- The Department of Homeland Security was created after the 9/11 terrorist attacks with the mission to implement homeland security efforts to protect and secure the United States against terrorist attacks and threats.
- The Department has many goals to protect the nation such as counter terrorism efforts, secure borders, secure cyberspace and critical infrastructure, and economic security.
- However, the laws and regulations for homeland security are constantly evolving. Congress has recently introduced bills to regulate homeland security.
- These pending bills and changing laws are complex and can present problems to businesses and industries in homeland security.
- Consider hiring a homeland security defense attorney with extensive knowledge of these changing laws and regulations to better help businesses and industries adapt to such changes.
Put our highly experienced team on your side
Brian J. Kuester
Former U.S. Attorney
Former DA
Amanda Marshall
Former U.S. Attorney
Local Counsel
Joe Brown
Former U.S. Attorney
& Former District Attorney
Local Counsel
John W. Sellers
Former Senior Trial Attorney
U.S. Department of Justice
Local Counsel
Linda Julin McNamara
Former Chief, DOJ Appeals
Local Counsel
Joanne Fine DeLena
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney
Local Counsel
Aaron L. Wiley
Former Federal Prosecutor
Local Counsel
Roger Bach
Former Special Agent (OIG)
Chris Quick
Former Special Agent (FBI & IRS-CI)
Kevin M. Sheridan
Former Special Agent (FBI)
Ray Yuen
Former Supervisory Special Agent (FBI)
Dennis A. Wichern
Former Special Agent-in-Charge (DEA)
About Our Homeland Security Defense Law Firm
If you need advice regarding legal or regulatory homeland security issues, do not wait to get in contact with one of our experienced homeland security defense attorneys today.
Congress has introduced many bills pertaining to homeland security as a part of its plan to reorganize federal government security operations. The advent of such changes introduces many legal, regulatory, and compliance complexities.
Your business and industry need the advice of our homeland security team to successfully navigate through the uncertainty.
At The Criminal Defense Firm, our homeland security defense attorneys are recognized leaders in guiding our clients on homeland security laws. We have the expertise and dedication to successfully guide you through varying changes, regulations, opportunities, liabilities, etc.
Put The Criminal Defense Firm on your side today to counsel, advise, and work for your business, firm, and industry.
What is Homeland Security and the Department of Homeland Security?
In response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, President Bush announced the creation of the Office of Homeland Security to coordinate the implementation of homeland security efforts to protect and secure the nation against terrorist threats.
The Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”) works to improve the security and safety of the United States.
The Department has over 200,000 employees dedicated to the security of the United States, from border security and emergency response to chemical inspections and cybersecurity.
The Missions of the Department of Homeland Security
The DHS has six homeland security missions that comprise its overall strategic plan for America:
- Counter Terrorism and Homeland Security Threats: Protecting Americans from terrorism is one of the Department’s top priorities.
- Secure U.S. Borders: The Department regularly works to secure the nation’s borders air, land, and sea—to prevent illegal activities and facilitate lawful trade.
- Secure Cyberspace and Critical Infrastructure: This goal aims at increasing individuals’ connectivity to the Internet and preventing attacks via the Internet.
- Preserve and Uphold the Nation’s Prosperity and Economic Security: Protecting America’s prosperity and economic security is critical for international trade, transportation systems, and financial systems, as some examples.
- Strengthen Preparedness and Resilience: Preparedness is both a key goal and responsibility across all sectors and for all people in the United States.
- Champion the DHS Workforce and Strengthen the Department: The Department routinely strives to strengthen the relationships between departments to optimize the efficiency and effectiveness of operations.
The Importance of Protecting the Members of DHS
After 9/11, the priorities of the United States and its citizens drastically shifted. The DHS was established with one overarching purpose: to keep America safe.
The workers of the DHS are committed to preventing future attacks on the United States and its citizens and strive to advance the economic and social prosperity and wellbeing of the nation.
It is important to provide the defenders of our nation with counsel and advice to navigate evolving homeland security laws and manage potential costs of government and industry changes.
Issues that the Department of Homeland Security Handles
The Department of Homeland Security regularly handles the following issues:
- Academic Engagement: The DHS works with the academic community on a broad range of academic issues.
- Border Security: The Department works to protect U.S. borders from the illegal movement of weapons, drugs, contrabands, and people, and it also promotes lawful trade and travel.
