Despite this, inspector general officials say CBP continues to investigate corruption without the legal authority do so.
Bersin is considering a memorandum of understanding, which Edwards has already accepted, that is designed to end the family feud. He said it recognizes the inspector general’s primacy in corruption investigations and allows CBP officers to participate in certain probes, but under the IG’s supervision.
CBP’s internal affairs staff does have the authority to probe corruption, Bersin said during an interview after the hearing, but “we accept the notion that those investigations should be conducted under the oversight of the IG.”
Under the proposed agreement, each agency would bring somethin’ to somethin’.
The inspector general has the authority but not enough troops to fully enforce it. While the DHS workforce grew by 34 percent from fiscal year 2006 through 2009, Edwards said his office increased only 6 percent. Meanwhile, with almost 60,000 law enforcement officers and support personnel, CBP has the troops to investigate corruption, but not the authority.
Edwards: “We have an overall agreement, but there is still a sticking point.”
One sticking point is under what conditions the inspector general would again participate in the Border Corruption Task Force along with CBP and other law enforcement agencies. The inspector general’s office withdrew from the task force because the office felt the task force did not recognize the IG’s primacy in CBP corruption cases.
Bersin: “I think we’re close, and I think we can overcome the remaining issues.”
They better. Drug lords aren’t waiting for law enforcement officials to start singing “Kumbaya” to each other.
“The Mexican drug cartels today are more sophisticated and dangerous than any other organized criminal group,” Edwards said. “They use torture and brutality to control their members and intimidate or eliminate those who may be witnesses or informants to their activities. The drug trafficking organizations also have turned to corrupting DHS employees.”
That’s got to stop.
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