Homeland Security Investigations welcomes new leadership to Pacific Northwest
SEATTLE – U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has named Debra Parker as the new special agent in charge of the Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) office based in Seattle.
As special agent in charge, Parker, a 25-year veteran of federal law enforcement, supervises a cadre of special agents responsible for investigative work across Alaska, Idaho, Washington and Oregon. HSI special agents, analysts, auditors and support staff, assigned throughout the Pacific Northwest, protect the community by conducting criminal investigations in various mission areas such as: drug smuggling, illegal exportation of munitions and high-tech items, money laundering, financial crimes, transnational gangs, human smuggling and trafficking, intellectual property rights infringement, and crimes against children, including child sex tourism and child pornography.
“I’m happy to have been selected to be a part of such a stellar law enforcement team,” said Parker. “HSI has an important, complex mission set and agents in the Pacific Northwest face unique challenges. I’ve seen firsthand just how passionate these agents are about protecting their community, passion that is evident by the remarkable enforcement successes throughout the region. I’m honored to be joining their ranks and the ranks of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners.”
Parker comes to Seattle with a wealth of knowledge gleaned from decades of federal service. Parker began her career in 1991 serving as a customs inspector with the U.S. Customs Service and went on to join the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service as a special agent, group supervisor and assistant special agent in charge in Los Angeles, California. Parker continued her service with HSI as the Chief of the National Gang and Undercover Operations Units at HSI headquarters in Washington, DC. From there, she served as deputy special in charge in New York City and acting special agent in charge in Newark, New Jersey.
Prior to accepting the position as HSI special agent in charge in Seattle, Parker served in key executive leadership positions within HSI headquarters, including deputy assistant director for HSI Domestic Operations. Most recently, Parker served as acting assistant director for Domestic Operations, where she oversaw the activities of all of HSI’s special agent in charge field offices.
Special Agent Parker holds both a bachelor’s degree in political science from Alcorn State University and a juris doctorate from Loyola Law School.
Parker is a member of the Senior Executive Service (SES).
HSI is a critical investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security and is a vital U.S. asset in combating criminal organizations illegally exploiting America's travel, trade, financial and immigration systems.
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