Return to Article: Chertoff warned of problems with separate border security agencies
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13032
I know it is too much to ask, but perhaps Bonner could add the English literature major (Deputy Deborah Spero) and Border Patrol Chief Aguilar (before he gets indicted for pervasive travel voucher fraud) to the manifest of the moving truck as he departs D.C.
Consistent with the recent DHS/OIG report, it is time to merge CBP and ICE. Bonner, Spero, and Aguilar have contributed significantly to the division with ICE. The stove pipes between these two agencies are real and are only getting worse. The end result is that our nation's security is at risk.
At least Ray Kelly understood and appreciated the benefits of having uniformed officers (patrol) and agents (detectives) working under one roof with one common purpose.
Unfortunately, under Chertoff's leadership, the train wreck will continue.
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12992
To the ICE officer/employee urging disgruntled coworkers to be constructive or stop whining -- I agree with you 1,000 percent.
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12921
Remember the children's story about the emperor who wore no clothes? Nobody had the guts to tell him that the supposedly fantastic outfits he was wearing were actually nothing but thin air, until a small child called out that the emperor was naked. Seems like a good analogy to the current ICE situation, and to DHS in general.
Upper management is insisting that all is well, when those of us who actually work in the trenches can clearly see that's not the case. Many of us have acted like the small child in the story, and have tried to bring attention to the many problems facing this department, as well as possible solutions based upon our years of experience (something our leaders lack). Unfortunately, unlike the children's story, no one is listening to what we say.
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12830
The DHS IG report has made its way into the press as this article states and as an Associated Press article states. But here's my issue: I'm tired of the constant complaints and whining of every colleague who is upset with the present situation but who has done nothing to contribute to a solution. I'm tired of hearing about the "mistakes" that were made and about what people "hope" will happen when they haven't done their part. If an ICE employee hasn't written/called Congress (the Senate, House and representative staffers), specifically to as many congressmen on both Homeland Security Committees as possible, and/or that ICE employee hasn't done anything else to speak out to someone who can actually influence our future, I don't believe that employee has a right to complain any more. Complaining in the office and posting opinions on Websites like this, in and of itself, does not constitute an effort to make a change.
Hopefully, many posters on this site have taken additional steps to contact people with influence over the issue. If this situation ever improves, it will be because of those of us who went out of our way to speak up and make an effort. The rest of the crowd who complains but does nothing more doesn't deserve to reap the rewards of any future changes made to the agency.
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12808
We're past merging CBP and ICE as a fix. Like I said two years ago we should be Homeland Security Special Agents first and ICE cubes second. We should be the agents funded equally with the FBI and the ones that the public can relate to for most international and some domestic threats. How did the FBI parlay a specialty in bank robberies to a global expertise in all crimes human. (Alien crimes are still our bag. Oops! Maybe not.) The Homeland Security Department is so esoteric that any well dressed con-man can snow the U.S. Congress and investors alike. Perception is reality in war on crime. If the crooks knew what we know, no one would get convicted. If we get the image down, then there should be a lot of criminals with tin foil in the hats.
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12804
It's obvious Chertoff has no intention of heeding the recommendations of the OIG report, which were to merge ICE and CBP. His blatant disregard for the report and addressing the ongoing problems in ICE are a slap in the face. Not to mention the fact that he has a personal interest in seeing Myers appointed. I can only hope that the report will make it's way into the hands of the press. Then and only then, might Chertoff be embarrassed into making real changes in this agency. The hardworking employees in this agency deserve no less. What a disgrace!
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12773
We all sit and wait for numerous "ICE" issues to be remedied and we eagerly hope that Congress and Secretary Chertoff reads the new DHS OIG report. We wait like Titanic survivors waiting for the Carpathia.
Several issues need to be addressed IMMEDIATELY. The new DHS/OIG report, the suggested ICE/CBP merger and incidents such as the ice (frozen water) label in New Orleans only exemplify the immediate need (Some ICE Special Agents were asked several times a day to explain what ICE stands for and what our job was. The questions came from the public, other law enforcement officers and the military. Good job HQ PR wonks!!!).
I don't believe that the issues reside with legacy INS Special Agents (and yes, I am a legacy Customs S/A). They, as I, work under certain guidelines and rules of law, over which they had no control. If an ICE S/A encounters an illegal alien, the rules of law say you have to do "A", "B" and "C". To some, that may not be enough.
The situation gets worse when ICE suffers from financial mismanagement, low morale, lack of a clearly defined mission, voids in upper management and daily operations using deficient computer programs.
So, what to do???? WRITE TO YOUR CONGRESSMAN!!! If he or she doenst respond, call or visit their office. The only way we can change things is by letting our elected officials know what a mess this place is. Let's change ICE and the laws if necessary.
