DHS outlines national security challenges
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR). The QHSR assesses the ways homeland security has evolved since the DHS was formed and the significant changes to the threats and challenges facing the nation since the last report was issued nearly a decade ago.
These challenges include changes in global migration, human trafficking, domestic violent extremism, strategic competition from nation states, wide-ranging cyber threats, impacts of climate change, emerging infectious diseases and transnational organized crime.
In this QHSR, the DHS reaffirms the five enduring missions set forth in the first and second QHSRs, while also adding a new — and sixth — homeland security mission. The six enduring missions are:
- Counter terrorism and prevent threats
- Secure and manage borders
- Administer the nation’s immigration system
- Secure cyberspace and critical infrastructure
- Build a resilient nation and respond to incidents.
- Combat crimes of exploitation and protect victims.
Crimes of exploitation — human trafficking, labor exploitation and child exploitation — occur at alarmingly high rates, both in the United States and abroad. Reflecting the overriding importance of supporting victims and stopping perpetrators, the DHS has redoubled its efforts to combat these crimes.
The QHSR was conducted in consultation with a broad range of partners and stakeholders throughout the federal, state, local, tribal and territorial governments, along with private sector, academic, faith-based and other nongovernmental organization partners.
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