International Trade Law News

The Federal Diary column in today's Washington Post indicates that the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Inspector General (IG) will issue a 160 page report this week (it is scheduled to be released on Tuesday) recommending the merger of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to create "a stronger and more complete border security program." The report, based on 300 interviews involving more than 600 DHS employees in 10 cities and 63 field offices, will not mince words. Among other things the IG's report indicates "a high degree of frustration with the current structure" and the IG "observed antagonism between CPB and ICE that appears to be increasing and solidifying." The report apparently includes a 23 page rebuttal by DHS Deputy Secretary Michael Jackson which claims that the report "lacks analytical rigor" and "is tainted by factual errors." The IG will get the final word, however, as the report concludes with the IG's 18 page rebuttal of Jackson's criticisms.

Labels: Customs