My understanding is that DHS now are basically the service economy workers of the intelligence community; doing Intel admin between Coast Guard, Border Guard, TSA etc, strip searches, entrance interviews, unglamorous, low-tech grunt work in-country.
I believe the rationale, at least politically after 9/11 was that unlike the CIA/NSA etc it was a cabinet level agency so answered directly to the executive branch with less independence.
My understanding is that DHS now are basically the service economy workers of the intelligence community; doing Intel admin between Coast Guard, Border Guard, TSA etc, strip searches, entrance interviews, unglamorous, low-tech grunt work in-country.
I believe the rationale, at least politically after 9/11 was that unlike the CIA/NSA etc it was a cabinet level agency so answered directly to the executive branch with less independence.