Operation Endgame

U.S. Department of Homeland Security
Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement

ENDGAME
Office of Detention and
Removal Strategic Plan,
2003 - 2012
Detention and Removal Strategy
for a Secure Homeland

Form M-592 (8/15/03)

ENDGAME
D e t e n t i o n a n d R e mo v a l S t r a t e g i c P l a n 2 0 0 3 – 2 0 1 2

Contents

Executive Summary ...................................................................................................... ii

Chapter 1. Introduction........................................................................................... 1-1
Situation .................................................................................................................................................1-1
Enforcement Challenge .........................................................................................................................1-1
Strategic Framework..............................................................................................................................1-2
Stakeholders..........................................................................................................................................1-3
Plan Development .................................................................................................................................1-5
Plan Structure ........................................................................................................................................1-6
Execution ...............................................................................................................................................1-6
Chapter 2. Situational Assessment ....................................................................... 2-1
Overview................................................................................................................................................2-1
Situation .................................................................................................................................................2-1
Reorganizations and Demands for Service.......................................................................................2-1
Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT).....................................................................2-2
Strengths ...........................................................................................................................................2-2
Weaknesses ......................................................................................................................................2-4
Opportunities .....................................................................................................................................2-7
Threats.............................................................................................................................................2-10
Chapter 3. Goals and Objectives ........................................................................... 3-1
Goal Relationships.................................................................................................................................3-1
Homeland Security to DRO ...............................................................................................................3-1
Goal Alignment ......................................................................................................................................3-4
Milestones..............................................................................................................................................3-6
Chapter 4. Strategies .............................................................................................. 4-1
Strategic Concept ..................................................................................................................................4-1
Strategic Fundamentals.........................................................................................................................4-1
Foundations for Success .......................................................................................................................4-1
General ..................................................................................................................................................4-2
Strategic Challenges and Success Factors...........................................................................................4-3
Strategic Challenges .........................................................................................................................4-3
Key Success Factors.........................................................................................................................4-3
Strategic Initiatives.................................................................................................................................4-3
Strategies...........................................................................................................................................4-4
Execution .............................................................................................................................................4-10
Effective ...........................................................................................................................................4-10
Plan Maintenance............................................................................................................................4-10
Planning Cycle.................................................................................................................................4-10
Glossary..................................................................................................................... G-1

Contents i

Office of Detention and Removal

Executive Summary o Building partnerships with critical
stakeholders;
Endgame is the Immigration and Customs
o Developing a professional workforce
Enforcement (ICE), Office of Detention and
and the infrastructure to retain it; and
Removal (DRO) multi-year strategic
enforcement plan. It stresses the effective
o Employing mission-critical systems
and efficient execution of the critical service
and information technology.
DRO provides its partners and stakeholders
to enforce the nation’s immigration and
Endgame embodies the core principles found
naturalization laws. The DRO strategic plan
within the National Strategy for Homeland
sets in motion a cohesive enforcement
Security. The National Strategy for
program with a ten-year time horizon that will
Homeland Security promotes a balanced and
build the capacity to “remove all removable
integrated enforcement strategy, which
aliens,” eliminate the backlog of unexecuted
ensures that the probability of apprehension
final order removal cases, and realize its
and the impact of the consequences are
vision.
sufficient to deter future illegal activity.
Through its operational focus on fugitive
DRO VISION apprehension and developing full capacity to
“Within ten years, the Detention and remove all removable aliens, Endgame is a
Removal Program will be able to meet all
key element in the achievement of the
of our commitments to and mandates
from the President, Congress, and the balanced immigration enforcement strategy.
American people.”
DRO’s success as a core element of the
immigration enforcement mission will be
realized when the synchronization of its
Endgame is an essential part of an overall resources and infrastructure result in the
strategic planning process that will integrate immediate and effective removal of each
operations with budget development and removable alien. With this strategic plan,
performance measurement. The DRO DRO strives toward that goal while ensuring
Strategic Plan Working Group, which that its services will be provided consistently
developed this plan, will maintain it and the and professionally. The result will be
process through a suite of performance enhanced homeland security through the
indicators. These will ensure that operations successful accomplishment of DRO’s
and accomplishments are appropriately mission.
measured and that the plan accurately
reflects the current and future environment.

Endgame is pro-active in its vision to confront DRO MISSION
and overcome the many challenges DRO
faces today and will face tomorrow.
Throughout the next ten years, DRO will “Promote the public safety and
implement and execute a series of strategies national security by ensuring the
that will develop the capacity and capability to departure from the United States of
execute all final orders of removal. The three all removable aliens through the
themes listed below are DRO’s “foundations fair and effective enforcement of
for success,” the pillars supporting the the nation’s immigration laws.”
platform from which this plan and its
strategies will be launched:

ii Executive Summary

ENDGAME

Chapter 1. Introduction the American people. Building these
partnerships is fundamental to the success of
this plan and DRO’s mission and will result in
Situation improvements that maximize efficiencies
within the immigration enforcement process.
Endgame is the Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of Our mission is critical to the immigration
Detention and Removal (DRO) multi-year enforcement process and provides the final
strategic enforcement plan. It is part of a link in securing America’s borders. Our
broader planning cycle that, when fully plans, operations and resource requests will
implemented, will integrate strategic and be fully integrated with all other immigration
operational planning with the budget building enforcement programs and initiatives.
process and performance measurement. Initiatives to improve border security and
Endgame articulates the DRO mission and protect the interior of the United States
vision statement, and through an increase in
will guide the Endgame is part of a broader planning personnel and
development and cycle that, when fully implemented, will enhanced information
execution of DRO integrate strategic and operational technology, as well as
operations through a planning with the budget building process the establishment of
focused set of goals, and performance measurement. the DHS, will require
objectives and significant increases in
strategies. The plan detention and removal
identifies core detention and removal operations and resources. Our management
business functions and key processes within and staff will use this plan as a reference tool
five goal areas to accomplish several short- to develop operations that will be properly
and long-term objectives. It emphasizes the and fully aligned with all immigration
execution of key processes within the two enforcement operations. We will follow this
core functions, removals and custody plan to ensure that we manage and maintain
management, recognizing they will remain an effective detention and removal program,
essentially the same once the Program is and that we continue to execute our part in
fully integrated into the Department of the overall immigration enforcement process.
Homeland Security (DHS).
On March 1, 2003, DRO officially became
Enforcement Challenge part of the Bureau of Immigration and
Customs Enforcement (ICE) of the directorate
Recent events and political initiatives have of Border and Transportation Security (BTS)
emphasized the significance of DRO’s within the Department of Homeland Security
mission and the critical need to restore some (DHS). This transition brings with it new
certainty to the removal of aliens found to be partners, stakeholders and challenges yet,
removable. DRO will meet the challenge of we must remain diligent in our efforts to
this defining moment in our nation’s history, provide the entire DRO program with the
clearly demonstrating our critical role in appropriate tools and resources required to
immigration enforcement and our nation’s accomplish our mission and daily
domestic security. This plan will guide our assignments. Through this team and our
efforts in developing operational plans and inter-agency and internal partnerships, we will
resource requirements to achieve our succeed in meeting our national policy
national immigration law enforcement policy mandates.
aims. Through cooperative relationships and
effective partnerships with our internal and
external stakeholders, we will fulfill the
demands of the President, the Congress and

