CHAPTER ONE SECURING THE NATION Have you ever wondered why you take off your shoes and scan your bags every time you get on an airplane Airport security uses high-tech equipment to make sure no one is carrying weapons or explosives These procedures were created by the Department of Homeland Security DHS It is one way the department keeps America safe The Aviation and Transportation Security Act in 2002 requires that all passenger screening be conducted by federal employees As a result screening is now provided by the Department of Homeland Security 4
FREEDOM FACT Every day DHS screens 1 8 million travelers and their bags for explosives and other banned items The Explosive Detection System machines can quickly capture an image of a single bag and determine if a bag contains a potential threat item 5
The DHS’s mission is to protect the United States from the many threats it faces every day The Department has five main responsibilities One of its top priorities is to prevent terrorism in the United States and against Americans worldwide The DHS also secures the country’s borders It ensures that people entering living and working in America have legal status to do so In addition the DHS protects the country’s computer information systems The DHS is also responsible for helping during disasters such as hurricanes floods and tornadoes A U S passport is required for all foreign travel by U S citizens Your passport serves as a key that allows you to exit and enter the United States PASSPORT United States of America 6
Keeping America safe is an enormous job Twenty two different federal departments and agencies make up the DHS Each department is an important piece of DHS's ultimate goal keeping America safe U S DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY DEPUTY SECRETARY CHIEF OF STAFF EXECUTIVE SECRETARIAT MILITARY ADVISOR MANAGEMENT DIRECTORATE SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE PUBLIC NATIONAL PROTECTION PROGRAMS DIRECTORATE POLICY GENERAL COUNSEL LEGISLATIVE INSPECTOR GENERAL CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER HEALTH AFFAIRS INTERGOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS OPERATIONS COORDINATION PLANNING CITIZENSHIP IMMIGRATION SERVICES OMBUDSMAN CHIEF PRIVACY OFFICER CIVIL RIGHTS CIVIL LIBERTIES DOMESTIC NUCLEAR DETECTION OFFICE FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING CENTER U S CUSTOMS AND BORDER PROTECTION U S CITIZENSHIP IMMIGRATION SERVICES U S COAST GUARD FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY U S IMMIGRATION AND CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT U S SECRET SERVICE TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION With more than 200 000 employees the DHS is the third largest Cabinet department after the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs 7
