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Inspections and Compliance Specialist Position

Inspections and Compliance Specialist Position

I value the opportunity to use my law enforcement skills to enforce the nation's immigration laws in a fair and effective manner.

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR) is responsible for upholding the agency’s professional standards through a multi-disciplinary approach of security, inspections and investigations. ICE's OPR Inspections and Detention Oversight Division (IDO) is primarily responsible for conducting and overseeing internal inspections, audits, and reviews of each ICE component, program, and office. IDO provides ICE executive management with independent, objective reviews of ICE office and program performance by assessing compliance with federal law, applicable policies and procedures, and the agency’s own detention standards. The work that IDO Inspection and Compliance Specialists (ICSs) perform is vital to ensuring accountability across ICE offices and programs, as well as establishing and maintaining public trust in the agency.

IDO ICSs travel frequently to conduct site visits and write detailed reports on their findings for dissemination to senior ICE management and other stakeholders. Employees work in teams throughout the inspections process, with both federal and contract staff.

IDO employs ICSs across three units: the External Reviews and Analysis Unit (ERAU), the Office of Detention Oversight (ODO) Unit and the Management Inspections Unit (MIU).

External Reviews and Analysis Unit

ERAU oversees the DHS Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) Audit Program, which entails auditing ICE detention and overnight holding facilities that have adopted the DHS PREA Standards for compliance. ERAU also conducts Detainee Death Reviews (DDRs), which are independent, objective examinations of the facts and circumstances surrounding the detention and death of an individual in ICE custody to determine whether the agency and detention facility complied with detention standards related to the individual’s health, safety, and security.

Office of Detention Oversight

ODO inspects ICE detention facilities to determine compliance with ICE detention standards, policies, and procedures. ODO focuses on areas related to detainee life, health, and safety, the preservation of detainee civil rights and civil liberties, and the facility’s overall compliance with ICE detention standards.

Management Inspections Unit

MIU is responsible for assessing ICE offices’ compliance with DHS, ICE, and program-specific policies and procedures.

  • MIU 287(g) Inspections Section: Responsible for assessing ICE’s and law enforcement agency partners’ compliance with 287(g) program policies and requirements, as well as the effectiveness of ICE field offices in supervising and supporting those programs.
  • MIU Self-Inspection Program: Designs, implements, and administers the SIP to all ICE offices as a proactive tool to assess compliance with DHS, ICE, and program-specific policies and procedures.
  • MIU Field Inspections Section: Conducts comprehensive, independent reviews of domestic and international ICE offices and programs to ensure that they maintain their operational integrity and efficiency.

Testimonials

  • “I like what we do because it is a constantly evolving challenge.”
  • “I like this office because we are the voice for detainees.”
  • “I feel I make a difference in ensuring detainees in the detention system are being treated fairly and humanely, and that detention facilities are being held accountable.”
  • “The work conducted by ODO inspectors ensures that detainees’ civil rights are not being violated.”
  • “International travel is challenging and rewarding. Each office presents a different opportunity based on its location and the chance to interact with local officials.”
  • “Performing inspections that deal with 15 administrative and operational areas provides a plethora of opportunities to expand your experience and knowledge base.”

Application Process

Apply Online

Applications for Inspections and Compliance Specialist positions will be accepted during an open vacancy announcement. Vacancy announcements will be posted online through the Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) USAJOBS website. During an open announcement period, the applicant will be required to submit a resume with the original application. If the applicant is a preference-eligible veteran, additional opportunities may be available. Preference-eligible applicants may find additional information at OPM's website. Click below to learn more about basic eligibility.

Benefits

ICE offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package which includes health, dental, vision, life, long-term care insurance, retirement plan, Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k)), flexible spending account, Employee Assistance Program, personal leave days and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include: flexible work schedules, telework, tuition reimbursement, transportation subsidies, uniform allowance, health and wellness programs and access to fitness centers. DHS is committed to employee development and offers a variety of training and developmental opportunities.

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