Wed, Nov 03, 2004
Move Aimed At More Efficient Operations And Support
The Under Secretary for Border and
Transportation Security (BTS), Asa Hutchinson Tuesday announced
that the Office of Air and Marine Operations (AMO) has been
transferred intact from US Immigration and Customs Enforcement
(ICE) to US Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This planned move
furthers the Department’s intent to integrate air and marine
law enforcement personnel, missions and assets and is consistent
with Congressional action in the FY 2005 Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) Appropriations bill.
This transition is occurring in two phases. Phase I, the
movement of AMO intact from ICE into CBP has now been completed,
effective12:01 AM on October 31, 2004. To affect this move, BTS
chartered a transition team, with representatives from CBP, ICE and
BTS to ensure that this change occurs with minimal disruption to
the personnel affected while current levels and scope of mission
performance are not degraded in any way.
The integration of all CBP air and
marine personnel, missions and assets will occur in Phase II.
Completion of this full effort is expected by the end of FY 05.
"The Department of Homeland Security was created to streamline
and focus our efforts to secure the United States," said Under
Secretary Hutchinson. "This merger is another large step in that
direction. Our goal is to achieve greater operational and cost
efficiencies as we strive to make America even more safe."
The former ICE Office of Air and Marine Operations is comprised
of more than 1,000 pilots, air and marine enforcement officers
(AEO/MEOs), detection systems specialists, support personnel and
Headquarters staff. All of the pilots and AEO/MEO’s are
Federal Law Enforcement Officers who have graduated from the
Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Glynco (GA).
There are approximately 470 pilots and 50 AEO’s who operate
42 helicopters and 92 fixed wing aircraft and 93 marine enforcement
officers operating 73 high performance marine vessels.
Throughout this merger, efforts will be made to find
efficiencies with aviation and marine operations, locations and
acquisition and recapitalization. While efficiencies will be
gained, at no time will there be a drop in air or marine support to
legacy missions in ICE, CBP or the other many agencies served by
these resources.
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