Department of Homeland Security has undergone tremendous changes in the past years to strengthen domestic and international security. The rising cases of terrorism in the US called for the introduction of better reforms and separation of power by several security agencies to improve safety. Homeland Security Enterprise works closely with other agencies and departments that oversee law enforcement. State, local leaders, community-based organizations, and private sectors are major agencies working with homeland security. The federal government contributes to the success of missions of homeland security. DHS is a member of the intelligence community which comprises of their agencies like the Director of National Intelligence and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Since 2001 after the 9/11 terror attack, US homeland security has adapted various capabilities to improve safety. Domestic intelligence was given more power to investigate the capabilities of Al Qaeda and other terror groups in the US and across the world. The essay will discuss the capabilities and limitations of domestic intelligence efforts in supporting the homeland security enterprise and the energy and resources put in place by local, state, and local agencies to support homeland security.
The success of missions of homeland security is contributed by various security agencies and departments working in unity. The US armed forces are in the fore line to work with homeland security to tightening security and degrade capabilities of al-Qaeda from attacking the US or any other nation. After 9/11, the department of homeland security operates under four goals. The first goal is to promote an understanding of threats by analyzing threats. Second is a collection of relevant information relevant to homeland security. The third is sharing essential information for the action, and lastly is to manage intelligence for Homeland Security Enterprise ( Richelson, 2018) . A significant capability in the fight against terrorism and other terror groups is acquiring adequate information from Washington, DC, into state and local law enforcement. The information sharing is essential to assist in combating terrorism or criminal threats in the communities. The state and the local law enforcement have a better position to identify criminal threats and share with other agencies like the CIA and FBI. During the 9/11 attack, inadequate communication between local and state law enforcement, the CIA, and the FBI contributed to the successful invasion by Al Qaeda, which led to the death of thousands of people and destruction of properties ( Burch, 2007) . To avoid such mistakes in the future, the commission integrated homeland security with the daily activity of the police by providing officers on the front line with clear information to aid in understanding the tactic, behavior, and any indicator or terrorism. DHS supports the effort by sharing information with partners from private and public sectors.
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Various elements are created by homeland security to enhance the sharing of crucial information among the federal, state, local, and private sectors. Fusion centers and the Threat Assessment and Coordination Group are two vital elements that support the achievement of goals of the office of intelligence. The two components were established by the Department of Homeland security to improve the sharing of information amongst federal, state, and tribal and local law enforcement agencies ( Burch, 2007) . The 9/11 terror attack was proof of a lack of information sharing among various security agencies like the Federal Bureau Agency, Central Intelligence, and other security agencies. The Department of Homeland Security has implemented a fusion center to facilitate the sharing of information. Fusion center facilitates information centers beginning from the federal level down to the local level. The purpose is to fuse numerous information into intelligence products essential for customers’ needs both at federal and local levels. The primary information shared by the fusion center includes terror threats, hazards, criminal activities, and domestic gang activities. President Bush and his administration believed that fusion would be a vital asset for providing the federal government with essential information related to terrorist threats and share the same to the states. Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group (ITACG) was formed in 2007 to assist in gathering relevant information from other agencies, especially from the National Counterterrorism Centre, DHS, FBI, and share it with other agencies. ITACG was formed to increase information sharing by avoiding the bureaucracy that increases complexity when sharing security information ("Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group, & United States of America," 2011).
The private sector is another crucial component of homeland security enterprise formed to add capabilities of fighting terrorist activities. DHS has enhanced the organization of the engaging department of the private sector to facilitate faster and rapid communication and regionally-focused information sharing with essential organizations. Following the 9/11 terror attack, DHS has prioritized preparedness of private sectors through programs like Voluntary Private Sector Preparedness Accreditation and Certification Program (PS-Prep™), development, and deployment of modern technology, Ready Business and considering private sectors when developing new policies ( Richelson, 2018) . Another capability of DHS is close working relations with international partners to strengthen the security of global trade and travel, which is relied upon by many communities. Al Qaeda organized the 9/11 attack in a smart way targeting the aviation system, which was not thought of by the security agencies. Since then, DHS has enhanced security in the aviation system in US airports and abroad to avoid future mistakes ( Richelson, 2018) . The agency works closely with the foreign government aviation industry and international organizations to raise security standards in the aviation sector. Public engagement is another initiative adopted to enhance the homeland security enterprise. The initiative focusses on creating awareness t the public to report any unusual behavior or practice indicating terrorist activity. Various campaigns are run to encourage the public to report any suspicion to law enforcement. Also, the public is provided with adequate information and advised accordingly in case of any state, local ad common terrorists threats.
