YOUR FIRST DRAFT - Essay Example

First draft: Homeland security Homeland security defines collective efforts that ensure internal security in the United s. Organized to operate through an agency, Department of Homeland Security, its efforts include counter terrorism measures, management of the nation’s borders, disaster management, ensuring cyber security, and implementing laws that govern immigration. In this paper, I explore immigration enforcement, security, and disaster management initiatives of Homeland Security.The wider scope of Homeland security’s mandate is to ensure the nation’s safety from external threats of insecurity through detection and prevention of risks or management of disasters that emanate from the possible risks.

Illegal immigration is one of such possible threats because of its unmonitored nature that offers avenues for criminals’ illegal entry into the states. The criminals who could be escaping legal systems from their countries are likely to engage in criminal activities once they are in the United States. People with criminal intentions such as terrorism may also resort to illegal immigration to avoid identification as they enter the nation. The department however ensures its efficiency in managing the nation’s borders as a measure to controlling illegal immigration.

It has implemented three measures to facilitate management of illegal immigration with special interest in preventing potential threats to America’s security. Deployment of skilled personnel in different countries in order to identify people who intend to enter the United States through fraud is one of the approaches to re-enforce borders. The department also ensures strict identification process of individuals travelling to the nation. International sharing of immigrants’ biometric data for identifying trends in fraudulent immigration, and people who pose threats to countries is another strategy that has been implemented by the department.

Apart from the security threat, illegal immigration burdens the nation’s resources and increases competition for resources and economic opportunities against citizens. The immigrants are, however, also a source of different types of labor that are scarce in America. The fact that the immigrants are a potential threat to national security however undermines their potential economic contributions and strict measures should be taken to screen their entry into the nation. Some laws such as sanctuary policies have been developed, locally, to protect immigrant’s rights (Kenney, 2010; DHS, 2013).

The department, in addition to implementing immigration laws, ensures Americans safety by identifying and eliminating terrorist attack threats. It also controls illegal possession and transfer of materials that can be used to initiate a terrorist attack in the nation. Similarly, Homeland Security strengthens frameworks and resources that are used in the war against terrorism (DHS, 2013).Disaster prevention and management is another approach through which the Homeland Security ensures America’s internal safety.

The department identifies and prepares for potential disasters besides preparing communities to the capacity of responding to possible disasters. The department also supports disaster victims through rescue responses, sustenance, and works to improve its disaster management efficiency (DHS, 2013). Homeland Security is therefore an initiative that ensures internal safety of the United States. Some of its major roles involve implementation of immigration laws to prevent illegal immigration of individuals who pose threats to the nation.

It also undertakes measures within the nation’s borders to ensure security and to prevent and manage disasters. ReferencesDHS. (2013). Homeland security. Department of Homeland Security. Retrieved from: http://www.dhs.gov/.Kenney, K. (2010). Illegal immigrant Ebook. Edina, MN: ABDO.