The Independent View: DHS Rejects Call to Halt Security Detail for Top Officials

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has Rejected a call from its Internal Watchdog Office to Suspend or End Security Details for the Heads of two of its most Significant Components: Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In a Report released Thursday, DHS Inspector General John Roth said there's No Clear Legal Authority for the Executive Protection Arrangements and a Perception they may have little to do with mitigating any real threat. "Because these security details incur substantial monetary and personnel costs, provide transportation and logistical services not necessarily tied to any demonstrated security concern, and are often authorized by those receiving the services, these details give the appearance to some observers of being more related to executive convenience and status than protection," Roth wrote. "It is axiomatic that no government employee can use government resources for his or her own private benefit, and every government employee has the duty to protect and conserve government resources and only use them for authorized purposes. The current situation is based on questionable legal authority and invites abuse."

In a Letter sent to the Inspector General (IG) in June, DHS Management said it was Reviewing the Security arrangement, but intends to keep the Details for now due to Threats faced by Top Officials in the Immigration-focused Agencies. "It is important to note that the very nature of both the CBP and ICE positions subject them to intense attention and hostility, and increases the likelihood that they may be the subjects of attack while performing their official duties at any number of events or publicly known government offices," wrote Jim Crumpacker, a DHS Official who handles responses to Oversight Reports.

"CBP's headquarters is also the site of numerous protests, at least one per month, with unknown protesters sometimes entering the building and remaining just outside of CBP office space," Crumpacker wrote. "Even within that office space, agency leadership could easily become the target for an insider threat. For example, during the course of imposing routine discipline, CBP management regularly encounters employees, some of whom are armed law enforcement officers, who are discontented with the real or perceived loss of their livelihood, opportunity for advancement, and reputation."

The Divisions are currently Headed by ICE Acting Director Thomas Homan and CBP Acting Commissioner Kevin McAleenan. However, many Details in the Report appear to refer to those Officials' predecessors during the Obama Administration. The IG Report was triggered in part by Whistleblower complaints that Law Enforcement Agents were being diverted from their Ordinary Duties and instead assigned to Protect CBP or ICE Leaders during their Travels.

The IG Report says DHS may be understating the Cost of the Protective Details, which the Watchdog Agency said "could exceed $1 million" apiece. Roth also noted that Congress has Strictly Limited the Number of Government Officials entitled to Door-to-Door Transportation between Home and Work and neither the ICE Director nor the CBP Commissioner is on that List.

DHS' response points to several Specific Incidents causing concern about the CBP and ICE Officials' Safety. The Agency said last year CBP Commissioner Gil Kerlikowske received Threats telling him to "resign or please die soon" and threatening to rape his Wife and Sexually molest his Grandchildren. Former ICE Directors and an Acting Director "have been victims of 'doxxing,'" involving Publication of Personal Information on the Internet, Crumpacker said.

In addition, "CBP and ICE leadership oversee large law enforcement agencies that regularly incite emotional, familiar, and professional turmoil among their law enforcement targets and affiliated individuals," he wrote.

Roth said he's "sympathetic" to those concerns, but systematic, Professional Security Assessments are needed to determine who should have Protection. The IG also said it was troubling that the Top Leaders of ICE and CBP appear to Authorize and Approve their own Security Arrangements.

DHS Management has pledged to issue a Department-Wide Policy on Security Details by June 20th of next Year, but Roth called that Timetable too drawn out. "DHS has not articulated the reasons a fairly simple policy should take a year to issue, particularly given that the department has been aware of the issue since at least November 2016," he declared.