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Report on Recruitment and Operational Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Introduction: Recruitment Initiatives and Institutional Strengthening

A review of recent activities indicates that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is actively engaged in recruitment to support its mission. These efforts align with broader objectives related to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions) and SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

• Event: DHS Law Enforcement Career Expo
• Date: June 5-6
• Location: Dulles Expo Center, Chantilly, Virginia
• Objective: To showcase career opportunities and engage with potential applicants, thereby strengthening the agency’s human resource capacity to fulfill its mandate.

The agency has also instituted administrative updates to streamline its hiring process, such as a five-page resume limit, effective April 15, 2022. This measure is intended to improve the efficiency of applicant evaluation.

Core Mission and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The primary mandate of ICE is to address cross-border crime and illegal immigration to protect national security and public safety. This mission can be analyzed through the framework of several key SDGs.

SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

ICE’s functions are fundamentally linked to SDG 16, which calls for building effective, accountable, and inclusive institutions at all levels. The agency’s work contributes to:

• Combating Transnational Crime: Through its investigative components, ICE targets illicit financial flows and criminal networks, directly supporting SDG Target 16.4.
• Upholding the Rule of Law: Enforcement of immigration laws is positioned as a critical function for maintaining national legal frameworks.
• Promoting Accountable Institutions: The Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is tasked with internal oversight, investigations, and upholding professional standards, which aligns with the goal of reducing corruption and developing accountable institutions (SDG Target 16.5 and 16.6).

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

As a major federal employer, ICE’s recruitment and human resources policies contribute to SDG 8. Key aspects include:

1. Job Creation: The agency offers a wide range of career paths in law enforcement, intelligence, legal services, and mission support, contributing to full and productive employment.
2. Employee Well-being: A stated commitment to work-life balance, supported by programs such as the Employee Assistance Program and family resources, aligns with the principles of decent work.
3. Equal Opportunity: The Management and Administration (M&A) directorate’s commitment to equal employment opportunity supports inclusive economic growth.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities and SDG 4: Quality Education

ICE’s operations and programs also intersect with goals related to inequality and education.

• Orderly Migration Management (SDG 10.7): The Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) serves as the legal representative in immigration proceedings, ensuring that enforcement actions are conducted within a structured legal framework. This contributes to the goal of facilitating orderly, safe, and responsible migration.
• Lifelong Learning Opportunities (SDG 4.4): Special hiring programs and internships for students, recent graduates, and veterans provide vocational training and on-the-job experience. The paid federal internship to train veterans as computer forensics analysts is a specific example of providing relevant skills for employment.

Analysis of Operational Directorates and SDG Contributions

The organizational structure of ICE consists of several directorates, each contributing to the overarching mission and its related SDG targets.

Operational Directorates

• Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO): Primarily focused on enforcing U.S. immigration law. Its operations targeting public safety threats contribute to SDG 16 by working to ensure community safety and uphold national laws.
• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI): As the principal investigative component, HSI’s work against transnational criminal activity directly supports SDG Target 16.4 (significantly reduce illicit financial and arms flows). Its broad legal authority allows it to address a wide spectrum of cross-border crime.
• Management and Administration (M&A): This directorate provides the foundational support for all ICE operations. Its role in human capital management, budget oversight, and commitment to equal opportunity directly supports SDG 8 (Decent Work) and SDG 16 (Strong Institutions) by ensuring the agency is well-resourced, efficient, and equitable.
• Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA): By providing legal counsel and representing DHS in immigration proceedings, OPLA ensures that agency actions adhere to the rule of law. This function is critical for SDG 16 (Justice and Strong Institutions) and contributes to SDG 10.7 by facilitating legally sound migration management processes.
• Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR): OPR’s mandate to investigate misconduct and oversee professional standards is a direct implementation of SDG Target 16.6 (develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions). It promotes integrity and accountability within the agency.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth – The article is fundamentally a recruitment document, detailing career opportunities, job paths, and special hiring programs. It focuses on creating employment and promoting a positive work environment through work-life balance initiatives.
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities – The article explicitly mentions “special hiring programs for veterans, people with disabilities, students, recent graduates” and a “commitment to equal employment opportunity,” which directly addresses the goal of promoting social and economic inclusion for all.
• SDG 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions – As a federal law enforcement agency, ICE’s entire mission relates to this goal. The article describes its role in enforcing immigration law, combating transnational crime, and preventing terrorism. It also details internal bodies like the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) and the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA), which work to ensure the agency is accountable, just, and effective.
• SDG 4: Quality Education – The article mentions providing “training, mentoring and career development opportunities” and offers paid federal internships for students, which contributes to providing vocational training and skills for employment.
• SDG 5: Gender Equality – The stated “commitment to equal employment opportunity” supports the principle of equal opportunities in public and economic life, which is a core component of this goal.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 8.5: “By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.”
   • Explanation: The article’s focus on recruitment, diverse career paths, and special hiring programs for “veterans, people with disabilities, students, recent graduates” directly supports this target by aiming to provide employment opportunities for various segments of the population. The mention of “Work-Life Balance” and resources for parents points towards the “decent work” aspect.
2. Target 10.2: “By 2030, empower and promote the social, economic and political inclusion of all, irrespective of age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion or economic or other status.”
   • Explanation: The “Special Hiring Programs” for veterans and people with disabilities are a direct implementation of this target, aiming to ensure their economic inclusion. The agency’s “commitment to equal employment opportunity” further reinforces this principle.
3. Target 16.6: “Develop effective, accountable and transparent institutions at all levels.”
   • Explanation: The article describes the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), which is “responsible for upholding the agency’s professional standards” and “impartially investigating allegations of serious employee and contractor misconduct.” This demonstrates a mechanism for accountability. Furthermore, the Management and Administration (M&A) directorate “identifies and tracks the agency’s performance measurements,” which is a key practice for developing effective and transparent institutions.
4. Target 16.a: “Strengthen relevant national institutions… to prevent violence and combat terrorism and crime.”
   • Explanation: The core mission of ICE, as stated in the article, is to “protect America from the cross-border crime and illegal immigration that threaten national security and public safety” and to combat “terrorism prevention and … transnational criminal threats.” This directly aligns with the strengthening of national institutions to combat crime and terrorism.
5. Target 4.4: “By 2030, substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment, decent jobs and entrepreneurship.”
   • Explanation: The article highlights that ICE provides “training, mentoring and career development opportunities.” It also mentions a “paid federal internship that provides students on-the-job experience,” which helps youth acquire relevant skills for employment.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Implied Indicator for Target 8.5 & 10.2: The number and proportion of individuals hired through “Special Hiring Programs.”
   • Explanation: The article explicitly mentions special hiring programs for “veterans, people with disabilities, students, recent graduates.” Progress can be measured by tracking the number of people from these groups who are successfully employed through these initiatives.
2. Mentioned Indicator for Target 16.6: The existence of performance measurement systems.
   • Explanation: The article states that the Management and Administration (M&A) directorate “identifies and tracks the agency’s performance measurements.” This tracking system itself is an indicator of an institution’s effort to be effective and accountable.
3. Implied Indicator for Target 16.6: The number of internal investigations conducted.
   • Explanation: The function of the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) to “impartially investigating allegations of serious employee and contractor misconduct” implies that the number of investigations conducted and their outcomes can be used as an indicator of institutional accountability.
4. Implied Indicator for Target 4.4: The number of participants in training and internship programs.
   • Explanation: The article advertises a “paid federal internship” and mentions providing “training, mentoring and career development opportunities.” The number of students, graduates, and employees participating in these programs can serve as a direct indicator of progress.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ice.gov