Abstract
The greatest single area of responsibility for Immigration and Customs Enforcement is immigration enforcement (ICE). While some duties and tight collaboration with U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and other agencies need considerable ICE resources close to the border, the majority of immigration enforcement activity for ICE is carried out in the nation’s interior. Special ICE agents strive to assist companies in securing a legal workforce and to enforce immigration laws against those that support and rely on undocumented employees, often taking advantage of their predicament to provide subpar working conditions and low pay.
Multiple initiatives aid ICE in concentrating and strengthening efforts to discover and deport illegal aliens who are criminals, fugitives, or just arrived. Enforcement of immigration laws involves harsh penalties for anyone who manufactures false documents to support illegal behavior. Several initiatives also aim to keep enhancing the compassionate and safe evacuation of people who are subject to such acts. Additionally, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is concerned with the enforcement of customs and immigration duties. These immigration duties are carried out in more than four hundred federal statutes, which aim to enforce immigration, prevent terrorism, and curb the illegal movement of goods and individuals. Enforcement of immigration involves both working inside a country and at the border. Working at the border also includes a partnership with the United States of America (US), border protection, Customs Enforcement, as well as immigration services.
Summary
The outcomes of this paper provide insights into the positive and negative impacts, current laws and policies, and the Christian perspective concerning immigration and homeland security. The Homeland Security Department (DHS) aims to advance economic security and American prosperity. This department also involves itself in various missions, which include protecting American borders and conducting an orderly and humane immigration system. Moreover, the Homeland Security Department (DHS) advances cyber security and protects crucial infrastructure, thus upholding, and preserving the economic security of the nation. In addition, this department has upheld effective transportation systems, and strengthened emergency resilience and preparedness. Immigration and homeland security are the most important economic and political issues that profoundly shape the culture and politics in America. As a result, this statement forms the grounds for this research paper.
Delivering Equity through DHS
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the largest law enforcement agency. Therefore, it plays a significant role in safeguarding American citizens (Kerwin, 2018). Additionally, DHS advances the safeguarding and equity of civil rights as well as civil liberties. In order to deliver the homeland security mission to the people of America, DHS focuses on addressing various threats faced by underserved communities, especially threats from racially motivated domestic violent extremism. For many years, DHS has focused on addressing distinct threats imposed on the Asian American people. Research reveals that these threats stem from xenophobia and anti-Asian bias while solving the progressing threats that domestic violence extremism pose. Other threats include the threats that target religious communities and communities of color.
The Department of Homeland Security commits itself to combat every form of targeted domestic violence and terrorism. This terrorism and domestic violence usually aim at intimidating peace or coercing certain populations on the grounds of their gender, religion, political opinions, or national origin. In addition, DHS has a significant role in the advancement of equity in America’s immigration system (Bullock et al., 2018). DHS also aims to expand access to humanitarian protection during immigration and naturalization by addressing the challenges underserved individuals and communities’ encounter. Moreover, DHS ensures that various policies imposed by immigration agencies do not cause unnecessary fear and obstacles to immigrant individuals and families while accessing essential public services.
Addressing Barriers Faced by Undeserved Communities during the Naturalization Process
Naturalization is one of the most important benefits offered to immigrants in the US. The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) have welcomed millions of naturalized citizens for many years (Tramountanis, 2022). Citizenship and naturalization play a big role in encouraging full participation in America’s democracy and civil life. In addition, research has proved that citizenship and naturalization promote inclusion and integration (Tramountanis, 2022). Various rights linked to citizenship include the voting right and the right to run for elected office. However, USCIS identifies potential barriers and challenges to equity for underserved individuals and communities. These barriers largely affect the ability of these individuals to access significant neutralization services. Examples of these barriers include limited resources for people with low proficiency in English, lengthy and complex forms that are difficult to complete, and applications that cause barriers to non-binary and transgender individuals.
Access Expansion to Humanitarian Protection during Immigration Processes
United States law allows the provision of a number of distinct humanitarian protection forms, which allow qualified and approved individuals to live in the US for a certain period. In addition, the law provides protection to non-citizens fleeing various harms such as torture, and persecution. Despite the United States law making tremendous steps to advance these protections, other barriers still, exist, especially to people who only speak their indigenous language or are hearing impaired. However, DHS aims to improve access to humanitarian protection in immigration. In order to achieve this ob and providing video relay services to detainedjective, DHS addresses gaps in the provision of reasonable accommodations to disabled individuals. Additionally, DHS is responsible for promoting the interpretation of sign language, and availing video relay services to detained, non-citizen individuals with hearing impairment.
