The Homeland Security Act

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Recommended: Pros and cons of the homeland security act

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 impacted the American people without many of them realizing it. The act called for increased monitoring of computer networks, phone lines, and online history inside the United States and allowed the government to deport suspects (ACLU). What was created by the act has snaked its way into all aspects of our lives, creating a sense of order and restricting some freedom. However, some say that this imposition into our daily lives limits our freedoms and actions allowed us by the Constitution. Many interest groups voice strong resentment for the act while others try to demonstrate the strengths and triumphs of the Homeland Security Act. This paper will show the differing viewpoints of those that feel that the act has increased order and those that feel it has not done what it was intended to do. The Homeland Security Act was created in 2002 to try and improve coordination among the security related bureaucracies after September 11th. The act created an overarching organization that directed smaller bureaucracies such as the Transportation Security Administration, U.S. Secret Services, and the U.S. Coast Guard (Janda). As established in the act, the Department of Homeland Security’s primary mission is to “prevent terrorist attacks…reduce the vulnerability of the United States to terrorism...and…monitor connections between illegal drug trafficking and terrorism” among many other points of interest. The act gave powers to the Secretary that were to be carried out through the different subagencies (THOMAS). There are many that find that the act is too restrictive of the freedoms of citizens. For example, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) provides cases of what they feel is the Homeland Securit... ... middle of paper ... ...hich side is correct based on their own beliefs and the factual information that is available. Works Cited Albanesius, Chloe. “ACLU Sues DHS over Laptop Searches.” PCMag.com. 26 Aug. 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. American Civil Liberties Union. “Homeland Security Gave Pentagon Information on Anti-War Student Groups in California.” ACLU.com. 18 Jul. 2006. Web. 10 February 2010. Chaddock, Gail Russell. “Security Act to Pervade Daily Lives.” Csmonitor.com. 21 Nov. 2002. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. Fowler, Daniel. “Lawmakers Praise Obama’s Moves to Beef Up Cybersecurity.” Cqpolitics.com. 29 May 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. Global Security. “National Strategy for Homeland Security.” GlobalSecurity.com. Web. 10 Feb. 2010. Homeland Security Act of 2002. House Rep. 107-609. 25 Nov. 2002. Web. Linder, Doug. “Exploring Constitutional Conflicts.” Law.umkc.edu. 2009. Web. 10 Feb. 2010.

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