Return to Article: New immigration enforcement chief gets mixed reception
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14921
One of the biggest problems with ICE can be illustrated by the headline of this article, which reads, "New immigration enforcement chief gets mixed reception." This is another nail in the coffin of the careers of legacy Customs agents who were drafted into ICE, along with legacy INS agents. We have seen our identities erased, our mission focus changed, and no regard in this new agency for our experience and knowledge in enforcing Customs-related laws. To the public, this agency is truly the new INS, as immigration enforcement is the top priority of ICE. This headline, along with other media coverage, merely reinforces that sad fact.
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14601
First there was "Daisy Does America" on TV. Now we have the sequel, "Julie Does ICE," which follows the exploits of Ms. Myers as she crosses the country to try and learn what to do with her new job. After over 20 years with the U.S. Customs Service, and then being drafted into ICE, it's time to update the old resume, because the future in this agency is bleak indeed. When the DHS Secretary disregards a proposal to merge CBP and ICE that is supported by many ICE agents, members of Congress, the media, outside experts, and former top officials, and the Administration uses a recess appointment to place a dubiously qualified candidate like Ms. Myers at the head of this agency, the writing is on the wall. ICE is dominated by immigration issues, while traditional Customs investigations are given less priority, and legacy Customs agents are basically being told to take it, or leave. Welcome to ICE, which has become the new INS, and will surely be about as effective as the old INS. Today we were told to limit car washes for government vehicles to one a month, and not more than $10 per wash. Since most commercial car washes in this area charge more than that, I guess management expects us to wash the cars ourselves. At least the money saved can finance Ms. Myers' tour across the United States. Pass the G-514s, folks, and start learning even more passwords for the numerous legacy INS databases that are still not linked, and likely never will be. Is this what ICE considers progress? Instead of going forward into the 21st Century, we are headed backwards, to our nation's detriment. What a disgrace!
Stay tuned, as the saga continues...
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14323
At least Ms. Myers has some law enforcement experience as a DOJ attorney. With the departure of Judge Bonner, we, at CBP, are left with Acting Commissioner Spero.
Let me introduce to you an English literature major with no law enforcement experience. Her "Customs" resume is largely limited to human resources and compliance.
On balance, it appears that Homeland Security gets an A+ for consistency: Consistently placing individuals in positions of leadership that exceed their qualifications, skills and ability.
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14172
From the January 11 "Rush & Molloy" gossip column in the New York Daily News, under the heading, "Side Dish:"
"Don't tell Homeland Security chief Michael Chertoff that Julie Myers isn't qualified to head the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency. Myers is married to Chertoff's chief of staff. She's also the niece of outgoing Joint Chiefs Chairman Richard Myers. But Chertoff scoffs at talk of cronyism. 'The only rap I can think about her is that she is 36 years old,' he told us at Monday's Oxonian Society reception. 'I was 36 when I was U.S. attorney for New Jersey, so I don't view it as a handicap.'"
Therein lies the problem, Mr. Chertoff. While at 36 you ran the New Jersey U.S. attorney's office, with at most maybe a couple of hundred employees, it was still a job you had been in for your whole career up to that point, namely, as a prosecutor. Ms. Myers at 36 has just taken over an agency with more than 15,000 employees, and a budget of over $ 4 billion, with little or no management experience, or for that matter, experience in immigration or customs enforcement, other than a brief term as an assistant U.S. attorney, followed by short stints at the Treasury and Commerce Departments, and at White House personnel. There is a huge difference between the two positions, which is apparent to just about everyone except you!
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14155
A stunning and well-expressed indictment by Mr. Ogden of the current sordid state of affairs at ICE. I remember him well from my time in basic and advanced training at the USCS Academy - OI Training.
You hit the nail squarely on the head, sir, and, don't worry, many of us underlings you trained not so long ago are right on your heels out the door. As for myself, I will be spending this entire holiday weekend at home polishing my resume for posing on USAJOBS next week; I can't get off this suicide freight train fast enough.
Pathetic, shameful and disgraceful.
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14153
"Mixed" reception? By that definition, perhaps Hurricane Katrina was also met with a mixed reception by all those affected. I know there are thousands of employees who have a vehemently negative attitude towards Myers' arrival, but I must be missing those who supposedly have a positive outlook. 99 percent negative versus 1 percent positive doesn't exactly equate to "mixed" in my book.
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14125
It would be fun to see how she would score on the Promotional Assessment Test. She is not a special agent. But, after looking over the test, it appears many of you are not, either.
