The union that represents rank-and-file field agents at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has unanimously passed a "vote of noconfidence" for the agency's leadership, saying ICE has "abandoned" itscore mission of protecting the public to support a political agendafavoring amnesty.
The National Immigration and Customs Enforcement Council of the American Federation of Government Employees, whichrepresents 7,000 ICE agents and employees, voted 259-0 for a resolutionsaying there was "growing dissatisfaction and concern" over theleadership of Assistant Secretary John Morton, who heads ICE, andPhyllis Coven, assistant director for the agency's office of detentionpolicy and planning.
The resolution said ICE leadership had "abandoned the agency's core mission of enforcing U.S. immigration lawsand providing for public safety," instead directing its attention "tocampaigning for programs and policies related to amnesty and thecreation of a special detention system for foreign nationals thatexceeds the care and services provided to most U.S. citizens similarlyincarcerated.
"It is the desire of our union … to publicly separate ourselves from the actions of Director Morton and AssistantDirector Coven and publicly state that ICE officers and employees do notsupport Morton or Coven or their misguided and reckless initiatives,which could ultimately put many in America at risk," the union said.
In a strongly worded statement, the union and its affiliated localcouncils said the integrity of the agency "as well as the public safety"would be "better provided for in the absence of Director Morton andAssistant Director Coven."
The statement also noted that:
• The majority of ICE's enforcement and removal officers are prohibitedfrom making street arrests or enforcing U.S. immigration laws outside ofthe jail setting.
• Hundreds of ICE officers nationwide perform no law enforcement duties whatsoever because of resource mismanagementwithin the agency.
• ICE detention reforms have transformed into a detention system aimed at providing resortlike living conditions tocriminal aliens based on recommendations not from ICE officers and fieldmanagers, but from "special-interest groups."
• The lack of technical expertise and field experience has resulted in a priority ofproviding bingo nights, dance lessons and hanging plants to criminals,instead of addressing safe and responsible detention reforms fornoncriminal individuals and families.
Replies