Internal Realignment at ICE

On June 9th, 2010, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced plans to realign its offices in hopes of improving the agency’s management by providing a clearer focus and streamlining its reporting structure.  Three new “directorates” will be established:

• The Homeland Security Investigations Directorate will manage criminal investigations and homeland security programs.
• The Enforcement and Removal Operations Directorate will handle civil immigration enforcement and oversee detention and removal policy, currently under the Office of Detention and Removal Operations.
• The Management and Administration Directorate will execute the agency’s managerial policy, comprising of human resources, financial, and logistical support.

Six Program offices will remain distinct from the new directorates; the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor, the Office of Detention and Policy Planning, the Office of Professional Responsibility, the Office of Public Affairs, the Office of Congressional Relations, and the Office of State and Local Coordination.

The changes, proposed by Assistant Secretary John Morton following the conclusion of what was called an extensive review, are designed to align ICE around its two core responsibilities, criminal investigation and civil immigration enforcement supported by a management program.  A desire for greater efficiency, rather than any change in substantive policy or prioritization, is animating this realignment, which will not affect any Congressional authorization or appropriations, will not abolish any existing offices, and will not alter its mission or priorities. ICE will be shuffling its deck, but the game remains the same.

Sources:
CONGRESSIONAL QUARTERLY, ICE realigns itself, but Won’t Call it a Restructuring, June 13, 2010.

JOHN MORTON, Assistant Secretary, Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Internal Realignment at ICE offices: a Message from Assistant Secretary Morton to all ICE employees. June 9th, 2010.