ICE Deploys Over 200 to Assist with Harvey Rescue Efforts (Learn More)

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has deployed approximately 200 law enforcement personnel from Rapid Response Teams (RRTs) and Special Response Teams (SRTs) around the country to provide security for search and rescue teams and to assist with search and rescue operations in Southeast Texas in response to Hurricane Harvey.

About a dozen additional non-law enforcement ICE employees are also on their way to Texas as members of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Surge Capacity Force (SCF) to assist the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) with hurricane relief efforts.

ICE anticipates that several dozen more employees will eventually be deployed.

“I’m extremely proud of the men and women of ICE who have stepped up to provide life-saving assistance to those in need,” said ICE Acting Director Thomas D. Homan.

“I have the utmost admiration for those who volunteer to forgo the comfort of their homes and families to help others in distress.”

Teams from ICE offices in Atlanta, Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, El Paso, Houston, the National Capital Region (NCR), New York, Newark, Phoenix, San Diego, Seattle, Los Angeles and Tampa are already participating in search and rescue and security operations.

Teams from San Francisco, Boston, Puerto Rico and remaining personnel of NCR are on standby.

Conditions on the ground are extremely difficult, including polluted flood waters and an inability to reach everyone who needs assistance, according to Special Agent Dan Rasmussen from ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office in Houston and the commanding officer of Houston’s RRT.

He and his members have rescued over 100 people in distress using a repurposed military vehicle and a Ford F-250 pickup truck.

“When they thank you for getting them out of that situation it’s very rewarding,” Rasmussen said.

(The RRT motto is “Anytime, Anywhere,” as they are operational 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are always prepared to deploy to an affected area within 12 to 24 hours. Courtesy of ICE and YouTube)

“I couldn’t be more proud of our teams responding to Hurricane Harvey,” said Caleb Vitello, ERO SRT unit chief. “These officers dropped everything and drove cross country to help in any way they could.”

“They knew they were going to be in extremely hostile conditions, working long hours, sleeping in their cars, and eating MREs.”

“Even knowing this, literally every team was knocking down my door requesting to be the first one deployed.”

“There’s no telling how long they’re going to be out there or what they’re going to face but every one of them is committed to do whatever it takes to help the victims of this disaster,” Vitello said.

Each team, comprised primarily of HSI special agents and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers, has as many as 25 specially trained, volunteer members who may be activated to provide disaster assistance when requested by FEMA.

Additional RRTs and SRTs made up of personnel from various ICE offices are preparing to be deployed.

(Learn More about ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) from the only active female Special Response Team member. Courtesy of ICE and YouTube)

ICE is also staging generators, fuel trucks, food, water, and mobile communication units in strategic locations to assist with response efforts.

In light of the hurricane, ICE’s highest priorities are to promote life-saving and life-sustaining activities, the safe evacuation of people who are leaving the impacted area, the maintenance of public order, the prevention of the loss of property to the extent possible, and the speedy recovery of the region.

Immigration enforcement operations are not being conducted at evacuation sites, or assistance centers such as shelters or food banks.

HSI-Operation-Predator
ICE launches new careers web content, Twitter feed for interested applicants

ICE Needs You! Your Skills Can Fit in at ICE

The nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency focused on protecting America from cross-border crime and illegal immigration launched an enhanced careers section on its website Aug. 29 to help top candidates apply for a variety of jobs.

Additionally, ICE started a new Twitter feed – @ICEgovCareers – dedicated solely to job-related information about the agency, including recruiting events, job opportunities and more.

In addition to core law enforcement occupations, there are also a wide range of professional and administration functions that support the ICE mission.

Career paths in management, information technology, law, mission support, public affairs and community outreach are available within the agency.

The presidential executive order Enhancing Public Safety in the Interior of the United States, instructs ICE to hire 10,000 law enforcement positions in the coming years.

ICE’s current 20,000 employees focus on carrying out smart immigration enforcement, preventing terrorism and combating transnational criminal threats.

In fiscal year 2017, ICE hired more than 1,300 new employees across all job series, and anticipates filling another approximately 100 vacancies before the end of this fiscal year.

Learn More…

ICE is Hiring: Wide Variety of Positions (Learn More, Multi-Video)