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.

FMI: www.ice.gov/graphics/amo