It was created for federal preparations and to deal with terrorism and border control, customs and emergency management. The government officially released the Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003. Homeland Security agents have many jobs such as, “ conducting investigations into terrorist threats and behavior, the smuggling of illegal substances into the country, illegal immigration, and other issues that affect the national security.” Like all government agents, homeland security agents have a mission to protect The United States of America, but by being a department specifically created after an international attack, they have certain pressures that put them in high priority. According to the Department of Homeland Security website there are over 240,000 employees. With this many employees, the Department of Homeland Security is the third largest cabinet department. The department is made up of multiple agencies within, such as, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, US Customs and Border Protection, US Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Transportation Security Administration, United States Coast Guard, United States Secret Service, and Federal Emergency Management Agency.
On August 5, 2002 President Bush signed the Homeland Security act, stating that “The Homeland Security Act of 2002 takes the next critical steps in defending our country. The continuing threat of terrorism, the threat of mass murder on our own soil will be met with a unified, effective response.” By saying this, President Bush is administering hope, that one day in the future, our country will be as safe as we always hoped it was, that we will not be constantly worried about getting attacked from people we have been in war with