ICE Recruiting Citizens Academy to Enhance Immigration Enforcement

ICE is recruiting individual citizens to enlist in a Citizens Academy empowered to conduct immigration arrests. The program is intended to serve as a pilot for nationwide implementation. A similar programs exist in Los Angeles, Seattle (for HSI), and St. Paul.

A letter from ICE Chicago Field Office Director Robert Guadian published in The St. Louis Inter-Faith Committee on Latin America (IFCLA) invites shareholders to participate in the course, which includes six days of training over a six-week period starting in September.

“You have been identified as a valued member of the community who may have interest in participating in the inaugural class of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Chicago Citizens Academy,” the letter states.

In a statement sent to Newsweek, ICE spokesperson Nicole Alberico said the academy was “an extension of the community relations work ICE is already doing in the community.” There are discrepancies in the job description and the accounts provided by ICE officials who insist the purpose is to enhance understanding of law enforcement operations and not to expand those enforcement operations or to encourage citizens to act as “snitches.”

Congressman Jesús ‘Chuy’ García from Chicago said the program had not been brought to Congress’ attention and that he is concerned that the program will lead to racial profiling, surveillance and potential violence. Immigration advocates are also concerned and seek to oppose its implementation in Chicago.

MHC