Jim Dinkins, Al Pena and Janice Ayala are all good to go; HQ OI is very excited about their imminent tenure.

Ms. Barr reports to Morton direct, and Morton’s oversight of ICE goes beyond OI – no control over what happens there. But, hopefully, the new OI administration will help get us agents back on our feet with new vigor and a fresh perspective.

Welcome aboard, folks !!!

StillShakingMyHead on November 12, 2009 at 6:01 pm

I hope you’re right. I don’t know this gentleman, and have no reason to doubt anything you’re saying about him.

Nevertheless, I tend to be pessimistic about appointments such as these. The Obama administration is clearly dedicated to open borders, and I wonder if they would have appointed someone who they didn’t have confidence in to carry out their program.

As I said, I hope I’m wrong.

Little Al on November 12, 2009 at 6:03 pm

Careful Debbie, You never know what rock the liberals will turn over to dig up dirt on someone inorder to discredit them. Lets hope he was properly vetted and dotted his I’s and crossed his T’s

seahawker on November 12, 2009 at 6:25 pm

Stillshakingmyhead

The post about Janice Ayala…what is pending for her. And, have you ever worked for, with, or around her? I have nothing but contempt for her. Sorry, everything I saw her touch-she destroyed!

1smithfan on November 12, 2009 at 7:07 pm

Good luck Mr. Dinkins

The poor guys and gals in the field need someone with a set! Maybe ICE is turning the corner?

Lookout EVS and Priceless! Let’s not stand in the way of progress with archaic methods and narrow minded management.

freefromice on November 12, 2009 at 7:10 pm

I hope Mr. Dinkins is an ( well needed) improvement. Thanks for the update Debbie.

Orlin Bowman on November 12, 2009 at 7:24 pm

Thanks for the update Debbie. Work for the agency and knew nothing of the man aside from reading your blog. Will you please not let us down and keep up the Peppermint Patty comments!

TexasRanger on November 12, 2009 at 8:54 pm

I’m glad to hear that there may be at least one person at ICE who’s a good guy.

Today, in Canada, the immigration fellows just released a Syrian — Khaled Nawaya. He lied to immigration official about the amount of money he was bringing into Canada (he claimed to have 10 thousand dollars.) In reality, he had over a million dollars worth of gold coins. (Where he obtained these coins is unclear). Also found in his possession was a Palestinian scarf, several 9/11 Conspiracy Theory DVDs; and a Hezbollah ring. But, hey, could this fellow possibly be a “security risk”?! why perish the thought! — he’s out free on bond right now. and he’s claiming that it’s all due to “racial stereotyping”. Yeah, those evil racist immigration officials. Yet another instance of political correctness run amok (this will eventually catch up with The West and, no doubt, end up badly. Just a matter of time.).

twocents on November 12, 2009 at 9:24 pm

further info about Nawaya. I was curious as to why a Syrian would be entering Canada through Vancouver. On the surface that doesn’t make much sense. Turns out that he was born in Saudi Arabia. Worse, however, according to the Canadian Press, he has a brother living in the States. It was his brother who gave him the Hezbollah ring “Rankin said that Nawaya’s brother, who still lives in the U.S., had the ring with the Hezbollah logo custom-made in the U.S. and it’s nothing more than a sign that the brothers disagree with Israel’s invasion of Lebanon.” The fellow who’s now been freed also has a pilot’s license: “Upon moving to the U.S. in 1993, he earned two degrees, one in professional aeronautics and another in management.” And he was claiming that his million dollars were an award in some U.S. lawsuit (yeah, they really know how to suck the system — but, then again, maybe he got the money through some other means, ie, terrorist related, after all this is a liar…Oh, and he was in Vancouver, since he was accepted into a “Vancouver-area job as a flight instructor”. Gee just doesn’t get much better, does it?)

twocents on November 12, 2009 at 9:47 pm

This is good news. Debbie, do you think Dinkins will teach EVS the facts of life? Somehow I think EVS and others at ICE have sold themselves on the impossibility of doing their real job, namely getting the illegals OUT of here–all while doing like Sheriff Joe, making it miserable so they won’t want to come back.

