Effectiveness of the Department of Homeland Security - Research Paper Example

Effectiveness of the Department of Homeland Security Introduction Security has become a major concern in the United States today more than ever. This follows the 9/11 terrorist attacks on the World Trade center. The incident left many Americans dead and proper worth billions of dollars destroyed. Ball (2005) claimed that the incident did expose the United State’s vulnerability to terrorist attacks from both within and outside its borders. Reflecting on what happened on that fateful day; one is left wondering how it happened and where the security agents were at the time. However, what is clear is that the intelligence agencies failed in their mandate to protect the country from such catastrophes. A reflection of the incidence show the Pentagon being raced down by planes hijacked by terrorists. In fact, many people were taken aback by the incident including the security agents. Therefore, to prevent such attacks in the future and to ensure that America becomes a secure country to live in and do business, George Walker Bush, undertook a proactive move that led to the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security. The move to establish the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was informed by the need to protect the U.S. against terrorism, according to Ball (2005). DHS had 22 different federal agencies charge with different roles aimed at ensuring that the country is safeguarded from terrorist threats. The fact that DHS had 22 different federal departments made it the third largest Federal department in the country. An overview of the Department of Homeland Security's responsibilities in prevention and emergency response The responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security as far as prevention and emergency response are concerned are four folds. The first major responsibility of DHS is safeguarding the United States by preventing terrorism and enhancing national security (Charvat, 2012). According to Charvat (2012), safeguarding the U.S. and its citizens from terrorism was the cornerstone for its formation, following the 9/11 incident. The 9/11 incident exposed the country’s vulnerability to terrorism of whatever kind. Therefore, in response to the incident, the then president, George Walker Bush found it necessary to form an independent department responsible for safeguarding the country from terrorist threats. It is reported that DHS works in collaboration with other federal Departments and agencies to ensure that the country remain safe and secure to live in and do business. In fulfilling its mandate of safeguarding the country against terrorism, DHS also focuses on the prevention of unauthorized importation, acquisition, or use of nuclear, biological, and chemical materials and capabilities within the country’s borders. In addition, DHS focuses on reducing vulnerability of key leadership, crucial infrastructure, and events to terrorist attacks and other catastrophes (Ball, 2005). Indeed many agree that the safety of the United States have increased tremendously since the formation of the Department of Homeland Security. So far, the country has not suffered a major incidence of terrorism (Charvat, 2012). In addition, with the help of the DHS, the President Obama administration have been able to kill Osama, the mastermind of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. However, this is not to say that the U.S. is absolutely safe from terrorism. This is because the country recently witnessed an incident of terrorism during the Boston marathon, which left some people dead and scores injured. The incidence show that the DHS still needs to do more to safeguard the country and citizens from terrorism. The second major responsibility of the DHS is to secure and manage the U.S. borders. IBP USA (2003) indicated that the security of the United States has been jeopardized by illegal cross border movements for a very long time. For example, most illegal immigrants and drugs have been finding their way into the U.S. through its borders. Therefore, to safeguard the United States from such threats, DHS has ensured that the borders are protected while at the same time expediting the safe and legal travel and commerce. Securing borders in this case implies the country’s sea, land, and air borders. According to IBP USA (2003), the security of the U.S. borders has improved significantly, thanks to DHS measures, which involves establishing border patrol officers and erecting border fence to prevent unlawful entry into and out of the country. The DHS is also responsible for ensuring the Cyberspace is safeguarded and secure. According to Charvat (2012), the economy of the United States depends largely on cyber infrastructure. In addition, cyberspace connects every aspect of Americans lives. It is noted that while cyberspace offers the country a great potential for economic growth and technological advancements, it is vulnerable for attack by malicious actors who might exploit the country’s cyberspace to advance their selfish interests, disrupt communication and services. If such is allowed to happen, the country’s technological advancement and economic growth may be jeopardized. Therefore, by statute, the DHS play a leading role of securing the computer system of the civilian government, claims Charvat (2012). It also works with industry to protect privately owned and operated vital infrastructure. The last responsibility of the DHS is to ensure resilience to disasters (Ball, 2005). The United States is one of the countries that is prone to a number of disasters such as super-storms, wildfires, drought and flooding just to name but a few. One such disaster is the super storm of that took place at the wake of presidential election in 2012 that caused massive destruction of property and loss of lives. Another was the recent wildfires that left at least three firefighters dead and several people displaced from their homes. These are just but a few examples that show the extent to which the country is vulnerable to disasters. Ball, (2005) claims that DHS was formed to ensure that the country is adequately prepared for such disasters to protect American citizens and their properties in the event of a disaster. According to IBP USA (2003), the DHS ensures that hazards are mitigated, increases the country’s preparedness to disasters, responding to disasters, as well as providing the community with recovery support. In the event of a domestic disaster, the DHS’s responsibility is that of coordination and working closely with the local, state, tribal, territorial partners, and nongovernmental organizations to improve preparedness and ensure that resources are availed in time mitigate the disaster. An evaluation of the Department of Homeland Security's responsibilities, entities, actions, and effectiveness with respect to securing the southern U.S. border The U.S.