The office of Homeland Security was created on October 8, 2001, following the terror attacks on the United States on September 11. The office, which was created under the reign of President George W. Bush, aimed at developing a national strategy to secure the United States of America, the United States, from terror attacks. The first director of the unit was Governor Tom Ridge of Pennsylvania. Though there was a stir surrounding the reorganization of the security system, the office was voted later in November 2002 by the congresses to be a department. Currently, terrorist attacks still pose a considerable risk to the United States of America at home, mass attacks on schools, places of worship, shopping places, and even festivals.
The Domestic Homeland Security comprises of 22 agencies both at local, federal, and State Level that works together towards fulfilling their mission. The agencies include; United States Coast Guard (USCG), United States Secret Service (USSS), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) among others. Though some limitations of the Homeland in fighting terrorism as well as doubts of whether the department will be able to counter terrorism in the coming future, it is right to say that the department has succeeded in detecting, preventing and protecting the Citizens of America from terrorism attacks.
To enhance the security of American Citizens, CBP is in charge of border management. The Agency incorporates immigration, customs, and security of the border as well as agricultural protection. Specifically, the Agency secures 7000 miles of land, 95000 miles of the shoreline, as well as 328 entry ports to prevent illegal migration or to sneak of contrabands into the United States. The Agency also plays the essential functions of preventing drugs from reaching the public, inspecting imports entering the country, and ensuring that people traveling into the United States have done so legitimately.
To safeguard the lives of the Americans during sea travel and expeditions, the United States Coastal Guard, which is the oldest Agency that has been serving in seas, offers several services. They include; Search and Rescue (SAR), Aids to Navigation (ATON), Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE), Ice breaking, Port Security as well as Environmental Protection. The Agency can offer a wide range of services through its well-trained staff that are well equipped.
The United States Secret Service (USSS) also plays a critical role in enhancing Homeland Security. The Agency takes charge of the United States of America Infrastructure and the leaders through the accomplishment of two primary objectives. These objectives are; Providing security for essential sites in the United States as well as visiting and National leaders as well as preserving the United States economy by protecting the financial and payment systems of the nation.
The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is an investigative body under the DHS with the main aim of putting to an end various Criminal organizations wanting to exploit trade, travel, and financial system of America. The organ also plays a critical role in managing internal migration, and it works closely with CBP to enforce laws about immigration. With the Health and Human Service (HHS) collaboration, the Agency ensures detaining and taking care of abandoned migrant children.
One of the essential agencies in Domestic Homeland Security is the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The Agency plays a significant role as a member of both a Domestic-Focused Intelligence Organization as well as a law enforcement arm at the federal government. The organ which was formed in the year 1908 by the Attorney General has primary jurisdiction to any crime that is performed within the scope of federal laws. The primary mission of the Agency is to offer protection on the citizens of the United States of America on terrorist attacks, investigate any violation of crimes committed under federal laws, and to offer a partnership with other agencies dealing with law enforcement.
As an organ of DHS, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has expanded its function even more to incorporate high degrees of organized drug trafficking and crimes, crimes committed by people working in white-collar jobs, cybersecurity crimes, financial crimes as well as foreign counterintelligence. With the partnership with other agencies such as ICE, the FBI has been able to offer additional services to the local, state, and international bodies. Among the services that are provided by the FBI include; identification of fingerprints, conduction of laboratory examinations, and training of police officers. As an essential agency In DHS, the FBI forms a National Crime Information Centre, thus housing all information on the crimes that have ever transpired. As a National Centre for the Analysis of Violent Crime, the Agency is equipped with the responsibility of carrying out investigations on all the violent crimes that occur within the scope of the United States of America.
There are currently sixteen agencies in the United States Intelligence Committee (IC) with the 17th Agency carrying out the administrative functions, thus supporting the national security. The duties of the IC are governed by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). In the United States, there are more than 13000 government agencies and 2000 private organizations located in over 10000 locations that are all oriented towards countering terrorism, security intelligence, and homeland security. The IC is mandated to work with collaboration to DHS to develop and deliver security Intelligence to local, federal, and other state departments.
