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Across the Agencies
What We Do
Mission and Responsibilities
The Department's mission is to ensure a homeland that is safe, secure, and resilient against terrorism and other hazards. Our efforts are supported by an ever-expanding set of partners. Every day, the more than 230,000 men and women of the Department contribute their skills and experiences to this important mission. Our duties are wide-ranging, but our goal is clear: a safer, more secure America.
Learn more: State of Homeland Security
Our Responsibilities
 | Prevent Terrorism and Enhance Security Our founding principle and highest priority is to protect the American people from terrorist threats... |
 | Secure and Manage our Borders We secure the nation's air, land and sea borders to prevent illegal activity and facilitate lawful travel and trade... |
 | Enforce and Administer our Immigration Laws We enforce U.S. immigration laws in a smart and effective way as we streamline and facilitate legal immigration... |
 | Safeguard and Secure Cyberspace We secure civilian government computer systems, and partner to secure critical infrastructure and information systems... |
 | Ensure Resilience to Disasters For large-scale emergencies, we coordinate a comprehensive federal response and an effective recovery... |
 | Mature and Strengthen DHS Significant steps have been taken to create a unified and integrated Department... |
This page was last reviewed / modified on October 11, 2011.