Introduction 1-1


Strategic Framework remove all removable aliens. The principles
of that foundation are implicit in three
The Director for Detention and Removal, in overarching strategic themes:
conjunction with his staff, has developed a
vision statement to guide the efforts of the o Build partnerships with critical
program for the next ten years. This ten-year stakeholders.
vision is focused on the development of the
infrastructure, resources, personnel and o Develop a professional workforce and
leadership necessary to develop, maintain the infrastructure to retain it.
and sustain a program that will accomplish its
mission efficiently and effectively throughout o Employ information systems and
the next ten years, and beyond. technology.

U.S. immigration policy remains fluid to reflect These three themes influence objectives and
the ever-changing global and political strategies across five goal areas. These five
environment; however, this ten-year vision goal areas will guide DRO operations and
will transcend these changes, as it is founded efforts and support ICE strategic goals. The
in a mission that reflects the core business of relationships between DRO goals and those of
the Detention and Removal program. The ICE and the National Strategy for Homeland
DRO mission is the cornerstone of this vision Security are depicted in the graphic on the
and this plan. Over the next ten years, following page and described in more detail in
Endgame will lay the groundwork for Chapter 3.
developing the capacity and capability to

DRO VISION
Within ten years the Detention and Removal Program will be able
to fully meet all of our commitments and mandates from the
President, Congress and the American people.

To make this happen, the following will be required:

• Visionary leadership, at all levels of the organization
• An effectively trained and educated professional workforce
• The right levels of the right resources such as personnel, facilities, and
support infrastructure
• Effective, responsive, and accurate command, control, communication,
computers and intelligence (C4I) systems that truly support our
enforcement requirements and improve the way we do business
• Thoughtful and thorough planning, and effective operational execution

1-2 Introduction

ENDGAME

Figure 1. Relationship between DRO, ICE and DHS Strategic Goals and Objectives

DHS to ICE to DRO Goal Relationships
DHS Strategic Objective: DHS Strategic Objective :
Prevent terrorist attacks Ensure functions not directly related to
within the United States. homeland security are not diminished or
neglected.

ICE Strategic Goal (DRAFT): ICE Strategic Goal (DRAFT):
Deterring, interdicting, & removing Protect America from customs &
threats; & policing & securing immigration violations not directly
federal facilities. linked to terrorism.

DRO Goal 1 DRO Goal 2 DRO Goal 3 DRO Goal 4 DRO Goal 5
Removals Custody Mgmt Non-Detained Info Tech Human Capital
Docket Mgmt

When implemented to its fullest, this plan will a professional, effective and efficient manner
serve as the platform from which strategies while addressing the rights, needs and
will be initiated, partnerships will be built, and interests of all its various stakeholders.
innovation for continued process DRO’s primary stakeholders have been
improvement will be fostered. This vision will identified and grouped, as depicted on the
be realized, and the mission will be following page:
accomplished, only through the collective and
collaborative efforts of all DRO employees.
DRO employees (including officers,
management, and staff) must encourage
growth and improvement through the sharing
of ideas and the integration of DRO core
business functions with key processes, all
critical elements of the immigration
enforcement program.

Stakeholders

In response to national policy, DRO provides
the necessary public service of removing
unauthorized aliens from the United States.
DRO is committed to providing this service in

Introduction 1-3


Figure 2. DRO Stakeholders1

Stakeholders
Internal
DHS Enforcement Internal
International Affairs (Asylum/Refugee) DRO Employees
INS Enforcement (BOR, INSP, INV, LESC)
(ICE, CIS, CBP, LESC) Office of General Counsel Immigration Services
D&R Employees
Office of Community Relations

External
American Private Sector:
*Foreign government The American People
*The Alien
Consulates/Embassies CBOs/NGOs/ABA
Family members
Lawyers American Government: Union
Community leaders Contract services; vendors—
* LEAs food, services, IGSA providers
•Local/State PD’s Other government
agencies CDFs
•BOP
•US Marshal Service Senators/Congressmen AILA
(USMS)
Public Health Services Business owners/employers
•FBI/CIA
•JPATS Executive Office of Media
Immigration Review Airlines & Other Transportation
HHS – Juvenile Affairs

DRO’s primary internal customers are the efforts that we will create consequences for
other enforcement arms within the and deterrence to illegal immigration.
Department’s Directorate of Border and DRO’s service and enforcement partners
Transportation Security that includes work diligently to identify, locate, apprehend,
investigators and intelligence analysts within process, and remove aliens who violate this
ICE and inspectors and border patrol agents nation’s immigration laws. While inspectors
within the Bureau of Customs and Border and border patrol agents can remove aliens
Enforcement (CBP). Other DHS customers directly at ports of entry via expedited
include the Law removal, voluntary
It is only through our combined efforts
Enforcement Support that we will create the consequences for
return or other
Center (LESC), the and deterrence of illegal immigration. methods, that is not a
Office of International core function of their
Affairs, and the Bureau mission. “Removing all
of Customs and Immigration Services (CIS). removable aliens” is, in fact, DRO’s mission.
Through cooperative and concerted efforts, All of the activity needed to carry out that
all aspects of the immigration enforcement mission is the service we provide our
process will be completed thoroughly and partners. Illegal aliens, unaccompanied
expeditiously. It is only through our combined juveniles, asylum seekers, refugees, and

