Homeland Security Research Paper

The concepts of Homeland Security and Homeland Defense, although have similar missions, tasks, responsibilities and operations, are very different. This paper will take a look at Following the both Homeland Security and Homeland Defense separately and well as how they work together to secure the United States

As a Chief executive, the president’s main duties are to enforce and execute laws however they see fit. The President signs executive orders directing law enforcement agencies, including the agencies that enforce immigration laws, that has “prosecutorial discretion”– the power to decide whom to investigate, arrest, detain, charge, and prosecute. The Agencies may develop discretionary policies specific to the laws they are charged with enforcing, the population they serve, and the problem they face. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) may decide how to prioritize its resources in order to meet its stated enforcement goals that are set by the President. With executive unilateral powers the president, drafts policies without and sometimes over the objection of Congress or the courts. The President can design policies regarding the immigration matter without approval of Congress, he can simply follow the former presidents’ footsteps on immigration laws. I am making the argument that U.S. President does have too much unilateral power.

When one thinks of security, they tend to think of being protected, free from harm or danger. There are various security threats that the world faces today. Threats could range from a series of cyber threats to terrorist attacks. We are incessantly encountered with catastrophic man-made and natural diseases. The Department of Homeland Security measures the nation 's vulnerabilities, meaning it takes initiative in leading and evaluating vulnerabilities and coordinating with other federal, state, local, and private entities to safeguard the most effective response. The creation of the country’s 15th Cabinet Department marked the largest reorganization of government since the Truman administration.

It is essential to understand America’s critical infrastructure and key resources (CIKR) and National Infrastructure Protection Program (NIPP) to ensure survivability of its critical assets, while maintaining security for America. “The plans are carried out in practice by an integrated network of Federal departments and agencies, State and local government agencies, private sector entities, and a growing number of regional consortia (DHS, 2009, p. I).” Several agencies work together to mitigate attacks on CIKR to protect public safety and security of the nation. A terrorist may stop at nothing to carry out an attack on CIKR. If an attack or natural disaster does transpire, each agency working together to restore the damage must be timely. Additionally, NIPP helps to identify hazards associated with the various sectors, and provides necessary security measures to harden resources (DHS,

The Quadrennial Homeland Security review suggest six strategic challenges that will drive the overall risk to the nation over the next five years. These six risks include: the terrorist threat; growing cyber threats; biological concerns; nuclear terrorism; transnational criminal organizations; and natural hazards (DHS, 2014). The terrorists threat is, arguably, the most publicized and popular of the six risks the DHS lists. The particular risk is unique in the fact that although it can be planned for and mitigated against by state and local governments, it is primarily a federal responsibility, or at least perceived so by most entities. The DHS itself was established due to the events of September 11th 2001 and it has since been a consistent

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued a proposed rule, on December 30, 2015, entitled "Retention of EB1, EB2, and EB3 Immigrant Workers and Program Improvements Affecting High-Skilled Nonimmigrant Workers." Included in the proposed rule is the long-awaited provision for the ability to obtain an employment authorization document (EAD) based on an approved form I-140, employer petition. Unfortunately, eligibility for this immigration benefit under the proposal is highly restrictive and therefore will aid a far narrower group of foreign national workers than had been hoped.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stated that it will apply risk management principles to homeland security operations and has stated “Ultimately, homeland security is about effectively managing risks to the Nation’s security” (DHS 2010, pg. 2). This is much easier said than done. There are many difficulties that must be sorted out. As with anything and everything, money comes into play, conflicts between national and local priorities, and societies opinion.

Thesis: The Department of Homeland Security operates with a Code of Conduct for all Federal Protective Service employees. DHS must maintain the mission of safety and security of the nation and its citizens, while balancing their civil and privacy rights. Federal property has access control for the public during normal operating hours and secured access for after hours. Signs are posted on federal property stating rules and regulations for the public to adhere to; failure to comply can result in civil and criminal penalties by both the state and the federal government. A single offense can incur state misdemeanor charges, followed by federal misdemeanor charges. A code of ethics can define an organization and its reputation.

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

When conducting a homeland security assessment being thorough is of utmost importance. Organizations are multifaceted and as such, require examination in many different areas of day-to-day operations. Homeland security concerns are seemingly innumerable, with new threats emerging almost daily. For an organization to be effectively prepared to deal with these threats, everyone from the highest leadership to entry level employees must be involved in the organization’s homeland security initiatives (Fisher, n.d.). This is true of both public sector entities such as law enforcement agencies, as well as private sector corporations.

Homeland Security was created by President George W. Bush as a counter defense to the tragic September 11 attacks. It is the third largest cabinet department after the Department of Veteran Affairs and Defense. The department was official formed on November 25, 2002 around almost a year after the actual attacks. Its primary function was to protect the United States and its territories from natural disasters, man-made accidents, and most importantly terrorist’s attacks. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 created the Department of Homeland Security after the mailing of the anthrax spores. By establishing the Homeland Security Act of 2002, it consolidated U.S. executive branch organizations related to “homeland security” into a single cabinet agency. In March 2002, the department created the Homeland Security Advisory System. This system was a color coded

Homeland security can be seen as a loosely based term as it is still a relatively new area of the United States strategy. Since its creation, post September 11, 2001, there has been a plethora of additions and revisions. The homeland mission lies not only within a specific agency, but demands collected participation from U.S. agencies and foreign entities to remain strong, efficient and innovative. One can examine homeland security as having the responsibility of maintaining and protecting the United States by keeping focus within the U.S. while homeland defense is responsible for maintaining the U.S. by keeping focus outside the U.S. Homeland security and homeland defense are different, but both can assist each other in certain aspects. The following paragraphs will compose of accurate definitions regarding homeland security, homeland defense and in end will discuss an in depth summary of the critical infrastructure program. These mentioned areas each have a requirement to be treated as specific in nature in order to not sacrifice their specific definition.

Since the September 11, 2001 events, the United States of America gravitated towards a more aggressive approach in its security. The result of the tragic events was the establishment of homeland security. The White House, the federal government and the Congress joined together to establish it. On September 20, 2001, President George W. Bush issued an executive order 13228 to establish an Office of Homeland Security within the White House and assigning the Governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Ridge as its Director (Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, 2013, p. 4). Ever since, the United States (U.S.) Department of Homeland Security diversified and evolved the way it is today. The Homeland Defense was also integrated into Homeland Security to protect the U.S. soil and its territories. However, what are Homeland Security and Homeland Defense? This paper will address those question as well as covering their missions/goals, tasks, duties, and responsibilities. In addition, a section of this paper is the assessment of the critical infrastructure protection programs of the U.S. The assessment will also include the overall capability of the nation’s critical infrastructure protection program to ensure the survivability of its critical infrastructure.

To begin, I choose to do my discussion board on the Office of Intergovernmental Affairs. According to the Introduction to Homeland Security, "this office is the primary point of contact with other government agencies at all government levels including federal, state, local, and tribal governments, integrating the work of the department with that of each of these other entities in their national security efforts.

The framework for managing and leading a security will lead efforts to achieve a safe, secure, and resilient homeland (Storm 1998). Homeland security encounters terrorism and enhances our security; secure and manage our borders; enforce and administer our immigration laws; protect cyber networks and critical infrastructure; and ensure resilience from disasters (Foxell 2009). Homeland Security will accomplish strengthening both the Department of Homeland Security and the homeland security enterprise.