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14113
Perhaps Mrs. Myers can give me a ride to work and ferry me around during surveillances. We have been told to expect more problems in paying for gasoline in coming months. Apparently the gas budget is already shot at my large Texas SAC office. Go Team America!
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14105
At this point in time, Ms. Myers' recess appointment is no more than the very bitter frosting on a very dry and crumbly cake
No one should be surprised at what happened yesterday, but it bodes poorly for the agency's future direction. For Ms. Myers to receive effectively what amounts to a one year "lame duck" appointment serves no one well, but it serves least well the agents who will have to live with the damage after we have to go through the trauma of yet another assistant secretary confirmation process in 2007, with more uncertainty and lack of direction.
To this end, I can't help but note, in the TECS admin. messages, the recent numerous retirements of all levels of ICE staff: SACs, Deputy SACs, Assistant SACs, RACs, Group Supervisors and Senior Special Agents; you get the picture. Our institutional knowledge is hemorrhaging while the administration and HQ staff silently acquiesce to the carnage. On the other side of the equation, I don't see too many hires coming on board to backfill the lost positions, so, while the corporate knowledge bleeds out, we also don't even have warm bodies to pick up the slack. I also guess that you can probably see where this is headed, too: less agents, more work for the agents that are left.
In conclusion, I thank G-d I have a lot of "use or lose" available in 2006, as well as my 240 hours of reserve leave. Unfortunately, instead of a nice vacation this year with my family, the time will, sadly, probably be better spent looking for a position elsewhere with a better defined mission and, more importantly, more self-respect than what we have now.
Good luck to all my fellow colleagues who must make some very difficult decisions in the upcoming year. To those leaving the agency due to retirement or resignation, I wish you the very best, and it was a great pleasure to work with many of you over the years.
Pathetic, shameful and eternally disgraceful.
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14104
It has never really been about creating the "premier law enforcement agency" in the country. But it has been about orchestrating that illusion for the president, Congress, DHS, ICE employees, and most of all, the public. The last three years of ICE's existence have seen ample daily "spin" and weaving of ignorance, indecisiveness, misdirected priorities, and most of all, a colossal and inexcusable failure to take advantage of the expansive knowledge, experience, and skill of so many talented employees.
Michael Garcia, an attorney but nonetheless likeable man and inexperienced manager, was backdoored on a daily basis by an incredibly incompetent, indecisive, inexperienced, self-serving director of operations, Michael Dougherty. They had everything they needed handed to them on a silver platter to make a great law enforcement history -- and they completely blew it from day one.
The idiot-moron leadership at FOP does not speak for the thousands of ICE Special Agents and DRO employees on the subject of Julie Myers and the anticipated future of ICE as an organization. She is simply chronologically incapable -- no matter where she went to school -- of possessing the experience and skills she needs to manage and direct ICE. I can't even imagine anyone under 50 years of age having what it takes to get behind the wheel of this runaway train.
The Kool-Aid dispenser at ICE HQ is simply being replenished with a new flavor to guarantee another round of double-talk, blunders, and missteps. ICE has to be the largest group of the most unhappy federal employees in the history of our government. Morale can't get lower than it is right now -- it can only go sideways into oblivion where all the employees spill out into a black hole of other-agency vacancy announcements. I would be curious to know how much time is spent by ICE employees on USAJOBS.
Is there any wonder? How much agency degradation is an employee expected to endure? I was a proud employee of the United States Customs Service for more than 25 years when ICE was formed. I will hold on to those memories forever, especially now that pride has been replaced with disgust, embarrassment, anger, frustration, and most of all, sadness.
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14097
At least President Clinton did not appoint Monica Lewinsky as the head of an agency!
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14095
What Julie needs to understand is that the failure of ICE is not an option. The former boss of ICE, Michael Garcia was a pathetic clown who got absolutely no respect from his subordinates. The reason why Julie will have such a hard time is because of Garcia's incompetence. Julie can either give away what little investigative authorities ICE has left to the FBI and DEA so that she can earn points for a decent job in Justice, or she can convert this worthless agency into a neutral investigative arm of DHS which is not tainted by the negative stigma of the words "Immigration and Customs Enforcement."
They are the three most hated words in this agency. It represents Garcia's abysmal failure as an ethical and capable manager. Julie, get rid of the name ICE and replace it with a name that suits our responsibilities. Our organization investigates money-laundering, drug smuggling, child pornography, Customs fraud, and yes serious immigration crimes. We were trained to investigate crimes that threaten the security of the United States, not round-up Mexican nationals which now constitute most of our work. Imagine what can be done if we take all of our authorities and focus them on issues that involve our national security to just focus on the human traffickers, the drug traffickers, the pedophiles, the money-launderers.
