The United States security needs, especially at the aftermath of September 11 attacks, the enactment of the patriot’s act that established the department of homeland security with the prime purpose of safeguarding the country from attacks. True to its mandate the department has on numerous occasions taken credit for foiling terrorist attacks directed towards the United States. Despite the department’s positive record, its operations are marred by genuine concerns which include the infringement of citizen’s personal liberties, increased unauthorized surveillance and the rising cost on taxpayers. In spite of the shortcomings, the Department of homeland security deserves praise for ensuring the safety of Americans.
The United States security agencies have been in focus lately for engaging in unlawful surveillance of citizens. The Edward Snowden leaks of June 2013 even though primarily targeting the National security agency (NSA) also brought to light the activities of homeland security and other multiple United States security agencies (Lyon, 2014). Even though the patriot’s act allowed the department to collect individual data from third parties without the consent of an individual, Lyon (2014) argues that it’s clear that homeland security goes far more than what the act allows and even engages in wiretaps of otherwise innocent nonterrorism involved Americans. Knowledge of these wiretaps divides public opinion and in effect harms the legitimacy and the trust of Americans in the department. Lowered trust in the security agencies according to Alimahomed (2014) reduces the very effectiveness of the agencies and is therefore counterproductive.
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Human rights and personal liberties also come to focus at every mention of the activities of homeland security. In particular, the practice of waterboarding and the use of other rather inhumane advanced interrogation techniques directly violate the universal declaration of human rights. Inasmuch as the department of homeland security occasionally refutes claims of human right abuses evidence does actually point to the very fact that violation of human rights happens under Homeland security. The recent detaining of children in cages at the US-Mexico border, for instance, highlighted the abuses by homeland security’s border agencies. Maintenance of security cannot be used as a canvas for curtailing of freedoms and the blatant disregard of human rights. According to Sutherland (2014), disregard of basic rights in effect actually harms the credibility of the department of homeland security. This is evidenced by the disparaging public outcry at the decision to cage children at the body early this year. Negative public opinion can drive security expenditure cuts which will in effect hamper the duties of the department.
Besides increased citizen privacy breaches and human rights violations, the rising cost of operations of homeland security is the other undoing of the department. From its very inception, it was apparent that the establishment of another security agency would considerably balloon federal spending on security. Dancs, (n.d.) estimates that security spending post-establishment of the department ran to upward of a trillion US dollars. Dancs, (n.d.) further debates the effectiveness of such huge expenditure on the security of Americans. Opponents of the monstrous spending on security point at the would-be benefits of channeling that spending to other uses. They also deride the amorphous setting of the department of homeland security as but a black hole guzzling citizen dollars with not much tangible proof to effectiveness.
Despite the negative outcomes of homeland security operations, the department has had its fair share of advantages to the American society. Foremost, the department has considerably improved the overall security of the United States through its wide range security operations. It’s actually very commendable how homeland has improved US border security and threat surveillance. Lewandowski, Rojek & Manjarrez, (2017) in particular laud homelands strides along the southwest border. Partida, (2014) even though a little cagey on praising the role of homeland security along the Mexican border accepts that the agency has had some success in terms of border control.
Apart from improving security, the other advantage of the department has been job creation for a multitude of US citizens. Homeland boosts of staff numbers of about two hundred and forty thousand ("About DHS", 2018). This number plus a host of larger beneficiaries therefore directly benefit from the operations of the agency. The agency employs a large number of personnel largely security agents, cybersecurity specialists, lawyers and a host of other professionals. Further, homeland security partnerships with private companies also contribute to an expanded more robust private sector that ensures employment for many Americans.
Research and education on matters OF security have also generally improved as a consequence of homeland security involvement. The department sponsors various research programs on its own and further partners with research institutions to invent better more efficient security apparatus and surveillance techniques. The homeland security research division (HSRD) under the RAND Corporation is one such partnership ("Homeland Security Research Division", 2018). Sectors such a cybersecurity and healthcare have markedly improved as a result of homeland security and other security organs funding of research.
In conclusion, the changing spectrum of security needs around the new millennium necessitated the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security. The department in its quest to fulfill its mandate has had various downfalls including human right violations, privacy concerns, and a high taxpayer burden. In spite of these challenges, nonetheless, the department has improved security, created job opportunities and supported research and education. In light of the discussion its sound to conclude that even though bogged by legitimate challenges, the department of homeland security deserves praise and support as it performs its mandate.
References
About DHS. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.dhs.gov/about-dhs
Alimahomed, S. (2014). Homeland Security Inc.: public order, private profit. Race & Class , 55 (4), 82-99. doi: 10.1177/0306396813519940
Dancs, A. Homeland Security Spending since 9/11 [Ebook]. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwj_zv6WrZrfAhVnRBUIHYO6C-0QFjABegQICRAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwatson.brown.edu%2Fcostsofwar%2Ffiles%2Fcow%2Fimce%2Fpapers%2F2011%2FHomeland%2520Security.pdf&usg=AOvVaw3GB4hCoWuVQ6gf9oTC_BY2
Homeland Security Research Division. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.rand.org/hsrd.html
Lewandowski, C., Rojek, J., & Manjarrez, V. (2017). Using a Fusion Center Model to Manage and Improve Border Security. Journal Of Applied Security Research , 12 (1), 160-178.
Lyon, D. (2014). Surveillance, Snowden, and Big Data: Capacities, consequences, critique. Big Data & Society , 1 (2), 205395171454186. doi: 10.1177/2053951714541861
Ramírez Partida, H. (2014). Post-9/11 U.S. Homeland Security Policy Changes and Challenges: A Policy Impact Assessment of the Mexican Front. Norteamérica , 9 (1), 55-78. Retrieved from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1870355014701132
Sutherland, D. (2014). Homeland Security and Civil Liberties: Preserving America's Way of Life.
