Homeland Security - Case Study Example

Homeland Security (Author’s name) (Institutional Affiliation) Table of Contents Table of Contents 2 Overview of Homeland Security 3 History 6 Evolution of the Concept of Homeland Security 7 Homeland Security Concept 7 Primary Functions 7 Enhances Central Security Dollars 7 Funding on Border Surveillance Technology 7 Eliminates Duplicative Programs for Effective Disaster Response 8 Protects the Homeland 8 Safeguards the system of transportation 8 Strengthens Immigration Verification Programs 9 Critical information Networks is Protected 9 Promotes Integration and Citizenship 9 Significant Cases 9 Conclusion 11 References 13 Part 1 The final essay topic for this journal is Homeland Security. The week’s journal had to be touching on matters of security. One of the most vibrant and active security departments in the USA is the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The primary objective would be to enlighten people about their security force that ensures they are safe (The United States, 2016). A lot of research was conducted to bring to us to the topic of discussion. Recent cases that were handled by the DHS brought it to the limelight more often, and so after an extensive analysis, the subject was reached. Most of the information gathered about this topic will be from various sources such as the internet, the DHS website, the case reports and interviews with several characters in the department. The DHS is a security department that has shaped the lives of many youths. More information about its origin, development, their ethics, and practice as well as cases handled will be tackled in this paper to ensure people are enlightened more about their security issue. Overview of Homeland Security The existence of homeland security has impacted many people for a long time though the security department has existed since the 9/11. After the disaster, a cabinet-level department was formed and devoted to fighting the terrorism issue by refocusing national resources and policies (Guiora, 2012). Apart from terrorism, homeland security was entrusted with the well-being of the nation and anything or anyone that threatened the peace of the country. in this article, the evolution of homeland security will be discussed broadly as well as several factors that affect the development of the department (Immell, 2010). The department was recently accorded more duties, and more resources were, therefore, channeled to it to enable the system to dispatch these roles. The government agreed to increase their financial support to the homeland by $309 million more than the enacted level of 2010. Some of the core homeland security functions such as coast guard and border security were increased, and the department was showered with more assets. Duplicative and stove-piped local and state grant programs were eliminated, professional contract services and administrative costs were also abolished thus bringing more savings to the government (Proctor & Waleford, 2009). The country has majorly invested on the border security through providing new frontier surveillance technologies so that every section has a different security approach. Part 2 The Homeland Security History Sixteen years after the 9/11, terrorist attack, the U.S. government does not have a concrete definition of homeland security. Various strategic mission statements and documents were presented offering different missions that are derived from different definitions of homeland security. National strategies were rolled out from the White House in 2002 and 2007 which acted as the guiding principles for the DHS (Proctor & Waleford, 2009). Apart from the White House strategies, the DHS has organized and coined its strategic plan, and the meetings took place in 2008, 2010 and 2012 being the latest evolution of the department to define its goals, missions, and responsibilities. These documents are however not presented to the federal government but only shared among the security department. The quadrennial review of the DHS was composed and released in 2014. The Homeland Security was formed as a special force after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and years later policy makers continue to debate about the definition of the same. Before the 9/11, security responses were made through separate prisms of national defense, emergency management, and law enforcement. The 9/11 triggered a debate over and later formation of the Homeland Security which directly answers to the White House (Immell, 2010). The nation has channeled various assets to the department, and the annual funding of the same is approximately 52% above even the Department of Defense which gets 26% roughly. Security priorities at Homeland are funded by the Congress and policymakers (Smith & Messina, 2004). For the funding to be most effective, however, the department's priorities should exist, be clear and cogent. Evolution of the Concept of Homeland Security Homeland Security Concept Over the last decade, the idea of homeland security has evolved because initially, it was precipitated by the 9/11 attacks. Before even the attack in 2011, the U.S commission on national security and the Gilmore Commission discussed the need to evolve the safety policies in the country now that the cold war was over and terrorism was soaring higher levels (The United States, 2016). The large-scale terrorist attack, therefore, forced things to happen so fast. Following several meetings and a series of presidential directives, the name homeland security was issued without any explanation whatsoever. That was the genesis of the concept. The idea of homeland security was expanded later by the local, state and federal government in response to disasters such as the Hurricane Katrina (Immell, 2010). The department was no longer entitled to terrorism only but also the economy of the country, threats to the U.S. rule of law and operations of the government. Primary Functions Enhances Central Security Dollars Funding on Border Surveillance Technology A refocus of border surveillance technology funding to strengthen security at the border is supported by the administration, and the budget includes $242 million (Immell, 2010). The new technology is laid down in three sectors in Arizona. The main reason for this new technology is that it will ensure faster deployment and better overall coverage for agent coverage and situational awareness. Eliminates Duplicative Programs for Effective Disaster Response Citizens of America rely on the first responders to help them through a crisis such as a terrorist attack and natural disasters. $3.8 billion is set aside by the federal government to train, equip, exercise and hire first responders (Guiora, 2012). The money is distributed to the local governments based on risk. The approach proves to be good for the states because they fill the homeland security capability gaps