- Citizenship and Immigration Services: The United States’ lawful immigration system is an important goal of the Department.
- Civil Rights and Civil Liberties: Safeguarding the civil rights and civil liberties is pivotal to the DHS’s goals.
- Critical Infrastructure Security: The Department strives to safeguard and protect the critical infrastructure of the United States, which is considered so vital that their incapacity or destruction would have a debilitating impact on the physical or economic security of the United States and public health or safety.
- Cybersecurity: The DHS fosters a resilient cyberspace to protect economic vitality and national security.
- Disasters: The Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) leads the federal government’s response to emergencies.
- Economic Security: Protecting the world’s economic prosperity depends on the uninterrupted flow of goods and services, people and capital, and information and technology within the borders of the United States.
- Election Security: The nation depends on a secure and resilient electoral process.
- Emergency Communications: No matter what the emergency may entail, the DHS is dedicated to maintaining communications to keep America safe, secure, and resilient.
- Homeland Security Enterprise: The DHS operates with integrated, results-based operations.
- Homeland Security Careers: The Department is poised to offer Americans opportunities to serve their country.
- Human Trafficking: The DHS is working to end human trafficking.
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement: The mission of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”) is to protect the United States from cross-border crime and illegal immigration.
- Intelligence & Analysis: The Department regularly equips its enterprise with the intelligence and information needed to keep America safe, secure, and resilient.
- International Engagement: The DHS works with international partners to advance the physical and economic security around the globe.
- Law Enforcement Partnerships: Law enforcement agencies and agents at the state, local, tribal, and territorial levels are essential to protecting the nation against terrorism.
- Preventing Terrorism: Protecting America from terrorist threats is the primary reason the DHS was created and is the highest priority.
- Privacy: The Department regularly evaluates its programs, systems, and initiatives for privacy impacts.
- Resilience: Working with all levels of government, the non-profit sector, and private citizens is a routine practice to make the nation more resilient to terrorism, cyber-attacks, pandemics, and natural disasters.
- Science & Technology: Science and technology is the DHS’s primary research and development support.
- Transportation Security: The Transportation Security Administration (“TSA”) is an agency of the DHS that works with transportation sector stakeholders and partners in law enforcement agencies and the intelligence community to provide security to transportation systems.
Homeland Security Legislation
There are critical laws that regulate homeland security:
- Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965: This Act regulates the admission and removal of aliens as well as asylum grants and investigations of human trafficking.
- Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act of 1988: This Act provides the authority and guidelines for declaring disasters and national emergencies as well as the types of assistance to provide in such situations.
- Homeland Security Act of 2002: This is the critical homeland security legislation; it established the Department of Homeland Security and sets forth the mission of the Department.
- Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004: This Act addresses transportation security, the detention of aliens, visa requirements, and border surveillance.
- Security and Accountability For Every Port Act of 2006 (SAFE Port Act): This Act is designed to secure the nation’s sea ports, border, and shipping lanes.
- Implementing Recommendations of the 9-11 Commission Act of 2007: This Act covers several missions of the Department such as cargo security, the protection of critical infrastructure, privacy, the administration of grants, and intelligence sharing.
Homeland Security Matters We Deal With
Our attorneys have the experience required to help businesses and industries adapt to regulatory changes in homeland security.
We represent our clients on many issues:
- representing clients in the homeland security sector on government contracting disputes, including procurement and enforcement issues
- giving advice and counsel to clients on homeland security investment opportunities
- advising clients on issues involving homeland security borders such as export control investigations
- representing clients on immigration proceedings initiated by the Department’s Immigration and Customs Enforcement
The above list is only representative of some of the major issues we handle as a part of our defense strategies to help our clients adapt to pending investigations, regulatory changes, and compliance issues in the homeland security sector.
If you have a question or concern involving additional topics in homeland security, do not hesitate to get in touch with our office immediately.
Request a Free Initial Consultation at The Criminal Defense Firm
For businesses and industries in homeland security, it is imperative to stay abreast of legal, regulatory, and compliance changes.
We understand that laws are constantly evolving and can present a host of problems to your business due to their complex and novel nature.
At The Criminal Defense Firm, our homeland security defense lawyers are highly specialized in homeland security updates at all levels of the government and in all sectors. We assure you that no firm will work harder than The Criminal Defense Firm to advise you on the best avenue to successfully adapt to current and future changes in homeland security.
Call or contact our office online today for a free consultation.
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