1
Refer to pages G-6 and G-7 for a complete listing of the acronyms used in Figure 2 and throughout this report.

1-4 Introduction

ENDGAME

countless other apprehended aliens cannot facilitate a smooth and trouble-free transfer
all be immediately removed from the country, from the United States to the alien’s home of
nor can they all be released into the record.
American community. For that reason, DRO
resources and expertise are required to While the alien will not necessarily perceive
transport these aliens from point to point, to any “benefit” from DRO services, he will be
manage them in custody while their cases are provided with safe and secure confinement in
being processed and, finally, to remove them detention facilities, as well as transportation
from the country when ordered to do so. The from ports and points along the border to
effects of other programs’ enforcement efforts other detention facilities or his country of
are diminished and their operations are origin. These services will be provided in a
constrained if DRO cannot execute its mission professional manner; the alien will be
efficiently and effectively. Therefore, DRO detained in safe, secure and humane
must immerse itself within the immigration environments; he will be transported safely;
enforcement element of DHS and establish a and his movement will be fully coordinated
significant and collaborative presence with its with his family, legal representative, and
service and enforcement partners and country of origin, whenever appropriate. For
stakeholders. these reasons, the alien is as important a
stakeholder as any of the others mentioned.
The effects of other programs’
enforcement efforts are diminished and This strategic plan and the vision statement
their operations are constrained if DRO have been developed in consideration of the
cannot execute its mission efficiently and concerns of each of our stakeholders. It is
effectively. difficult to prioritize DRO efforts to satisfy one
stakeholder’s needs over that of another; yet
the need to satisfy the American
DRO must maintain cooperative relationships constituency, protect their freedoms and
with each one of its stakeholders to ensure secure their safety remains the overarching
that enforcement operations are conducted and desired outcome.
as efficiently and professionally as possible
and that all stakeholders’ legitimate interests Plan Development
are addressed. DRO and the private sector
rely on each other for the services each
On August 3, 1993 the President signed into
demands and has to offer. While the private
law the Government Performance and
sector relies on DRO to provide national and
Results Act (GPRA). Simply stated, the law
international transportation, or to house and
implements a strategic planning and
feed detainees, DRO relies on those same
performance-measuring process to hold
services to execute its mission when they are
government agencies accountable to the
not available through normal government
American people for the money they spend.
channels. DRO must also maintain similar
To that end, the law requires government
cooperative relationships with foreign
agencies to develop
governments in order
strategic plans with
to realize and effect
Endgame supports national, DHS, and measurable program
removal. Strong
ICE-wide policy and initiatives, while goals, and to report
partnerships and
satisfying the inherent needs of both annually to Congress
cooperative
its internal and external stakeholders. and the American public
coordination between
on their progress. The
DRO, the DHS Office
Office of Detention and
of International
Removal now releases
Affairs, the Department of State (DOS),
its supporting strategic plan, Endgame,
foreign governments, and the alien will
covering the time frame 2003-2012. The plan

Introduction 1-5


supports national, DHS, and ICE-wide policy chapters, this plan lays out a set of strategic
and initiatives, while satisfying the inherent initiatives DRO will undertake to accomplish
needs of both its internal and external its mission, achieve its goals, overcome its
stakeholders. challenges and satisfy its stakeholders. The
plan does not, however, focus on the
The DRO strategic plan and planning process implementation of specific processes in
is the culmination of a nine-month conducting DRO business. Detailed
collaborative effort of the Strategic Plan processes and operations will be addressed
Working Group (SPWG). The SPWG, in a supporting five-year business plan from
consisting of 23 individuals from HQDRO, the which the budget, the annual performance
field, and other HQ staff elements, was plan and the annual implementation plan will
chartered in September 2001. The group’s be built. These appendices support this
immediate task was to develop performance strategic plan and will be updated on a
measures to be incorporated into the existing recurring basis.
suite of performance indicators for inclusion
in the fiscal year 2003 Annual Performance In its four chapters, this plan lays out a
Plan. Upon completion of that immediate set of strategic initiatives DRO will
assignment, the group began a systematic, undertake to accomplish its mission,
academic approach to developing a strategic achieve its goals, overcome its
plan that would serve as the cornerstone for challenges, and satisfy its stakeholders.
development of the fiscal year 2004 (and
future) budgets. The group developed the
mission statement and five goal areas in Execution
which to focus its operational efforts.
Through an analysis of strengths, This Strategic Plan is effective upon release,
weaknesses, opportunities, and threats and will be maintained by the SPWG
(SWOT), the SPWG identified a set of throughout the year. Review of the plan and
strategic challenges, key success factors, its critical elements will be conducted in
and executable objectives and strategies to conjunction with budget calls, mid-year
address and/or overcome its challenges. The reviews, and the development of Annual
SPWG resolved that all of its key processes Performance Plans and Implementation
(its routine and day-to-day activities) could be Plans.
grouped into two core business functions: 1)
removals; and 2) custody management. In
order to justify the need and significance of
each strategy and objective, the group
developed a suite of indicators to measure
performance in each goal area throughout
the year. Upon release of the plan, the group
will transition to a maintenance mode and will
meet quarterly to review the progress of this
plan and update it accordingly.

Plan Structure

Endgame will shape the future of the DRO
organization and will guide the program
through the current sea of change. The
strategic plan is rooted in the overarching
vision, mission, and goals that will serve as
constants for the next ten years. In its four

1-6 Introduction

ENDGAME

Chapter 2. Situational September 11 attacks (such as the Border
Security Act and the USA PATRIOT Act)
Assessment further expanded DRO’s operational area of
responsibility. These Acts, in particular, have
Overview reprioritized national immigration enforcement
efforts and this program’s responsibilities and
The Detention and Deportation Program, now operations. By implementing this strategic
the Office of Detention and Removal (DRO), plan and providing a guide to conduct
was established in a 1955 reorganization of operations, this program is making strides in
the INS to carry out a mission first articulated altering its operations and resource
in the Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798. The requirements to support both current and
Alien and Sedition Acts included the earliest future immigration related policy, events and
deportation legislation, which empowered the activity.
President to order the departure from the
United States of all aliens deemed Situation
dangerous. Legislation since then has
expanded the detention and removal Reorganizations and Demands for Service
operations and redefined the classes of
aliens to be deported or excluded. The basic A) Reorganizations: DRO was integrated
mission, however, remains the same: into the Department of Homeland
Remove all removable aliens. Security’s Bureau of Immigration and
Customs Enforcement on March 31,
The Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) of 2003. Notwithstanding the impact this
1952 expanded the federal expulsion power transition will have on DRO, the
to include a wider category of aliens. The INA program’s mission and core functions
listed 19 general classes of deportable aliens (custody management and removal) will
and provided for exclusion (at the time of remain the same. The most significant
application for admission) to the United changes will be seen in the organizational
States on health, criminal, moral, economic, structure, chains of command, and
subversive, and other grounds. The Illegal hierarchy. This plan is focused on the
Immigration Reform and Immigrant program’s core business functions and
Responsibility Act (IIRIRA) of 1996 expanded key processes and will, therefore, not be
the number of crimes that made people significantly impacted by the final
subject to removal. It also eliminated DRO’s reorganization decisions.
discretion to release certain aliens by
requiring that virtually any non-citizen subject B) Demands for Service: An effective
to removal on the basis of a criminal enforcement program requires that a
conviction, as well as certain categories of significant risk of apprehension be
non-criminal aliens, be detained without combined with a high likelihood that
bond. As a result of these acts and other apprehension will result in removal. With
legislation, DRO is required to detain and high enough risk of apprehension and
remove a much larger and more diverse sufficient likelihood of removal, the
population. The current population requires incidence of illegal activities will decline,
unique facilities, procedures and improving law enforcement effectiveness.
management depending on risk, criminal The national strategy for law enforcement
category, nationality, health and other special must address the priority of removals.
needs.
The “endgame” of immigration law
Similarly, operations, policy and legislation enforcement is the removal of individuals who
that were developed in response to the have received final orders of removal. This is