to improve impact and to promote cost effectiveness. The homeland security is, expected to chip in and assist in the wake of a president declared a disaster. Protects the Homeland Safeguards the system of transportation In 2012, additions Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) machines were added by 275 to facilitate security at the airport checkpoints. The AIT technology allows the security officers to detect both metallic and non-metallic anomalies, for instance, explosives and weapons on people going through weapon sterile areas (Proctor & Waleford, 2009). Homeland Security has proposed $58 million to facilitate streamlining and modernization of the transportation credentialing and security vetting. The system will have a credentialing program for those willing to join the country. For the system to operate, however, several other applications must be installed for instance the US VISIT's IDENT and criminal justice information system of the FBI. Strengthens Immigration Verification Programs Additional border 22,000 Patrol agents and new 300 CBP officers to screen cargo and passengers are included in the budget. The increase of officers will reduce wait times and consequentially increase seizure of illegal items (Smith & Messina, 2004). E-verify can be acquired by the U.S. employers to maintain a legal workforce through verification of the employment eligibility. Critical information Networks is Protected Information systems are crucial to the security of the nation and the functioning of its economy. The national cyber security division proposes $461 million to support their operations (The United States, 2016). The homeland security cyber security division protects the country's information networks from cyber-attacks. The initiative benefits not only the federal government but also the private institutions. Promotes Integration and Citizenship The new immigrants are integrated, and citizenship is provided through preparation and education programs, expansion of innovative learning tools for use across the nation. Homeland security monitors the procedures and ensures only the eligible people are offered citizenship. Significant Cases Homeland security handles a wide array of cases including; fraud investigation, cyber-crime, major event security, border security, human trafficking cases, major event security, immigration enforcement, severe weather cases and natural disasters. The homeland security uncovered the largest food fraud ever found on U.S soil. It was a case of cheap and contaminated Chinese honey that invaded the American market (Dwyer & United States, 2014). Since the American honey was not selling at that time because people went for the cheap one, eight ALW executives devised a plot to import Chinese honey illegally into the U.S. tariff-free through concealing its source. After four years of conducting the business unnoticed, it came to the desk of homeland security who dealt with the case fair and square to the point of arresting the masterminds. Another case of international interest was a cyber-crime case where mysterious transnational organizations were stealing cash using tampered gift cards. On 22nd December 2012, a bunch of eight people carrying backpacks along Broadway in Manhattan theater district managed to steal $400,000. They possessed specially-encoded ATM cards which had no withdrawal limit. On that day, the eight stopped at 140 different ATMs and withdrew all the money in the machine using the cards (The United States, 2015). According to the homeland security report, 750 fraudulent transactions were completed on that day by the same people with the money amounting to 400,000 USD in just 2 hours 25minutes. The same incident was happening in more than 20 countries with people operating within the same time frame leading to losses of $5 million. The next major case handled by homeland security in conjunction with other security bodies was a smuggling case involving Caribbean narcotics entry into the U.S. The DHS, CBP and drug enforcement on U.S. coast guards teamed to investigate on a narcotics case that was steaming in 2014. The operation centered along the coast left a mark since it managed to combat the flow of drugs by 2015. The task force has initiated and prosecuted law enforcement cases in the Bahamas area. Conclusion There are various other cases that homeland security team has dealt with and most of them are major cases involving more than one country. The DHS was formed after the worst terrorist attack labeled the 9/11. The security force is graduating and expanding gradually to handle other cases other than the terror attacks. The security department enhances central security dollars by eliminating duplicative programs in most of their areas such as disaster response and transport surveillance. The country is safe under the watch of homeland security, with the most modernized technology that they have employed in their data and case management. This security team is cracking down most of the unthinkable cases through the Homeland Security Investigative Department. After homeland security took over the transport and border surveillance, security is tighter than before, and smooth running of security stop check at the airport and the port. Homeland security is an undefined security department, but so far it has accomplished more than any other department within the short period that it has operated. References Dwyer, T. P., & United States. (2014). Legal issues in homeland security: U.S. Supreme Court cases, commentary, and questions. Guiora, A. N. (2012). Homeland security: What is it and where are we going? Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press. Immell, M. (2010). Homeland security. Detroit: Greenhaven Press. Proctor, A. P., & Waleford, J. T. (2009). Maintaining homeland security. New York: Nova Science. Smith, N., & Messina, L. (2004). Homeland security. Bronx, NY: H.W. Wilson Co. United States. (2003). Homeland security. Washington, DC: U.S. G.P.O., Supt. of Docs. United States. (2015). DHS Interoperable Communications Act: Report of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, to accompany S. 615, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to require the Under Secretary for Management of the Department of Homeland Security to take administrative action to achieve and maintain interoperable communications capabilities among the components of the Department of Homeland Security, and for other purposes. United States. (2016). Department of Homeland Security Headquarters Consolidation Accountability Act of 2015: Report of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, United States Senate, to accompany S. 1638, to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit to Congress information on the Department of Homeland Security headquarters consolidation project in the National Capital Region, and for other purposes. Read More