The present issue is whether or not Ms. Myers is qualified to be Assistant Secretary. Presently, I am not convinced due to her lack of qualifications, specifially, the lack of experience operating an agency so big. To set the record straight, her age has nothing to do with it. I would also like to know if she supports the ICE/CBP merger and has the "political juice" to get things done (Mr. Garcia couldnt even get ICE's name changed).
Can ICE rise from the ruins of our own demise? I hope so!!!
ICE/Special Agent
New York City -
12752
From the Washington Times, Sept. 29. 2005, "Inside the Beltway":
"A high-ranking U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent, assigned to the Gulf Coast to assist with recovery from Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, says he and his fellow agents were forced to remove their uniforms with "ICE" branded on the back (similar to "FBI" and "POLICE") because storm victims were chasing them down in hopes of receiving bags of ice. To end the confusion, several ICE agents changed into legacy uniforms-gear that reads "U.S. Customs" and "INS" (the old Immigration and Naturalization Service)-they had worn before the two agencies merged under the fledging Department of Homeland Security."
Need we say anything more? This also happened last year after the hurricanes in Florida. This is confusing to the public, and embarrassing to agents. NYPD officers have recently stopped ICE agents who were on surveillance, and didn't believe they were federal agents after being shown ICE badges and credentials. A letter had to be sent to the NYPD for dissemination to all commands, informing them that ICE does exist, and we are really federal agents! This is just one more reason among many to either merge us with CBP, or at the very least, change this stupid name. The humiliation and shame continues...
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12748
"Merging ICE and CBP is no guarantee that ICE will have what it truly needs: a clearly defined mission and the resources to achieve it."
I agree 100%. But there are two things the merger should still accomplish:
1) We won't be called "ICE" any more.
2) The merger would be a public admission that ICE was a failure and it would hopefully embarrass a number of DHS and ICE officials.
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12731
Merging ICE and CBP is no guarantee that ICE will have what it truly needs: a clearly defined mission and the resources to achieve it. Much of the call for merger from legacy Customs folk was based on the desire to attain the mission/resources by getting out from under Garcia, who had proved to be incapable, and under Bonner. But now that Bonner is leaving, the contest for his successor will begin, and if it's filled by a Border Patrol candidate, ICE will far no better in CBP than out -- ICE and the BP have been at each others' throats since the beginning. Be careful what you wish for, ICE. As for Julie Myers -- if there is a merger, who's to say she won't be nominated to run the whole thing? And as for John and Marcy -- Garcia didn't run ICE into the ground all by himself, the current leadership was right there with him.
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12728
To: The truth will set you free,
The days of sitting around talking about how great it use to be are all but over. You said, "Former Customs Agents should be given the opportunity to leave to other agencies if they so choose". Let me ask you a question; what the hell is stopping you? Do you truly believe in what you are saying? If so, you are fortunate that our current policies do not call for psychological exams. Based on your statements, I am sure that you would be found mentally lacking. If you are truly sane, I find it hard to believe that this is still an issue for you. You must have been a legacy INS agent who didn't get the Special Agent job. You finally got a job with Customs and then the merger happened. If you are that guy fine, you are allowed to whimper a little bit longer. However, if you are just sitting around posting your nonsense on this and other forums shame on you. You don't deserve the position you are currently wasting. Listen, I hope you find you way in life, chances are you will. This is still a great job. Could it be better? Sure. Will that happen overnight? No. Can you make a difference? Yes, stop all the nonsense. Calling people incompetent and disloyal is the easy way out. You said "The truth will set you free", I hope your right, but lets hope reality finds you soon! P.S. http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/series_search.asp, don't let your "opportunity" pass you by.
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12717
It's great to finally see it in print...exactly what most of us common working class folk in ICE and CBP have been saying for years now. I was absolutely furious though by the time I read the last paragraph. The damage done to our legacy agencies, our morale, and our personal careers is inexcusable, not to mention national security. To know that all this should have never happened but did, confounds and infuriates me to a level I cannot adequately express. I am equally outraged that there seems to be no answer to the prevailing question of who was ultimately responsible for making such poor decisions-I would like to hear some names some day and perhaps some sort of explanation (but of course that would be absurd).
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12714
"...INS, they won the battle fair and square. Customs lost..." the truth will set you free
Yeah! Hooray! I win, I win!
Hey, wait a second, what did I win?
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12713
"...she is another attorney who wants to play Special Agent." ICE Supervisory Special Agent on Julie Meyers
Let's face it brother, in a hospital you would be the nurse, the attorney would be the doctor. You want to call the shots go back to school. That being said, the nurse is the one who knows how the hospital is run and, which doctors kill the most patients.
"Lawyers are the only persons in whom ignorance of the law is not punished." The Principles of Morals and Legislation by Jeremy Bentham.
