Introduction
The Joint Terrorism Task Forces and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Fusion Centers are two crucial intelligence-gathering programs in the United States. Both programs play a big role in preventing terrorist attacks and other criminal activities, such as drug and weapon smuggling. These agencies are responsible for collecting and analyzing intelligence information to identify potential terrorist threats and prevent attacks. Understanding the history and impact on the United States is essential to ensure effective law enforcement and national security measures. This paper will examine the history of the Joint Terrorism Task Forces and DHS Fusion Centers, the benefits of the programs, the impact of the programs on national security
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The Joint Terrorism Task Forces are made up of various law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Homeland Security, and state and local law enforcement agencies. They are responsible for investigating and preventing terrorist activities, both domestically and internationally. Since the attacks made on September 11, 2001, the Joint Terrorism Task Forces have expanded and evolved to meet the evolving threats and terrorist landscape.
The DHS Fusion Centers were established in 2003 after the 9/11 attacks to help with information sharing between federal, state, and local agencies to preventing terrorism and other criminal activities. The DHS Fusion Centers are collaborative efforts between the DHS, state and local law enforcement, and private sector partners to share information and intelligence. The fusion centers serve as a central hub for the collection, analysis, and dissemination of intelligence information.
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For example, the Joint Terrorism Task Forces played a significant role in identifying and apprehending the individuals responsible for the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013. The Joint Terrorism Task Forces, along with state and local law enforcement, worked together to gather and analyze intelligence, resulting in the identification and arrest of the suspects that were involved in the bombing. The DHS Fusion Centers have also been effective in identifying and preventing terrorist attacks. For example, the New York State Intelligence Center, a DHS Fusion Center, identified a terrorist plot in 2009 to bomb a synagogue and Jewish community center in the Bronx, resulting in the arrest and conviction of the suspects.
Another benefit touched on by the Joint Terrorism Task Forces and DHS Fusion Centers is their ability to provide training and support to law enforcement agencies. The Joint Terrorism Task Forces provide training on counterterrorism tactics and techniques to law enforcement agencies across the country. This is a huge benefit for everybody because this makes agencies across the board more capable and efficient to handle a variety of terrorist
Yet, there are still terrorist groups plotting to take us down that we are not aware of. Holder, Napolitano and Clapper stated “We have expanded the number or Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JTTFs) around the country from 35 to 104-” (706) as an example of logos. Ethos is shown through the knowledge the writers have on the safety precautions made throughout the years. The positive take they have on the safety increase and strong framework throughout the country is shown through pathos. The United States is a
With the creation of Homeland Security Act of 2002 brought information sharing to the top of the list when it comes to inter agency cooperation. One key method that assisted the CBP was the creation of fusion centers. In order for HLS to receive accurate information for the streets of our city’s, they created fusion centers. A lot of cites have created fusion centers that are created by the “Law Enforcement Terrorism Prevention Programs and a product of its State Homeland Security Strategy” (Bureau of Justice Assistance, 2005, p.15). The information gathered from the local police gets filtered through these centers and pertinent information is pushed up to homeland security and other agencies.
Fusion Centers is all about sharing information to protect the public in order for that to occur there needs to be more involvement from the DHS when it comes down to it. It would be like a fire and only calling the police, well you need the police to keep the crowd safe, but you also need the fire department to put out the fire along with the ambulance in case someone needs medical
In accordance with the 2014 Quadrennial Homeland Security Review, the terrorist threat is one of the prevailing challenges that pose a significant risk level to the United States as well as to American citizens abroad and many U.S. allies (Department of Homeland Security, 2014). In the United States, the Federal Government assumes the responsibility for leading the efforts that seek to manage the risk level of the terrorist threat. That is why the Federal Government has created the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), whose main mission is to prevent terrorist threats by managing their risk levels (DHS, 2014). Since the terrorist threat is a very complex threat to manage for one entity or agency alone, the DHS is able to accomplish its main mission by working in partnerships with many federal agencies; State, Local, Tribal, and Territorial (SLLTT) Governments; private and public organizations; international partners; and communities all across the United States (DHS, 2014). In all of those partnerships, the Federal Government through the DHS plays a leadership role
So there is many ways the department of homeland security keeps us safe on a day to day basis. They also have a good business section that works with businesses to regulate certain policies and anti terrorism protection for businesses.they are very committed to enabling better utilization of departmental data to improve the quality of services to the American people, while developing products that promote innovation while maintaining
Not every policy and strategy enacted can be a success, as a country we would never learn or find ways to improve if there were no failures. Since the inception of the Department of Homeland Security, many policies and strategies have been proposed and implemented, some being successful and some needing a revision or another policy enacted to change the failure to potential success. Here we will look at two policies, the USA PATRIOT Act and the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act of 2022. While these are reactions to events that have occurred, as many policies proposed or implemented, were reactions to events that had occurred. They are also future prevention strategies to help efforts to keep the homeland safe and secure.