-Mexico border that stretches about 2,000 miles from San Diego, California to Brownsville, Texas has been of great concern to the United States. According to Romero (2008), the border has for a long time acted as a point of entry for illegal immigrants into the United States. Additionally, the border has been used by malicious businesspersons to traffic illegal drugs into the United States. Romero (2008) reveals that it is the most frequently crossed international borders worldwide. However, since the events of the 9/11, the U.S. government through the Department of Homeland Security has beefed up security at the border to ensure that no illegal immigrants or drugs are allowed into the country through this border. The DHS took such measures to safeguard the country from those who enters the country through this border. The responsibility of protecting the U.S. borders is vested on the Customs and Border Protection agency (CBP), which is a component of the DHS. The role of CBP is to monitor all the country’s international ports of entry, as well as ensuring no unlawful cross-border travel (Romero, 2008) According to CBP, in 2008, its officers allowed an estimated 1.1 million people through the border, while apprehending about 2,800 illegal immigrants trying to cross the borders into the U.S. In its endeavors to fulfill the mandate of securing the U.S. border with Mexico, CBP has created a raft of border enforcement programs, operations, policies and strategies. Firstly, CBP has divided the southern border into 10 sectors namely Yuma, El Centro, San Diego, Tucson, El Paso, Marfa, Del Rio, Laredo, New Orleans, and Rio Grande Valley (Romero, 2008). The division was done to ensure effective protection of the country’s southern border. One of the major initiatives taken by DHS through CBP is the construction a preventive border wall that stretches about 670 miles of the Southern border (Ball, 2005). The Department has also ensured construction of a 350 miles pedestrian fencing and 299 miles vehicle fencing. The fencing of this border, however, has generated a lot of controversy from both within America and Mexico. To date, the Department of Homeland Security has erected about 649 miles of barrier fence on the US-Mexico border. A large part for the barrier stretches from western California through Arizona, New Mexico to El Paso. The DHS has also beefed up border patrol by employing more border patrol officers to monitor and prevent any illegal crossing. Other measures employed by the DHS through CBP include the installation of satellite cameras that take pictures of all activities happening at the Southern border, reveals Romero (2008). What is evident is that the strategies employed by the DHS in safeguarding its southern borders have been successful. This is because research indicates that the number of illegal immigrants entering the US through its southern borders have decreased drastically since the establishment of the DHS. The border fence, for example, has been able to bar illegal people from entering from Mexico, according to Romero (2008). The border patrol officers have also been able to arrest several illegal immigrants and drug traffickers since DHS began implementing the southern border control measures. The number of arrests and the fact that illegal border crossing at the southern border has reduced is a clear indication that the measures control and prevention measures of DHS has been effective. An evaluation of the Department of Homeland Security's responsibilities, entities, actions, and effectiveness with respect to the Hurricane Katrina disaster Hurricane Katrina is arguably the most destructive natural disaster in the United States’ history. Moynihan (2009) revealed that Hurricane Katrina began building on August 25, 2005, sweeping across the Gulf of Mexico before growing in intensity through Louisiana on August 29 of the same year. By the time the hurricane was over, an estimated 90,000 acres of land, an area equal to the size of the U.K. had been swept away. In addition, the storm left more than 1500 people dead. Jenkins (2007) reported that thousands of families living in Mississippi and the Gulf Coast were left destitute without basic needs for close to a week. The incident, fortunately, occurred four years after the 9/11 attacks and three years after the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and a year after the creation of a National Response Plan by the DHS. As earlier indicated, the DHS is charged with the responsibility of ensuring resilience to disaster like the Hurricane Katrina. However, the DHS’s response to Katrina was miserable failure, according to Jenkins (2007). This is because the entire world watched in dismay as DHS appeared unable to protection from the ravages of nature. Two reports filed by the Congress and a Select House Committee in the aftermath of the storm pointed at initiative failure while other reports concluded that America is a country not yet prepared to handle disasters of such magnitude. Findings showed that the DHS failed to address several risk factors resulting in the response failure witnessed. According to Moynihan (2009), despite there being risk signs of hurricane striking New Orleans and threat of Katrina, DHS failed to convert the warning into a level of preparation for the looming disaster. The dispersed nature of authority in the intergovernmental response system reportedly worsened the situation by further weakening response, as DHS failed to recognize the need to proactive. In addition, DHS was also unsure of how to deploy its resources and authority. The major failure of DHS administration was its inability to understand Katrina as an incident major incident comparable to the 9/11 attacks (Jenkins, 2007). As a result, it responded as though it was a routine natural disaster until it was too late thereby resulting in destruction of such a magnitude and loss of lives. Conclusion The Department of Homeland Security is a very important agency in the United States. Created following the 9/11 attacks, DHS have managed to restore security by ensuring that America becomes a secure country to live and do business. In addition to preventing terrorism, DHS has managed to keep the US-Mexico southern border secure by preventing illegal immigrants and drug traffickers from crossing into the U.S. Nevertheless, DHS failed miserably in its response to Katrina thereby resulting loss of many lives and properties worth billions of dollars destroyed. Therefore, the Department should improve its response measures by being proactive to ensure America become the safest country to live and do business. References Ball, H. (2005). U.S. Homeland Security: A reference handbook. Princeton, NY: ABC-CLIO. Charvat, J. P. I. A. G. (2012). Homeland Security Organization in defense against terrorism. Washington, D.C: IOS Press. IBP USA (2003). United States Department of Homeland Security handbook. New York, NY: Int'l Business Publications. Jenkins, W.O. (2007). Observations on DHS and FEMA efforts to prepare for, respond to major and catastrophic disasters, and address related recommendations and legislation. United States Government Accountability Office, Homeland Security. Moynihan, D.P. (2009). The response to Hurricane Katrina: International Risk Governance Council. Châtelaine, Geneva – Switzerland. Romero, F. (2008). Hyperborder: The contemporary U.S.? Mexico border and its future. Princeton, NY: Princeton Architectural Press. Read More