The Homeland Security was formed as a special force after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and years later policy makers continue to debate about the definition of the same. Before the 9/11, security responses were made through separate prisms of national defense, emergency management, and law enforcement. The 9/11 triggered a debate over and later formation of the Homeland Security which directly answers to the White House (Immell, 2010). The nation has channeled various assets to the department, and the annual funding of the same is approximately 52% above even the Department of Defense which gets 26% roughly.

Security priorities at Homeland are funded by the Congress and policymakers (Smith & Messina, 2004). For the funding to be most effective, however, the department's priorities should exist, be clear and cogent. Evolution of the Concept of Homeland Security Homeland Security Concept Over the last decade, the idea of homeland security has evolved because initially, it was precipitated by the 9/11 attacks. Before even the attack in 2011, the U.S commission on national security and the Gilmore Commission discussed the need to evolve the safety policies in the country now that the cold war was over and terrorism was soaring higher levels (The United States, 2016).

The large-scale terrorist attack, therefore, forced things to happen so fast. Following several meetings and a series of presidential directives, the name homeland security was issued without any explanation whatsoever. That was the genesis of the concept. The idea of homeland security was expanded later by the local, state and federal government in response to disasters such as the Hurricane Katrina (Immell, 2010). The department was no longer entitled to terrorism only but also the economy of the country, threats to the U.S. rule of law and operations of the government.

Primary Functions Enhances Central Security Dollars Funding on Border Surveillance Technology A refocus of border surveillance technology funding to strengthen security at the border is supported by the administration, and the budget includes $242 million (Immell, 2010). The new technology is laid down in three sectors in Arizona. The main reason for this new technology is that it will ensure faster deployment and better overall coverage for agent coverage and situational awareness. Eliminates Duplicative Programs for Effective Disaster Response Citizens of America rely on the first responders to help them through a crisis such as a terrorist attack and natural disasters. $3.8 billion is set aside by the federal government to train, equip, exercise and hire first responders (Guiora, 2012).

The money is distributed to the local governments based on risk. The approach proves to be good for the states because they fill the homeland security capability gaps to improve impact and to promote cost effectiveness. The homeland security is, expected to chip in and assist in the wake of a president declared a disaster. Protects the Homeland Safeguards the system of transportation In 2012, additions Advanced Imaging Technology (AIT) machines were added by 275 to facilitate security at the airport checkpoints.

The AIT technology allows the security officers to detect both metallic and non-metallic anomalies, for instance, explosives and weapons on people going through weapon sterile areas (Proctor & Waleford, 2009). Homeland Security has proposed $58 million to facilitate streamlining and modernization of the transportation credentialing and security vetting. The system will have a credentialing program for those willing to join the country. For the system to operate, however, several other applications must be installed for instance the US VISIT's IDENT and criminal justice information system of the FBI.

Strengthens Immigration Verification Programs Additional border 22,000 Patrol agents and new 300 CBP officers to screen cargo and passengers are included in the budget.

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