Department of Homeland Security in the USA Essay

Department of Homeland Security in the USA - Essay Example The primary mission of the department is to protect America and its citizens from, and responding to terror attacks, natural disasters as well as manmade accidents with The USA and its territories including protectorates (Chertoff, 2009). This department is regarded as equivalent to interior ministries in other countries, and its activities are coordinated at the Whitehouse. Creation of this department followed the creation of the Office of Homeland Security (OHS) by President Bush in 2001 after the 9/11 attacks. The Homeland security was created in 2002 by the Department of Homeland Security Act (2002). Creation of the department brought together other 22 government agencies that were reorganized to become one department to oversee security matters within the USA territory (Barkun, 2011). The 22 departments unified under the Department of Homeland Security were formally non military agencies of the government but had some of their functions relating to Security. Some of the division s in the Department of Homeland Security include the Border and Transportation Security division, which is the largest division, The Emergency Preparedness and Response division, the Science and Technology division and the Information Analysis and Infrastructure Protection division (Barkun, 2011). Other departments with similar functions with Homeland security such as the National Security Agency (NSA) Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and The Central Investigation Agency (CIA) were left out of the Homeland Security Department (Barkun, 2011). The Department of Homeland Security has five main duties and responsibilities. These include protecting the American people from terrorist threats and attacks, Securing borders of the United States of America, enforcing immigration laws, improving the country’s readiness for, as well as response to, and recovery from disasters and finally unifying the department so as to function efficiently (Chertoff, 2009). The department’s responsibility of protecting the American people from terrorist threats is its primary responsibility and one that takes priority over any other role of the department. Under this role, the department channels its resources towards prevention of terrorist attacks as well as preparedness for any terror attack. The Department also has the role of advising American citizens all over the world on security matters coming as a result of terrorist threats. The department strives to encourage the citizens to be prepared as opposed to living in constant fear of terrorist threats and attacks. The other important function of the department is to secure the country’s borders. This includes ensuring security of the southern, Northern border, the air and sea ports. The department deports illegal immigrants who could be in the country with ill motives. Another responsibility of the department with regard to securing borders is strengthening the fight against smuggling of drugs, weapons and cash obtained illegally. When it comes to immigration, the department of Homeland Security is mandated with the responsibility of facilitating the process of legal immigration and also cracking down on individuals who break the country’s laws.

Security Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Security Management - Essay Example The organization needs security training on function and responsibilities of the security and non-security personnel. The organization needs to training on the policies, procedures and rules that govern security matters in the organization. The non-security personnel need training on public relations issues such as conflict resolution and liaison with law enforcement agencies (McCrie, 2007). The security personnel must be trained on how to detect, deter and report security breach incidents and handling of emergencies such as disasters and the security guard safety precautions (McCrie, 2007). The personnel need training on communications and report writing skills. The security personnel should be trained on access controls, documentation, identification systems, and security surveys. Accordingly, both security and non-security staff need training on emergency services such as First aid, fire fighting and crowd control (McCrie, 2007). The security personnel should receive training on h ow to counter robbery, arson, sabotage, shoplifting and burglary (McCrie, 2007). Some of the training programs that will be used include classroom training through use of discussions, lectures and presentations. On the job-training is critical for security personnel and will include the use of training methods such as computer-aided interactive instructions that will enable the personnel to identify the security risks, attack methods and detection of security breaches (McCrie, 2007). Demonstrations will be useful in training the guards on handling of visitors and first aid operations. Role playing will training the personnel on handling incidents of burglary, robbery and shoplifting in the organization. Ongoing ‘in-service’ training will be implemented in order to maintain the knowledge, skills and attitudes of employees through issues of lectures, presentations and handouts on the