ICE Academy instructors teach prospective deportation officers

ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) deportation officers are among the most highly trained federal law enforcement officers in the United States. But who teaches them to be deportation officers? Answer: instructors at the Basic Immigration Enforcement Training Program (BIETP), located at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia. 

The instructors are mostly seasoned deportation officers and supervisory detention and deportation officers, as well as ICE Office of the Principal Legal Advisor attorneys. They are considered experts in the field. They teach law enforcement regulations, core components of immigration law and policy, alien processing, at-large operations, officer and detainee safety, proficiency with firearms and defensive techniques. 

A particular focus of the program is to ensure that prospective deportation officers understand the procedures involved in removal proceedings, from initial arrest to the execution of final order of removal. Emphasis is also placed on the in-processing aspect of the Criminal Alien Program and tactics and procedures for field operations.

The Program lasts for 16 weeks. Trainees must also attend a 25-day Spanish-language course, or test out of this requirement by demonstrating proficiency in the language. Graduation from the Program is mandatory before prospective deportation officers can enforce immigration law.