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Understanding Homeland Security

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Understanding Homeland Security for the State of Colorado
Introduction
There are many aspects to homeland security which include International, Federal, Local, and tribunal entities working together to address the various hazards and threats we face in today 's world. Each geographic location has its own concerns and priorities within the homeland security realm. The State of Colorado can achieve the process of mitigation, prevention, and preparedness using the various tools available and ensure a safer community. Understanding the overarching homeland security structure and concept and how it applies to the State of Colorado help establish continuity with the many supporting organizations available to address the state 's concerns. …show more content…

Its five main missions and goals are to 1) prevent terrorism and enhance security, 2) secure and manage our borders, 3) enforce and administer immigration laws, 4) safeguard and secure cyberspace, and 5) ensure resilience to disaster (Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, 2013). In 2010, the Obama Administration published the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR) which defined the homeland security enterprise (HSE). The HSE consists of all those who share a common interest in homeland security, to include federal, state, local, tribal, territorial, non-governmental, and private sector entities sharing the responsibility (Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, 2013). The following table identifies the operational and support components within the Department of Homeland Security and describes their specific function (DHS, 2015).
Component Function
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Manages legal immigration into the United States as well as those immigration functions previously handle by the U.S. State Department and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS).
United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Responsible for protecting U.S. borders and ensuring terrorist and weapons do not enter the U.S. while facilitating trade and travel in accordance with U.S. …show more content…

Information for the above table retrieved from http://www.dhs.gov/components-directorates-and-offices and Bullock, Haddow, & Coppola, 2013 In addition to these components directly supporting the DHS, there are other key agencies working with DHS to address a wide variety of issues. These agencies include the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department of Education, the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Justice, Department of State, Department of Defense, and many others. Individual State and Local Agencies also work closely with DHS.
Colorado Homeland Security The Colorado Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management was established under the Department of Public Safety in 2012 (State of Colorado, 2015). The Division includes the Office of Emergency Management, the Office of Preparedness, and the Office of Prevention and Security (State of Colorado, 2015). Its mission, vision, and values are to "prevent, protect, mitigate, respond and recover from all-hazards" through the development of a comprehensive Strategic Plan in synchronization with the DHS (State of Colorado, 2015, p.1). The State of Colorado has its own unique concerns it must address.
Colorado Concerns and Threats
Critical

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