Terrorism has been one of the biggest threats to national security in the US. Terror groups such as the ISIS have extended their existential threats to the World and the West. The threat increases when the terror groups prove to be extremely innovative such as using high production standards in spreading their propaganda while at the same time employing unorthodox means of recruiting members. There are various ways that the government has tried to combat terrorism some of which have competing ideas.
The debate on how to face increasing threats of terror has been going on with different stakeholders playing their respective roles while many proposals have been made to intensify the fight against terrorism. In an effort to eliminating terror groups particularly in the US, the fate of immigrants from other countries especially those that have been warring has been at stake. Some key players have been of the opinion that the increasing rate of immigration especially form Islamic countries is associated with the increasing rates of terror. The immigrants are accused of giving terror groups an easy way to the West and to the US in particular where they seek refuge, recruit members and gradually plan on the execution of their plans (Shane, 2017).
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The association of immigrants with terror has generated the competing ideas of stopping immigration and deporting illegal immigrants or not. President Donald Trump is one of the people that have been against immigration and has been on record identifying the countries he believed to be the greatest threats and threatened to deport their citizens. Other relevant authorities, on the other hand, have argued that terrorism is not all about immigration and that as it is, the US citizens have in high numbers been recruited and joined terror groups (McCarthy, 2017). The recruits include ex-military officials and that the US should deal with terrorism in a better way of stopping its citizens from radicalization and recruitment.
While terror is a threat not only to the US but the world at large, the government is mandated to making sure that it employs the best strategy to handle it. With investigations proving that the US citizens are being radicalized and moving from their country to countries where terror groups are formed, stopping immigration and deporting immigrants will not be the most effective solution (Shane, 2017). Stopping radicalization of Americans with military training and finding out why radicalization is intensifying in the US would offer better and longer lasting solutions.
The three levels of government have their respective roles in handling issues facing the US. FBIS is the lead federal agency for law enforcement in matters regarding investigating and preventing both domestic and international terrorism. It is tasked with key responsibilities such as investigating attacks with weapons of mass destruction, money laundering among others (Federal Bureau of Investigations, 2016). The state and the local governments, on the other hand, play their critical role in combating terrorism and are particularly prepared in responding to terrorist attacks. Based on these responsibilities, the federal government through the FBI and relevant agencies are tasked with the greatest role in investigating and preventing terrorism while the local and the state governments lack similar capacity and only respond to terror (Homeland Security, 2016). The establishment of a national program aimed at enhancing both the local and state capacity to combat terrorism would intensify the US fight against terrorism.
Conclusion
Terrorism continues to be a major security threat in the US and the world. While significant efforts have been made to fight it, the terrorist groups have also intensified their innovation and creativity. This means that the government at all levels should also intensify its efforts such as involving all relevant agents in the investigation and stopping radicalization.
References
Federal Bureau of Investigatiions. What is the FBI’s role in combating terrorism? (2016, November 29). Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://www.fbi.gov/about/faqs/what-is-the-fbis-role-in-combating-terrorism
Homeland Security (2016). Preventing Terrorism and Enhancing Security. Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://www.dhs.gov/preventing-terrorism-and-enhancing-security
McCarthy, N. (2017, January 31). Most Terrorists in the U.S. Since 9/11 Have Been American Citizens Or Legal Residents [Infographic]. Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2017/01/31/most-terrorists-in-the-u-s-since-911-have-been-american-citizens-or-legal-residents-infographic/#186e82eb3d89
Shane, S. (2017, January 28). Immigration Ban Is Unlikely to Reduce Terrorist Threat, Experts Say. Retrieved October 25, 2017, from https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/28/us/politics/a-sweeping-order-unlikely-to-reduce-terrorist-threat.html