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12682
I left ICE over 2 years ago because it was clear then that the road was going to be rough for awhile. I truly believed and hoped that in the long run things would improve, but sadly ICE continues to flounder. Unfortunately, no one in this administration thinks enough of ICE's mission to pay attention. If they are willing to push Julie Myers to lead an agency sorely in need of a leader, it's almost a guarantee that ICE will fail. To the hard-working, dedicated agents: get out now!
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12672
To the Supervisory Special Agent that thinks that Marcy Forman and John Clark should continue to run ICE: You know as well as every legacy Customs Agent that both Marcy and John betrayed their colleagues for their own self-serving interest (SES JOBS among other things). That's the reason why they are in charge of ICE. If they wouldn't have betrayed us this agency would be run by former INS. In case you haven't noticed the mission of this agency is immigration enforcement not customs enforcement. ICE should be run by former INS, they won the battle fair and square. Customs lost, and we are history, even if you refuse to acknowledge it. Former Customs Agents should be given the opportunity to leave to other agencies if they so choose. I would rather have a incompetent loyal legacy immigration boss than an incompetent DISLOYAL legacy Customs boss. What we need is someone with integrity who will tell the employees the truth. And the truth is WE ARE IMMIGRATION, our other missions will eventually be given away to other agencies. Say goodbye to drugs, moneylaundering, smuggling, and porn investigations. I am embarassed to say I'm an ICE employee and even more emabarassed to say that I was legacy Customs.
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12671
The reason Immigration and Customs Enforcement was created was to make a patronage job for Michael Garcia. He is an attorney who wanted to play special agent. He was a nice person (how many times are we going to hear that?) but he was not qualified for the position.
Julie Myers is a "nice person" (there it is again!), but she is clearly not qualified for the position. However, powers that be want to give her a high profile position, and she is another attorney that wants to play special agent.
Is "Second Choice" Chertoff really qualified for his job?
There is a big difference between lawyers and law enforcement. Neither should supervise the other. Working together there is a check and balance system.
Let's merge ICE into Customs and Border Protection, which is where everyone who doesn't have a personal stake in keeping them separate thinks it should be. Put John Clark or Marcy Forman (both experienced Special Agents) in charge so we can do our job (once we find out what our job really is!)!
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12636
Julie Meyers doesn't have to be qualified. She's Chertoff's wife and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Richard Meyers' daughter. In this administration, that's more than sufficient for the job.
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12605
Chertoff's decision to keep ICE seperate makes sense IF he plans to give it a mission that moves it beyond its current traditional customs and immigration role. Right now, the agency has no homeland security strategy - it simply calls its legacy missions "homeland security" and goes about its business while the FBI maintains the dominant role in homeland security enforcement. Fix ICE and give it a larger homeland security mission, and the current decision will have merit. Leave ICE the way it is, and it won't really matter.
Running to joint CBP will likely not produce the positive response that many of my legacy Customs brothers and sisters think. The CBP train left the station 2 1/2 years ago, while ICE stayed on the platform. If we merged the two, we would likely face a whole new set of problems. And now CBP Commissioner Bonner has announced his plans to retire anyway...
What ICE and DHS need is good management at all levels - something we have not had and are unlikely to get in the future...
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12604
Just to complicate the situation further, CBP Commissioner Bonner just announced his plans to retire in the near future. Now DHS is facing a leadership void at CBP, ICE and FEMA. This would be a good time to swallow some pride, and do the right thing by merging CBP and ICE, and appointing someone with law enforcement experience to head this agency.
Regarding the spin Dean Boyd and his fellow PR flacks have put out, their claims are contradicted by virtually every ICE agent I have spoken with, throughout the country. Case statistics are down in many offices, especially in traditional Customs investigative areas. Just look at the ICE press releases, which overwhelmingly tout immigration related cases. Look at the asset forfeiture fund, which is being steadily depleted due to the influx of immigration related cases using those funds for investigative expenses, while seizure of assets in immigration cases is limited. Look at the estrangement between CBP and ICE since the creation of DHS, which is only getting worse. Look at the dupication of efforts, budget and morale problems, inadequate administrative and computer systems, how outside agencies are biting off pieces of our authority like vultures feeding on a corpse, and so much more that wasn't even included in the IG's report. How can Boyd, Chertoff, Myers, Clark, Forman, etc. continue to speak out against the merger with straight faces? The merger is long overdue, and while it won't solve all of the many problems facing DHS, at least it represents a step in the right direction, with hope for continued improvement in the future.
