Criminal Infrastructure and Key Resources
Homeland Security: Criminal Infrastructure and Key Resources
The national program has policies to unify infrastructure through enhanced protection under the National CIKR (Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources). The main purpose of the National Infrastructure Protection Plan (NIPP) is to protect the United States against any possible attempts by terrorists trying to cause damage to National CIKR. Three legislative orders were created, which were the Patriot Act of 2001, the Homeland Security Act of 2002 and the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Implementtion Act of 2007. The goal was to make the United States a safer, more secure and more resilient country (CHDS, 2016).
Congress implemented the USA Patriot Act of 2001 as a result of the September 11 terrorist attacks. This act set the foundation towards current and future critical infrastructure legislation, which includes strategies, policies and the National Infrastructure Protection Plan. The Patriot Act 2001 has provided authority to U.S. officials to conduct surveillance within the United States, which drastically changed the way the government carries out its surveillance techniques, allowing the government to record phone conversations and keep records of e-mails and text messages. (Act, 2016).
The Homeland Security Act of 2002 created the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (USDHS). This Act defined the particular tasks, functions, responsibilities and roles of the new department, which covered matters mainly related to critical infrastructure protection. Meaning, it is designed to keep the United States protected from foreign attacks. The formation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) became the key element towards security framework. When it was established, it brought together 22 different agencies and offices into one Cabinet-level department. Moreover, then President Bush gave authoritative directions in the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 7 (HSPD-7), which stated that federal departments and agencies would follow his orders when it came to the identification, protection, and designation of National CIKR (CHDS, 2016). These directives included definitions, policies, descriptions of special national security events, and roles and responsibilities of the secretary, sector-specific federal agencies, departments, and offices, as well as coordinations with the private sector. All of these directives contained clear instructions and strategies for securing National CIKR (CHDS, 2016).
After the 9/11 attacks, these acts continue to play a vital role in securing the nation from terrorism. The government has since been active in informing the public when they are suspicious of a terror threat, although no terrorist attacks have occurred in the United States since (9/11 Commission Recommendations, 2016). Legislation over protecting National CIKR may therefore continue to change as security demands. The federal government defined several missions in their 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 to develop a security framework to protect the country from serious attacks directed by outside forces. Further directions and additions have been given at the federal, state and local levels to enhance their capabilities for a prompt response against threats, and disaster, with the intent to better safeguard the country. These methods include emergency management, immigration and border security, and maritime security (Key DHS Laws, 2016).
These three acts have created a completely new means as to how the United States has governed its surveillance and immigration processes. Along with giving the government more control as to how it implements its surveillance on suspected civilians and legal immigrants, it has also changed immigration and border policies to be more strict. The aftermath of the September 11 attacks built a system that is mainly focused on providing security for National CIKR, particularly with the establishment of a new department within the government’s Cabinet.
References
Key DHS laws. (2016) | Homeland Security. Retrieved 6 January 2016, from http://www.dhs.gov/key-dhs-laws
Implementing 9/11 commission recommendations. (2016). | Homeland Security. Retrieved 6 January 2016, from http://www.dhs.gov/implementing-911-commission-recommendations
CHDS. (2016). Homeland Security Digital Library (HSDL): Abstract. Hsdl.org. Retrieved 6 January 2016, from https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=30917
Act, G. (2016). George W. Bush signs the Patriot Act - Oct 26, 2001 - HISTORY.com. HISTORY.com. Retrieved 6 January 2016, from http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/george-w-bush-signs-the-patriot-act