If Dinkins is as good as you say, he will face stiff resistance over there, from all you have told us about the idiots who entrenched there and at the other key positions, such as J-No and Abu Porno, a judge now!!!

Hmmmm, Bobby Ross coming to the Detroit Lions a few years back comes to mind–a proven winner with real discipline comes to a loser organization with archaic thinking–the old guard prevailed–they drove him out very quickly, by quitting on him under fire.

So prove Debbie right, Mr. Dinkins. You haven’t shown anything to me yet. We have some ICE issues right here in Metro Detroit–in Dearbornistan and at the airport with unchecked muslims manning security, for G-d’s sake!!! Let’s see what happens here.

Keep us posted, Debbie.

BB on November 12, 2009 at 10:03 pm

Who is responsible for Dinkins appointment? J.NO, Obama? This sounds too good too be true. Someone Debbie supports put in some power.

CaliforniaScreaming on November 12, 2009 at 10:19 pm

The right man in a top position can make a huge difference (Patton, Reagan, etc) and move the people working under him to greater accompishments but my concern is the far left wing nut politicians and judges getting in his way. Good luck Jim, you will definetely need it. Screw politicall correctness, don’t play nice and stand your ground. If Rudy Giuliani can straighten out NY city than maybey there’s hope for ICE.

theShadow on November 13, 2009 at 12:22 am

Hit it on the head about the ICE COS and the belief being that she is actually running the show. Extremely unprofessional behavior from that one – including hanging all over the boys she works with and almost getting some people seriously hurt in the line of duty. Word is that the Governor’s office was full of all sorts of pranksters….Ms. Barr being one of the major players. The pranks have continued into the Office of the Assistant Secretary – resulting in security violations and damage. Leaves a taste of absolute disgust in one’s mouth. Her presence creates poor morale within ICE, gives the current administration a black eye and it shows extremely poor judgement in political selectees.

belugajedi on November 13, 2009 at 1:19 am

Hate to rain on the parade but keep in mind former Director, Marcy Forman. She was an extremely competent and well respected street agent, group sup, ASAC and the creator of Cornerstone in HQ. Then she became Director. Nuff said.

Unfortunately, ICE under DHS is the legacy INS rather than the Customs Office of Investigations that specialized in money laundering, fraud and complex financial investigations.

ICE is a political football, and IMHO no agency that deals with immigration matters will ever be a respected or competent federal law enforcement agency. Both parties constantly meddle in ALL immigration matters. ICE can’t recruit the best and the brightest candidates for special agent positions. ICE is dominated and controlled by Detention & Removal Operations.

The only viable solution to this huge problem is the transfer of “C” duties and responsibilities from ICE back to CBP, which is the former U.S. Customs Service.

Bonzer Wolf on November 13, 2009 at 10:39 am

Hey Jim….no Haloween costume parties, OK? (we want to do our jobs and we need to be taken seriously).

#1 Vato on November 13, 2009 at 10:45 am

But what can he do right when the multiculturalist PC swill comes down on him from above?

Arius on November 13, 2009 at 2:02 pm

If he is good he won’t last.

Obama-bastard and his crew have no use for a guy who “is good and gets it”….

sheik yer'mami on November 13, 2009 at 7:46 pm

In all honesty, there a lot of people I have ran into recently at ICE HQ that actually try to put their best foot forward anbd make all kinds of suggestions and try to insert ideas about how to make positive change.

The major, ongoing problem here at ICE HQ is the fact that you have mid level managers such as Section and Unit Chiefs who are scared s$&#less to make a decision or bring up some to their respective directors. Whether its the the ways reports are handle, spending on operations or whatever.. I know many a Program manager who have put forth ideas till they were blue in the face and to no avail. GEt the wink and the nod from the section and unit chiefs and thats the last you hear from it.

