Introduction
The events of 9/11 unveiled the need for more communications and cooperation between Federal departments in the area of counterterrorism, border security, and the response to emergencies. The implementation of a centralized coordination organization was more urgent than necessary (Flores-Macías & Zarkin, 2019). There was a change in the US structural security policies in 2002 with the formation of The DHS to unify the 15 key agencies responsible for protecting the US from dynamic domestic and foreign threats and dangers.
Reasons for The Establishment of The DHS and Why It Partners with Law Enforcement
Homeland Security (DHS) was formed in 2002 and played the role of bringing together the different federal bureaucracies that are charged with safeguarding national security following the September 11th terrorist attacks. Another critical motive was unifying border control and law enforcement that was not just for immigration (Dahl, 2021). The DHS took control of the Customs, Border Patrol, Immigration Enforcement, and Bioterrorism sectors, which had been under the control of many departments.
Additionally, the DHS was created to improve federal and local emergency response preparation. Recent disasters and terrorism have highlighted the need for Federal, State, and Local Emergency management agencies to work together. The DHS prioritizes national disaster management and serves as a primary information hub for federal departments during catastrophes. With the rise of technology in essential sectors, DHS prioritized cybersecurity to defend critical infrastructure from digital security threats that might compromise national security.
Due to the common goal of protecting the country, DHS should keep its interagency relationship with law enforcement firms. DHS makes a tactical delivery of support to federal, state, and local agencies in counterterrorism, border control, transportation security, and emergency response through intelligence, tools, and resources. Law enforcement also provides the required activity, such as inquiry tasking and physical operation for the actions to be done from DHS all over the nation. Collaborative task groups, given a chance, can perform effectively and conclusively nurture the spirit of networking.
Impact on the origins and purpose of DHS and its partnership Sub-Agencies in the DHS
The 9/11 attacks brought to light some of the drawbacks and systemic issues, and the Department of Homeland Security, as a solution, is centralizing border control, emergency preparedness, and cyber security for critical infrastructure. The one-day aggression emphasized the counterterrorism deficiency of poor agency data sharing and outsourced response. This alluded to the need to rethink government operations, and DHS tried to do so with its mission-oriented governance structure. From that point on, border security was the top priority for the action team. To prevent a similar aerial attack, the streets and infrastructure were monitored.
Effective implementation of the goals of HDS needs strategic partnership among federal, state, and local law enforcement. As a response to the emergence of complicated topics such as terrorism, the government should bear it in mind and work with the principle of cooperation from the very beginning. To stop the attackers’ plans, information needs to be reviewed constantly around the country and, therefore, shared among law enforcement and DHS officers. DHS and federal police detectives form special task forces and units that provide technical assistance or operational forces and frontline investigations (Dahl, 2021). This partnership facilitates the exchange of information and operational coordination to help address the weak points.
Agencies of DHS
Directorate for National Protection and Programs (NPPD): The role of the NPPD has broader implications as the critical infrastructure is spread throughout the country. The general function is to safeguard the most vital benchmarks that back up everyday existence. Grids and lines of communication, and networks for transport are vital parts like power lines, signal paths, and the like, cyberinfrastructure (Tromblay, 2023). NPPD collaborates with governmental and private organizations to assess risks, appropriate security precautions, and react to any incidents. This period of alertness enables NPPD to capture the weaknesses while also adopting mitigation methodologies that enable critical infrastructure to remain steady during emergencies, disasters, and cyber-attacks (McGhee, 2022).
Science and Technology Directorate (S&T): The S&T Directorate used vital technology and innovation to solve significant homeland security concerns. S&T comes up with, obeys, and researches applied technologies. They work on biometrics, support explosives detection, and drive border, and disaster relief operations. S&T builds up safe and crisis preparations with emergency management, law enforcement, and first responders. S&T plays a pivotal role in national security by developing novel sensors, upgrading communications systems, and delivering more effective protective gear (Meissner et al., 2020).
Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A): I&A is the Department’s Intelligence and Analysis Center, which creates and shares homeland security intelligence. The focus on data gathering, analysis, and dissemination is to provide threat, risk, and vulnerability insights. They collaborate with other federal institutions, state and local partners, and non-governmental organizations (Jackson, 2020). I&A contributes to the general level of strategic planning and decision-making by its adequate, albeit timeable, and accurate intelligence. They are responsible for counterterrorism, border patrol, oil and drug smuggling, emergency scenes, and search and rescue.
Conclusion
Through these joint actions, such as intelligence sharing and resource integration, such as that among the Federal Bureau of Investigation, DHS, state and local law enforcement departments, and national emergency responders, they form vital partnerships that have heightened the homeland defenses. After 9/11 revealed a myriad of security vulnerabilities that a coordinated effort across levels of government taking place helped mitigate once-wide security gaps and contain the damage caused by various threats. The cooperation between the DHS initiative and law process with law enforcement is very vital in the prevailing fight against technical threats that are being experienced these days, like pandemics, cyber-attacks, and terrorism.
References
Flores-Macías, G. A., & Zarkin, J. (2019). The Militarization of Law Enforcement: Evidence from Latin America. Perspectives on Politics, 19(2), 519–538. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1537592719003906
Meissner, D., Pope, A., & Selee, A. (2020). Fragmentation in Unity: Immigration and Border Policy within DHS. The MIT Press EBooks, 169–190. https://doi.org/10.7551/mitpress/13831.003.0010
McGhee, S. (2022). US Homeland Security. Handbook of Security Science, p. 63.
Dahl, E. J. (2021). Assessing the Effectiveness of the Department of Homeland Security, 20 Years After 9/11. Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs, Brown University. https://www. hsdl. Org.
Jackson, M. L. (2020). America’s Three Domestic Threats and the Need for a Reform of Domestic Intelligence (Doctoral dissertation, Monterey, CA; Naval Postgraduate School).
Tromblay, D. E. (2023). National Protection and Programs Directorate. In The Handbook of Homeland Security (pp. 99–105). CRC Press.
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