ICE Union At Odds with Administration Over Immigration Policy
Leah Durant
January 23, 2012
A skirmish is brewing between Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the union representing some 7,000 of the agency’s rank and file field agents. At issue is implementation of a training required by field agents, before the administration’s new approach to deportations of illegal aliens can begin. Last week The New York Times reported that ICE’s union was refusing to participate in the training because it opposes the new policy. But Chris Crane, president of the National ICE Counsel has reported these allegations are categorically untrue.
The controversial policy, issued last summer, announced the administration’s plans for “prosecutorial discretion” or adoption of a case-by-case review for the approximately 300,000 illegal immigrants facing expulsion in the US.
Under the President’s new policy, agents would focus on deporting aliens with criminal convictions and essentially pardon what are deemed as “low-priority” cases. Chris Crane, the union president, claims the strategy would prevent agents from enforcing the law.
On January 13, ICE officials launched the half day training program where officers would learn the strategies for undertaking the president’s sweeping new plan. While virtually all of the agency’s lawyers and supervisors have received the training, the ICE union has refused to allow its members to attend the sessions. Some argue the training is a clear sign that administration officials seek to transform the way immigration officers work, asking them to make nuanced decisions to speed deportations of some offenders, while halting the deportation of others.
According to the Department of Homeland Security, the union’s refusal of the training seminar has slowed down the process of implementing President Obama’s strategy. According to Crane, however, “the strategy is preventing agents from enforcing the law,” and rather than viewing training as a helping tool, “many are left resisting in fear that this will be nothing more than a hindrance to an already daunting task.”
What is of greatest concern for Crane and others, is that many in the leadership element of ICE who are setting policy do not have the same field experience as union members. They feel this perspective has been lacking in the policymaking process.
With unemployment at record levels, our priority should be continuing to enforce immigration laws at all levels across the board. Trainings should be tailored to securing U.S. borders and not to deciphering who should leave or stay.
Rather than embarking in this policy direction, the administration should focus instead on a number or common-sense policies that would better secure our border and improve America’s economy. Common-sense recommendations include greater investment in Secure Communities, mandated use of the E-verify employment verification system, the restricted use of voluntary return, and the expanded use of “regular” expedited removal proceedings.