Situational Assessment 2-1


the essence of DRO’s mission. removal for all removable aliens is critical to
Improvements in the operational allow the ICE to provide the level of
effectiveness of apprehensions will create an immigration enforcement necessary to keep
increased requirement for processing and America secure. Without this final step in the
removing offenders. Therefore, to process, apprehensions made by other DHS
successfully complete the enforcement programs cannot truly contribute to national
process, the removals program must be as security.
vigorous as other enforcement programs.
DRO needs appropriate resources to ensure Strengths, Weaknesses,
that removal does, in fact, result surely from Opportunities, Threats (SWOT)
apprehension. Otherwise, the workload
resulting from enhancements to and Endgame was developed with both the
increased efficiencies within other DHS positive and negative aspects of the program
programs will be made in vain without an in mind. DRO will exploit its strengths and
equally enhanced detention and removals minimize its weaknesses in order to capitalize
program. on available opportunities and overcome the
challenges it faces in pursuit of its mission.
As part of the DHS immigration and law
enforcement mission, the DRO program has
Strengths
the primary responsibility of providing
adequate and appropriate custody
DRO’s success will be attributed to the
management (including bed space),
strength of its leadership, current and
supporting removals, facilitating the
planned initiatives, the experience and
processing of illegal aliens through the
dedication of its workforce and an
immigration court, and enforcing their
unquestionable commitment from the entire
departure from the United States. Key
program to execute this plan and the critical
elements in exercising those responsibilities
planning process within which it is a part.
include: identifying and removing all high-risk
The current workforce has the experience,
illegal alien absconders; ensuring that those
dedication and corporate knowledge needed
aliens who have already been identified as
to build the foundation from which this plan
criminals are expeditiously removed; and
will be launched and from which the program
developing and maintaining a robust
capacity will be both built and enhanced.
removals program with the capacity to
DRO’s workforce is supported by time-proven
remove all final order cases issued annually,
processes to remove illegal aliens from the
thus precluding growth in the illegal alien
country and the maintenance of detention
absconder populations. Simply stated,
facilities against standards more stringent
DRO’s ultimate goal is to develop the
than the national norm.
capacity to remove all removable aliens.

Integral to making America more secure, 1. Leadership: DRO leadership believes
DHS detention and removal operations that “failing to plan is planning to fail” and
provide the final step in the immigration therefore supports this strategic plan and
enforcement process. To accomplish this a planning process that fully integrates
mission, DRO will be vigorous in its efforts to operations and performance with
provide services commensurate to the resource needs. DRO leadership is
demand from and efforts expended by other committed to executing this plan and its
enforcement programs and agencies. DRO strategies to accomplish the mission and
will increase its overall number of removals attain the vision by empowering the DRO
annually in order to thwart and deter workforce to think globally, work smarter
continued growth in the illegal alien and take responsibility for executing a
population. Moving toward a 100% rate of

2-2 Situational Assessment

ENDGAME

critical function of the entire immigration a) Health Care: DRO is expanding its
enforcement process. health care delivery system to fit
current and future needs in the most
2. Workforce: The DRO core business cost-effective way. This includes
functions (custody management and increasing the services currently
removal) demand that the DRO officer provided by the Public Health Service
corps maintain broad and expert (PHS). It also includes an overall
knowledge of all applicable upgrade of the Immigration Health
immigration laws, policy and procedures; Information System (IHIS), involving
they do so. The DRO officer corps has the creation of an electronic
the education and experience to manage surveillance system for communicable
IICE’s unique population while diseases that will help to control costs
simultaneously carrying out proper and significantly increase
enforcement action. Because of their administrative efficiency. This
diverse workload and broad initiative will allow PHS to maintain
immigration knowledge, DRO officers are appropriate staff levels needed to
often called on to serve on review panels provide requisite detainee health care.
that recommend parole, release or other It will especially enhance the
relief for aliens in accordance with the movement of detainees to the most
law. They are also authorized and optimal site based on their health
mandated to discuss and act on conditions and will clear them for
immigration issues with aliens being removal more quickly.
processed for administrative immigration
violations. b) Chaplaincy: DRO has requested
positions be created to place
3. Unique Population and Detention chaplains in each of its Service
Standards: The detained alien population Processing Centers (SPCs) to ensure
is unique and extremely diverse. that detainees of different faiths are
Detained aliens are in administrative provided reasonable and equitable
custody (versus punitive or correctional) opportunities to pursue their
and are therefore afforded rights and respective religious practices. This
privileges not gained by prisoners initiative will satisfy detention
incarcerated in other federal institutions. standards that allow for the practice of
For this reason, DRO conducts routine various religions, unique food
inspections of its facilities and operations provisions, and spiritual needs during
to ensure that they are in compliance with terminal illness and death. The
approved standards, that aliens are chaplain will also be responsible for
treated humanely, and that they are safe advising the Officer in Charge in
and secure. DRO manages its own matters of religious holiday
Detention Management Control Plan observance, religious diets, religious
(DMCP) to ensure its facilities comply personal property, dress and
with American Correctional Association contraband.
detention standards and their own more
stringent and comprehensive ICE 4. September 11 Awareness: The
Detention Standards. Through execution unprecedented terrorist attacks on
of thorough and routine inspections September 11, 2001 heightened
outlined in the DMCP, DRO ensures its awareness among the public and
facilities are operated in a professional governments worldwide of the critical
manner and are compliant with importance of enforcing immigration laws
appropriate codes, standards, and and sharing information and intelligence.
regulations. Since then, the U.S. has reviewed its own