Promoting Economic Opportunities for Underserved Communities through DHS
One of the objectives of DHS is expanding government-contacted opportunities to companies and institutions owned by underserved community members. These members include women, disabled people, people of color, as well as individuals with conviction and arrest records. DHS also ensures that people from rural areas can access and benefit from these federal contracting opportunities. Through DHS, Small disadvantaged businesses (SDBs) overcome barriers in accessing contacts such as limited awareness of the ways of navigating through the process of these contracts. SBDs, through the help of DHS, also overcome various obstacles associated with accessing the areas where these contracts exist. DHS addresses these SBDs’ barriers through outreach activities that increase and monitor small business goals.
Current Law and Policies Applying to Immigration and Homeland Security
The United States of America has taken great steps in order to improve homeland security. Government leaders, industries, and citizens from the political spectrum have worked together to a degree never seen in the history of America. For instance, congress has passed crucial laws that have heped in strengthening the ability of law enforcement agencies in America. These laws prosecute and investigate terrorists as well as people who support terrorism. America has also formed a global coalition aiming to defeat terrorists and their supporters in Afghanistan and other parts of the globe.
Another example of a current policy applying to Immigration and Homeland Security is seen in Trump’s wall policy. In 2017, President Trump unveiled “The Wall,” a concrete barrier that would serve to halt the flow of illegal immigration and narcotics across the border (Keck & Clua-Losada, 2021). Trump’s explanation of the border wall, though, has changed over time. While running for office, he vowed the whole border would be walled; however, he later claimed that just 1,000 miles of the border needed a wall (Keck & Clua-Losada, 2021). He informed reporters that the border would only require 700 miles of wall in July 2017. Initially, he seemed to indicate that the wall would be brand-new and concrete in contrast to the present steel walls.
During a press conference in February 2017, President Trump gave a detailed speech concerning his border wall policy. “We are going to have a wall that works, not a wall like they have today which is either a joke or noneincludingxistent,” he said in the conference (Keck & Clua-Losada, 2021). However, more lately, Trump has made comments that suggest he could think about include existing barriers in his wall design. “We’re mending significant pieces of wall right now,” he said in July (Keck & Clua-Losada, 2021). Trump’s executive order on border security from January mandated a thorough review of border security measures, which was due in 180 days (Keck & Clua-Losada, 2021). The international boundary was to be under full operational control at all times, according to the directive.
However, Trump’s plans concerning the wall were discarded once Joe Biden became the 46th president of the Unites States of America. Joe Biden issued an executive order on January 20, 2021, following his inauguration, which put a stop to President Trump’s plans to build the border wall “(Keck & Clua-Losada, 2021). Biden declared in his proclamation that the government would no longer use tax payer money to build a border wall. According to him, the United States has a responsibility and a right to defend its borders and protect its citizens from dangers, just like any other country (Keck & Clua-Losada, 2021). The construction of a huge wall across the whole southern border, however, was not a genuine governmental response. Instead, it was a money-wasting distraction from the real challenges to the US homeland security.
Immigration, Ports, and Borders Security
The oversight of the committee comprised of the Department of Homeland Security members is involved in monitoring the security of the U.S. borders and entry ports. This committee often collaborates with the federal agencies that are within DHS (Bullock et al., 2018). Examples of these agencies include U.S. citizenship, U.S. customs and immigration enforcement, and U.S. border and customs protection (Tramountanis, 2022). These agencies aim at mitigating the threats caused by the potentiality of terrorists to enter America. According to research on the causes of terrorism in America, the study reveals that most terrorist activities in the U.S. are due to undocumented immigration (Totten, 2018). Additionally, these undocumented immigrations increase the possibility of illicit substances in America. As a result, these government policies are adopted and reviewed as part of the ongoing efforts to balance between safekeeping America and ensuring travel and international commerce in the U.S. prosper. Travel and international commerce are significant as they are the main drivers of the U.S. economy.