The strategies and initiatives analyzed above are evidence that the US is well structure and prepared to provide actionable domestic intelligence now and, in the future, adequately. The lessons of the 9/11 commission came up with effective structure and resources to avoid future attacks. The recommendation provided brought significant changes to the security department and federal government to improve the united effort meant to curb terrorist activities in the present and future. Adequate resources and unity of the team ensures appropriate planning to overcome the Islamic terrorists’ group both locally and internationally. The integrity of Mr. Clapper, the director of national intelligence, shows the position and preparedness of the US in curbing terrorism. Improvement in communication and information network has enhanced the sharing of information, making it easy to identify future terrorists’ activities. Lastly, the preparedness of the US is shown by strengthening of the FBI and homeland defenders who focus on protecting the US at the local and international level.
The department of homeland security faces challenges of maintaining civil liberties. The policies put in place by the commission of 9/11 are challenged by the public, who believe that the intelligence community will accumulate unwarranted power. After the 9/11 attack, many Americans became disarmed, an act that has led to a debate on fundamental rights and liberties. The 8th and 14th amendment of the constitution allow Americans to own firearms for self-protection ( Jackson, B. A., Schaefer, A. G., Noricks, D., Goldsmith, B. W., & Lester, G. (2009) . The intelligence has brought the war on terror in American soil, where several people have been denied access to firearms for security purposes. Many Americans cannot continue tolerating long-term degradation of their civil liberties. The intelligence community needs to come up with effective measures to ensure they balance security against civil liberty. Another liberty issue raised is interference with privacy ( Stevens & Relyea, 2004) . The Total Information Awareness (TIA) research program makes it easy for the intelligence community to access personal data without one’s knowledge.
Department of Homeland Security faces the challenge of home-grown terrorism and the proliferation of communication encryption technologies. Increased home-grown terrorism is making it difficult for the department homeland to identify potential terrorist activities and criminals since most are citizens already absorbed into the system ( Christie, 2019) . Most recommendation of 9/11 attack is meant to protect the nation from AL Qaeda and other terrorists who use the US border to access the country. With high cases of home-grown terrorists, the intelligence community has a huge task of improving their communication network and screening every individual to eliminate such individuals. Terrorist is also in the front line to encrypt communication network, causing the new threat of cybersecurity. Continuous evolvement in technology continues to pose a danger as terrorist groups focus on using cyberspace as opposed to physical opponents used in past years ( Christie, 2019) . The state and non-state actors are forced to be ahead in investing in cyber-capabilities to outdo the plans of terrorists. DHS and their intelligence community need to spend more resources in screening and checking credentials to reduce the growing theft of intelligence information which pose a risk to the security.
References
Burch, J. (2007). A domestic intelligence agency for the United States? A comparative analysis of domestic intelligence agencies and their implications for homeland security . NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL MONTEREY CA CENTER FOR HOMELAND DEFENSE AND SECURITY.
Christie, J. (2019). “Going Dark”–The Challenge Facing Law Enforcement in the 21st Century.
Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group, & United States of America. (2011). Interagency Threat Assessment and Coordination Group: Intelligence Guide for First Responders.
Jackson, B. A., Schaefer, A. G., Noricks, D., Goldsmith, B. W., & Lester, G. (2009). The challenge of domestic intelligence in a free society: A multidisciplinary look at the creation of a US domestic counterterrorism intelligence agency (Vol. 804). Rand Corporation.
Richelson, J. T. (2018). The US intelligence community . Routledge.
Stevens, G. M., & Relyea, H. (2004, August). Privacy: Key recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. Congressional Research Service, the Library of Congress.
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