business practices regarding immigration progress on diminishing and eliminating
and homeland defense and, in doing so, the existing backlog. Detention and
has identified critical gaps that are now Removal resources have not kept pace
being addressed and resolved. This with the increased number of
worldwide focus on immigration provides apprehensions generated by explosive
the opportunity to develop and enhance growth in Border Patrol and Inspections
relationships and cooperation with foreign since 1996. Since that time, these
governments and, most importantly, apprehension resources have increased
among U.S. law enforcement, border by 64 percent while DRO forces have
control and defense agencies. Finally, it increased by only 37 percent. While DRO
has afforded the DRO and the DHS an does not have empirical models to show
opportunity to educate the public on the the optimal ratio of DRO forces to
critical mission and role they play in the apprehension assets, it is clear that this
immigration enforcement process. asymmetrical growth has put severe
strains on the program. Its ability to
Weaknesses follow up on apprehensions, to effectively
manage the processing of cases through
1. Lack of Empirical Models: The DRO the immigration courts, and to remove
mission cannot be accomplished without those ordered removed has been
appropriate human resources, yet the hindered.
program does not have reliable models to
determine what the true workload-to- 3. Standardization: The current field
personnel ratio should be. Although a structure, coupled with a lack of unified
new financial management system, the national operations plans, has resulted in
Federal Financial Management System diversified and inconsistent interpretation
(FFMS), is being fielded that will enhance of policy and guidance within and
the management of current fiscal between regions and districts.
resources, DRO does not have the Additionally, the current performance
capability to conduct detailed financial measurement system creates an
analysis and resource identification atmosphere of territoriality rather than a
utilizing the current system. Also lacking unified, cooperative, effective, and
is a documented business model and efficient operation. DRO acknowledges
accurate cost data to support future that nationwide operations cannot be
budgetary planning, resource allocation, conducted consistently without unified
cost optimization, and GPRA operations plans and clear guidance to
requirements. the field. Developing a national fugitive
operations policy, a national custody
2. Human Resource Shortfall: The program management plan and a national
experienced relatively gradual growth in transportation system are the program’s
key areas from 1998 to 2001 (end of year greatest challenges and will prove to be
2002 numbers were not available while among its greatest recent
drafting this plan). The DRO staff grew accomplishments when complete.
by only three percent, which was slightly Development and deployment of these
slower than the four percent growth in the national plans, as envisioned, will have
docket or caseload. While the program is significant positive impact on DRO
making progress, increasing removals by operations across the board. These
11 percent, staff growth is only barely national plans will not solve all program
keeping pace with the growing docket. deficiencies but will significantly reduce
Staff growth must exceed docket growth if and minimize the gaps. Standard staffing
the program is going to begin making guidelines and staffing levels are also
absent from the DRO personnel


ENDGAME

management system. Staff make-ups programs are the Student Exchange and
vary widely among and between like Visitor Program (SEVP) and the United
offices throughout the country. Arguably, States Visitor and Immigrant Status
offices should reflect the particular needs Indicator Technology (US-VISIT).
of their locale, but the discrepancy in
staffing levels and ratios, officer grade, 7. Workforce Development: The DHS
and employee roles and responsibilities operates and maintains an intensive
creates anomalies in mission course of instruction for new officers and
accomplishment and unfair advantages recruits. The academies provide 11-, 16-,
and disadvantages to those competing for and 21-week courses designed to provide
like jobs. officers with the core competencies
needed to begin their work at their duty
4. National Fleet System: Lacking a National location. The officers do, however,
Transportation Strategy and efficient require a period of on-the-job training
coordination, DRO spends millions of before they are fully effective in their
dollars annually for air and ground assigned duties. Unfortunately, DRO
transportation in order to manage the does not have an advanced or
detention population and effect timely professional development program of
removals. Likewise, as staffing levels in equal caliber. Officers do not have a
other programs have increased, the DRO “career advancement” template to follow
program has experienced an increased and, due to the operational tempo and
workload without the necessary increase shortfall in human resources, officers are
in vehicles. Consequently, the lack of often not relieved from duty to attend
adequate types and numbers of vehicles professional development training. This,
and a central movement control center along with several other factors, has had
handicaps DRO in carrying out its mission a detrimental affect on retention rates
as effectively and efficiently as it could. within the DRO officer corps. The low
retention rate is further exacerbated, as
5. Alternatives to Detention: The DRO the hiring and training process is
detained population has grown in both extremely slow and cumbersome; officers
numbers and diversity in recent years, yet are not trained and put in place before
detention methods needed to satisfy existing staff is burnt out and eventually
unique demands have not kept pace. For leaves the program.
example, family groups are often held in
hotels because there are not adequate 8. Institutional Removal Program (IRP): The
facilities available to house both adults IRP, as currently executed, is inefficient
and juveniles together. and less effective than it should be
because the responsibility for operational
6. DHS Enforcement Initiatives: The DHS is execution lies with the Investigations
currently implementing and making plans program (identifying and processing
to implement several enforcement incarcerated aliens) and the responsibility
initiatives and programs that, when fully for results lies with the Detention and
operational, will generate increased Removal program (removing criminal
demands on DRO. Unfortunately, these aliens). Even at authorized staffing
increased demands do not come with levels, the Government Accounting Office
increased DRO resources. DRO cannot (GAO) and the Office of the Inspector
fully support these programs, and they General have clearly cited a workforce
will not be as effective as intended, shortfall to handle the significant
without a commensurate increase in workload. As the War on Terror
personnel and infrastructure. These continues to be waged, the Special
Agents who have been supporting the



IRP are being pulled from the program to population of over 65% criminal, some
work other high profile cases related to requiring a maximum-security setting. As
“homeland security”. These positions and an agency, we have had a relatively short
the IRP work left unaccomplished by period of time and little funding to keep up
these special agents are not being with the growth and the special needs of
backfilled, increasing the risk of releasing this disparate population.
criminal aliens into the community.
11. September 11 Unfunded Mandates:
9. Inadequate Information Technology to Since September 11, 2001, policy and
Support DRO Operations: The activity has subjected DRO to a series of
Deportable Alien Control System (DACS) unfunded mandates, taking resources
no longer responds to the demands away from the accomplishment of other
placed on it in today’s operational critical operations. Throughout the past
environment. Outdated hardware and year, the Administration, the Department
software, coupled with questionable data of Justice and Congress have initiated
quality, render the system difficult and several programs in response to gaps
inefficient to use. The integrity of the revealed by September 11 findings.
system has been maintained by years of These have forced the program into a
software patchwork, additions and reactive role, thereby redirecting our
enhancements. proactive initiatives and planning.
Programs such as the Alien Absconder
10. Aging and Inadequate Infrastructure for Initiative and the Custody Review Unit,
Detention Operations: Historically, while extremely beneficial in securing
funding for repair, construction, and America’s borders, have not been
alteration has not been adequate to resourced to the extent that optimum
support our Service Processing Centers benefit can be realized.
(SPCs). Funding for construction projects
has routinely been reduced and/or 12. Lack of Immigration Enforcement Mission
eliminated over the last several years. Area Plan: As the title of this plan
This has made it extremely difficult to implies DRO provides the final step in
support our detention operation and to the immigration enforcement process.
keep up with the technological / design / The Department does not yet have, in
procedural advancements the "prison" place, a tool, method or process to
industry affords. While most of our ensure that strategies, budgets and
facilities have portions of new
operations planned for and executed
construction, our facilities generally need
significant physical improvements. This is
by other enforcement programs
not to say that any of our facilities are in consider the impact to DRO and the
"poor condition." Our staff goes to great ensuing operational implications and
lengths to ensure the health, safety and resource requirements.
welfare of the staff, detainees, and
general public. Facilities like Florence, El 13. Non-detained docket: The Detention and
Centro, El Paso, and Port Isabel, when Removal program does not have a
originally constructed years ago, were program to effectively manage its non-
designed to hold relatively small non- detained docket. The appearance rate of
criminal populations for short periods of individuals released from ICE custody is
time. Over the last 5 years, our estimated to be 15 percent and the
population has increased by 136%, and program does not have the resources to
the classification of our population has identify, locate, apprehend and process
gone from primarily non-criminal to a the remaining 85%.