A change in the name will unify this organization with a strong sense of pride. It will stop the mass exodus of the investigators. This can either be your best assignment or your worst. You can leave with your self respect or go out like Garcia. It really is your choice. Remember that government employees are also voters. Just ask the Democrats.
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14094
This issue is neither about Ms. Myer's qualifications, nor what is good for the country. It is about pure and simple politics. Her appointment is about rewarding loyalty and placing individuals in the administration's agenda machine.
The Department of Homeland Security (Chertoff) has repeatedly rejected the idea of merging Customs and Border Protection (CBP) with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) despite recommendations by politicians, media, the department's own Inspector General, retired CBP Commissioner Bonner, and private think tanks (Rand Corporation and the Heritage Foundation).
The administration knew that it could not be seen as weak by withdrawing Ms. Myer's nomination in the wake of Mike Brown's performance at FEMA. It also knew that the longer the top posts at CBP and ICE were vacant, the more opportune it would become to merge the two entities. Ms. Myers will continue to work hard toward maintaining the bureaucratic separation of ICE and CBP.
Vice President Cheney is noted for using some choice expletives towards Senator Leahy. In the recess appointment of Ms. Myers, the administration has once again given "the finger" to the Senate by thwarting "advice and consent."
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14092
The recess appointment of Ms Myers should be a clear statement to everyone how important Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) really is to the President and the Department of Homeland Security.
Out of the thousands and thousands of qualified people who have 20 to 30 years of relevant experience, 35-year-old Myers was recess appointed just because of her political and family connections.
We all know how the unqualified Michael Garcia nearly brought the new agency (ICE) to total destruction. Now the "princess" is appointed to head ICE before it gets a chance to get on its feet!
If ICE survives until January 2007 under the leadership of the "princess" I will be totally amazed.
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14091
Another Political Appointee with not experience -- just what ICE needs. If she has half a brain she will keep her mouth shut and let John P. Clark run the show.
Disgruntled Clerical Support Employee
P.S. Thanks for the upgrades D&R Asst. positions that never showed up???????
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14090
While it is great that we have someone besides Garcia at the helm, we at ICE hope Ms. Myers has what it takes to stand up to the other DHS management that seems to want to run over ICE and take over ICE's enforcement authority. We also hope that, in the future, ICE is recognized for its expertise in areas other than immigration. Financial, narcotics, strategic, child porn and IPR investigations -- just to name a few. Rumor has it that Mr. Chertoff, when asked if the ICE name could be changed from Immigration and Customs Enforcement to Investigations and Criminal Enforcement, because people heard immigration and only considered that when thinking of our authorities, said to emphasize "Customs" when saying of name. Brilliant! That doesn't work. Even GovExec.com, the Houston Chronicle, etc. ran their headlines with "Immigration Post Filled...." We hope for the best, but really don't expect much.
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14089
While one chapter of this debacle closes, we begin a new one. This story is stacked with so many sub-topics for comment it's tough to decide where to start. No problemo, here goes:
I have to chuckle over Congress's concerns, especially the Democrats, regarding nepotism, "Good 'ol Boy" appointments, and overall favoritism in selecting high-level management positions. Give me a Vulcan break! What rock are you guys hiding under? What makes this issue any different than before? As far as Sen. Akaka's statements, I have always felt the head of any agency having the daunted task of enforcing laws should be headed by someone who is not only fiscally wise and a proven leader, but has also been in the trenches, done the job, has a working knowledge of law enforcement. In other words, they've been an actual agent/officer, and have the intestinal fortitude to get the equipment and personnel in place to do the job right and not waffle in the face of adversity. We don't need another big-time manager that doesn't have clue about the mission at hand.
Supporters state Myers's close relationship with Chertoff and the White House, while Chertoff further supports her by stating she and Tracy Henke (where did she come from?) "...have consistently demonstrated they possess the experience, judgment, and determination necessary for these demanding positions." No s**t Sherlock! She's married to your right-hand man; like you're going to throw her under the bus?
I'll give her the benefit of a doubt and let her show what she can or can't do but, bear in mind, it'll be a formidable doubt she'll have to breach.
The Gunny
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14088
Cronyism is alive and well in the Twig administration, as well as Twig's impudent and flagrant lack of respect of law, procedure and congressional oversight.
Too bad no one in ICE does any terrorism, Customs, or export investigations. Those warrantless wiretaps would come in handy.
Hope "Myerie" does better than "Brownie"........
