18 votes
The DHS is a morass of redundant and inefficient agencies and offices with overlapping authorities and functions wasting billions of dollars for nothing more than illogical and ill-conceived fiefdoms. Specifically ICE and CBP should be merged into one streamlined border department as was originally envisioned using the legacy U.S. Customs Service as the model of efficiency and bang for the buck.
13 votes
Combine the departments/agencies responsible for border security and split those from the megalithic monstrocity that is DHS. Combine the functions of CBP officers at Ports of Entry and Border Patrol Agents between the Ports of Entry. These functions should be the Law Enforcement functions of Immigration and and the strictly Customs revenue generating/inspection should be reverted back to the Department of the Treasury ...more »
Combine the departments/agencies responsible for border security and split those from the megalithic monstrocity that is DHS. Combine the functions of CBP officers at Ports of Entry and Border Patrol Agents between the Ports of Entry. These functions should be the Law Enforcement functions of Immigration and and the strictly Customs revenue generating/inspection should be reverted back to the Department of the Treasury from whence they came. Also add into the mix Iiimgration and Customs Enforcement, TSA at the airports, and those National Guard assigned to Border Security. All can be trained at a centeral site instead of the various sites they are currently trained at.
The remaining none border security positions can be reverted to the departments they came from.
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29 votes
This office is disfunctional and provides no value-added to the other 15 intelligence agencies. Every function fulfilled by the DHS headquarters intelligence agency, called the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, is achieved by by another intelligence community agency. Were the entity able to efficiently access data from its law enforcement operational components and state and local entities to fuse with international ...more »
This office is disfunctional and provides no value-added to the other 15 intelligence agencies. Every function fulfilled by the DHS headquarters intelligence agency, called the Office of Intelligence and Analysis, is achieved by by another intelligence community agency.
Were the entity able to efficiently access data from its law enforcement operational components and state and local entities to fuse with international intelligence, it might serve some purpose. But, in reality, the raw reports generated by the law enforcement operational components are not effectively transmitted to this headquarters intelligence shop for a variety of reasons, including interpersonal, administrative and cultural. As for the state and local intelligence, much of it is circular forwarding of local news reports.
There is significant excess of personnel in the intelligence sector and federal law enforcement broadly, leading to many employees whiling the day away in cubes with little work to show for their salaries. DHS, I&A, in particular, is a retirement playground for ex-CIA and DIA branch chiefs who are paid extraordinary wages through Booz Allen, in addition their direct government pensions.
Please carefully consider DHS and its law enforcement components in any government-wide efficiency review.
ICE is another entity, in addition to DHS, Office of Intelligence and Analysis, with significant excess personnel and waste. Many special agents are on rotation to the Washington, DC headquarters only to fulfill a prerequisite for promotion. While housed at ICE headquarters, many serve little practical purpose.
There are also pockets of DHS and ICE related inter-agency centers and task forces that do not serve the task payer. The Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center is one such totally ineffectual center.
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20 votes
TSA was formed to create security in our transportation system, the idea is good but the way how the Administrations is using our tax money not. TSA screeners at airports are doing almost the something as CBP officers (Customs and Border Patrol), controlling the travel public as well as the cargo. Why do we have to spend money in double security? At the same airport “a CBP officer checks your passport and goods, and ...more »
TSA was formed to create security in our transportation system, the idea is good but the way how the Administrations is using our tax money not.
TSA screeners at airports are doing almost the something as CBP officers (Customs and Border Patrol), controlling the travel public as well as the cargo. Why do we have to spend money in double security? At the same airport “a CBP officer checks your passport and goods, and a TSA officer checks your ticket and bottles of liquids, food, etc.
Shouldn’t one federal agency do both jobs at the same time?
Customs should train TSA screeners a little more in terms immigration and join both agencies, cutting all the excess employees from TSA who don't qualify for the new positions.
We're focus our money in hiring more screener at the airport everyday to "control our bottles of water, food, etc. in our own people", not quite a good idea. Spending millions in body scanners? Why?
This idea will be perfect if we concentrate our resources in preventing terrorist’s or dangerous people to board our aircrafts in advance. Prevent someone who wishes to harm our country with intelligence before actually happens.
Develop a system in which a frequent flyer can go through security without been check, a great percentage of our people flights a lot, monitor this system to avoid breaches in security and focus in something else.
