplish the needs of the Department for Homeland Security and the American people.

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 Department of Homeland Security is responsible for protecting the United States of America. However, it is a very complex and

The Department of Homeland Security has merged twenty-two separate agencies into one unified and integrated department. Funding has nearly reached 9 billion dollars towards the security enhancements of homeland security such as the national borders and transportation systems (Spindlove and Simeson, 2009). Some noticeable department components that make up DHS are the developments of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), United States Customs and Border Protections (CBP), Unites States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Additionally, further expanding core mission of homeland security were the effects of hurricane Katrina and its response toward disasters. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was enacted in order to prepare the nation for hazardous events, manage federal response and recovery efforts following a national incident. As events have unfolded, homeland security strategies and missions have adapted safeguards and protective measure to ensure a homeland that is safe from

The Department of Homeland Security was formed in the face of the terrorist attacks of 9/11 as part of a nationwide effort to protect the U.S. against terrorism. This department became the third largest federal department in the United States; compose of 22 different federal agencies each with a function with the same objective. The goal of the Department of Homeland Security is to have a singular department with a shared vision, and integrated results-based operations. The federal agencies of DHS include: The U.S. Customs Service, The Immigration and Naturalization Service, The Federal Protective Service, The Transportation Security Administration, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Office for Domestic Preparedness, The Federal Emergency Management Agency, Strategic National Stockpile and the National Disaster Medical System, Nuclear Incident Response Team, Domestic Emergency Support Teams, National Domestic Preparedness Office, CBRN Countermeasures Programs, Environmental Measurements Laboratory, National BW Defense Analysis Center, Plum Island Animal Disease Center, Federal Computer Incident Response, National Communications System, National Infrastructure Protection, Energy Security and Assurance Program, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Secret Service (www.dhs.gov/creation-department-homeland-security). Via the passage of the Homeland Security Act by Congress in November 2002, the Department of Homeland Security officially

After the attacks on September 11th, 2001 the United States was forced to reassess its policies over the defense of the country within its borders. Until that time the United States’ homeland security was under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice (Masse, O’Neil, & Rollins, 2007). After the attack the Executive branch of the government created a new organization that would be responsible for deciding where the biggest threats to the country were. This was the birth of the Department of Homeland Security. The Department of Homeland Security is responsible for assessing all risk to the Nation within its borders and developing way to mitigate these threats before a disaster can take place. One of the documents that the Department of

After the attacks on September 11, 2001, there were several changes that had to be made. Although the 9/11 attacks were a case of international terrorism, the new policies that were implemented would cover all forms of terrorism. On November 25, 2002, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was established. In the book Understanding Homeland Security, the author states, “although homeland security can certainly be significantly affected by threats originating from international sources (such as al-Qaeda), the concept of defending the homeland inside its borders is at the heart of homeland security” (Martin, 2017). Since operations of DHS began, it has continuously grown in size. Today, DHS has more than 200,000 employees and is the third largest federal agency. All of these employees are working diligently each day to help ensure the safety of the United States. There will still be cases of domestic terrorism, and from each one

The Department of Homeland Security was made by President Bush, in response to the terrorist attacks that occurred on 11 September 2001. The main responsibility of this Department is to monitor the activities of incoming travelers and cargo. This can lead to stopping the smuggling of contraband and even nuclear weapons. A subordinate agency of the Department of Homeland Security is the Federal Emergency Management Agency, better known as FEMA. FEMA is responsible for coordinating a response to a disaster on U.S. soil; this includes a nuclear detonation (DHS).

After the September 11 terrorist attacks, the United States and other developed countries changed their assumed view of the threat from terrorism. Massive amount of resources were mobilized in a very short time to counter the perceived and actual threat from terrorists and terrorist organizations. In the U.S., this change was pushed as a necessity for what was called "Homeland Security”. It went through the enactment of hundreds of statutes and regulations, substantial changes in policy initiatives, the most massive governmental reorganization since 1947, and brought the new business of homeland security to the face of American awareness. Soon after the terrorist attacks, Congress passed various new laws and enhanced some existing ones

Do you remember the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center? After that attack, President Bush “Appointed the first-ever director of the nascent Office of Homeland Security”(Homeland Security past, present, future). Homeland Security is to oversee and coordinate a comprehensive national strategy to safeguard the United States against terrorism and to respond to any future attacks. “In November 2002, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) formally came into being as a standalone, Cabinet-level, department to further coordinate and unify national homeland security efforts” (Homeland Security past, present, future). “This new department integrated all or part of 22 different Federal departments and agencies into a single unified entity” (Homeland Security past, present, future).

The People of United States of America want nothing more than making sure that this country is safe and protected. When homeland security is mentioned, majority of the people think of terrorist threats. The Department of Homeland security does more than preventing terrorist attacks. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is responsible for ensuring the safety and security of the United States from both man-made and natural disasters. Created in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, DHS has largely focused on federal preparations to deal with terrorism while managing other duties related to border security, customs and emergency management, among others (All Gov, 2015).

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) has been protecting the national sovereignty of the United States for 211 years. Even though the events of September 11, 2001 happened the USCG has not let up their vigilance and heightened state of alert to more than 361 ports and 95,000 miles of shoreline. This happens to be the largest border for the United States. As part of Operation Noble Eagle the USCG plays an important role with upholding operations of ports and waterways. They ensure a safe atmosphere for the American people and mariners to conduct business and living freely across the waterways. The USCG roles and responsibilities for securing the waterways includes protection of ports, flow of commerce, and marine transportation system from

Legislatively, the Department of Homeland Security exists to prevent terrorist attacks by preventing dangerous people and material from entering the country. This is accomplished by securing our air, land, and sea borders.

The Department of Homeland Security is to protect the nation from any type of threats. Through the Department of Homeland Security are areas such as, aviation, border security, emergency response cybersecurity analyst and chemical facility inspector (U.S. Department of Homeland Security, n.d.). Department of Homeland Security went through a complete overhaul, as a result of the September 11 terrorist attack. “…the Department of Homeland Security Act of 2002 established the Cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and created the position of Homeland Security”

Before "9/11", port security did not exist in the way it does today, to the extent that their only concerns were stopping illegal drugs and agricultural products from getting in the country. It was only for customs duty purposes because we had to collect duties on imports. It was for trade enforcement, as we were interested in counterfeit items coming in, other banned commodities, turtles from the South China Sea or whatever it was, and drugs & narcotics. The most extensive of what you could call port security measures were really around things like narcotics and the customs service maintaining vigilance over items that should not be brought into the country for various reasons. However, things would change with the advent of radical Islamist's inventiveness, like the dual-use mode of attack in 9/11 with an airplane, anything that can be used by terrorists had to be put on the dual-use list. Dual-use items have a primary commercial/civil application but have also had the potential for military or weapons applications. The U.S. Department of Commerce has listed the dual-use items,