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The Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau will continue a hiring freeze and restrict nonessential spending for the foreseeable future, a spokesman said Friday.

ICE employees say the hiring freeze, which has been in effect since March, and spending restrictions are negatively affecting their work and morale.

"We are not making new hires and we continue to not make non-mission-critical expenditures," said ICE spokesman Russ Knocke. "Certainly the hope would be that we would get to the point where hires could be made...but it's premature for me to speculate with respect to a timetable for fiscal 2005."

ICE initiated the hiring freeze in order to deal with financial problems. In September, the bureau ordered its offices to refrain from nonessential spending, such as travel, temporary duty assignments, equipment and supply purchases, and permanent change-of-station moves.

Employees at field offices around the country have told Government Executive that the restrictions are taking their toll. One agent who asked to remain anonymous said some ICE offices are taking away cell phones and pagers from agents due to a lack of funds, and forcing some agents to carpool to work.

He said many ICE special agents want to be transferred to the Customs and Border Protection bureau.

"ICE is currently in shambles, from morale to budget problems to a terrible public image, and the vast majority of my colleagues have been praying we would be sent back under Commissioner [Robert] Bonner in CBP," the agent said.

Knocke said ICE is working with the Homeland Security Department and private companies to audit its budget. He said the bureau saved $120 million from January to September through spending restrictions.

He added that he is aware of the experiences that employees around the country are having, but emphasized that ICE continues to perform its national security missions.

"The theory that guidance has been given to modify mission-critical operations is completely false," he said. "We continue to give very clear guidance to go about the national security mission of ICE."

Knocke also said that ICE has had "remarkable success." For example, the Justice Department on Friday recognized six ICE investigators for spearheading one of largest Internet piracy cases ever. On Tuesday, ICE announced that its Office of Detention and Removal Operations set a record in 2004 for the removal of illegal aliens.

Knocke said ICE faced unprecedented challenges starting up, which included merging budgets and operational requirements for six divisions coming from four different departments.

"I would argue," he said, "that within the 22 agencies of homeland security, we had the most difficult start-up."

COMMENTS

• To all ICE agents who have written to GovExec.com, please read the following news story written by Al Giordano, editor of Narco News regarding ICE's attempts to investigate ICE employees who are contacting the media. This article must be read not only by all ICE dedicated employees who have written to this website, but also for GovExec management to realize that the worst national security threat is not coming from international terrorist but from within the ICE organization. News Article: Customs Cops Visit Bill Conroy with an Attack on Press Freedom By Al Giordano Narco News Posted on Tue May 24th, 2005 at 10:27:40 PM EST http://narcosphere.narconews.com/story/2005/5/24/222740/305 GovExec.com reader Posted May 27, 2005 7:24 AM
• The article only begins to expose the farce that is ICE. I wish GovExec and/or others would dig deeper, as previously voiced in this forum. There is MUCH more to report, most of which the public and Congress are oblivious to. From the inability to hire, travel, or train, to giving up jurisdiction in terrorist finance and export cases and inability to change the name to Investigations and Criminal Enforcement because the FBI opposed it. Lest we not focus on the Admin problems with incorporating already beleaguered and archaic legacy INS systems for pay, time, and procurement (just ask DELL Computer how fun it is trying to get paid). Regarding HQ wonks like Knocke, I don’t know they go to sleep at night after touting the supposed “successes” of ICE (i.e., BUCCANEER – a three year old legacy Customs case). To suggest ICE is “successful” is to admit you have consumed the proverbial “Kool Aid”. ICE is without leadership (Garcia), direction, mission focus, money, and morale, not to mention a non-player in terrorism—related cases (despite with Mike Garcia says, child exploitation cases, while a noble cause, is NOT RELATED TO PREVENTING TERRORISM – our mandate per legislation). To all concerned, please yell and yell loud (but with clarity). Write your congressmen and contact the media and let them know what is going on. The general public think the country is safer now because of DHS, while in fact the argument can be made that it is less safe as fewer people are working on terrorism-related matters than before since the FBI became the ONLY dog in the fight. Legacy USCS Senior Special Agent Posted December 2, 2004 10:22 AM
• I have written many responses to numerous GovExec articles on ICE, and I commend everyone else for doing the same. But I must stress the vital importance for all of us to write to our Senators and Congressmen, even those who are not from our home states. Keeping the heat on Congress is the only way this situation will ever change. Simply responding on this website will not accomplish anything. Don't just complain - take action. And also keep in mind that letters with simple accusations and complaints but no constructive criticism or suggestions will likely be thrown in the trash, so be professional. With Tom Ridge likely to leave soon, a new successor will soon be chosen. Additionally, an article came out yesterday in the Washington Times which completely lambasted ICE, and specifically ICE management, for its current situation. This article also suggested that a congressional investigation into ICE might be on the way very soon. For these reasons, this is the time, more than ever, to keep the heat on. It will take time and effort from us, but if we want this to change, we have no choice. GovExec.com reader Posted November 30, 2004 3:24 PM