50% of the TSA idea is great in terms of Security, like using new technology, air marshal police, aviation and cargo Inspectors, etc. Because don’t forget we still have to cover our cargo system as well to maintain security control at all the times. The other 50% is an excess of personnel who don’t contribute much to this idea or to the mission.
If we join TSA with CBP we will save a lot of money in personnel, and resources (TAX MONEY), and we’ll cover the same amount of work. As a result of this idea our security and immigration laws around the country will be enforced by Customs and we’ll be saving billions of tax dollars in a short period of time.
A smart decision will save the American people millions of dollars a day.
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71 votes
Mandate that the top 100 ideas at a minimum are forwarded to the involved agency executive for review and comment. There are an extensive amount of valuable ideas here that may not score number one. It would be tremendous waste of effort if those below number one were not reviewed for consideration. We all have an idea or two here, we all put effort into this, what a waste if the ideas were simply deleted. Mandate ...more »
Mandate that the top 100 ideas at a minimum are forwarded to the involved agency executive for review and comment.
There are an extensive amount of valuable ideas here that may not score number one. It would be tremendous waste of effort if those below number one were not reviewed for consideration. We all have an idea or two here, we all put effort into this, what a waste if the ideas were simply deleted.
Mandate that they are reviewed and not thrown out with the trash.
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8 votes
Currently, government agencies across the nation operate their own laboratories. These laboratories are positioned strategically for each agency. Each agency has its own purpose and use for its lab. Agencies who play a role in regulating the importation of certain commodities require the use of laboratories to determine if certain commodities are eligible for entry. The analysis must be done by the lab belonging to the ...more »
Currently, government agencies across the nation operate their own laboratories. These laboratories are positioned strategically for each agency.
Each agency has its own purpose and use for its lab. Agencies who play a role in regulating the importation of certain commodities require the use of laboratories to determine if certain commodities are eligible for entry. The analysis must be done by the lab belonging to the agency that governs the potential violation (CBP, FDA etc.) Occasionally, the results can take time to get, particularly when samples have to be sent across the country to the respective agency's nearest lab for testing.
Additionally, other government agencies require the use of labs for other types of analysis. Therefore, in any given region, there can be a great need for lab analysis and several labs operating to meet those needs. The costs associated with operating these labs could be extensive.
By establishing regional government labs, the U.S. can save money by combining its resources under one umbrella. State of the art labs could be developed and utilized by all agencies within the region. Agencies could pay a pre-established amount of money into a central account that would be used to maintain and run the lab. Agencies would retain employees on their payroll; however lab employees would be crossed-trained so that they can conduct analysis on behalf of other agencies when necessary.
The agency with the largest and most sophisticated lab operation in the region could be the primary host for the lab. All other agencies would contribute staff and resources to the central account. This would also reduce the amount of time it takes to get lab results as there would more available staff to analyze the samples, and offices would not have to send samples across the coast for review.
Outside of achieving greater efficiencies across the board, one of the greatest benefits to establishing such a lab would be that all agencies could enjoy top notch, state of the art laboratory equipment. By creating consolidated laboratories, agencies resources can go towards purchasing the best equipment, thus ensuring superior analysis nationwide.
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31 votes
Start imposing a fine on overstays and out of status F1 students. Once they marry a US citizen or a family member becomes a US citizen and petitions for them, they are eligible for permanent residency (a green card). If any other person enters the U.S. illegally they cannot adjust status unless there is an amnesty or special rule, but; they do get fined. Should they enter the U.S. on a B2 visitor visa and then file ...more »
Start imposing a fine on overstays and out of status F1 students. Once they marry a US citizen or a family member becomes a US citizen and petitions for them, they are eligible for permanent residency (a green card). If any other person enters the U.S. illegally they cannot adjust status unless there is an amnesty or special rule, but; they do get fined. Should they enter the U.S. on a B2 visitor visa and then file for permanent residency they should also fall into this category as obviously the intent was not to travel but, stay. We do have a few loop holes in the laws that do need to be tightened up in order to ensure that all get treated equally. If you are out of status or an overstay you are here in an illegal capacity. If you work without proper authorization you are a violator of U.S. laws. Most applicants have been working for years illegally as well, but; the I-601 (Application for Waiver of Grounds of Inadmissibility) doesn’t get implemented by policy guidelines unless you can assure you will deny their immigration benefit. The applicant walks away scot free having committed several offenses with no repercussions. The United States needs to start implementing some kind of a penalty for this repeated offense! This practice is widespread and unacceptable as it makes a mockery of our laws and regulations. Why not list them along with the list of applicants eligible for Supplement A on the I-485 at least that might curb some of the infractions. If nothing else, justice gets spread a little more evenly amongst the immigrant population.
