Question

Do any of you know anything about Homeland Security? I'm trying to write a report based on this question: Discuss how the Department of Homeland Security can best do its job of protecting the American people without infringing the rights of the people. Where or how do we "draw the line" between security and rights?

I need some sort of start-up, but I don't know where to begin.

Answer 1

The United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to terrorist attacks, man-made accidents, and natural disasters. In fiscal year 2011 it was allocated a budget of $98.8 billion and spent, net, $66.4 billion.

Whereas the Department of Defense is charged with military actions abroad, the Department of Homeland Security works in the civilian sphere to protect the United States within, at, and outside its borders. Its stated goal is to prepare for, prevent, and respond to domestic emergencies, particularly terrorism.[5] On March 1, 2003, DHS absorbed the Immigration and Naturalization Service and assumed its duties. In doing so, it divided the enforcement and services functions into two separate and new agencies: Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Citizenship and Immigration Services. The investigative divisions and intelligence gathering units of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and Customs Service were merged forming Homeland Security Investigations. Additionally, the border enforcement functions of the INS, including the U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Customs Service, and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service were consolidated into a new agency under DHS: U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The Federal Protective Service falls under the National Protection and Programs Directorate.

With more than 240,000 employees,[1] DHS is the third largest Cabinet department, after the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs.[6] Homeland security policy is coordinated at the White House by the Homeland Security Council. Other agencies with significant homeland security responsibilities include the Departments of Health and Human Services, Justice, and Energy.

The Department of Homeland Security has received substantial criticism over excessive bureaucracy, waste, fraud, ineffectiveness and lack of transparency. Its information sharing centers have been accused of violating American civil liberties and targeting American citizens as potential threats to national security.

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Department_of_Homeland_Security

Answer 2

@queenof17

Answer 3

Honestly the best place to begin is at the Department of Homeland Securities website ( https://www.dhs.gov/) You can actually contact an agent of the Department of Homeland Security (Trust me. Cops love talking about their jobs) I'm sue a DHS agent would be happy to help you. you could also check out parts of the DHS like US Customs and Border Protection, or the United States Coast Guard! The DHS covers a broad area. From Port protection, to fraud investigations. you could really go anywhere with this project! Good luck with it!

Answer 4

thank you guys!!!

Answer 5

If anyone has any opinions on this subject and would like to share, I would really appreciate it. I need several points of views on the subject.

Answer 6

The question is so broad that honestly you can go anywhere with it. First I would ask myself one question. What is the job of the DHS?
Well, the DHS performes quite a bit of duties. Here are some of the Daughter agencies.

Federal Emergency Management Agency
FEMA Disaster Assistance-FEMA manages national disasters and states of emergency including but not limited to: Hurricanes, Tornadoes, terroristic events.
Transportation Security Administration-TSA is an agency that oversees the safety of the traveling public. You will encounter agents of the TSA mainly in airports.
U.S. Coast Guard-All around heroes. I will get to them in a few.
Computer Emergency Readiness Team-US-CERT strives for a safer, stronger Internet for all Americans by responding to major incidents, analyzing threats, and exchanging critical cybersecurity information with trusted partners around the world.
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center-This is one of the greatest LEO Training centers in the world, located in Brunswick GA
Secret Service-USSS is an agency that both protects the President, which is the most known part of them, but also investigates and oversees the safety of US currency and the treasury. They investigate a lot of fraud.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection-CBP Protects the nations borders. they patrol out southern and northern borders as well as our waterways.
Federal Protective Service-These are uniformed LEOs that protect government buildings and installations.

Answer 7

Now the United States Coast Guard is an interesting case. At times of war, they are under the umbrella of the Department of the Navy (That is to say, the SecNav) However, at times of peace, they are under the umbrella of the DHS. Honestly, you could go so in detail on the USCG.
The main functions of the United States Coast Guard are stated below:
Search and Rescue- Much of what you will see in the USCG falls in the lines of SAR. Specially trained people known as Helicopter Rescue Swimmers are tasked with working with a team to search for people in distress. Much of the time, those people are sailors and people at sea. These missions will be carried out with the use of Jayhawk or Dolphin helicopters, C130 aircraft, and the cutters and boats in the USCG fleet.
Law Enforcement-The USCG does a great deal of Law Enforcement. Many of the missions of USCG 7th District (Which includes Florida) are missions that involve interdiction of Drug and/or Human Trafficking. They are also found in ports and rivers around our Nation
IPS- There is a task force called the International Port Security task force that is tasked with the protection of US Ships in ports, and the development of new laws made to ensure the protection of ports worldwide. many of these employees are lawyers.
Though the USCG is a part of the DHS, it is a Branch of the United States Military and deserves to be treated as such. they have played roles in every war thet the United States has fought with the exception of the Revolutionary war. Once known as the US Revenue Cutter Service, the name was changed to match the job description.

USCG performes many other jobs including but not limited to: Scientific research, Troop transport, Active warfare, Piracy enforcement, training, and education.

I have one last part of the USCG I want to talk about.

CGIS. Ever heard of NCIS? The wildly popular federal agency that has a show based off of it. Well, there is also a less known agency known as the Coast Guard Investigative Service. CGIS does basically what NCIS would do, but for the Coast guard!

Answer 8

This is just a little bit of info about the DHS. I highly encourage you to call or email an employee. the DHS has many Law Enforcement Explorer posts and I am sure the Post advisor, who is a DHS agent would love to help you understand the DHS!
You can call Michelle Lane at (202) 863-6265 She is the National coordinator for the DHS Explorer program or email her at michelle.lane@cbp.dhs.gov

Answer 9

Thank you soo much!!! This was extremely helpful