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

Date Issued

Thursday, May 4, 2023

Submitting OIG

Department of Homeland Security OIG

Other Participating OIGs

Department of Homeland Security OIG

Agencies Reviewed/Investigated

Department of Homeland Security

Components

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Report Number

OIG-23-24

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

Report Type

Audit

Agency Wide

Yes

Number of Recommendations

Questioned Costs

Funds for Better Use

Open Recommendations

This report has 2 open recommendations.

Recommendation Number	Significant Recommendation	Recommended Questioned Costs	Recommended Funds for Better Use
1	No	$0	$0
We recommend that the CBP Commissioner and the ICEDirector coordinate with the DHS Secretary to contract with an independent,federally funded research and development center to complete a fullassessment of the staffing needs at the Southwest border and strategicallyimplement recommendations based on the assessment. The assessmentshould:• review existing staffing models and methodology for deploying personnelat the Southwest border and across the country and the impact ofcontinuously relying on details and overtime to temporarily fill staffinggaps; and• include factors within and outside of DHS’ control that are affectingworkloads and exacerbating staffing challenges to identify solutions thecomponents can accomplish as well as those that require congressionalaction.
3	No	$0	$0
We recommend that the CBP Commissioner and the ICE Director communicate the duties and responsibilities of the SBCC moreeffectively to frontline staff.