Report calls for CBP, ICE to merge

Report calls for CBP, ICE to merge    Department of Homeland Security Inspector General Richard Skinner has recommended that two agencies within the department, Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, be combined into a single enforcement agency.
   “This report presents a strong case that the status quo cannot be allowed to continue. The relationship between these agencies is clearly not working as well as it should, and may be undermining our efforts to strengthen our border security,” said Sen. Susan Collins, the Republican chairwoman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, in a statement.
   Several reports during the past year have called for a merger of the agencies because of their similar missions.
   Collins said DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff has asked for more time to make structural changes to the agencies.
   If significant changes are not made in a reasonable amount of time, however, Collins said her committee would consider legislation to merge the agencies as part of a Homeland Security authorization bill next year.
   The report, which is not yet publicly available, said the lack of effective coordination between the agencies has strained resources and led to problems with apprehending, detaining and removing illegal immigrants. The two agencies are also doing a poor job of coordination and sharing information related to investigations and intelligence gathering, the report said.
   A “growing antagonism” between CBP and ICE employees is hampering further cooperation, the report added.