It will examine how the current constraints play a role in homeland defense and defense overseas, the tensions between competing interests of homeland security and international support. Finally, how the U.S. can best balance their requirements against the limited fiscal constraints. How We Protect the Homeland Until the terrorist acts of September 11, the U.S. military focused their efforts overseas to fight and win wars; we have since changed the way we do business. The 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review (QDR) emphasizes the Department’s first defense strategy to protect the nation. The Department of Defense (DOD) will deter and defeat attacks on the United States and to support civil authorities in potential attacks and natural disasters.”
One tactic all law enforcement agencies use today is Total Information Sharing. A writer from the ISE network wrote regarding the new sharing information tactic, “Law enforcement information sharing has expanded significantly across all levels of government, improving law enforcement 's ability to detect, prevent, and respond to acts of terrorism. The sharing of law enforcement information is not a single integrated process.
It is no secret that the United States was completely unprepared for an attack of the magnitude of the attack on the Twin Towers. The U.S is protected by Department of Homeland Security (DHS), it was formed just right after the attack. The Department of Homeland Security, mission is to protect and secure the nation from the many threats we face. According to The U.S. Department of Homeland Security focus on three goals, prevent terrorist attacks.
There is no doubt that the preparation can assist any organization to prepare and or prevent an attack, while there is no amount of preparation to stop everything, it certainly will lessen the damage and or loss of life in the event that tragedy does occur. As the Homeland Security Liaison, Sergeant Larry Pollard has taken on additional duties to ensure there is an unobstructed line of communication between the Tennessee Highway Patrol, Criminal Investigations Division, and the Office of Homeland Security. It is vital that the member holding this position be available at all times to coordinate efforts between each division in the event of a terrorist, or potential terrorist, incident.
However, with its 22 agencies combined, there are mission areas that overlap within the department. One of which is the overlap between the Immigration and Customers Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security and Investigations and the U.S. Border Patrol. Aside from that, there is also an overlap between the Federal Bureau Investigation 's Joint Terrorism Task Forces (JITTFS) and the fusion centers primarily supported by the DHS. To resolve this, there is a need of the DHS to clearly establish its goals and priorities. Through this, the DHS is able to live up with how it is able to remove duplicative and redundant activities that drain the homeland security resources.
DHS’ main responsibility is to prevent domestic terrorism and protect Americans from these threats. Terrorists have been able to in most recent years, adopt new techniques and make advances in tactics in efforts to disrupt the United States and Americans. This rapid evolving threat to the United States, demands that the DHS and its partners be proactive in responding to these threats (Homeland Security, 2022). In addition, there was an implementation plan put into place in September of 2019. It is the Department of Homeland Security Framework for Countering Terrorism and Targeted Violence.
Compared to other departments of the federal government, the United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the youngest among all. After the tragic events of 9/11, DHS was created by the passing of the “Department of Homeland Security Act of 2002, and was an outgrowth of the Office of Homeland Security established by President George W. Bush after Sept. 11, 2001. Strong congressional support for a new federal department that would unify diverse and overlapping security functions of the federal government led to a White House proposal for the DHS in June, 2002, and the legislation was passed late the same year.” (Pearson Education, 2000 - 2015). The creation of the DHS allowed for the reorganizing of existing agencies with functions
The Department of Homeland Security was designed to protect the United States borders and manage and regulate the flow of people entering and leaving. The department is made up of many “operational and support components” such as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the United States Coast Guard (USCG), the United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) , the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), United States Secret Service (USSS), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Management Directorate, the Science and Technology Directorate (S&T), the Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Office (CWMD), the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, the Office of Homeland Security Situational Awareness (OSA), and the Ombudsman Offices or the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO). The DOHS has managed to cut down the number of violent foreign terrorist attacks with the majority of the 230 classified attacks since 9/11 being considered “domestic” attacks. (DOHS, 2022) As long as nothing major changes this pattern should continue and hopefully the government can eradicate all terrorism from
After a terrorist attack of any kind there are always consequences that must be faced. Sometimes the point of the terrorist attacks is because the organization wished to send a message or to influence policy in their favor. However, after the 9/11 attacks administrators realized that the United States was not prepared for a tragedy of this kind and had little to no measures to prevent one, this lead them to create new programs and policies. Terrorist organization’s goal often comes down to one of the following: regime change, territorial change, policy change, social control and status quo maintenance. The main purpose of a terror attack may well be to influence public policy.