Based on your opinion and your references answer the following questions in your thread.
Homeland Security might be viewed as one agency, that being DHS, but for the purpose of this
forum view homeland security as a verb with all the stakeholders who carry this action out.
What does homeland security mean?
What is the mission of homeland security?
How effective and efficient is homeland security?
What interests you the most about homeland security (what part of it) and why?
If you could fix any 1 thing completely within homeland security, what would it be and why?
Finally, apply at least 1 biblical passage to the concept or practice of homeland security. Explain
why you picked the passage and what it means to you.
The Department of Homeland Security is a federal agency that was created after the 2001
terrorist attacks on the twin towers and the pentagon. The creation of the Department of
Homeland Security was a landmark in the history of the U.S. federal government because it was
the largest reorganization of the federal executive branch in decades. The agency was
implemented to protect the United States against both foreign and domestic threats. There are
more than several definitions of homeland security and no national agreement about what
homeland security is (Bellavita, 2019). Many individuals believe that “homeland security” is
only about combating terrorism, but the agency's mission has a broader set of responsibilities
(Doyle, 2019). The duties of the agency include counter-terrorism, public health, border control,
cybersecurity, aviation security, and emergency response. The mission of homeland security is to
keep Americans safe by securing the nation from the many internal and external threats. The
ultimate goals of homeland security are counter-terrorism and homeland threats, secure U.S.
borders and approaches, a secure cyberspace and critical infrastructure, preserving and upholding
the Nation’s prosperity and economic security, strengthening preparedness and resilience (DHS,
2021).
Since the creation of homeland security, there has been an unprecedented commitment to
efficiency for support of the frontline operations by building a culture of fiscal discipline and
accountability (DHS, 2021). Homeland security has been effective and efficient by adapting to
the ever-changing security threats to our nation. In recent years there has been an increased
focus on domestic terrorism and cyber theats. However, homeland security cannot diminish
defending our homeland against foreign terror threats. This is significant due to the U.S.
withdrawal from Afghanistan which could possibly increase acts of terrorism against the United
States (Lieberman, 2021). Homeland security has implemented many successful initiatives that
have increased our national security. There are systems that homeland security has created, such
as vetting and screening, to make it more difficult for foreign terrorists and other illicit actors to
travel to the U.S. and attempt to carry out attacks (Lieberman, 2021). Information-sharing
barriers were eliminated by the introduction of fusion centers. Before fusion centers, it was
difficult for information-sharing on potential threats through federal, state, and local agencies.
After Hurricane Katrina, there was reform at FEMA and states and localities; the capabilities of
disaster response have become stronger since then. Cybersecurity and Information Security
Agency were introduced in 2018, showing that homeland security is adapting to the threats and
capabilities of different types of terrorism.
The Department of Homeland Security is made up of 22 different agencies. The department that
interests me the most is the Office of Intelligence and Analysis. I am most interested in this
department of Homeland Security because I currently work in the Air Force as an intelligence
analyst. As a unique part of the Intelligence Community, the Office of Intelligence and Analysis
is the only department that is statutorily charged with delivering intelligence to state, local, tribal,
territorial and private sector partners. The main focus of this department is to use intelligence to
keep the nation safe, resilient, and secure. The Office of Intelligence and Analysis specializes in
sharing intelligence and analysis with operators and decision-makers to identify and mitigate
threats to the nation. If I could completely change one thing in homeland security it would be to
strategically recalibrate the priorities in homeland security. Instead of focusing on a threat-
oriented model, homeland security would have a safety and services model. Throughout the last
two decades, homeland security has been disproportionately focused on international terrorism
and immigration enforcement. Some of the most serious risks to America today originate at
home or are borderless by nature (Rudman, DeLeon, Martinez, Massinino, Mathema, Mulligan,
Schmitt, & Wolgin, 2021). The threat-oriented mission will remain the same, but the safety and
service model would help realign the focus on areas that can maximize efficiency and provide
value to the American people. The Department of Homeland Security should work towards
increasing services and building relationships with Americans; therefore showing that the
department is not only protecting the United States, but also reflecting the core values of
America.
Job 11:18 states “In you will feel secure, because there is hope; you will look around and take
your rest in security”. As American’s, it is important that we feel confident that the Department
of Homeland Security is providing the country with the hope of security. However, as Christians,
it is extremely important that we do not look to the government as a savior of our problems or
the keeper of our security. God has placed people in governmental authority positions and we are
to acknowledge and trust those positions; as long as their will does not impede our moral
obligation to the Law of God.
References
Bellavita, C. (2019). How to Learn About Homeland Security. Homeland Security Affairs, Xv
ESV Study Bible. (2008). Crossway Books.
Lieberman, J. I. (2021, September 9). DHS twenty years after 9/11: Looking back and looking
ahead. Brookings. Retrieved October 27, 2021, from
https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2021/09/08/dhs-twenty-years-after-9-11-looking-back-
and-looking-ahead/.
Rudman, M., DeLeon, R., Martinez, J., Massinino, E., Mathema, S., Mulligan, K., Schmitt, A., &
Wolgin, P. (2021, June 16). Redefining homeland security: A new framework for DHS to meet
today's challenges. Center for American Progress. Retrieved October 27, 2021, from
https://www.americanprogress.org/issues/security/reports/2021/06/16/500642/redefining-
homeland-security-new-framework-dhs-meet-todays-challenges/.
We Are DHS. (2021, August 10). Department of Homeland Security. https://www.dhs.gov/we-
are-dhs
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)
