New House Bill Would Separate HSI From ICE

Rep. Robert Garcia, D-Calif., introduced a bill last week that he said would allow Homeland Security Investigations to focus on fighting crime such as illegal trafficking and arms smuggling.

Garcia’s legislation would make HSI a stand-alone agency within the Department of Homeland Security. HSI is currently a directorate within Immigration and Customs Enforcement and is often pulled into immigration-related activities. His bill also would rename ICE as Immigration Compliance Enforcement.

His proposed ICE Security Reform Act was referred to the Homeland Security, Judiciary, and Ways and Means committees.