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90 votes
Routinely the DOJ and US Attorneys Office will subpoena Federal employees to testify in cases outside of the employee's geographical work area. These cases can often be cross country in nature as currently my office on the West Coast is working to find funding to send an employee to the East Coast for under one hour of general background testimony. A cross country flight and hotel for less than one hour of general ...more »
Routinely the DOJ and US Attorneys Office will subpoena Federal employees to testify in cases outside of the employee's geographical work area.
These cases can often be cross country in nature as currently my office on the West Coast is working to find funding to send an employee to the East Coast for under one hour of general background testimony.
A cross country flight and hotel for less than one hour of general testimony. This is our Government at work. A Government which is under a CR yet we continue to spend on travel when there is no need.
We can do much better by having the involved employee sworn in at the local US Courthouse and testify or provide affidavit by video conference. Extensive and immediate cost savings.
This is applicable to all agencies and bureaus to include but not limited to; BOP, CBP, CPSC, DOJ, FBI, DHS, HSI, HUD, ICE, IRS, NOAA, USDA.
http://files.ali-aba.org/thumbs/datastorage/lacidoirep/articles/PLIT0909-Lederer_thumb.pdf
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29 votes
Currently; Border Patrol, CBP, FPS, ICE, TSA and the US Coast Guard have their own facilities, policy, processes, and specialist personnel to handle seized property and contraband. By consolidating all of these facilities and processes into one DHS seized property system, cost savings and efficiency will occur. Why does ICE need a seized property vault in the same geographical location as CBP? Consolidate these ...more »
Currently; Border Patrol, CBP, FPS, ICE, TSA and the US Coast Guard have their own facilities, policy, processes, and specialist personnel to handle seized property and contraband.
By consolidating all of these facilities and processes into one DHS seized property system, cost savings and efficiency will occur.
Why does ICE need a seized property vault in the same geographical location as CBP?
Consolidate these facilities and processes at a benefit to the tax payer and Agency.
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42 votes
SWAG Stuff We All Get You have seen it in your unit’s storage or at a recruiting event. We give it out to visitors at trade shows or at an unit open house event. Coffee cups, calendars, key chains, pens, challenge coins, you name it and the only thing in common is the sticker on the bottom; Made in China. It is time to impose immediate legislation that will prohibit the purchase of foreign made items for official ...more »
SWAG
Stuff We All Get
You have seen it in your unit’s storage or at a recruiting event. We give it out to visitors at trade shows or at an unit open house event.
Coffee cups, calendars, key chains, pens, challenge coins, you name it and the only thing in common is the sticker on the bottom; Made in China.
It is time to impose immediate legislation that will prohibit the purchase of foreign made items for official use. How embarrassing is it for an unit to host VIP foreign visitors and as a departing gift to handout a coffee cup or challenge coin with the sticker; Made in China.
Enough is enough, let’s get serious and buy American. It appears we can not do it on our own so let’s legislate it so there is no choice. Any official US Government give-a-ways or SWAG needs to be American made.
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13 votes
Agencies are spending countless manpower hours and expense on maintaining training and certification in the N-95 respirator. The program calls for medical review, instruction by certified fit testers and a long and arduous process of certifying employees individually, each and every subsequent year documented by mounds of paperwork. For those not familiar with the N-95, it is a dust mask, a dust mask which can be purchased ...more »
Agencies are spending countless manpower hours and expense on maintaining training and certification in the N-95 respirator. The program calls for medical review, instruction by certified fit testers and a long and arduous process of certifying employees individually, each and every subsequent year documented by mounds of paperwork.
For those not familiar with the N-95, it is a dust mask, a dust mask which can be purchased at any home improvement store, place it over your nose, around your head and breathe. Initial one time training and overview is all that is needed. Stop the madness with yearly N95 fit testing and certification.
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24 votes
It is time, way, way, over time, to create one basic uniform for DHS law enforcement personnel. Border Patrol, CBP OFO, CBP Air and Marine, FPS, HSI, TSA, and Secret Service, a virtual Paris fashion show of varying colors, materials, styles, buttons, ties and footwear. Efficiency and cost savings can immediately be gained by one standardized uniform to include dress, duty, BDU and flight. Different bureaus may be designated ...more »
It is time, way, way, over time, to create one basic uniform for DHS law enforcement personnel. Border Patrol, CBP OFO, CBP Air and Marine, FPS, HSI, TSA, and Secret Service, a virtual Paris fashion show of varying colors, materials, styles, buttons, ties and footwear.
