Programs

National Fugitive Operations Program

With the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, the significance of the fugitive alien population was brought to the forefront.  Congress passed the landmark PATRIOT ACT on October 25, 2001. This legislation and the Deputy Attorney General’s Absconder Apprehension Initiative (AAI) made the arrest of absconders, or fugitives, a priority.  On March 1, 2003, with the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) the National Fugitive Operations Program was established.

The primary mission of the National Fugitive Operations Program, a unit within ICE, Office of Detention and Removal Operations, Compliance Enforcement Division, is to identify, locate, arrest, or otherwise reduce the fugitive alien population in the United States.  An ICE fugitive is defined as an alien who has failed to depart the United States pursuant to a final order of removal, deportation, or exclusion; or who has failed to report to a Detention and Removal Officer after receiving notice to do so.

ICE Fugitive Operations Teams are a crucial part of the agency’s interior immigration enforcement mission. A critical element of this strategy is to identify, locate, arrest and remove criminal aliens, fugitives, and other immigration violators from the United States.  These teams use intelligence-based information and leads to find and arrest aliens who have been ordered to leave the country by an immigration judge, but have failed to comply - thus making them fugitive aliens.

In June of 2006, DRO created the Fugitive Operation Support Center (FOSC) to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the National Fugitive Operations Program (NFOP).  The FOSC, through the use of technology and partnerships with law enforcement agencies, serves as a force multiplier for the National Fugitive Operations Program (NFOP). The FOSC reviews and updates fugitive cases, develops leads for and provides assistance to Fugitive Operations Teams, assists in developing national fugitive Field Operations, and supports national ICE initiatives.

Most Wanted Program

On May 14, 2003, ICE’s “Most Wanted” criminal alien list was unveiled. This list features aliens convicted of committing serious, mostly violent crimes in the United States. Each has a final order of removal, but had absconded from ICE when ordered to report for removal. In an effort to broaden this program, the most wanted list is posted on the ICE website at www.ice.gov. This enables the public to view the list and call in tips.

Training

The NFOP training course is conducted at the ICE Academy located at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), providing the ICE officer with the tools necessary to locate and apprehend fugitive aliens. A major focus of the course is to enable participants to effectively utilize Internet, database and other sources of information to locate where a fugitive lives, visits and/or works.

Liaison Activities

In order to effectively meet its goal of removing all fugitive aliens, ICE’s Office of Detention and Removal (DRO), and in particular the NFOP, need the assistance of all federal, state and local law enforcement agencies. One of the ways that outside law enforcement agencies can assist the NFOP is by participating in local Joint Fugitive Task Forces. Task forces already exist in several areas, with ICE officers participating. Where no task force exists, NFOP will seek to establish one among all of the agencies within the jurisdiction. Law enforcement entities that wish to participate with ICE in these task forces, or are interested in providing other assistance to the agency , may contact the local Fugitive Operations Team at the local DRO field office.