Pros And Cons Of DHS Analysis

The tragic events that occurred on that fateful day of September 11, 2011. It was a wakeup call for citizens that there was a threat of terrorism facing the homeland like never before. It was a threat to the United States Government, (USG) that if policies and coordination between the agencies didn’t change there may be more of its kind being plotted and carried out against the homeland. Prior to the Patriot Act there were many agencies playing a part of different aspects to security of the Homeland. Unfortunately, bureaucracy and non-coordination between these many agencies didn’t prevent the largest foreign attack on U.S. soil in its history. “The Bush administration realized this problem immediately and attempted to rectify it by establishing
the Office of Homeland Security within the White House through E.O. 13228, which was signed on October 8, 2001” (Oliver, 2007 p. 72). Department of Homeland (DHS) is made up of several agencies. These agencies include the United States Coast guard, United States Custom and Border Protections, United States Citizens and Immigration Services, Transportation Security Administration, Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Immigration Custom Enforcement, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, United States Secret Service, Directorate for Management, National Protectorate and Programs Directorate, Science and Technology Directorate, Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, Office of Health Affairs, Office of Intelligence and Analysis, Office of Operations Coordination and finally, the Office of Policy ("Operational and Support Components | Homeland Security," n.d.). All of these organizations provide vital components to the entire Department of Homeland apparatus. The current Secretary of DHS is Jeh Charles Johnson.
The Office of the Secretary oversees coordination with other entities on all levels of government, including private, for various aspects of homeland security, to include intelligence analysis, security of the borders etc. The Office of the Secretary is made up of many offices to include, the Office of Civil rights and Liberties, Office of General Council and even a private sector office. Technological advances as well as changes in strategy by advisories meaning to do harm to the United States, makes the Office of the Secretary a challenging one. Some critics of DHS, point out that even with its formation, there are still too many departments within DHS and should be consolidated even
further. DHS collaboration with law enforcement agencies is a crucial one. Without coordination with state and local law enforcement agencies, the problems and vulnerabilities that were present before the September 11th attacks would still exist. Tools of communication between the agencies makes it easier for everyone involved to coordinate. One of those is the Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN). The Homeland Security Information Network (HSIN) provides law enforcement officials at every level of government with a means to collaborate securely with partners across geographic and jurisdictional boundaries. Law enforcement professionals also use HSIN to share information including Be on the Lookouts (BOLOs), Requests for Information (RFIs), For Your Information (FYIs), Intelligence Reports and other Law Enforcement Sensitive documents. HSIN allows users to create and distribute messages to large, mission-specific contact lists. ("Law Enforcement | Homeland Security," n.d.). There were initially five directorates established for homeland security which have expanded to approximately fifteen (these include support components) which were mentioned previously that can be found on the DHS.gov website available on the web.
The largest of these is the BTS. “Border and Transportation Security (BTS) is the largest of the five directorates and is focused on securing the nation’s borders and transportation systems and enforcing the nation’s immigration laws” (Oliver, 2007 p. 82). Border and transportation security has been really been brought to the forefront due to the illegal immigration discussions in politics as well as the possibility of terrorist from overseas entering the United States from other adjoining (Mexico and Canada) countries due to lax border
security. In Conclusion, although made up of multiple agencies, some that have been around for a while, the DHS is still trying to find ways to tackle complex issues. Despite its organizational successes in helping to thwart major attacks against the Homeland since its formation, numerous attacks still occur. The new threat of ISIS and other terrorist groups still remain, even if it’s not from group members themselves, but instead from those “lone wolves” who have been inspired to commit acts of terror against the United States and its citizens. With recent terror attacks in the U.S. the DHS and its partners, still remain vigilant about the issues of bureaucracy that still exist that still hamper communications between federal, state and local agencies. Emphasis has been made to average everyday citizens to help out as well. Slogans like “see something, say something” has been echoed around the U.S. when it comes to suspicious activities by those who may want to commit acts of terrorism against the homeland. Despite its efforts, those who work within the DHS know that there possibly be a way to thwart every attack on the homeland, especially when balancing civil rights with law enforcement efforts. Regardless, the Department of Homeland Security continues its duties to keep the homeland and its citizens safe against terror and responding to other threats (natural disasters, etc.).