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History of Homeland security
By
Richard Bivens
HLSC 510
Professor McAteer
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Since World War II emergency management has primarily focused on preparedness. Often this
involved preparing for enemy attack. Community preparedness for all disasters requires identifying
resources and expertise in advance and planning how these can be used in a disaster. preparedness is
only one phase of emergency management. There are four phases of emergency management which is
mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Mitigation includes really any activity that prevents an
emergency that can reduce the chance of an emergency happening or at least reduce some of the
damaging effects of unavoidable emergencies. Preparedness is preparing for any emergency that can
save lives and preparing in other ways like stocking food and water or any activity that takes place
before an emergency. Response is actions that are taken place to save lives and prevent any further
damage in any emergency. Responding to an emergency, for example fire fighters responding to fires is
an example of response. Recovering is actions that are taken to return a place or situation back to normal
from a post emergency.
As a response to the attacks on September 11th, 2001, President George W. Bush created the
Organization of Homeland Security. This organization was the predecessor of what is now known as the
Department of Homeland Security. Centuries before this tremendous attack the Department of
Homeland Security, which was a younger United States of America had been conducting homeland
security missions and operations to keep her country safe, but at the time it was not homeland security.
Numerous agencies that have been spanning over the past few centuries have worked together to ensure
the safety and security of our Nation. In “Homeland Security History introduction” Franklin Pierce once
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wrote, “it must be felt that there is no national security but, in the nation’s, humble, acknowledged
dependence upon God and His overruling providence”. On July 4th, 1776 the Continental Congress of
the United States issued the Declaration of Independence. The newly formed United States of America
would go to war with Great Britain from 1775 to 1783. The Revolutionary War was hard fought, but in
the end, the United States of America declared it victorying the war. From this moment on, the United
States would hold the reins and responsibility of protecting its homeland from both foreign and domestic
terrorist and enemies. Over the next few centuries the United States would be involved in many new
battles and wars, learning from its victories and losses.
Approximately 230 years before the foundations of the Department of Homeland Security were set in
place, the United States had created numerous services and agencies to protect its newly won
independence. Among the services that were under the United States Marshals Service, the United States
Customs Service, and the United States Coast Guard. Each of these services played a unique role in
securing America’s homeland. The United States Marshals Service on September 24th, 1789, the
Judiciary Act was approved by Congress and signed into law by President George Washington (Legends,
n.d.). This act established the Office of the United States Marshals. US Marshals’
primary duties and responsibilities have varied and grown over the years to include fugitive
apprehension, federal judiciary protection, federal prisoner transport, witness protection, and handling
contraband seized from criminal (U.S Marshals, homeland security). Over the next several centuries, the
United States Marshal Service grew from a mere thirteen members to
over 3,900 law enforcement officers. The United States Marshal Service was later transferred from the
Office of the United States Marshal to the United States Department of Justice.
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In our new modern-day millennium homeland security focuses on the same goals as always but
there are new problems that homeland security must face and be worried about which are human
trafficking, boarder security, immigration enforcement, cyber security and more. The U.S. Department
of Homeland Security is responsible for investigating human trafficking, arresting traffickers and
protecting victims. Homeland security inaugurates hundreds of investigations and makes numerous
arrests every year, using a” victim-centered” approach. Homeland security also processes immigration
relief through Continued Presence, and U visas to victims of human trafficking and other serious crimes.
The United States does not need any additional laws to secure our border. The border should be secured
through the correct use of the regular appropriations process and the faithful enforcement and
application of existing law. This is one of the main reasons the United States homeland Security was
formed.
Enforcing new laws is one of the most important deterrents to future illegal migration and a vital
component of an effective immigration policy. Cyber security has emerged as an issue of vital national
security in the new millennium. Governments, businesses, and individuals are under attack from other
governments, cyber criminals, and hackers because of this. These cyber-attacks steal hundreds of
billions of dollars in personal and business data and compromise sensitive government operations.
Although Homeland Security is responsible for defending civilian government networks as well as the
nation’s critical infrastructure, it is critical that Homeland Security effectively fulfill its responsibilities
in cyberspace. The top priority should be recruiting, training, and maintaining a qualified, motivated,
dependable, and empowered workforce.
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References
Declaration of Independence. (n.d.). Retrieved from
http://www.ushistory.org/documents/declaration.htm
(n.d.). Retrieved from https://history.state.gov/milestones/1945-1952/national-security-act
History. (2018, June 15). Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/history
Logan, K. G. (2018). Homeland security and intelligence. Santa Barbara, CA: Praeger, an imprint of
ABC-CLIO, LLC.
The problems with the Department of Homeland Security. (2018, June 28). Retrieved from
https://thebulletin.org/2009/06/the-problems-with-the-department-of-homeland-security/
U.S. Marshals Service. (n.d.). U.S. Marshals Service. Retrieved from
https://www.usmarshals.gov/history/crawford.htm
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