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12586
Why doesn't congress subpoena Dean Boyd to testify under oath about his "statistics" that apparently contradict the Inspector Generals Report? I'll bet he will not be willing to perjur himself before congress. The fact is that Immigration enforcement is a specialized discipline and requires an agency that is dedicated solely for that purpose. Half of the criminal investigators in ICE are former Customs Agents. They joined Customs because they believed in the Customs mission, which investigate drug smuggling, moneylaundering, technology smuggling, fraud, and child pornography. The former Customs agents are now required to investigate immigration violations along with the former INS agents. There is less time to devote to traditional Customs cases because the Customs agents are spending a lot more time processing illegals. They would be more than happy to investigate these crimes if you can associate the illegals to terrorism, human smuggling, narcotics or other serious crimes. However most cases involve arresting illegal aliens who are trying to feed a large family back in their native country. Investigators should not be processing illegal aliens...this is why narcotics convictions are down. There is a hidden agenda behind the creation of ICE and its seperation from CBP. Congress needs to investigate it. I'll bet that the real issue has to do with money and the millions of dollars the sub-contractors are making from supplying beds, food and transportation in support of illegal alien "interior" enforcement. It works real well for the contractors, leave the border weak, allow illegals to enter and make money by returning them to their countries. Take all the deportation removal officers, and Protective Service Officers away from ICE and give them to CBP along with a bigger budget and a higher pay grade. Leave investigations as an independent force, so that they can do nothing but CBP related CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS. The investigators should not be used to round up illegals. At what point are they going to do investigations? ICE can sucker the public by saying our statistics are up because we arrested more illegals. But what about convictions for child porn, narcotics, fraud, and technology smuggling? These investigations are not getting done. So again, subpoena Boyd, Forman, and Clark before congress and see what happens.
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12574
Chertoff is proving to be another Tom Ridge. If the idea is good but is not my idea, then it is a bad idea. Unfortunately, as any CBP employee outside of management knows, it's not going to be until another 9/11 happens for DHS and the rest of the government to acknowledge that DHS was a good idea badly implemented.
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12567
I think everyone pretty much still agrees this was a huge mistake. Even though Chertoff was not the decision maker at the time, he is blowing an extremely important opportunity by refusing to listen to the I.G., but more importantly, the people in the field. I'm confident he already has his sacrificial mope lined up to take the fall when we take the next hit. Makes one wonder, if "Brownie" wasn't qualified to manage FEMA; what make a lawyer and judge qualified to fight terrorism ? If, as we hear daily, there is to accountability in DHS, then maybe Chertoff should be the one resigning. At least we know where the buck stops and it ain't with Chertoff. After over 20 years with the "good ole" Customs Service as it was; it's just plain ignorant to separate the agents and inspectors. Another player not mentioned in this piece is Bonner; who has obviously caved in to the Border Patrol, or simply can't handle them under CBP.
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12557
A good, clearly written article about a good, though long overdue report. The DHS OIG report only reinforces what many of us have been saying since this ill-conceived department was created. Those of us with many years of experience warned of the problems that would result from the separation of the inspection and the investigative functions into CBP and ICE, but our pleas fell on deaf ears. DHS was and is a knee-jerk reaction to the 9/11 attacks, which resulted in the dismemberment of the U.S. Customs Service, an agency with a 214 year tradition of service and honor to this nation. This was done despite the fact that the legislation creating DHS DID NOT call for the destruction of Customs.
This nightmare has to end, even if it means that someone has to admit that a big mistake was made. DHS continues to lurch about in disarray, and to date, it seems that Me. Chertoff hasn't got a handle on it. Let's stop the patronage, and get the right people in to take charge. While perhaps well-intentioned, DHS has yet to perform as advertised. Let's correct this mistake, and get this department straightened out before we get hit even worse the next time we are attacked.
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12556
The last paragraph is the most telling, why was ICE created? Nobody seems to understand the rational behind splitting inspections and investigations. This is the reason that every ICE employee (DRO and OI) is disgruntled based upon a lack of vision and purpose. There is a limited window to correct this problem and should be accomplished by November 2005 if we (ICE employees) expect to make a difference. CBP has established itself as an agency with clear direction and strong leadership under Bonner. ICE has evolved into a dysfunctional family that is failed based upon lack of resources (human and financial) and communications. Instead of complaining here is my idea. Merge ICE into CBP with Bonner as the Commissioner. Reasons - CBP has the infrastructure established in the Administrative side. John Clark should be the Assistant Commissioner. Then we as CBP can start living up to the hype that ICE spewed in the media as the premier law enforcement agency within DHS.
Also, this allows Julie Myers to make a graceful exit. She may be a good person but she is not qualified to lead anything in DHS enforcement concerning Customs or Immigration Enforcement.
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12551
To loosely paraphrase a math logic law: "Incorrect data will always give incorrect conclusions". The government has long been trying to cross-breed Customs and Immigration, with the above predictable results. While the two agencies often fought turf battles, none of them were as severe as this ridiculous 'blending'. For those of you who can, and can see the 'high-five'coming, it's time to go..For the rest, good luck.
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