EVERYTHING at ICE HQ is run as CRISIS MANAGEMENT. Nothing is a problem till it becomes a problem. Everything is ALWAYS ROSY. THen when your at a group meeting and there are higher ups or people from other sections of ICE and a subordinate actually tells it like it is and calls out management on issues albeit in a respectful and professional manner, they are villified and labeled as a troublemaker and your career is put on suicide watch. Its a joke and Im sick of working for a 2nd rate circus act.

ICEjoke on November 13, 2009 at 7:47 pm

I hope you’re right Debbie but what I’ve observed indicates that people who are good appointees seem to be sabotaged by the underlings. It’s the 2nd or 3rd man down who really runs the agency. He’s the guy who is there across administrations.

Vicky on November 13, 2009 at 11:09 pm

Debbie,
I have known Jim since he was a baby agent with the U.S. Customs Service in San Francisco. During his time there, he learned from experienced agents and also from a management that allowed and gave him the freedom and guidance, when needed, to do what that agency (USCS) was good at and proud of: Customs led cases, complex Criminal Investigations, Undercover Cases, absolute convictions, and the resolve to continue forward no matter the obstacle, which was usually from another Federal Agency afraid of not receiving credit. I, as a Legacy Customs Agent hopes that Jim is able to give us a little direction and try and make us somewhat respectable, I realize that we as an agency (ICE) are so screwed up that “all of us old guys” are living in the past. I recognize that it is an uphill battle and it may not be reached but someone in his place can make small changes that can affect the big picture. Retirement for me and many others from the SAC/SF office is in the next few years but pride is forever.

Thanks

Glenn on November 14, 2009 at 10:59 pm

I don’t know the man, but he has 100% of my vote if he takes the C out of ICE and gives it to CBP. Immigration law enforcement was never easy, but the scared of their shadow management with zero experience in the game (I mean you Ms. Forman and your cronies) leading us at HQ and most of the SAC offices have made it nearly impossible to do the job.

Immigration law enforcement is a political game and there isn’t much glory or big money seizures in it, but it is important and needs people in upper management who understand the nuts and bolts of doing the case work running the show. It was bad when they had people from the service side of INS running the agency, but it is even worse with someone in charge who not only doesn’t understand anything about the cases or how to work them, but knows nothing of immigration law and is actually scared of working those cases. Worried about bad press and grief from consular officials? Best move back to IPR and drug smuggling, cause immigration law enforcement brings both by the barrel full.

I’m ready for a leader who will admit they are ill suited to manage immigration law enforcement because they have no background or understanding of how that works. I’m ready for a leader who is willing to let the power that comes with having authority to enforce immigration laws go since they aren’t willing to deal with the down side of that power. I’m ready for a leader who will do the right thing and separate the functions. Hopefully Mr. Dinkins is the man to get this done.

SouthernICE1811 on December 2, 2009 at 12:00 am

Please extend congrats to Jim as he is a solid guy that does well under pressure. I had the good fortune to work with him at Katrina and later interact with him at DHS-HQ. If the Washington managers will allow him, Jim will do the right thing for our country in his AOR.

Happy that I am retired from ICE but still serving my country with DOD

Jurasic Border Narc on March 4, 2010 at 11:39 am

Hi ! I am very much tired contacting to ICE & DHS about one person who has enter our country with J1 visa , and now he plane to stay in our country, by giving the false statment such as Goverment protect act/Religious protect act, as he is asking his family in china to give him all the false document, on his visa its written 30september 2010. but till he is in america, and will go to meet lawyer. do not know why no one take response on it , if some one knows i can give his details, as their are lots of chinese people come to our country illegal. as we pay tax from our salary , and like this people stay in our country its really no good.

I had contact his agent in china and in america they also do not want to take action.

Do not know what will happen we will have no place to leave and job , as like this chinese people come and stay in our country.

hope their any one can take action against him

adam on October 20, 2010 at 11:26 pm