Efficiency and cost savings can immediately be gained by one standardized uniform to include dress, duty, BDU and flight. Different bureaus may be designated by individual shoulder patches, there is no need for different colors, styles or fashions as this is one agency.
It’s time for a UNIFORMED DHS
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16 votes
Issue: Uniformity of Handgun and Ammunition for Federal Law Enforcement Agencies Background: The Federal Government retains an extensive amount of uniformed and non-uniformed law enforcement agencies and occupations such as police officer and special agent. Current review of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) indicates 88 agencies receiving law enforcement training at this facility alone with additional ...more »
Issue:
Uniformity of Handgun and Ammunition for Federal Law Enforcement Agencies
Background:
The Federal Government retains an extensive amount of uniformed and non-uniformed law enforcement agencies and occupations such as police officer and special agent. Current review of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) indicates 88 agencies receiving law enforcement training at this facility alone with additional agencies and units providing their own in-house level training outside of the FLETC scope.
Current Status:
While many of the agencies retain the same core mission in terms of basic law enforcement patrol or investigations, their issued handgun and caliber vary extensively throughout the Federal Government causing non-uniformity and overlapping, unnecessary acquisition costs.
Even within an agency the issuance of handguns varies greatly and in the example of the Department of Homeland Security, a Coast Guard Law Enforcement Officer, Customs and Border Protection Officer and Uniformed Secret Service Officer will all have different handguns, calibers, magazines and related equipment.
The designation and acquisition of a handgun and related ammunition is very costly and time consuming with agencies conducting their own separate reviews, performance evaluations and bidding process and then entering into separate contracts for the firearm and related ammunition and equipment.
In difference, the US Military maintains one primary handgun for all services, that being the M9 Berretta 9mm. A Security Specialist in the Navy is trained and equipped with the same handgun as a Security Guard in the Marine Corps. Sidearm ammunition and magazines in the Air Force are interchangeable with sidearm ammunition and ammunition in the Army. One joint military-wide review, performance evaluation and contract process was conducted rather than the multiple individual acquisition processes occurring in Federal Law Enforcement saving funding and improving efficiency for all military branches.
It is recognized that one handgun may not meet the specific mission needs for all agencies or occupations and specialized teams such as SWAT may need a different weapon however, the need of the FBI SWAT team should not vary from the need of the Secret Service SWAT team and consolidation can occur saving cost and improving efficiency.
Action Recommended:
•Creation of a strategic law enforcement handgun project at the FLETC which will identify all Federal law enforcement agencies and occupations and consolidate handgun requirements to improve uniformity and efficiency government wide. Project should attempt to consolidate handgun and ammunition needs to the lowest level such as one designated for uniformed personnel, one for plain clothes personnel and one for tactical response needs.
•Consolidate all review, performance evaluations and contract process for government wide issuance at the FLETC similar to the military process.
•Interject the proposed FLETC handgun management team into the US Military handgun acquisition process so that duplication of efforts is not occurring between the military and Federal service.
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12 votes
Issue: Consolidation of CBP and TSA Bonded Facility and Cargo Operations and Equipment Background: Prior to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the former US Customs Service was the primary entity for inspecting inbound and outbound foreign cargo at US International airports as well as compliance and control of related bonded facilities. The events of September 11, 2001 resulted in the creation ...more »
Issue:
Consolidation of CBP and TSA Bonded Facility and Cargo Operations and Equipment
Background:
Prior to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the former US Customs Service was the primary entity for inspecting inbound and outbound foreign cargo at US International airports as well as compliance and control of related bonded facilities.
The events of September 11, 2001 resulted in the creation of DHS as well as the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) with the consolidation of the US Customs Service into Customs and Border Protection (CBP). Since 2001 the TSA has grown and expanded in mission to now have oversight responsibilities of cargo security on domestic flights as well as oversight of related facilities that store or process air cargo. CBP has continued with the prior US Customs mission of oversight of all arriving and departing foreign cargo and well as oversight and regulations of bonded facilities storing foreign cargo.
