WASHINGTON – The Biden administration is proposing a dramatic reorganization of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to a new report. This reported proposal would shift ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers from enforcing immigration law to working criminal investigations alongside ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents. This would be yet another major step by the Biden administration to effectively abolish the agency.

Heritage’s immigration team – James Carafano, Lora Ries, Chad Wolf, Ken Cuccinelli, and Mark Morgan – released a statement Tuesday recommending the administration abandon any such plans:  

“The federal government, and those who lead it, should be focused on upholding and enforcing our laws fairly and equally across the board. However, when it comes to immigration, the Biden administration is intent on putting illegal immigrants above American citizens. 

 

“Last week, the administration effectively tied both hands behind ICE’s back by issuing new guidance severely restricting who ICE agents are allowed to detain and deport, effectively making upwards of 90 percent of those illegally in the country ineligible for deportation. Now, they may be looking to cut off both hands altogether. This proposed action, alongside the previous guidance issued, would completely upend enforcement of immigration law. It is a step beyond imagination.

 

“The Biden administration is creating a new border crisis. It has torn up safe third country agreements with Central American partners, abandoned the effective ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy, and is promising a massive new amnesty. As a result, thousands of migrants are pouring across the border every day, hoping to take advantage of the benefits of a generous nation, while showing no interest in becoming American citizens or gaining access to those benefits legally. Yet, while all this is happening, the Biden administration wants to further undermine federal law enforcement and reduce its ability to control the very flood of illegal migration it has created. 

 

“The Biden administration is putting Americans last, plain and simple. There is no excuse for undercutting our immigration enforcement even more than it already has. The administration needs to start doing its job and enforce our laws.”