Legal Definitions - Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is a part of the United States government that deals with public security-related matters. It was created in response to the terrorist attacks that happened on September 11, 2001. The DHS is responsible for:

• Counter-terrorism
• Border security
• Cybersecurity
• Immigration and customs
• Disaster prevention, preparedness, and management

The DHS is led by the Secretary of Homeland Security and is based in Washington D.C. It includes federal agencies that were previously dealing with topics related to homeland security, such as the Immigration and Naturalization Service, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the U.S. Coast Guard.

For example, the DHS is responsible for securing the borders of the United States and preventing illegal immigration. It also works to prevent terrorist attacks and respond to natural disasters, such as hurricanes and earthquakes.