ENDGAME

Opportunities aliens continue to find ways to enter the
country illegally. The detention and
DRO is currently working on several short- removal mission is manpower intensive
and long-term initiatives that are proving to be and very few functions can be automated.
excellent opportunities to continue its Therefore, the success of the mission
progress in implementing this plan and relies heavily on available human
achieving its vision and mission. The proper resources and their capabilities. DRO will
use of information technology is critical to work diligently to close the gap between
program success and DRO is working with its workforce and the demands for
the Office of Information Resource services. To ensure that the existing
Management (OIRM) to replace the workforce is productive, efficient and
Deportable Alien Control System with the effective, DRO will implement strategies
Removal Module (EREM) of the Enforcement to improve training programs, create
Case Tracking System (ENFORCE). The professional development programs, and
EREM will draw from many more databases build the infrastructure (information
and sources than DACS. It is expected that technology, transportation, facilities)
EREM will facilitate the automation and essential to facilitate the detention and
subsequent improvement of many DRO removal process.
efforts and procedures. Other initiatives
include the implementation of the National 2. Institutional Removal Program (IRP): The
Fugitive Operations Plan, the reorganization IRP, as currently executed, is inefficient
of District DRO operations who control and less effective than it should be
Service Processing Centers (SPCs), because the responsibility for operational
unilateral management of the Institutional execution lies with the Investigations
Removal Program (IRP), revision of the Field program (identifying and processing
Officer’s Manual, an initiative to reengineer incarcerated aliens) and the responsibility
the bond management program, development for results lies with the Detention and
of a central ticketing program to coordinate all Removal program (remove criminal
escort missions, and implementation of aliens). To reduce the inefficiencies in
various electronic monitoring programs. All of the program, in September 2000 the
these initiatives are layers deep and include Office of Field Operations mandated the
the creation of training and professional transition of the IRP from Investigations to
development programs, increased staffing Detention and Removal. Consolidation of
levels and greater stakeholder cooperation the IRP will allow senior management to
and involvement. focus on and resolve the program
deficiencies identified in the 1997 and
In addition to these initiatives, other strategies 1998 GAO reports. These efficiencies will
within this plan, current events, political will, permit more aliens to be processed while
and public interest provide the program with incarcerated, thereby reducing the
an array of opportunities from which it cannot potential demand for detention space.
turn away. DRO will exploit every opportunity Overall, improved effectiveness of the
presented in order to build the capacity to IRP will increase the public safety, reduce
remove all removable aliens. the potential for future crimes, and
enhance the welfare of our society. DRO
is working with the Investigations
1. Human Resource Shortfall: The workload Program to either identify resources to be
per case officer is daunting and the pool transferred with the IRP or to acquire
of removable aliens continues to grow as additional resources to merge and
other immigration enforcement divisions execute the program.
become more effective, apprehending
greater numbers of individuals, and as



3. DEO/IEA Reclassification: Creation of indicated that there is a backlog of cases
the Immigration Enforcement Agent (IEA), with unexecuted orders of removal. The
with a journeyman-level at GS-9, will NFOP will target this backlog by
make this entry-level position a true facilitating the apprehension and
foundation for an officer’s career subsequent removal of those fugitives.
development. This new career position The goal over the next ten years will be to
will strengthen the overall professionalism eliminate this backlog and to ensure that
of the DRO workforce and will afford our efforts in terms of apprehension and
those who are interested with the removal of fugitive cases equals the
opportunity to apply for any of the senior number of new cases falling into this
officer positions, thereby continuing their category. While woefully inadequate to
career growth within the Division and achieve the goal, the creation of 40
Department. Establishment of this positions dedicated to the NFOP is a
position will create a corps of nearly 2,400 promising start.
IEAs with arrest authority and authority to
issue detainers. This increased 5. Removal Module (EREM) of the
workforce will create a pool of officers that ENFORCE: ENFORCE Removal Module
can effectively execute the IRP. If this (EREM) is a module of the Enforcement
corps of officers works the IRP 25% of Case Tracking System (ENFORCE) that
their time (as is expected to meet the will support detention and removal
requirements of the new classification and operations. As such, it is integrated with
grade), we will have, in effect, almost 600 applications that support other
full time equivalent positions (FTE) enforcement operations, e.g.
dedicated to the IRP, which is nearly apprehensions, investigations and
double the current IEA FTE. By doubling intelligence. ENFORCE will support all
the effective IRP workforce, we can enforcement processes and make
expect a significant increase in criminal enforcement data available at all levels of
removals as more incarcerated DHS nationwide. ENFORCE will capture
removable aliens are processed and data on individuals, entities, and
deported. This increased effectiveness investigative cases, and support case
will also reduce the number of persons processing from apprehension through
placed in ICE detention, thus reducing final completion. ENFORCE will be used
avoidable detention costs. to support field personnel by producing
required forms and reports. Finally,
4. National Fugitive Operations Program ENFORCE will provide intelligence and
(NFOP)/Absconder Apprehension management information to support
Initiative (AAI): In response to the decision makers. EREM goals are to:
terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001,
Congress passed legislation providing • Ensure timely, accurate and
funding and positions for the role of law complete information;
enforcement agencies in the war against • Obviate redundant data entry across
terrorism. As part of that legislation, DRO multiple systems;
was authorized an enhancement of 40 • Capture information as a part of the
positions solely for the purpose of operational workflow;
apprehending fugitive aliens. Seven • Produce forms and statistics, and
districts were assigned these positions to pass information to partners,
create a Fugitive Operations Section for customers and stakeholders as a by-
the purpose of implementing the NFOP. product of information capture;
The Absconder Apprehension Initiative
announced in the Deputy Attorney
General’s directive of January 25, 2002,


