Assignment task:
Present a overall evaluation or judgment of the essay (this can be positive, negative, or mixed). The fragmentation within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) among Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has significantly impacted the effectiveness of border security and immigration management. This fragmentation has led to inefficiencies, including inadequate information sharing and duplicated efforts, due to the absence of cohesive policies (Lawson, Chappell, et al., 2020). DHS must provide oversight to ensure an integrated approach to border and immigration security among all agencies.
CBP is tasked with securing and managing the flow of people and goods into the U.S., while ICE focuses on immigration enforcement and investigations. USCIS handles legal immigration processes, including visa programs, asylum and refugee admissions, and naturalization (Lawson, Chappell, et al., 2020). Despite efforts to address "information silos," the agencies continue to operate with disparate databases and technologies, complicating efforts to bridge gaps and share information seamlessly. While inter-agency collaboration occurs, particularly on high-threat cases, the lack of integrated systems often hinders effective communication.
To enhance DHS's mission, it is essential to improve coordination and connectivity among these agencies through a unified policy framework established by DHS leadership (Lawson, Chappell, et al., 2020). Cross training amongst the three agencies, and other outside federal agencies that provide threat intelligence information would be extremely beneficial, especially to the USCIS, which have seen a increasing number of individuals on the Visa Waiver Program to become radicalized (Lawson, Chappell, et al. 2020). Additionally, fostering and maintaining partnerships with foreign governments is crucial for ensuring comprehensive security compliance at the border entries, specifically Mexico.