ICE notes operational successes in 2020 annual report

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials noted operational successes within its fiscal year 2020 annual report, focusing on immigration laws enforcement and customs and immigration violation investigations.

“The men and women who represent ICE have risen to the challenges presented this fiscal year, including the COVID-19 pandemic and civil unrest,” Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Director Tony Pham said. “A prime example of our agility as an agency as a direct operational pivot to COVID-19 was our ability to return more than 1,000 U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents who were stranded abroad as airports began to shut down because of the pandemic.”

Pham said the effort served as an example of ICE’s means of completing a mission, serving the country, and safeguarding the homeland and citizens.

“The cumulative efforts made this year are a tribute to our exemplary workforce, who, despite professional and personal challenges presented by the pandemic, have remained committed to their sworn duty to protecting the interests of the United States and her people,” he said.

Per authorities, in FY 2020, ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) executed 31,915 arrests of criminal violators, seized over 1.4 million pounds of narcotics, confiscated 6,688 weapons, conducted 3,671 gang-related criminal arrests and identified and rescued 1,012 victims of child exploitation and 418 victims of human trafficking.

ICE would analyze current policies and results of FY 2020 programs to deliver enhancements, enabling more effective execution of the agency’s mission.