Office of Inspector General
U.S. Department of Homeland SecurityWashington, DC 20528
HomelandSecurity
MAR -42010
Preface
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) was established by the Homeland Security Act of2002 (Public Law 107-296) by amendment to the Inspector General Act of1978. This is one of a series of audit, inspection, and special reports prepared as part of our oversight responsibilities to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within the department.
This report addresses the performance of 287(g) agreements between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and state and local law enforcement agencies. It is based on interviews with employees and officials of relevant agencies and institutions, direct observations, and a review of applicable documents.
The recommendations herein have been developed to the best knowledge available to our office, and have been discussed in draft with those responsible for implementation. We trust this report will result in more effective, efficient, and economical operations. We express our appreciation to all of those who contributed to the preparation of this report.
[Signature of Richard L. Skinner]
Richard L. Skinner
Inspector General
***
After having recently, Monday July 20, 2015, a visit to my home by two agents wearing shirts sporting The Department of Homeland Security label, then stumbling across this report from Office of Inspector General regarding the supervising of 287(g) officers; I'm now curious if even this unannounced visit by these two agents to my home was even a "legit" business call, "proper" investigation, into a complaint against me having the full backing by The Department of Homeland Security.
What follows,
are sections of interest copied and pasted from this report up to my blog,
having caught my attention for a reason or another not even always sure why..?
Until later.
Somehow,
they do have an uneasy way of eventually becoming...extremely... helpful;
and
thankful!
Right now,
pretty much chalking these blessings up to the ...
"SIXTH SENSE."
"Be careful!
His is hearing impaired.
HE...
can be...VERBALLY...aggressive. "
~(Bobby B. Rasulnia: Iranian Uranium Enrichment Concubine :Victimized Neighbor)~
However,
in all fairness to our...
"PEOPLE OF FAITH,"
"PEOPLE OF FAITH,"
"Mere unbelief in a personal god is no philosophy at all."
~(Albert Einstein)~
it would be wrong of me ruling out the possibility of there actually being a God favoring my intentions over theirs..?
***
OIG
Department of Homeland Security
Office of Inspector General
Executive Summary
287(g) agreements set general parameters for program activities and establish a process for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to supervise and manage program activity. Pursuant to Memoranda of Agreement with state and local law enforcement agencies, Immigration and Customs Enforcement permits designated officers to perform certain immigration enforcement functions.
We observed instances in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement and participating law enforcement agencies were not operating in compliance with the terms of the agreements. We also noted several areas in which Immigration and Customs Enforcement had not instituted controls to promote effective program operations and address related risks. Immigration and Customs Enforcement needs to (1) establish appropriate performance measures and targets to determine whether program results are aligned with program goals; (2) develop guidance for supervising 287(g) officers and activities; (3) enhance overall 287(g) program oversight; (4) strengthen the review and selection process for law enforcement agencies requesting to participate in the program; (5) establish data collection and reporting requirements to address civil rights and civil liberties concerns; (6) improve 287(g) training programs; (7) increase access to and accuracy of 287(g) program information provided to the public; and (8) standardize 287(g) officers’ access to Department of Homeland Security information systems.
Benefits of the 287(g) Program
DHS officials describe the 287(g) program as a force multiplier for ICE. According to ICE OI agents, 287(g) officers provide assistance such as following up on leads and performing investigative research and surveillance. DRO staff acknowledged the positive effect that 287(g) officers have had on their workload by identifying removable aliens, conducting interviews to determine alien status and removability, preparing charging documents, and entering alien information into ICE information systems. Assistance from 287(g) officers gives ICE greater flexibility in directing its immigration law enforcement resources and functions.
Immigration enforcement efforts under the 287(g) program account for a significant portion of nationwide ICE removal activity. 287(g) officers identified 33,831 aliens who were removed from the United States by ICE in FY 2008, which represents 9.5% of all ICE removals during that fiscal year. In addition, the cross-designation of state and local patrol officers, detectives, investigators, and correctional officers working in conjunction with ICE allows local and state officers more latitude to investigate violent crimes, human smuggling, gang and organized crime activity, sexually related offenses, narcotics smuggling, and money laundering.
By using state and local LEA personnel to perform immigration enforcement functions, the federal government reduces its costs for these efforts. ICE is responsible for providing supervision, training, computer equipment, and its installation and support costs. Participating LEAs are responsible for all other expenses, including 287(g) officer salaries and benefits. Entry-level ICE special agents and immigration enforcement agents (IEA) cost approximately $269,784 and $137,666, respectively, during the first year of service. In contrast, participating 287(g) officers who perform similar functions cost ICE $20,252 during their first year of service. As such, ICE has increased the number of officers participating in federal immigration enforcement efforts. As of July 2009, 833 active LEA officers were participating in the 287(g) program, which represents a 4% increase in the size of ICE’s workforce
Challenges for the 287(g) Program
In delegating federal immigration enforcement authorities to state and local LEAs, ICE maintains responsibility for ensuring that local law enforcement officers function under the supervision of ICE officers. In addition, ICE must provide 287(g) officers with appropriate training on the complexities of immigration law and practice. The challenge for ICE is to balance its need for additional resources with efforts to ensure that these activities are conducted in accordance with the MOAs. In addition, ICE must ensure that its 287(g) efforts achieve a balance among immigration enforcement, local public safety priorities, and civil liberties.
287(g) Performance Measures Do Not Align With Program Objectives
ICE performance measures do not account for task force officer investigations, prosecutions, or convictions. Information on task force officers’ investigative work and subsequent criminal prosecutions is maintained in TECS, the system ICE uses to track its investigations. However, ICE has not established any TECS reporting requirements for the program or used TECS information in any 287(g) program performance measures.
With no specific target levels for arrest, detention, and removal priority levels, and with performance measures that do not account for all investigative work and criminal prosecutions, ICE cannot be assured that the 287(g) program is meeting its intended purpose, or that resources are being appropriately targeted toward aliens who pose the greatest risk to public safety and the community.
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