ICE Special Agents

[john2190]

Hello! I'm new here so I might be asking a old question. What do ICE special agents do? Are they strictly investigation, or do they get to do enforcement stuff as well?

[Joeyd6]

What is ICE?

[g32499]

ICE special agents are the combination of former Immigration special Agents and Customs Special Agents under one roof. They are criminal investigators that deal with enforcing customs and immigration violations. They work cases ranging from human smuggling, narcotics smuggling, weapons smuggling, money laundering etc. I don't know Iam sure what you mean by asking if they are investigative or enforcement. They investigate and make arrests. They are the detective bureau for the DEpt of homeland security.

[john2190]

ICE stands for Immigration and Customs Enforcement

[Swat1]

g32499,

Pretty much hit the nail on the head. We do all that and a little more. We are investigative and enforcement.

Swat1*

[bob95321]

and yet still nobody who claims to do interior immigration enforcement.

it amazes me how people want to make such a big deal about "enforcing our borders" and adding more border patrol agents, but nobody is willing to lay a finger on the aliens that make it into the interior. here i bust my butt looking for aliens at the border, but whenever i go to visit the family (in the interior) i have to look at all the illegals roaming around free as if they belonged there.

and it really hacks me off when i read news stories about illegals afraid to go to work because of rumors of immigration raids, and then immigration officials publicly announcing there are no such raids. police don't want to check immigration status, doctors aren't allowed to ask immigration status, teachers have to teach regardless of immigration status. it's all ridiculous!

and here i go to work busting my tail for a good paycheck but little satisfaction. everyday i go to work, i get to see the evidence of more that got away during the night. and yet still nobody is doing interior enforcement!?!

i could rant forever about all the stupid rules making it harder for me to do my job. i can't question workers at jobsites or working in the fields. if i'm not driving a sedan (which is not an option) and a vehicle runs from me, i cannot chase them. and if i stop a vehicle and do catch a driver smuggling aliens, the driver usually goes free. i mean, more often than not, if you catch a driver smuggling aliens, he is usually set free. they usually throw away the case because of the "lack of reasonable suspicion" needed to justify the stop. how do you explain to a judge that a carload of people "looked and acted illegal." that's just how people look and act when they see law enforcement around here. that's okay though--why would i want to do the hours of extra paperwork when i can just lie and send the aliens back to mexico, right?

i'm not trying to take this out on anyone reading this. i just wish someone besides other border patrol agents would realize how sick and wrong this is!

[Swat1]

Trust me, I understand your pain. It is ridiculous. I will tell you that interior enforcement really means Operation Predator. If you are a convicted sexual offender, you are being actively targeted. Other than that, it is catch as catch can for other felons. If you are an illegal who is not committing crime, minding your ownd business, you are right, no one is looking for you. NO ONE.

As a legacy Customs agent, I just completed my Immigration training two weeks ago, what a crock. The agricultural rule, about not checking on agricultural sites without a warrant absolutely floored us, there is no better example of small interest groups getting their way.

I really feel for you guys out there on the borders. If I were you, I would be looking to get on with ICE or another fed agency as an 1811. We have four or five prior BPA's in my office, who are all very very happy they got out of the mean green. It's not that you aren't doing a very important mission, it's that the powers that be hamstring you in every way possible.

Swat1*

[Group9]

If there is anyone you can call when you find an illegal alien who will come get them, I would like their number. We constantly find them on raids, stops, and other enforcement activitities and the answer from Immigration seems to be, "Well, if you are locking them up for drugs, we will come and put a detainer on them, if not, just let them go."

Even the illegal aliens seemed surprised when we let them go.

[Jason176]

If your in the Miami area call the Border Patrol station nearest you and request a PA for a citizenship evaluation. I know there are some good guys in Miami who go out of their way to make OA assists/evals. ICE will "usually" put a detainer on them if they're booked in, but the BP should be able to respond in a reasonable amount of time and take the ones you don't want to take to jail. At least that's how it works in San Diego.

[MOCOP]

ICE always has a duty agent available via cell or pager.The problem is most guys don't want to wait roadside until the duty agent calls or responds. In very few instances have I had an ICE/SA REFUSE an illegal if I was willing to work with them and let them do their job. As far as picking them up we book them and hold them until ICE can take custody.

[Finder]

If someone is found to be illegal, they should be sent back. Period! I understand the frustration. But I also have to look at the problem this way. If I go to a hospital, I don't want the Dr. asking me if I am illegal. I am legal. born in the United States. If they ask me because of my last name and skin color, then that is just plain wrong. Trust me, it has happened to me. Not at the hospital but elsewhere and it made me angry. Who determines who looks like an illegal? Here in Chicago, we have illegals of all colors and races. It's a tough call.

[Joeyd6]

In NYC if you are stopped by an officer or arrested and tell us you are illegal...we can NOT DO ANYTHING about it! NY City law prohibits NYPD from notifying INS on any matter. Talk about a load of crap!

[MOCOP]

I,m not calling ICE for every questionable contact I have but if I ask for your DL and you hand me one issued in Nuevo Leon and you you've got 15 other people in your van damn straight ICE is gettin a call.

[Finder]

I guess the point I was trying to make is this. Illegal immigration is a huge problem. Not for illegals but for other people. I am sometimes asked " How long have you been here?" Sometimes it is well meaning but most often not. It is sad that a LEO that comes from a military family gets asked this question. It is a side effect of illegal immigration problems in this country. Laws need to be changed. We need to protect our borders. I was recently reading about a poll taken in California. A survey was taken among people of Latino heritage. The overwhelming majority supported better border protection, no government benefits for illegals and deportation. As usual, a few liberal latinos like to think of themselves as spokesmen and defend illegal immigration. Most Latinos actually hold pretty conservative views.

[MOCOP]

I completely understand your feelings as to being profiled as illegal due to your heritage. My wife is a Latina of forgien birth and spanish is the language of our household in an effort to have our daughters exposed to both sides of the families culture. More than once she(my wife) and last week my 16 year OLD daughter have been stopped for driving while mexican (DWM) and while they and I don't agree with the nature of the contact (no citations issued) I do agree that the influx of I/A'S have a lot to do with it :rolleyes:
However I do believe in a routine contact whether a traffic stop or service call if you raise a red flag and I am there to arrest you I will give ICE a Shot at you too.