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14086
The lessons that were supposed to have been learned after Katrina are still being ignored by the administration. Here we have more of the same cronyism that gave us useless, under-qualified agency heads such as Tom Ridge, Michael Brown and Michael Chertoff. At 36, and irregardless of how much experience or how many degrees she has, how can anyone believe this lady is qualified to head an agency such as ICE? Shouldn't someone with, say about 25 to 30 years of law enforcement experience, be a better pick? Someone who at least knows what is like to be a field investigator?
According to the spin doctors, she has all the right "connections" (with Chertoff and the White House). Well, I'd like these same geniuses to tell America what happens after 2008 when Bush is no longer the President and Chertoff is no longer DHS Secretary.
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14073
I have 27 years experience as a Customs/ICE special agent. Every colleague that I have talked with concerning this appointment believes that Ms. Myers is not qualified for the job. I believe it would be very difficult to find a less qualified person to head this agency. Of course, there is a method to the madness of this appointment.
The Bush Administration does not want an effective leader for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. That is the only reason ICE and CBP (Customs & Border Protection) were made into two separate agencies when legacy Customs and INS became part of the Department of Homeland Security. The best recipe for ineffective immigration enforcement: Place field operations in one agency and criminal investigations in another agency. Then put both under a fledging Department of Homeland Security bureaucracy. You then will be assured that nothing will be done to enforce the immigration laws.
Bush can't afford to solve the illegal immigration dilemma. Half the Republicans need illegal immigrants to perform cheap labor in their businesses. The other half consists of the religious right/minutemen faction, who want every single illegal alien blocked from entering and those already here, removed immediately. You can't please both of these republican factions, so you simply tell the right wingers you are doing everything you can to stop illegal immigration.
You front ICE and CBP as working "southwest border initiatives" etc. to take care of the problem. You hire hundreds of new Border Patrol agents to throw at the problem. The business side of the Republican Party is happy since they know nothing really gets accomplished. The Right loves the rhetoric.
ICE is totally ineffective with both crippled management and finances. CBP does not work "interior enforcement." So the undocumented aliens continue to cross the border and then find jobs all over the United States. Immigration enforcement and reform is all political smoke and mirrors. Don't look for this to change under the current President. The Democrats will use ICE and FEMA ineffectiveness as campaign issues in the mid term and presidential elections. The FBI, DEA and other agencies have taken over investigations that were formally conducted by U.S. Customs Office of Investigations prior to the merger. ICE is left to do what the INS did about illegal immigration: Nothing.
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14071
OK, let's analyze this one from the inside, using the same analytical skills we exercise on our investigations:
- ICE's public affairs section sends out daily email messages to its troops, and every story about Myers being unqualified gets top billing - first story, marquee status. i.e., Myers' credibility has been substantially eroded from within, prior to her taking the position. The rank-and-file are continually told she is not qualified.
- ICE's current condition (status quo) is the result of the current management structure failing to meet the challenge presented by an admittedly very difficult merger (foisted upon us by political hacks). The agency lacks strategy, coherence, a unified identity, etc. i.e., the current power structure has no incentive to get behind a director that will begin to fix ICE's many and substantial problems.
- If undermined, Myer's will serve as a foil for ICE's continued problems, but she will be incapable of over-ridding the entrenched management structure. i.e., she is the perfect director for a group of failed managers who want to maintain the status quo to protect their own positions.
ICE employees take heed. The Year of Julie Myers will pass without any major improvements, while more of the failing management structure moves into higher and higher positions. The current ICE status quo (which is horrible) will continue. The problems we face are not an aberration -- they are now the natural and near permanent condition of ICE.
This is a sad day.
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14070
I find it very strange that the head of the FOP is so enthusiastic about Ms. Myers becoming the head of ICE. If she were to be made the head of the NYPD, or the LAPD, or any other large police agency, would he say the same thing? Does he profess to know more about Customs and Immigration enforcement than the thousands of federal agents who actually work these jobs? They should have a say in this appointment, not some political cop who represents mostly local and state officers. Maybe Mr. Pasco should stick to writing speeding tickets, because his comments just show that he knows nothing about federal law enforcement, or the enormous problems at ICE.
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14069
This is good news for ICE special agents. Bush and Chertoff are "all in" with this move. They cannot allow Myers to fail. Myers has one year to prove herself, and Congress will be watching. If Myers is having a problem with CBP, she can tell Chertoff's chief of staff about the issue during dinner every night.
Any management team has to be better than the dynamic duo of Michael Garcia/Michael Dougherty (remember that brain trust).
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