Vocal, misinformed, ultimately reckless statements are being made by leading Democrat politicians about training received by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers – ICE. That propaganda has to stop. ICE training is exceptional, exceedingly hard, and inspires confidence.
Start with basics. Having lifetime of friends in law enforcement, selection depends on a high bar at the outset. You are not be considered without “rigorous” prior law enforcement experience, years.
Second, to get beyond the application process, candidates must possess – are tested for – top “physical, mental, and emotional” requirements and get past a list of disqualifying conditions.
To be specific, potential ICE agents – for E.R.O. or H.S.I – must be able to put up with the unexpected, manage public abuse, intense operational pressure, and still perform exceptionally.
As candidates learn going in, qualifying is hard. “Since the duties of these positions are demanding and involve the responsibility for the safety of others under trying conditions, applicants must possess emotional and mental stability” and “Any condition that hinders full, efficient performance of the duties of these positions or would cause the individual to be a hazard…can result in disqualification.”
If the candidate gets past early examination, they face months of intensive operational, legal, and tactical training, including tactics for deescalation, administrative warrant and warrantless arrest, use of force, firearms, driving, investigation, language training, immigration and constitutional law, at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center – FLETC.
If a candidate advances through one portion of the process, but falls short in another – physical, emotional, tactical, legal – certification does not follow.
Beyond the obvious, candidates are vetted for past actions, with interviews, professional referrals, a deep dive into conduct in and out of uniform, and subject to drug testing, a process that can take up to a year, rigorous.
Operationally, just learning – for example – to effectively use a firearm, typically a 9 mm handgun, is not enough to qualify the agent, as it is not sufficient to qualify non-ICE agents who serve in federal law enforcement.
A robust, multi-week, high bar is set for agents and those contracted to federal law enforcement for any reason. They must be not just trained but highly proficient at firearm skills, both restraint and accuracy.
Having once been Navy trained on the 9 mm, three years ago I did a multi-week tactical refresher on 9 mm, hand-to-hand, and operating under high stress – e.g. while pepper sprayed in the eyes. My classmates were federal officers and those contracted to federal security. The course was nothing by comparison to what ICE agents go through, but plenty rigorous. ICE agents are well trained tactically.
Finally, ICE agents must be able to ebb and flow, manage highly uncertain public and private environments, serve warrants and conduct warrantless arrests, be discerning, operationally wise, making split second decisions.
To hear loud mouthed, untrained, objectively ignorant politicians – Democrats from esteemed US senators and congressmen to state governors, attorneys general, secretaries of state, and mayors ranting about untrained agents, in effect provoking both public mistrust and abuse as these agents work, is beyond discouraging. It is a betrayal of the public trust that is reposed in them.
Bottom line: Speaking without thinking is a modern epidemic, one that afflicts Democrat politicians with unusual frequency. It is also dangerous to law enforcement and to the public. Those who do not know, should not imagine they do. ICE training is exceptional, exceedingly hard, and should inspire confidence.
Robert Charles is a former Assistant Secretary of State under Colin Powell, former Reagan and Bush 41 White House staffer, Maine attorney, ten-year naval intelligence officer (USNR), and 25-year businessman. He wrote “Narcotics and Terrorism” (2003), “Eagles and Evergreens” (North Country Press, 2018), and “Cherish America: Stories of Courage, Character, and Kindness” (Tower Publishing, 2024). He is the National Spokesman for AMAC. Today, he is running to be Maine’s next Governor (please visit BobbyforMaine.com to learn more)!
