1
Defense of Weakest Position on Threat Issue Assignment
William D. Beatty
CJUS 380: Introduction to Homeland Security
Sep 15, 2025
Defense of Weakest Position on Threat Issue Assignment
2
One area that stands out to me as the weakest point regarding the United States threat
issue and being able to protect the citizens of the country is the soft on crime policies that are
being pushed into legislation. The biggest challenge with this type of policy is that it gives those
who are organizing or planning to commit crimes the knowledge that one if they get caught
their punishment will be less than it was. This mentality makes them not only want to commit
crimes but do it more often as the penalties are less. The other side of this is that it causes those
who these crimes are being committed against untrusting of law enforcement as they see the
same people committing crimes and getting out of prison quicker or not even going at all. On
more of the local level that has now spread throughout the country this can be best seen by
major retailers closing store fronts due to lost sales from theft. This has led to more people
ordering items online, and as this change happens those that are committing the theft are now
riding around neighborhoods and just taking packages from homes after they have been
delivered. “The National Retail Federation, which will be participating on the second panel,
surveyed over 230 retail asset protection professionals and found that 90 percent indicated that
organized retail crime is more of a risk to retail businesses now than it was three years ago.”
(HSR, 2023)
Looking at the bigger picture these types of policies affect the country’s security and
wellbeing as those within the criminal organizations knowing that they can increase their
revenues and if caught by law enforcement get reduce punishment and pay less for bail or fines
causing them to be more aggressive or doing things at a higher rate. This can be best through
immigration realm as these criminal organizations are smuggling people into the country at a
higher rate. But this has also led to more people just trying to get into the country on their own.
“2021 Department of Justice report revealed that 64% of federal arrests in 2018 involved
noncitizens, despite them comprising only 7% of the population at that time.” (Heritage
Foundation, 2023). This shows that not only are more people trying to get into the country
illegally but when they get here, they are continuing to commit more crimes. The reason that
3
this is the situation is that the punishment for them entering the country illegally is not enough
to make them fear getting caught or even attempting to get into the country illegally. “Since
Biden took office, over 6.2 million illegal aliens have been encountered at the nation’s borders,
and over 2 million of them have been released into the nation’s interior. A considerable number
of them have engaged in criminal activities once they settled.” (Heritage Foundation, 2023).
The country needs to change course and stop allowing these soft on crime policies to be
entered into legislation. What needs to be done is new polices need to be put in place that deter
people and cause fear in them to reduce the rate of crime being committed. “In fiscal year 2024,
DHS completed more than 685,000 removals and returns, more than any year since 2010; this
includes over 43,000 aggravated felons, a 43 percent increase over the previous Administration.”
(DHS, 2025). Another thing that needs to be continued is making the necessary changes in
polices to allow law enforcement to conducted to their jobs easier and protect the citizens of
the country. This is best seen by how the current Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
had a major change in their policy to allow them to conduct arrest near and within courthouses.
This change was made to aid in reducing crime rates by those crossing the border illegally and
allow them to better protect the citizens of the country.
References:
Abuse of Soft-on-Crime Policies”: Subcommittee Chairman Pfluger Delivers Opening Statement
in Hearing on Rise in Organized Retail Crime https://homeland.house.gov/2023/12/12/abuse-of-
soft-on-crime-policies-subcommitteechairman-pfluger-delivers-opening-statement-in-hearing-
on-rise-in-organized-retail-crime/
Increased Illegal Immigration Brings Increased Crime: Almost 2/3 of Federal Arrests Involve
Noncitizens https://www.heritage.org/crime-and-justice/commentary/increased-illegal-
immigration-bringsincreased-crime-almost-23-federal
4
U.S. Department of Homeland Security Strengthened and Innovated, Leveraged New
Partnerships, and Invested in the Workforce to Tackle Today’s Threats, Leaving Nation More
Prepared and More Resilient to Face Tomorrow’s Challenges.
https://www.dhs.gov/archive/news/2025/01/17/dhs-strengthened-and-innovated-leveraged-
newpartnerships-and-invested-workforce
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
