There is no questhe Coast Guard desperately new assets with which to its missions. and it is our nsure that they receive those e best value to the American r two centuries. the Coast protected our shores. and e has come a long way from ings under the auspices of the nue Cutter Service and the aving Service. Following the September 11. 2001. the Coast s transferred from the Deof Transportation to the Deof Homeland Security. a change that brought with it an increase in missions. Today. its roles include searchandrescue missions and marine safety enforcement. securing our Nations ports. waterways. and coasts. carrying out drug and illegal immigrant interdiction operations. protecting our marine environment. and ensuring safety and ease of navigation. President Bush has called the Coast Guard "the worlds premiere lifesaving service." and given the new tasks assigned to the service under the Department of Homeland Security. that label now extends far beyond rescuing mariners in duress or stranded hurricane victims. The Coast Guard is also our first line of defense against waterborne terrorist attacks. from suicide bombers such as those who attacked the USS Cole in Yemen. to potential weapons of mass destruction that could be brought to our ports on board container ships.
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illegal immigrant