Negative Effects of Immigration and Homeland Security
Labor Market Competition
One worldwide-known view is that immigrants take jobs from the citizens of the United States. However, despite these immigrants increasing the labor supply in America, their wages go to their homes, and other essential goods and services. Empirical studies and economic theories reveal that while the high supply of labor caused by immigration results in a depression of wages, over time, organizations increase investments to restore the capital amount per worker. As a result of the restoration of capital per worker, wages are ultimately restored.
Productivity
Immigrants are also known to introduce a wave of ingenuity and talent that accounts for a disproportional share of workers, especially in the fields mostly tied to innovation. A survey was conducted in 2011 involving corporations that are ranked in the top 50 venture capital-funded firms list. This study revealed that at least a half of the above businesses had one immigrant founder in their research or management positions (Perkmann et al., 2019). In addition, a considerable number of degrees awarded in the field of science and engineering and a foundation for job and innovation growth often went to international students studying in the U.S. with temporary visas.
Christian View on Immigration and Homeland Security
The issue of immigration often highlights various fissures between denominational clerks and parishioners. Denominational clerks and Catholic bishops call for amnesty for illegal immigrants. Additionally, these parishioners and denominational clerks hold conferences that lobby special interests for open borders. Moreover, Catholic Church officials and Protestants decry the enforcement of the immigration laws enforced by the government. As a result, certain liberal religious leaders have initiated a ‘sanctuary’ movement intending to harbor illegal aliens even in churches. The research examined the issue of immigration from a biblical and Christian perspective. This study revealed that Christian citizens and policymakers might wish to consider the various ways the scripture contributes to their opinions on immigration (Ambrosini et al., 2021). From this report, many Americans used their faith principles to make decisions concerning public policies and politics.
In addition, the Christian influence has a long historical connection with the United States, which dates to the earliest days of America, and even today, the majority of Americans belong to the religion of Christianity. Lastly, this study examines the role of the Bible in the civil government. These roles include weighing mercy and justice taught in the Bible, determining the specific biblical teachings appropriate to individuals, and those that apply to society as a whole. This idea regarding the civil government largely relates to the policy of immigration. This is because this idea constitutes the notion that all immigration policies should be beneficial and not oppress or cause harm to the well-being of citizens. This statement supports the biblical verse that states, ‘You shall not wrong a sojourner or oppress him, for you were sojourned in the land of Egypt’ (King James Bible, 2018, Ex.22:21). Therefore, citizens have a responsibility to respect those in authority.
Additional Details
Thousands of travelers pass through the Unites States entry airport every day. In addition, more than ten million travelers are currently enrolled in the TSA PreCheck. Nevertheless, the current application process may cause limited services to some non-binary and transgender travelers since the provided form only offers binary gender options. Moreover, a significant number of disabled travelers report facing barriers to accessibility at various preCheck lanes. More than 6 million travelers enroll themselves in Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) meant for trusted traveler programs.
However, these traveler programs sometimes result in difficulties for persons with disabilities and those with limited proficiency in the English language. As a result, the Customs Border Patrol (CBP) attends to the spreading concerns regarding inequities in the revocation, denial, and granting of global entry membership. The significance of global entry membership is to provide equal services even to persons with conviction and arrest records. Overall, DHS has taken several measures to enhance equity as well as ensure security and safety for all travelers.
References
Ambrosini, M., Bonizzoni, P., & Molli, S. D. (2021). How religion shapes immigrants’ integration: The case of Christian migrant churches in Italy. Current Sociology, 69(6), 823-842. Web.
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Keck, M., & Clua-Losada, M. (2021). Trump’s authoritarian neoliberal governance and the US-Mexican border. Policy Studies, 42(5-6), 611-627. Web.
Kerwin, D. (2018). From IIRIRA to Trump: Connecting the dots to the current U.S. immigration policy crisis. Journal on Migration and Human Security, 6(3), 192-204. Web.
King James Bible. (2018). Oxford University Press. (Original work published 1769)
Perkmann, M., SalandBra, R., Tartari, V., McKelvey, M., & Hughes, A. (2019). Academic engagement: A review of the literature 2011-2019. SSRN Electronic Journal. Web.
Totten, R. J. (2018). Epidemics, national security, and US immigration policy. Defense & Security Analysis, 31(3), 199-212. Web.
Tramountanis, A. (2022). Pathways to integration and DIS-integration: An assessment of the Greek immigration policy for the inclusion of immigrants, applicants and beneficiaries of international protection. IMISCOE Research Series, 263-282. Web.