Homeland Security

1. Border security has been an issue in the U.S. for a long time. What elements of border security are most important and why?

The United States’ federal government has the responsibility of safeguarding the country’s borders against external threats and aggression. This mandate is executed through the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security in collaboration with several federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. Some of the most important elements of border security operations include counternarcotics and counterterrorism.  The institutions are also required to protect the country against unlawful immigration, trafficking of human beings and other contraband, and organized crime. The significance placed in these elements stems from their potential detrimental effects on national security and welfare. Further, the agencies are required to uphold free movement of people and commerce to improve the country’s economic performance (Best, 2010).

• What is the difference between the roles of the U.S. Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement?

The US Border Patrol’s primary mission is to detect and prevent the entry of terrorists and weapons into the United States. The agency is also mandated with stopping the illegal immigration of aliens, human trafficking, and smuggling of contraband into the country while facilitating the uninterrupted flow of legal immigrants and commodities. On the other hand, the Immigrations and Customs Enforcement is responsible for ensuring the security and defense of the nation by identifying, investigating, arresting, indicting, and deporting all foreign citizens that threaten national security. As such, the agency is at the forefront of discovering and averting all terrorist activities, including attack planning, financial support, logistics, communication, and entry into the United States (Haddal, 2010).

• What future threats to homeland security are the most important and why?

One of the most critical future threats to homeland security is the advancements in weapons technologies, including nuclear, biological, radiological, chemical weapons, improvised explosive devices, and drones. Terrorist and organized crime organizations may access such technologies and use them to devastate the country. Technological progress has also created cybersecurity and biotechnology risks by allowing individuals to access core technical capacities that can be misused. Geopolitical threats that emerge from the political instabilities and uncertainties in regions such as the Middle East are also a significant consideration due to their potential destabilizing effects and their role in international terrorism. Other future risks include budgetary deficits and environmental changes. These elements pose dangers to the economic welfare, national security, and social functioning of the United States (West, 2012).

References

Best Jr, R. A. (2010). Securing America’s Borders: The Role of the Intelligence Community. DIANE Publishing.

Haddal, C. C. (2010). Border Security: Key Agencies and Their Missions. Library of Congress, Washington DC. Congressional Research Service.

West, D. M. (2012). A Vision for Homeland Security in the Year 2025. Brookings Institution.

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