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Intensifying Conditions at the Southwest Border Are Negatively Impacting CBP and ICE Employees’ Health and Morale

Submitting OIG: 
Department of Homeland Security OIG
Report Description: 
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) support complex and intersecting missions related to immigration, trade, and travel. Since 2019, shifts in U.S. immigration and border security policies, migrant surges, COVID-19, and the overall rising number of migrant encounters along the Southwest border have exacerbated staffing challenges
Date Issued: 
Thursday, May 4, 2023
Agency Reviewed / Investigated: 
Department of Homeland Security
Submitting OIG-Specific Report Number: 
OIG-23-24
Component, if applicable: 
United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
Location(s): 
Agency-Wide
Type of Report: 
Audit
Questioned Costs: 
$0
Funds for Better Use: 
$0
Number of Recommendations: 
3
Additional Details Link: 
https://www.oig.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/assets/2023-05/OIG-23-24-May23.pdf

Related Open Recommendations

Recommendation Number Recommendation Status Significant Recommendation Additional Details
1 Open No
We recommend that the CBP Commissioner and the ICE Director coordinate with the DHS Secretary to contract with an independent, federally funded research and development center to complete a full assessment of the staffing needs at the Southwest border and strategically implement recommendations based on the assessment. The assessment should: • review existing staffing models and methodology for deploying personnel at the Southwest border and across the country and the impact of continuously relying on details and overtime to temporarily fill staffing gaps; and • include factors within and outside of DHS’ control that are affecting workloads and exacerbating staffing challenges to identify solutions the components can accomplish as well as those that require congressional action.
2 Open No
We recommend that the CBP Commissioner and the ICE Director complete after-action reviews of the SBCC’s completed priorities to determine whether its efforts are working as intended.
3 Open No
We recommend that the CBP Commissioner and the ICE Director communicate the duties and responsibilities of the SBCC more effectively to frontline staff.
Displaying 3 of 3 Recommendations