Managing Home Land Security

Understanding the US Homeland Security

What it does for America and its citizens

On June 2002 , President George Bush proposed to create the Department of Homeland Security - a move considered to be the most significant transformation of the US government whereby a single department has been tasked to protect America 's homeland from terrorist attacks . As noted in the Department 's website , the vision of the organization is to preserve the freedom of the United States and its homeland . Its mission is to lead the unified national effort to secure America . It

has aimed to prevent and deter terrorist attacks and protect against and respond to threats and hazards to the US . Furthermore , the organization has vowed as part of its mission , to safe and secure bs , welcome lawful immigrants and visitors , and to promote the free flow of commerce (US Department of Homeland Security website , 2002

The organizational structure of the Department of Homeland Security has several components which involve resources within Federal , state and local governments . The following are the directorates and their components : Directorate for Preparedness , Directorate for Science and Technology , Directorate for Management , Office of Intelligence and Analysis , Office of Operations Coordination , Directorate for Policy Domestic Nuclear Detection Office

The Directorate for Preparedness works with state , local , and private sector partners to identify threats , determine vulnerabilities , and target resources where risk is greatest , thereby safeguarding our bs , seaports , bridges and highways , and critical information systems . The Office of the Directorate for Science and Technology is the primary research and development arm of the Department . It provides Federal , state and local officials with the technology and capabilities to protect the homeland . The Directorate for Management is responsible for Department budgets and appropriations , expenditure of funds accounting and finance , procurement human resources , information technology systems , facilities and equipment , and the identification and tracking of performance measurements . Finally , the Directorate for Policy works to enhance the nuclear detection efforts of Federal , State territorial , tribal , and local governments , and the private sector and to ensure a coordinated response to such threats (US Department of Homeland Security website , 2002

Aside from the Offices of the Directorates , the US Homeland Department also has independent organizations including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA , Transportation Security Administration (TSA Customs and Bs Protection , Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE , Federal Law Enforcement Training Center , Citizenship and Immigration Services , the US Coast Guard , and the US Secret Service

The functions and main responsibilities of these agencies are as follows : FEMA prepares the nation for hazards , manages Federal response and recovery efforts following any national incident , and administers the National Flood Insurance Program . TSA protects the nation 's transportation systems to ensure freedom of movement for people and commerce . Customs and Bs Protection is responsible for protecting America 's bs in to prevent terrorists and terrorist weapons from entering the United States , while facilitating the flow of legitimate trade and travel . ICE is responsible for identifying and shutting down vulnerabilities in the nation 's b , economic transportation...