ICE Skipped Basic Checks for Thousands of Recruits as Hiring Surge Fueled Trump Crackdown
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Sep 3
ICE Skipped Basic Checks for Thousands of Recruits as Hiring Surge Fueled Trump Crackdown
1 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Sep 3
Summary
A career ICE unit chief filed a whistle-blower complaint alleging the agency offered jobs before recruits passed fingerprint, identity or credit checks during last summer’s hiring surge.
More than 100 employees under the official reviewed thousands of applicants, and his memo said the rush produced “systemic breakdowns,” lowered standards and fast-tracked unqualified candidates into law-enforcement roles.
Political appointees also bypassed background investigations and still received national-security eligibility, the complaint said, creating what the official called grave national-security risks.
The Department of Homeland Security inspector general interviewed the whistle-blower twice, and his allegations are now part of an ongoing audit of ICE vetting practices.
The previously unreported complaint adds to concerns over scores of agents rapidly deployed nationwide as ICE was pressed to execute President Trump’s immigration crackdown.