ICE Director on Dismantling Cartels, Officer Safety, and Combating Doxing

Combating Cartels and Ensuring Officer Safety

• 🎯 Officer safety is the top priority for ICE, especially with bounties placed on ICE and Border Patrol agents by cartel-linked networks.
• ⚠️ ICE is committed to dismantling cartels within the United States, sending a clear message that threats will have severe consequences.
• ⚡ The agency is focusing resources on transnational criminals and designated terrorist organizations to prevent cartels from gaining a foothold in major cities.

Enhanced Homeland Security Task Forces

• 🤝 Homeland Security Task Forces, co-chaired with the FBI, are being established in all 50 states to unify state, local, and federal resources.
• 🧩 These task forces are tailored to each state's specific threats, integrating previous programs like BEST and HIDTA for a more cohesive approach.
• 🌍 Operations are focused on combating foreign terrorist organizations, with an emphasis on both domestic and international efforts.

Addressing Doxing and Domestic Threats

• 📱 ICE is experiencing escalating doxing campaigns targeting agents and their families, with photos and personal information shared on social media and flyers.
• 🚫 The agency is tracking domestic terrorist groups like Antifa, focusing on disrupting their funding and leadership to dismantle organized efforts.
• 🚨 Efforts include working with the FBI to identify and disrupt groups involved in ramming law enforcement vehicles, often involving professional agitators from outside the local area.

Officer Identity and Enforcement Operations

• 😷 While not a fan of masks, ICE is allowing agents to wear them if it enhances officer safety and prevents doxing, especially in response to inflammatory rhetoric from elected officials.
• ⚖️ ICE conducts targeted criminal enforcement, focusing on individuals with deportation orders and those arrested by local law enforcement for crimes.
• 📍 The agency is increasing large-scale community arrests when sanctuary jurisdictions release individuals without notifying ICE, and also apprehending 'collaterals' found during lawful stops.

Workforce Expansion and Training

• 🚀 ICE is expanding its workforce, with a significant number of applicants and offers being processed through the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center.
• 🎓 Training standards are being maintained, with expedited courses for experienced law enforcement officers and comprehensive training for new recruits.
• ✅ The agency has the capacity to select highly qualified candidates due to a large applicant pool, ensuring high standards are met.