The Responsibilities and Authority of the Secretary of Homeland Security
Dennis AuBuchon
September 27, 2009
The current environment in which we live is different than it was before 9/11/2001. The Department of Homeland Security and the individuals who work for it have a huge task and a vital mission to keep us safe. The main goal is keeping America safe. The mission put into words is to secure the nation from the many threats we face.
To begin with there are many avenues regarding the laws and regulations of which this department has jurisdiction or responsibility. These are two numerous to name and in some cases it may not be appropriate to name them as it may affect the mission of the department. There are general categories of which the main focus today deals with counterterrorism to prevent those who wish to do us harm. This involves not only those from abroad but those who are in this country as we have recently seen in the news. At this point I want to congratulate those individuals who have brought recent events to light. Counterterrorism activity in this department involves broad topics such as aviation security, cybersecurity and chemical security among others.
Other topics which have been in the news are border security with individuals crossing the border illegally. The subject of building fences along our Southwest border has received some attention in Congress but I feel it has not received the attention it deserves. Granted there are numerous problems facing our country today but securing our borders especially at the Southwest part of our country should be a hot topic. I am grateful for the fences currently in place. I feel this is just one avenue where they are in place that helps to keep those from entering the country illegally. Along with this comes the subject of border patrol agents who risk their lives every day in this area of our country.
To further discuss these agents I feel it is necessary to establish some recognition of the job they are doing and that I as a citizen appreciate all the effort they put forth. There have been cases where border patrol agents have been arrested with regards to incidents involving illegal aliens trying to enter the country. While I feel that all individuals must follow the law, some of the examples I have seen in the news have place these agents in a difficult situation. The atmosphere of prosecuting border patrol agents have created situations where they must second guess their decisions and when this occurs it can put their lives in danger. Granted sometimes there may be what appears to be excessive force used by some agents. Border patrol agents face unknown danger every day not knowing what they will find when they confront those trying to cross the border illegally. Prosecutors must put themselves in that position before they decision to prosecute. They must consider the situation before making a decision to prosecute. I have no problem with prosecutors arresting those border patrol agents who break the laws in place.
Another area or responsibility under this department involves disaster response and recovery. We are always going to have disasters that individuals, cities, counties or even states will need the resources of the Department of Homeland Security. Examples of such disasters are tornadoes and Hurricanes. There have been and are always going to be disasters in this country and hopefully no more of the type we saw on 9/11/2001. It is important that this department have the qualified individuals with the expertise to make the right decisions.
In summary this department of the Presidentīs Cabinet is doing a fantastic job and the resources in place and the options such as those under the Patriot Act should remain in place. We have been safe since the attack on 9/11/2001 mainly through the resources of those who have been involved with this department. We must always make sure they have the funding necessary to do the important job with which they are tasked. Along with the funding they must continue to have the tools now in place which added to the successful identification of suspects in recent news events. I again must commend anyone in this department from the bottom all the way to the top on the fine job they are doing. I wish to urge them to keep doing it to the best of their ability, our safety as individuals and as a nation depend on it.
To begin with there are many avenues regarding the laws and regulations of which this department has jurisdiction or responsibility. These are two numerous to name and in some cases it may not be appropriate to name them as it may affect the mission of the department. There are general categories of which the main focus today deals with counterterrorism to prevent those who wish to do us harm. This involves not only those from abroad but those who are in this country as we have recently seen in the news. At this point I want to congratulate those individuals who have brought recent events to light. Counterterrorism activity in this department involves broad topics such as aviation security, cybersecurity and chemical security among others.
Other topics which have been in the news are border security with individuals crossing the border illegally. The subject of building fences along our Southwest border has received some attention in Congress but I feel it has not received the attention it deserves. Granted there are numerous problems facing our country today but securing our borders especially at the Southwest part of our country should be a hot topic. I am grateful for the fences currently in place. I feel this is just one avenue where they are in place that helps to keep those from entering the country illegally. Along with this comes the subject of border patrol agents who risk their lives every day in this area of our country.
To further discuss these agents I feel it is necessary to establish some recognition of the job they are doing and that I as a citizen appreciate all the effort they put forth. There have been cases where border patrol agents have been arrested with regards to incidents involving illegal aliens trying to enter the country. While I feel that all individuals must follow the law, some of the examples I have seen in the news have place these agents in a difficult situation. The atmosphere of prosecuting border patrol agents have created situations where they must second guess their decisions and when this occurs it can put their lives in danger. Granted sometimes there may be what appears to be excessive force used by some agents. Border patrol agents face unknown danger every day not knowing what they will find when they confront those trying to cross the border illegally. Prosecutors must put themselves in that position before they decision to prosecute. They must consider the situation before making a decision to prosecute. I have no problem with prosecutors arresting those border patrol agents who break the laws in place.
Another area or responsibility under this department involves disaster response and recovery. We are always going to have disasters that individuals, cities, counties or even states will need the resources of the Department of Homeland Security. Examples of such disasters are tornadoes and Hurricanes. There have been and are always going to be disasters in this country and hopefully no more of the type we saw on 9/11/2001. It is important that this department have the qualified individuals with the expertise to make the right decisions.
In summary this department of the Presidentīs Cabinet is doing a fantastic job and the resources in place and the options such as those under the Patriot Act should remain in place. We have been safe since the attack on 9/11/2001 mainly through the resources of those who have been involved with this department. We must always make sure they have the funding necessary to do the important job with which they are tasked. Along with the funding they must continue to have the tools now in place which added to the successful identification of suspects in recent news events. I again must commend anyone in this department from the bottom all the way to the top on the fine job they are doing. I wish to urge them to keep doing it to the best of their ability, our safety as individuals and as a nation depend on it.
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