In assessing the capabilities, after the 9/11 terrorist attack, the IC adopted a vital mission of supporting the DHS in its mission to counter-terrorism. Though not all IC agencies conduct their task under the DHS, the DHS forms a giant umbrella in which functions are executed. The collaboration between agencies at the federal and state level hence enables sharing of information, integration of information as well as execution of actions to counter terrorist attacks. For example, the Office of Intelligence Analysis (OIA) combines all the information on security that the DHS collects to form resources necessary for assessing terrorism information. Thus, the collaboration of all the IC’s has enhanced efficiency as they are no longer acting as competing organs.
On the other hand, there are several limitations to the collaboration between Domestic Intelligence and the DHS. Over time, questions have been raised on the implication of the reorganization of the security system as it has been seen as having adverse effects on the autonomy of various Domestic Intelligence Agencies. Initially, before the integration, the agencies were working independently and producing significant results. However, the merge, at some point, can be seen as reducing the productivity of various Domestic Intelligence efforts since their scope of operation is now limited hence not reaching their full potential.
Besides, a significant question arises on the significance of sharing information between the Domestic Intelligence Agencies and DHS. With the merging of the agencies, it came to a provision of sharing information. However, it can be seen that, though the information is widely shared, the security system’s transformation has not yet been achieved. This is due to various issues that arise in the implementation of the data. Since data and information are not one-size-all, questions of consumer preference and expectations may arise. Also, other emerging issues, such as cybersecurity as well as various encryption technologies, make the process of information sharing to be a little bit hard with possible leaking of information as a result of hacking.
The United States of America is well structured and resourced when it comes to the management of domestic intelligence. The United States has been continually at the forefront of acquiring the latest technologies that enhance local intelligence and training staff on contemporary issues when it comes to collecting information vital to domestic intelligence. The constitution of the United States of America also states that timely and accurate measures of attaining intelligence information should adhere to the legal requirements with various intelligence agencies functions being put across. The constitution puts across a procedure of collection of intelligence information that does not violate the rights of an individual. Under the law, information that is supposed to be collected by the Intelligence Community is the information that is publicly available or consented by the individual, knowledge of counterintelligence, information on persons considered to be a potential threat on National Security as well as information on violation of federal and state laws.
Also, the techniques of collection of information by the Agencies in the International Community are supposed to be less intrusive. Thus, the use of technologies such as electronic, physical, and mail surveillance are considered illegal as well as the use of trackers and unconsented physical search.
Over the years, due to its collaboration, homeland security has proven to be capable of addressing the current and future challenges concerning safety in the United States. Since its creation, there has been a significant decrease in the number of terrorist attacks owing to the achievement of higher levels of coordination between different agencies as well as improved cooperation, which has seen the department reaching even greater heights, thus preventing the occurrence of another 9/11. Through the DHS, terrorism attempts have been countered before they happen, and also a lot of resources have been pumped towards the initiative.
Through collaboration, over time, DHS, using the multi-tier approach, the department has succeeded in boosting its ability to gather information on intelligence, training of the personnel as well as fostering international collaboration. The department has also accomplished through National Targeting Centre (NTC) to identify emerging threats posed by the terrorists, supporters of the terrorists, and other criminal organizations operating between nations. Also, DHS has made a breakthrough in the sharing and utilization of intelligence-related information. Through resource allocation and the development of useful plans for response, the organ through other agencies such as the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has been able to aid American populations in responding and recovering from major terrorist attacks.
Drafting the way to future counter-terrorism efforts, the DHS, through its strategic plan, has established four primary goals. The first goal of the organ is to gain insight into contemporary issues on terrorism, such as cybersecurity and offering support to other organs on how to use this knowledge. In its second goal, the DHS focus on preventing any entry of terrorists in American soil as well as the execution of various forms of terrorism. In goal number 3, the DHS aims to curb any form of violence and terrorism, and lastly, the organ is seeking to enhance community preparedness and infrastructure development.