Explain how the mission for the Department of Homeland Secur

Explain how the mission for the Department of Homeland Security was developed. Based on reviewing the organization and operation of the DHS for the past several years, what measures should be taken to improve it for the future?

Needs to be 500 words

Solution

The mission for the Department of Homeland Security was developed keeping in mind the glaring need in the past to ensure a homeland for U.S. citizens that is safe and secure for them, and this is resilient against all kinds and forms of terrorism and any hazard that the citizens are exposed to. The mission for the Department of Homeland Security defines its objectives as well as its approach that it takes to ensure the safety of U.S citizens. The mission for the Department of Homeland Security was developed keeping in mind three key concepts that were considered to be the foundation pillar of Department of Homeland Security. These three concepts are – security resilience and customs and exchange. The Department of Homeland Security had chalked out in detail a blueprint and a strategy with regards to prevention, protection, responding, and recovering. In this mission The Department of Homeland Security is aided by several people (in fact hundreds of thousands of people) from different units of the federal government, state, local, tribal, and territorial governments, the private sector, and other nongovernmental organizations.

Keeping in mind the changing geo political situation and the accompanying changes in the security needs of its citizens the Department of Homeland Security developed five key security missions:

(i) Prevention of terrorism and enhancement of security – This is the founding principle and the founding mission statement of the Department of Homeland Security. The three goals with regards to this mission are – prevention of terrorist attacks, prevention of any kind of un authorized acquisition or use or import of any chemical, biological, and nuclear materials within the nation and lastly reducing the susceptibility of the critical infrastructure as well as the critical resources that are exposed to different hazards as well as terror attacks.

(ii) Securing and managing of borders – This concerns securing USA’s air, sea and land borders and preventing all forms of illegal activities. It also includes dismantling and disruption of all kinds of criminal and terrorist organizations.

(iii) Enforcement of immigration laws – The Department of Homeland Security is concerned with the enforcement of immigration laws on one hand and facilitating the legal immigration process on the other hand.

(iv) Securing the nation’s cyberspace – The Department of Homeland Security analyzes and reduces different forms of cyber threats that the nation is exposed to. It also coordinates its response to different cyber incidents with the purpose of ensuring that USA’s cyber systems remains protected in the future.

(v) Ensuring resilience to disasters – The Department of Homeland Security ensures that a coordinated as well as a comprehensive federal response is provided for different events like terrorist attacks, natural disasters, etc. Focus is on information sharing, collaboration, provision of grants, and facilitating rebuilding and recovery.

The measures that should be taken to improve the Department’s mission for the future are that the Department should regularly assess the changing geo-political dynamics affecting USA as a nation and its citizens. In the last few years ISIS has emerged as a strong terror force across the globe and hence the Department should reevaluate its stance. Also with the rapid climatic changes the country is exposed to several natural hazards like blizzards, floods, fire etc on regular basis. This will also have to be factored in while trying to improve its mission.