Looking for an ICE Special Agent

[bob95321]

I'm curious to know more about this job. i.e. job locations, actual work performed (not the BS pics on the website), and when hiring/recruiting will begin again.

[Group9]

I'm curious to know more about this job. i.e. job locations, actual work performed (not the BS pics on the website), and when hiring/recruiting will begin again.

You mean you don't think they do commando style beach assaults all the time? :D

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[MOCOP]

I'm not an ICE IEA or a CEA but I am my dept. Liaison Officer for ICE and work with them pretty much every day if I can be of any help.

[Metallic4]

I believe there is a retired Customs or ICE agent on this board.
But, there are dozens here: www.911jobforums.com/vB

[Group9]

I think Sleuth is retired Customs, but 911jobsforum.com is a good place to research the job of ICE agent. Keep in mind when trying to research what ICE agents do, that ICE is still in a development phase as to exactly what all of their new duties and responsibilities are going to be.

There seems to be somewhat of an internal tug of war between legacy Customs and legacy INS over which side's traditional roles will get more emphasis as ICE. There are two ICE agents assigned to my office and I am getting this from them every day. In my mind, one good thing that I always believed from personal observaton, is that Customs seemed to have one of the most "agent friendly" managements.

This does seem to be carrying over into ICE and that is certainly a plus for them.

[bob95321]

You mean you don't think they do commando style beach assaults all the time?

yeah! what's up with that?!?

i just feel like i'll be looking for a change before too long. the paycheck isn't bad, but the frustration mounts.

from what i've heard, IEA's are just BP DEO's under a different title.

ICE is still in a development phase as to exactly what all of their new duties and responsibilities are going to be

like i said before, i'm just curious to know how ICE Special Agents really feel about their job, and what they really do.

[g32499]

Bob,

The IEAs under BP are still doing DEO duties, but the IEAs in the district offices and interior stations are doing the new IEA duties. I am a former PA and they are using me for reinstatement cases and other agency calls. We also started an intel unit and have assigned a mall group of IEAs to the IRP program. Our TIAC team is pretty high speed . They are training with ICE SA and DO in Georgia for 3 weeks of tactical training .

[Swat1]

I think Sleuth is retired Customs, but 911jobsforum.com is a good place to research the job of ICE agent.

I believe there is a retired Customs or ICE agent on this board.
But, there are dozens here: www.911jobforums.com/vB

What am I chopped liver?

Anyway, to answer your questions posted:

1. Job locations - Every major city and many not so major cities (interior and border), all over the border both north and south and several foreign countries.

Actual work performed - well just yesterday I was storming a beach with a draeger rebreather and a kbar in my mouth...NOT. Who decided to that crap on the website I do not know, but it has nothing to do with what an ICE SA does on a daily basis. Bob, we have several former BPA's in ICE even on the legacy Customs side. I am a legacy Customs agent and becoming ICE hasn't really changed that as far as my day to day work goes.

It is very difficult to give an accurate portrayal of actual work performed, because it varies so much, based on location, office and group assigned. I will sum up my last week just to give you an idea of my own experience, but this will vary drastically based on the above mentioned issues.

Last Thursday - writing a report of investigation concerning strategic export investigation that has been nine months in the works. Late afternoon, receive a duty call concerning the FedEx hub in Anchorage Alaska seizing a parcel containing piratical DVD's and counterfeit labeling. Accept seizure for anticipatory search warrant.

Friday - Gather information receive parcel, contact legitimate manufacturer (victim), contact AUSA for warrant support. Start affidavit, work on affidavit for 6 hours til 11:00 p.m.

Saturday - 3 hours working on affidavit.

Sunday - 4 hours on affidavit, oplan, coordinating local SWAT team due to subjects extensive and violent criminal history.

Monday - Tweak affidavit as new information comes in, coordinate travel, finalize oplan and coordination with locals.

Tuesday - Travel 3 hours to US District Court responsible for the area. Travel another 1 and 1/2 hours to target city. Go to UPS to outbound inspect a package sent from target location. Coordination with local agencies and entities, Brief with search team. Drive by of location.

Wednesday - 0430 snipers out, 0530 SWAT briefing, 0800 serve warrant (other operational conditions are executed, however, due to OPSEC, I will not be posting them on an open internet site). Search location until 1230, seizing approx 2000 DVD's, 2000 cases, 2000 labels, records, 2 computers, shrinkwrap equipment etc. Backbrief with SWAT. Depart area for office. Arrive office and secure evidence. Heading home at 1930 (long day).

Thursday - Check email, messages. Recount all evidence seized. Enter seizure report (pain in ***). Receive duty call concerning an issue I cannot talk about here. Call HQ regarding that issue for guidance from State Department. Leave for meeting 1 and a half hours away. Meet with auditor of a company regarding child porn found on work LAN computers. Coordinate issues from previous duty call for following day. Home early at 1600. (don't worry the taxpayers are getting more than their fair share out of my hide).

