Return to Article: Internal memo raises concerns about DHS funds transfer
-
20446
It never ceases to amaze me how there are still people here who actually believe that: 1). CBP and ICE are two valid and worthy agencies that each stand well on their own; 2). there really wasn't any major underlying problem with the creation of CBP and ICE; 3). CBP and ICE are both right up there with their predecessor agencies; and 4). all of us who take issue with this have no valid reason to do so and should shut up. You might as well talk to a lamp post.
-
20383
The whole concept of DHS has been flawed since its inception. This agency is a mess! This is what happens when you have political appointees and politicians making decisions on matters they know little or nothing about. Why was the FPS placed into ICE in the first place? It has nothing to do with either immigration or customs investigations. Then again, this whole agency makes little sense as presently constituted. What's next, merging the FBI with the National Park Service? Or maybe the Army and the Coast Guard? Those mergers make about as much sense as merging INS, Customs OI, and the FPS into ICE!
-
20350
There is absolutely no reason to merge CBP and ICE. The matter of concern addressed in this article is in reference to Immigration Enforcement Agents (IEAs), who are part of ICE and who provide transportation services to the Border Patrol, which is part of CBP. There are still a number of IEAs who get paid by ICE but report to the BP.
The solution is within reach and easily accomplish. CBP -- whether it is officers within the Office of Field Operations or the Border Patrol -- needs to take care of the transportation of its own detainees. There is a reason why these officers received an easy GS-11 upgrade. Said officers on average earn $90,000 a year. Furthermore, the authority to detain and transport aliens is not exclusive to IEAs.
The way it works is for CBP to contact ICE DRO when they have a detainee. ICE DRO will inform CBP as to where this detainee needs to be transported by CBP, whether it is at a Service Processing Center (SPC) or a contracted facility.
At Ports of Entries such as JFK, they have a population of approximately 600 CBPOs, which is a lot more than IEAs available on that area.
ICE DRO needs to stop transporting detainees on behalf of CBP as this is a non-reimbursable service.
Let's stop using any excuse to bring up the dead issue of a CBP - ICE merger.
To those suggesting transferring legacy INS SAs to DRO. What will you do with the legacy ICE SAs? Meaning those who became ICE SAs after the merger.
-
20319
This can be expected when an agency is given so much power. DHS is taking over responsibilities of other agencies in the name of security, as if only DHS can provide security. We've always had security, just not as tight as after 9/11. Some of DHS tasks have meddled in Defense Department territory which will lead to a struggle of power between Defense and DHS.
-
20272
I agree that the prospects of a merger of ICE and CBP should be revisited. Or at least take all legacy INS SAs and move them to DRO and take all legacy USCS Special Agents and move them to CBP. This would fix the problem either way. Anything immigration at the border and all customs-related investigations goes to CBP Office of Investigations and everything immigration-related in the interior of the country would go to ICE DRO. This is a cheap, easy and quick fix to a massive problem.
-
20271
This is another case of senior management trying to get away with doing whatever they want, no matter the regulations. ICE is going to discontinue FPS officers' retention pay (already budgeted for fiscal 2007) and use it to pay off the mismanagement of the Security Guard Program (illegal too).
-
20252
Big deal Jon! This goes on all the time at every agency. Look at the services use of the special appropriation for environmental cleanup that is not supposed to be used for anything else and no other appropriation is to be added to it. The military is in charge of the program and are paid from a different appropriation. So much for civilian control of a long-term non-military program! The services add different appropriations to the special environmental cleanup fund and use special cleanup funds for other purposes - beyond the 10 percent allowed.
Congress has no oversight on its programs and the GAO does not even raise the issue when they audit the program! So much for any value the congressional auditor may have for oversight. GAO only addresses their job as armchair quarterbacks and tries to second guess management of the programs. They do not even know or reveal that the money is being used inappropriately based on the legislation.
Forget Congress - once its appropriated we spend it any way we want unless someone is watching and reporting otherwise. That is what this story is all about.
-
20247
I'm loving this -- more incompetence and bad press for ICE, which I have sadly realized is the only way things are ever going to get straightened out in this agency. Of course, absolutely none of this would be an issue had ICE been merged with CBP instead of officials forging ahead with their own agenda and ignoring common sense, numerous studies, and their own IG for individual political gain. To go back even further, none of this would be an issue had ICE and CBP been created as one agency to begin with rather than splitting inspectors from agents. But wait! To go back further yet to a more sensible point, none of this would be an issue had Customs and INS not both been destroyed and then merged together under the DHS transition in the first place. Actually, to ultimately sum it up, none of this would be an issue if DHS had never been created in the first place. I sure hope everyone here keeps the heat on his or her congressional representatives about this one.
I can't wait for the next major catastrophe within ICE. Keep it coming!
-
20246
This is another example of how a merger would solve many problems.
I do not believe it is too late to correct the mistakes made in creating ICE and CBP. A merger would solve many issues like the one illustrated in this article. Most importantly, a merger would streamline border enforcement by combining Investigations, Inspections and Intelligence under one roof, one budget, one commissioner and -- most importantly -- one team.
I implore GovExec.com to revisit this issue with an in depth article.
PROMO RIGHT: EVENTS
UPCOMING WEBINARS
NOVEMBER 18
Speed bumps for Teleworking: What are they and how to avoid them?
DECEMBER 3
Achieve Program Success: Unlock the Management Information in Your Data
DECEMBER 10
Practical Transparency: Applying Exchange Networks for Mission Results
PROMO RIGHT: DIRECTORIES
Post a Comment
To post a comment, you must provide a name and a valid e-mail address. Messages must be limited to 400 words. By using this Service you agree not to post material that is obscene, harassing, defamatory, or otherwise objectionable. Although Government Executive does not monitor comments posted to this site (and has no obligation to), it reserves the right to delete, edit, or move any material that it deems to be in violation of this rule.