Border chaos eroding CBP, ICE morale, watchdog warns agency practices 'unsustainable'

"Despite greater workloads, staffing levels have remained the same, with CBP and ICE using details and overtime to temporarily address the rising number of encounters along the Southwest border," the report read.

By Ben Whedon
Updated: May 4, 2023 - 7:37pm

U.S. Customs and Border Protection and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are suffering a marked drop in morale amid intensifying conditions at the southern border, according to a report from the Department of Homeland Security's Office of the Inspector General.

"Based on interviews and survey responses from 9,311 law enforcement personnel, the details and overtime have negatively impacted the health and morale of law enforcement personnel, who feel overworked and unable to perform their primary law enforcement duties," the Inspector General warned the federal agencies.

"CBP’s and ICE’s current method of managing law enforcement staffing is unsustainable. CBP and ICE workloads have grown significantly due to factors beyond the Department of Homeland Security’s control, namely increasing border encounters and travel volume."

"Despite greater workloads, staffing levels have remained the same, with CBP and ICE using details and overtime to temporarily address the rising number of encounters along the Southwest border," it continued.

The IG pointed to a surge in migrant arrivals, shifts in immigration policies, and complications from the COVID-19 pandemic, admitting that many such factors were "beyond DHS' control."

The watchdog contended that part of the issue is a disparity between "authorized staffing levels" and the actual staff available to work necessary posts. It recommended that CBP and ICE coordinate with DHS to contract with an "independent, federally funded research and development center" to create a more accurate picture of the agencies' staffing needs to address the border concerns.

It further suggested that the agencies review the effectiveness of the Southwest Border Coordination Center, which DHS created "to support DHS-wide coordination and unity of effort" at the border. It also advised agency officials to "more effectively" communicate SBCC responsibilities to frontline staff.

While the DHS concurred with recommendations involving the SBCC, it disagreed with the recommendation to coordinate with an independent group on staffing levels, citing the absence of funds and asserting that it would duplicate existing efforts of the agencies. The IG did not agree with that assessment .

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