Most Republican presidential aspirants (CNN) hailed the death of al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in May 2011 during a Special Forces raid in Abbotabad, Pakistan. But while President Barack Obama has declared it a victory against al-Qaeda and a step toward making the United States safer, his Republican opponents say al-Qaeda remains a threat (ABCNews).

Regarding other aspects of homeland security policy, candidates have debated certain provisions of the Patriot Act, including various forms of wiretapping, as well as the continued use of the Guantanamo Bay detention facility, and border security [see candidates' immigration issue tracker].

Editor's Note: Click here for more CFR Issue Trackers and other 2012 campaign resources, which examine the foreign policy and national security dimensions of the presidential race.

Barack Obama

Democratic Incumbent

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Obama's first executive order as president was the closing of the Guantanamo detention center within a year, suspending military trials for two years, and ordering a review of whether detainees would be transferred or prosecuted. In March 2011, a new executive order ended the military trial ban following the review and after Congress passed a law restricting the transfer of prisoners from Guantánamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba to face trial in the United States.

Among its homeland security achievements the White House cites a strategy to fight transnational organized crime, its National Strategy for Counterterrorism against al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups, and a Surface Transportation Security Priority Assessment (PDF). In May 2011 Obama approved an extension of majorPatriot Act provisions, including court-approved roving wiretaps. He also ordered the May 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden (NYT). Obama called bin Laden's death "the most significant achievement to date" in the nation's effort to defeat al-Qaeda.

In December 2011 Obama signed the controversial National Defense Authorization Act, which expands the military's power to indefinitely detain terrorism suspects, including those detained in the United States.

Ron Paul

Republican Candidate

Rep. Paul's (R-TX) homeland security platform includes "ending the nation building" that is increasing our debt, and "sacrificing lives with no end in sight," and securing U.S. borders. He sees the Patriot Act as "unpatriotic because it undermines our liberty," as he said in a November 22, 2011 Republican debate. In his book "Liberty Defined," he writes: "The fact that an extremely unpatriotic piece of legislation was called the Patriot Act tells you about the arrogance and cynicism that exists in Washington."

Paul is against interrogation practice known as waterboarding, which he sees as torture as well as an impractical way of gathering information, as he said during the Nov. 12, 2011 South Carolina debate. He has also suggested getting rid of the Transportation Safety Administration (TheHill).

Mitt Romney

Republican Candidate

Romney advocates an increase in defense spending to "ensure that America remains safe," he writes in his book "No Apology." He supports an increase in troop levels and writes that he would "return our navy and air force to the levels needed to meet their respective missions." He also writes in his book that some Americans "still cannot bring themselves to recognize the scope and reality of the jihadist threat."

In the November 22, 2011 Republican debate, Romney said "those who commit war and attack the United States and pursue treason of various kinds" stand outside constitutional and criminal law. He does not believe in Miranda rights for some terrorists. "

Newt Gingrich (*withdrew)

Editor's Note: Gingrich withdrew his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on May 2, 2012.

On his campaign web site, Gingrich lists an approach to homeland security that includes values promotion, a strong military, "a unified grand strategy for defeating radical Islamism," and reducing oil dependency. In the November 9, 2011 Republican debate, he said he supported extending and strengthening the Patriot Act, although in 2003 he wrote that he was concerned about whether it could be abused and "undermine the very foundation our country was built on."

In the September 7, 2011 Republican debate, Gingrich argued for "overhaul and reform" of the Homeland Security Department. He says he supported the creation of the department but it "hasn't been executed well." Gingrich said "we need some capacity to respond to massive events that could kill hundreds of thousands of Americans in one morning."

Rick Santorum (*withdrew)

Editor's Note: Santorum withdrew his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on April 10, 2012.

In the November 12, 2011 South Carolina debate, Santorum said the most important national security issue facing the nation this year is making sure that Iran doesn't get a nuclear weapon. He is against any cuts in military spending, saying "we should have all the resources in place to make sure that we can defend our borders" and can succeed "when we engage in foreign countries."

In the October 2011 New Hampshire Republican debate, he said that U.S. threats are located all around the world, and "we need basing around the world." While in the Senate, Santorum voted against preserving habeas corpus for Guantanamo detainees and in favor of reauthorizing the Patriot Act.

Michele Bachmann (*withdrew)

Editor's Note: Rep. Bachmann withdrew her candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on January 4, 2012.

Rep. Bachmann (R-MN) criticizes the Obama administration for "ravaging our military strength and structure in a time of war" and "declaring a premature end to the war on terror." She has said that she believes waterboarding is an effective technique, and that "Guantanamo Bay has yielded significant information."

Bachmann has voted in favor of extending the Patriot Act's roving wiretaps and on removing the need for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act warrants for wiretapping abroad.

Jon Huntsman (*withdrew)

Editor's Note: Huntsman withdrew his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on January 16, 2012.

In the November 22, 2011 Republican debate, Huntsman warned about the "balancing act between our individual liberties and security." In the September 7, 2011 debate he expressed broad criticisms U.S. homeland security enforcement. "The greatest gift we could give this country on the 10th year anniversary" of the 9/11 attacks, he said, "is a Homeland Security Department that really works, that doesn't give people a sense when they walk through they're going to get shaken down, a department that doesn't make us all feel like there's a fortress security mentality that is not American."

Discussing the Homeland Security Department during the November 22, 2011 debate, Huntsman warned against compartmentalized intelligence, stressing the need for collaborating on intelligence sharing across levels of government. In the South Carolina debate in early November 2011, Huntsman said, "Waterboarding is torture," and that in employing this method for interrogation of suspects, the United States loses the "ability to project values."

Rick Perry (*withdrew)

Editor's Note: Perry withdrew his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination on January 19, 2012.

Perry advocates a "war on terror" with a "substantially reduced footprint." During the Nov. 12, 2011 South Carolina debate, Perry argued in favor of waterboarding, which he does not see as torture. "For us not to have the ability to try to extract information from [detainees], to save our young people's lives, is a travesty," he said.

As Texas governor, Perry instituted the Texas Homeland Strategic Plan (PDF), based on his belief that homeland security depends on secure borders. He vows to "substantially increase manpower, technology, and fencing along the border to protect the American homeland and stop illegal immigration" and would deploy thousands of National Guard to the border until security personnel can be hired and trained.