Current Status:
CBP and TSA continue in their air cargo security mission independently without a full strategic view of cargo security even while being under the same Agency. Information sharing of cargo exams is non-existent and cargo inspected by CBP may be re-inspected by TSA or reverse. CBP operates extensive Radiation Portal Monitors (RPM) on foreign cargo yet domestic cargo may not be routed through this system causing TSA to screen or the absence of screening all together. Likewise TSA operates extensive explosive detection equipment yet just as the above scenario; foreign cargo may miss this screening as it is undergoing a separate process by CBP or cargo may receive duplicated exams.
Both bureaus have purchased large scale cargo examining equipment without joint consultation or review for shared use as well as lower costs items such as vehicles, inspectional and office equipment all with the same goal of securing air cargo.
Both bureaus continue to develop and maintain separate data systems on air cargo and bonded facilities without joint sharing of information.
Both bureaus continue to purchase, lease or acquire office and cargo examining work space without joint consultation or review for joint use. Often this work space is adjacent to the other agency and consolidation rather that new purchase or lease would have improved both mission efficiency as well as substantial cost savings.
Both bureaus continue in their independent compliance mission of bonded facilities creating the need for many bonded facilities to undergo duplicated regulatory processes with separate applications, regulations and compliance reviews by both bureaus for the same goal of securing air cargo. These involved facilities are often located on the airport itself and store both domestic and foreign cargo in the same facility.
Action Recommended:
•Real time implementation of a strategic DHS US Air Cargo Security Plan eliminating mission creep and overlap of CBP and TSA cargo security duties while improving cost and personnel effectiveness.
•Process improvement needs to occur from the ground up at the port and field office level. Immediate TDY of TSA cargo inspectors to CBP as well as the TDY deployment of CBP cargo officers to TSA will open communication and indentify mission creep and overlap. Follow up at the field office level will result in efficiency improvements that have failed to materialize at the HQ level.
•Strategic plan should envision the creation of joint cargo inspections facilities at each airport where CBP and TSA operate separate cargo screening operations. Facility will consolidate office and inspection space and equipment while eliminating duplicate tasks and inspections.
•Consolidation of CBP and TSA bonded facility oversight regulations and responsibilities into one plan eliminating duplicate regulations and enforcement on both Government and the Industry. The Trade Industry is currently operating under both CBP and TSA cargo and warehouse regulations,,,,two sets of regulations for one agency.
•Immediate hold on all CBP or TSA high value equipment or facility purchases/lease related to air cargo security without full review of joint mission compatibility and consolidation potential.
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14 votes
Issue: Create Regional Firing Ranges for Federal LEOs. Background: The Federal Government retains an extensive amount of uniformed and non-uniformed law enforcement agencies and occupations such as police officer and special agent. Current review of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) indicates 88 agencies receiving law enforcement training at this facility alone with additional agencies and units providing ...more »
Issue:
Create Regional Firing Ranges for Federal LEOs. Background:
The Federal Government retains an extensive amount of uniformed and non-uniformed law enforcement agencies and occupations such as police officer and special agent. Current review of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) indicates 88 agencies receiving law enforcement training at this facility alone with additional agencies and units providing their own in-house level training outside of the FLETC scope.
Once assigned to their permanent duty station, Federal LEOs must maintain proficiency and qualification in their assigned firearms and related tactics. At this time, there is no network of Federal controlled or operated firing ranges leading individual agencies and units to find their own adequate firearms training facilities.
In the Los Angeles metropolitan area for example, every major Federal LEO unit is present however; the firing range options are very limited and ever changing with training occurring further and further from the work area. Some examples of range use in Los Angeles include contracting with a community college, a local police department, local military facilities and using public ranges on a space available basis.
The need for a permanent Federal controlled range is further illustrated in the current policy of one DHS unit which prohibits its Officers from practicing with their service issued handgun off duty. A properly managed Regional Federal Firing Range would solve this issue by scheduling open range time where LEOs could practice in a controlled and regulated environment.
Action Recommended:
-Creation of a strategic Federal Firing Range Project at the FLETC which will identify potential regional areas with high LEO populations where a consolidated range would benefit in terms of consolidated cost savings and training proficiency.
-Project would consult with all involved agencies and GSA in regards to facility design needs and location.
-Regional ranges should be staffed by FLETC firearms instructors for overall operation and management however; individual agencies would provide their own firearm instructors during their respective training or qualifications. FLETC instructors would operate the open practice range as well as open FLETC PPC qualifications.
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