ENDGAME

• Make structured decisions on the Enhancements to the DRO removals
basis of information on hand and program will directly benefit DHS
business rules; and enforcement initiatives (such as the
• Provide support for optimal decision- Student Exchange and Visitor Program
making. (SEVP), the United States Visitor and
Immigrant Status Indicator Technology
6. DRO Reorganization: In May 2003, the (US-VISIT)) by completing the final step
Assistant Secretary for ICE announced an in the enforcement process. Only by
interim organization structure for the apprehending and removing those
bureau. Within this structure DRO field individuals who choose to disregard
elements would be geographically immigration law, can the overall program
realigned to with that of the investigations be successful.
program and re-subordinated to report
directly to HQ DRO, Field Operations. 8. National Fleet System: A comprehensive
This reorganization will: National Transportation Plan is necessary
in order to maximize the use of DRO’s
• Create a direct line of authority limited air and ground resources while
over all DRO elements; ensuring efficiency. A contract study will
• Develop and practice consistent consider all transportation means, current
operations nationwide; routes, and location of existing facilities
• Develop and apply uniform and potential sites to maximize a forward-
detention standards; thinking transportation plan. Meanwhile,
• Optimize nationwide utilization of an ongoing replacement and
bed space and transportation enhancement of the DRO vehicle fleet
resources; and program that provides for adequate types
• Mirror and fully support the ICE and numbers of vehicles is instrumental in
enforcement field structure. carrying out the ICE and DRO missions.
Based on the needs of DRO, an adequate
The Director, DRO with direct control over annual fleet budget should be dedicated
field operations and the program’s to ensure that staff has adequate
detention facilities will be in the best numbers and appropriate types of
position to influence real changes and the vehicles.
regulation needed to address and resolve
historical issues regarding the treatment 9. Soft Detention: Conducting an initiative to
of population, facility and infrastructure provide “softer” (staff secure) detention
conditions, personnel training, and much- settings for special populations, such as
needed standardization of policy and asylum seekers and family groups, will
procedures. allow ICE to fulfill the goal of providing
appropriate detention conditions.
7. Increased Removals: Moving toward a
100% rate of removal for all removable 10. Alternative Methods to Detention: With
aliens allows ICE to provide the level of limited bed space, there is a need to find
immigration enforcement necessary to alternative detention methods for those
keep America secure. Without this final aliens who do not pose a threat to society
step in the process, apprehensions made and who are not a serious flight risk.
by other DHS programs (such as the There is also a need to ensure that aliens
Border Patrol, Inspections, and released from secure custody comply with
Investigations) will not provide the their conditions of release and appear in
deterrent or the enforcement tool court when required. In recent years,
necessary to secure America’s borders. DRO has developed and implemented



several successful non-traditional lawmakers, immigration organizations
detention methods to accomplish these and the public understand the
objectives. Current alternatives to uniqueness of administrative (DRO)
detention include housing aliens, detention vs. the punitive detention
appropriately, in halfway houses and administered by the BOP and other
family shelters. In Berks County, PA, custodial agencies. DRO will continue
DRO has a detention facility designed to to execute its Detention Management
detain family groups and provide for their Control Plan and market its success in
unique needs. DRO will continue its that area with respect to maintaining
research into available technology and safe, secure, and humane detention
methods in order to create and provide facilities.
safe, secure and humane alternatives to
detention. Electronic monitoring will also 12. Foreign Governments: Another critical
allow for the management of released external factor that influences DRO
individuals, thus making bed space operations is foreign government policy
available for those aliens posing greater on repatriation and issuance of travel
risks of flight or threats to public safety. documents. Travel document and
With these types of options available, repatriation policies vary from country to
DRO can comply with the law while country and within the same country,
having the flexibility to manage special depending on the government and
cases in an appropriate manner. Through political environment. Countries may
these and other non-traditional detention refuse return or repatriation based on
methods, DRO has set a target to factors such as criminal background,
increase the rate of appearance by ten bloodline, place of birth and, at times, as
points each year until it reaches 100 a political statement to the United States.
percent appearance. These policies have created a population
of “long-term” detainees that raises
11. Partnerships: detention costs, reduces throughput, and
limits bed availability. Through increased
a) Executive Office of Immigration cooperation with the Department of State,
Review (EOIR): DRO will work to the DHS Office of International Affairs,
create greater cooperation and and foreign governments, DRO will work
partnership with the EOIR to improve to remove these barriers and to establish
the effectiveness of the removal and develop protocols and procedures
process. Through combined efforts to that will facilitate the proper and timely
share information in an electronic and removal of unauthorized aliens.
real-time environment, we can create
a seamless process expediting the Threats
transfer of an alien from the courts to
DRO for immediate removal, if that Among the many fiscal and political
alien has been issued a final order of challenges DRO faces daily, the SPWG
removal. identified a set of challenges that must be
overcome to accomplish its mission. These
b) Non-government organizations are challenges that will only be resolved
(NGO)/Community Based through the implementation and execution of
Organizations (CBO): DRO will a series of vigorous and directed strategies.
expand on its community outreach These challenges will not be resolved in the
programs and work with NGOs and near term; they are issues that have plagued
CBOs to educate the public on the the detention and removal program for many
purpose and mission of DRO years and will take several years of
detention. It is important that


ENDGAME

partnering, cooperation and political support unaccompanied juveniles of either
to overcome. These strategic challenges are: gender, or families. Even the detention by
DRO of those with criminal convictions
1. Growth in Disparity in Detention (“criminal aliens”) is strictly administrative
Workload: Growth in both numbers and in nature, not punitive. This necessitates
diversity in the detention population has different environments, standards, and
created demands for varied and population management within DRO
appropriate facilities. In the early 1990s, facilities than that of other federal, state,
the majority of ICE detainees were county, or local correctional facilities.
housed in ICE Service Processing DRO detainees have unknown lengths of
Centers (SPCs), private contract facilities, stay in custody because they are
or Bureau of Prisons (BOP) institutions. dependant on the speed of immigration
Today, the majority of detainees are court hearings, appeal review or removal
housed in county and local institutions processing.
through inter-governmental service
agreements (IGSAs). Because DRO • DRO must house adults, juveniles,
does not own these facilities, they have and families. The separate detention
less control over mixing criminal vs. non- requirements for juveniles and
criminal populations and ensuring families can be costly. Juvenile
compliance with other jail standards that detention, in particular, requires “sight
affect detention. Further exacerbating the and sound” separation from adults, as
problem has been unprecedented slow well as education, recreation, and
growth in the detention officer corps over counseling.
the last 10 years, which is relatively • The co-mingling of criminal and non-
disparate to the growth of the detention criminal detainees is a real concern.
population. For example, the rate of The majority of detainees have
detainees per officer grew from 6.7 to 9.0 criminal histories and separating them
from 1995 to 1999. This shortfall of DRO from non-criminals is important. The
officers slows case management and DRO classification system was set up
removals processes, increases bed days to identify and place individuals
and further heightens the probability of accordingly.
multiple types of significant incidents that • Cultural and political rivalries can lead
could place detainees, employees and to violence between nationalities.
the public in danger. Separating detainees by nationality is
often required to keep problems from
2. Unique Population: DRO detainees are arising.
all held for administrative, not criminal • DRO has a large number of detainees
law, violations. They are awaiting the with extended lengths of stay. They
adjudication of their immigration status can be disruptive and are a special
cases, and are not being held subject to a security concern in DRO detention
criminal conviction. This detained because they have no finite detention
population is inherently unique, requiring period.
specialized knowledge and processes to
safely and humanely hold in appropriate
facilities and meet all operational 3. High Detention Throughput and Turnover:
demands. The DRO detained population DRO detention facilities have a much
includes illegal economic migrants, aliens higher throughput than other DOJ
who have committed criminal acts, detention providers. Because aliens are
asylum-seekers (required to be detained being held to facilitate their case
by law) or potential terrorists. These processing and potential removal, the
persons can be male, female, lengths of stay in DRO detention vary



