DISCUSSION 1
Based on your opinion and your references answer the following questions in
your thread. Homeland Security might be viewed as one agency, which 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.
Write about when homeland security came about-been there before 9/11 etc.…
What does homeland security means?
The term itself has been evolving over the years but the main goal has always been the same -
protection of the people in the United States (U.S.) (Stephens, 2019). With that said, the first
thing that comes to most of the people’s mind when mentioning homeland security is probably
terrorism and border protection, but it is much more than that. Homeland security involves
protection, prevention, preparedness, and recovery from critical and hazardous situations, which
include terrorism, border security, transportation and aviation security, cybersecurity, public
health as well as natural disasters (Zaffar, 2019).
What is the mission of homeland security?
The missions entailed within the actions of homeland security include threat response and
detection, border security, key physical and economic infrastructure protection, and maintaining
preparedness in the event prevention strategies fail (Department of Homeland Security, 2019b).
Official mission from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) website states, “With honor
and integrity, we will safeguard the American people, our homeland, and our values”
(Department of Homeland Security, 2019b).
Stakeholders in this mission can include the military, police departments, border patrol agents,
environmental protection agencies, first responders, healthcare workers (who can screen for and
report infections or diseases with potential threat to the public) among others (Stephens, 2019).
The DHS also points out that national security is a shared responsibility with government, non-
government organizations, as well as the private sector to include each individual (Department of
Homeland Security, 2019c).
How effective and efficient is homeland security?
It can be challenging to measure the effectiveness (achievement of desired results) of missions
with prevention and deterrence components. This is comparable to measuring the effectiveness
of a security camera on a building if burglars avoid the building to the presence of a security
camera. Following this same analogy, effectiveness can be measured if threats are detected and
stopped as they are happening (a burglar stops actively breaking into the building once they
notice the security camera). Alternatively, we can compare the number of burglaries pre and post
installation to determine if the desired result of preventing break-ins is achieved. Similarly,
efficiency (maximizing mission activities with the least effort spent) can also be challenging
since it is hard to determine the capability of adversaries or threats until they happen. Providing
the “cheapest” possible to protect the lives of people and key infrastructure can also present a
moral and ethical dilemma.
What interests you the most about homeland security and why?
After the 9/11 attacks, the concept of counterterrorism gained popularity in America.
Counterterrorism may be credited for the U.S’ involvement in a variety of foreign conflicts most
notably the war in Afghanistan. I find this concept interesting because it provokes questions
regarding the physical and legal boundaries of activities done in the name of homeland security.
Another interesting part is that the activities (surveillance and information collection) of
homeland security often create areas of conflict in terms of privacy, transparency, and protection
of civil liberties and rights (Department of Homeland Security, 2019a).
If you could fix 1 thing completely within homeland security, what would it be and why?
Border control is a key area which necessitates an overhaul. In particular, the idea that different
nationalities have differing requirements and timelines for processing entry into the US is
unreasonable and it could appear as a prejudice to some nationalities. Adversaries can use these
loopholes to find easier means of entry. For example, terrorists start recruiting people from
countries that have easier access-faster and less complicated way of obtaining an entry visa to
enter or simply recruit from the countries that do not require a visa to enter the U.S.
Biblical passage about the concept or practice of homeland security:
A concept of homeland security that can be related to a biblical principle is that of having
surveillance and early warning systems to notify people of threats. The book of Ezekiel depicts a
scenario in which a watchman is posted on top of a tower to blow a trumpet and warn the city
inhabitants in the case of approaching danger (Ezekiel 33 NIV, Bible Gateway, n.d.). The
mission of a watchman is analogous to the surveillance and warning systems of homeland
security which are more commonly seen at work during natural disaster response and
preparedness (Ready.gov, 2017).
Reference:
Department of Homeland Security. (2019a, July 3). Guiding Principles. Department of
Homeland Security. https://www.dhs.gov/guiding-principles
Department of Homeland Security. (2019b, July 3). Mission. Department of Homeland Security.
https://www.dhs.gov/mission
Department of Homeland Security. (2019c, July 5). Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience.
Department of Homeland Security. https://www.dhs.gov/strengthen-preparedness-and-
resilience
Ezekiel 33 NIV, Bible Gateway. (n.d.). Www.biblegateway.com. Retrieved September 20, 2022,
from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=ezekiel%2033&version=NIV
Stephens, S. (2019). Perceptions of Homeland Security Policing in an Urban Midwestern
Community (Order No. 13810921). Available from ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
Global; Social Science Premium Collection. (2201881825).
https://go.openathens.net/redirector/liberty.edu?
url=https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/perceptions-homeland-security-
policing-urban/docview/2201881825/se-2
Zaffar, E. (2019). Understanding Homeland Security: Foundations of Security Policy (1st ed.).
Routledge. https://doi-org.ezproxy.liberty.edu/10.4324/9780323296243
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