ICE agents are now getting in trouble – for doing their job. When President Obama unilaterally changed the immigration policy to allow younger illegal immigrants to stay in the country the administration said these individuals would have to meet certain requirements.
From the DHS announcement:
The department continues to focus its enforcement resources on the removal of individuals who pose a national security or public safety risk, including immigrants convicted of crimes, violent criminals, felons, and repeat immigration law offenders. Today's action further enhances the Department's ability to focus on these priority removals.
Under this directive, individuals who demonstrate that they meet the following criteria will be eligible for an exercise of discretion, specifically deferred action, on a case-by-case basis:
1. Came to the United States under the age of sixteen;
2. Have continuously resided in the United States for a least five years preceding the date of this memorandum and are present in the United States on the date of this memorandum;
3. Are currently in school, have graduated from high school, have obtained a general education development certificate, or are honorably discharged veterans of the Coast Guard or Armed Forces of the United States;
4. Have not been convicted of a felony offense, a significant misdemeanor offense, multiple misdemeanor offenses, or otherwise pose a threat to national security or public safety;
5. Are not above the age of thirty.
As it turns out, the administration never had any intention of enforcing these aspects of the new policy. In early July, The Washington Times was already reporting that the requirements were essentially being ignored. Making matters worse, top immigration officials recently came out saying that criminals are being set free as DREAMers without question or charges, which only highlights the administration’s feigned interest in national security and public safety.
Now, agents are being punished for following the requirements set forth in the directive.
The unidentified agent could face a three-day suspension after he arrested a 35-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico who had as many as 10 traffic violations.
The agent was ordered by supervisors to release the individual because he was not a "priority target." When the officer balked, he was threatened with a three-day suspension and the illegal alien was let go.
Sen. Sessions isn’t having any of it:
"The actions that it appears were taken by your agency send a message to agents in the field that they will be punished for doing their duty and enforcing the law," Sessions wrote in an letter to ICE Director John Morton and obtained exclusively by Fox News.
The administration’s policies and retaliatory tactics are stripping the agency of any ability to do their job and protect the American people despite internal will. They’ve even stooped to a new low by deleting immigration enforcement success stories from everyone’s memory.
Agents are bearing the unfortunate brunt of Washington politics and it’s taking its toll:
“They’ve got their heads down,” Crane said, referring to ICE agents. “We feel like the administration is against us and not the people who are violating our laws.”
According to a survey conducted by bestplacestowork.org, ICE is ranked 222 out of 240 with a workplace score of 52.5.
Crane said he is not surprised.
“We can’t do anything anymore under these new guidelines,” he said.
It will soon be, if it’s not already, an agency in name only.