Friday - got a couple of things scheduled but never know how it will shape up as things change. Oh yeah, I am also acting Group Supervisor and duty agent til Tuesday next week.

3. When hiring / recruiting will begin - Don't know for sure, but word on the street is after the fiscal year when we get money, we'll be hiring a bunch.

If you come up with more questions, let me know.

SWAT 1*

[Group9]

Sorry, Swat1. I forgot you were ICE.

[bob95321]

Swat1,

thank you for you reply.

it sounds good. and i've heard the same about the hiring freeze lasting until the end of the fiscal year.

the work here is fun on most days, but it just gets aggravating (like i'm wasting my time). i could explain, but i don't want to go on another rant. i'd also like to move closer to family one of these days.

here's the thing.

do you enjoy the work? i.e. is it satisfying? is it something you want to work to retirement doing?

[Swat1]

I love it, I love law enforcement. I love not knowing exactly what everyday will bring. One of the things that makes the job completely enjoyable is the office dynamic we have in my specific office. That will certainly be different at other offices and will surely change here as time goes by. I currently work with an outstanding bunch of guys and gals and really couldn't ask for better people. There are certainly days where the general government BS overshadows the good, but those days are in the minority. You are already used to being in a large agency with a HQ's, so you know what I mean. Sometimes you really wonder what the hell they are thinking back there. You sound like a motivated BPA who is frustrated by the politics way over your head, I surely sympathize and believe that a move to ICE would be a great one, but I don't know your specific issues. I personally have no plans to switch agencies, etc. I am a long way from retirement and many things can change, but for now I'm here.

SWAT 1*

[Sleuth]

SWAT 1 gave a good idea of what the job is like. (SWAT, did you ever go through the Western Academy at Marana?) I worked in 3 offices (Boston, San Diego/San Ysidro, and Sells [SE of Tucson]) plus my time teaching at the Academy. I loved it, would do it again, but 27 years was enough.

Generally, Customs was personell friendly. In private, all the bosses went by their first names. If someone had a family issue, most bosses went out of their way to help, up to and including paid transfers to be near family in need. They used to allow lateral 'own expense' transfers, if you really wanted to go someplace, and someone else wanted to switch with you.

There were lots of opportunities to do different things. I got to travel to 11 countries on the G. I never made a transfer I didn't request. I felw in various exotic aircraft as a FLIR operator. Did some (not much) undercover, lots of detailed investigations that added millions to the Treasury. Laid in on loads of dope, tracked smugglers across the border, was in high speed chases, had lots of fun.

While at the academy, we had folks transfer in from every, and I mean every, other Federal Agency. Yet I only knew 2 guys to transfer out, and one of them tried to get back in!

As to the variety, I felt the job changed about every 3 years. By that, I would look back and think "Three years ago, I never dreamed I would be doing this .....". It kept the challenge fresh and fun.

Bosses came from the ranks, and most understood the S/A's. Of course, there were a few who only cared about HQ, but they were a minority. Equipment was generally good, offices ranged from nice to, well, 20 year old modular buildings. Cars were good.

But, I retired before ICE, so lots may have changed.

The best part? I felt I truely got to "Protect and Defend the Constitution from all enemies, Foreign and domestic!" I got to pay this country back for the haven it had offered my family when they needed it.

[SnowLeopard]

Oh, you mean like Matt Helm? Working for MacDonald?
-----------------------------------------
(After seeing so many guns in Matt's house, "Who decorated this place, Smith & Wesson?"--Tina, (wtte), "The Silencers")

[njice]

How are you I am an ICE Agent from NJ and if things keep going the way they are you won't have to worry about what we do because we will be chasing illegals instead of doind real investigative work. I am a former Custom's Agent and since they created this joke called ICE my job outlook has become bleak. We have no money to even get cars washed, no mission staement, no bosses that will fight for us with the FBI and we do absolutely no terrorist related investigations.

As for hiring, the word in the office is that they will not hire any new agents until at least 2006 because the boses screwed up the budget so bad that we won't have the cash to do anything until then.

[Kimble]

...we will be chasing illegals instead of doind real investigative work. I am a former Custom's Agent and since they created this joke called ICE my job outlook has become bleak. We have no money to even get cars washed, no mission staement, no bosses that will fight for us with the FBI and we do absolutely no terrorist related investigations...

Sounds enticing ( *sarcasm*:( ). Word in the rumor mill is that Bonner may be up for DHS Sec, and if such is the case, maybe he'll give the boot to Garcia and Asa and place someone who is willing to fight for what ICE needs. Maybe he'll also see the need to combine investigations (ICE) with patrol (CBP).