widely. They are driven by a number of are relatively short-term in nature, they
variables including the court’s efficiency in can have a drastic and enduring impact
case review and adjudication, the alien’s on available detention space.
ability to obtain travel documents and so
forth. This creates a fast-paced detention 6. Alien Population: As of the year 2000, the
environment with high throughput. The Immigration and Naturalization Service, in
special nature of the DRO detained conjunction with the Census Bureau,
population requires unique detention estimated the size of the nation’s illegal
procedures and the manpower to resident population at between eight and
process, house, and transport aliens eleven million residents (in the country for
almost continually. DRO’S detention at least a year). The INS estimated that
management standards go well beyond the illegal immigrant population was rising
the normal "health and humane a net amount of 275,000 per year while
treatment" issues addressed in BOP and the Census Bureau estimated the
USMS facilities using the core DOJ increase to be 225,000 per year. The INS
standards. In order to achieve our goals, estimated in 1998 that about two-fifths of
DRO follows access standards (access to the resident illegal alien population
lawyers, phones, consulates, rights entered legally and then lost their legal
presentations, law libraries) that are all status by overstaying their authorized visit
geared to facilitate a rapid and fair and/or by illegally taking jobs. Ultimately,
processing of aliens' cases. this constant unaccounted flow into the
country adds to the pool of removable
4. Facilities: The demand for DRO detention aliens.
has grown much faster than available
federal bed space, causing an increased 7. U.S. Policy: As mentioned at the
reliance on local jails to house detainees. beginning of this chapter, DRO operations
Reliance on local jails reduces the have been and continue to be impacted
number of detainees who are under direct by changes in U.S. immigration and
DRO supervision and control. Utilizing a immigration enforcement policy.
variety of small local jails increases cost Unfortunately, more often than not, these
and transportation needs, and places changes are directed in the form of
DRO in direct competition for scarce bed unfunded mandates that force the
space with other federal and local entities. program to redirect resources from daily
This factor is particularly critical because operations to current crises, special
DRO has more stringent jail standards projects and immediate needs. DRO will
than other entities, which limits the continue to serve the President, the
number of jails that it can use. Congress and the American people;
however, our mission – “to remove all
5. Immigration Emergencies: Detention can removable aliens” – grows continually
be affected by unforeseen events more difficult without a commensurate
occurring in other countries, such as increase in staff, funding, and
natural disasters (i.e., earthquakes, infrastructure.
hurricanes, etc.), war, and
economic/political crises. These events
can produce a “shock” to DRO detention.
Such shocks can produce large numbers
of illegal aliens, additional detention
needs, and the inability to remove aliens
from the U.S. back to countries in crisis.
Though these immigration emergencies


ENDGAME

Chapter 3. Goals and Objectives 4. Ensure functions not directly
related to homeland security are
not diminished or neglected; and
Goal Relationships 5. Monitor and sever connections
between illegal drug trafficking and
DRO developed five strategic goals to guide terrorism; and conduct other efforts
the program’s operational efforts and to interdict illegal drug trafficking.
resource requirements towards
accomplishing its mission and meeting its B. DHS Critical Mission Areas
ultimate objective: remove all removable
aliens. Three operational goals are directly 1. Intelligence and warning;
aligned with and support the ICE mission 2. Border and transportation
and the second of its five (DRAFT) strategic security
goals and can be further aligned with • Create smart borders
strategic objectives identified in the National • Reform immigration services.
Strategy for Homeland Security. The 3. Domestic counter-terrorism;
remaining two goals support ICE’s fourth • Improve intergovernmental law
strategic goal as well as administrative enforcement coordination.
elements within the President’s • Facilitate apprehension of
Management Agenda. These last two are potential terrorists.
essential to building the infrastructure and 4. Protecting critical infrastructure;
capacity to carry out the DRO mission. 5. Defending against catastrophic
terrorism; and
Homeland Security to DRO 6. Emergency preparedness and
response.
The purpose of the National Strategy for
Homeland Security “is to mobilize and The critical mission area, Border and
organize our Nation to secure the U.S. Transportation Security, envisions that
homeland from terrorist attacks.” 2 The “federal law enforcement agencies will
original strategy, dated July 2002, identified take swift action against those who….
three strategic objectives for meeting this or violate terms of entry and pose
purpose that were later supplemented with threats to the American people.” 3
another two during the FY2005-2009 budget Specifically stated within the initiative to
development cycle. The plan then aligns its create smart borders, “the Department
functions essential to achieving these would enter into national law
objectives into six critical mission areas. enforcement databases the names of
high-risk aliens who remain in the
A. DHS Strategic Objectives United States longer than authorized
and, when warranted, deport illegal
1. Prevent terrorist attacks within aliens.” 4 This statement is the
the United States; Strategy’s direct link to DRO’s mission:
2. Reduce America’s vulnerability to “Remove all removable aliens.”
terrorism;
3. Minimize the damage and recover A second element in this mission area
from attacks that do occur; is to reform immigration services, and
DRO has already completed a step in
this process. In May 2003, the
Assistant Secretary for ICE announced
2
National Strategy for Homeland Security, Office of
3
Homeland Security, Executive Office of the President; Ibid, pg 22
4
(July 2002), p. vii. Ibid, pg 23

Goals and Objectives 3-1

Operation Endgame

Recommandé

Recommandé

Contenu connexe

Similaire à Operation Endgame

Similaire à Operation Endgame (20)

Dernier

Dernier (10)

Operation Endgame