A stark warning has been issued by a former senior US security official, who claims that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents now receive less training than many animal control officers. The allegation comes amid heightened scrutiny of the agency's practices following two recent shootings involving its officers in Minneapolis.
Training Cut Amid Trump's Immigration Crackdown
Former Washington D.C. Chief of Homeland Security and Intelligence, Donell Harvin, made the explosive comparison during a television interview. He stated that while becoming an animal control officer in many American states requires significant training, ICE recruits reportedly receive just 47 days of instruction. This is a dramatic reduction from the approximate five months of training new officers historically underwent.
Harvin linked the concerns directly to recent violent incidents. Over one week in Minneapolis, federal agents were involved in two shootings. Renee Good, a 37-year-old American citizen, was fatally shot, while a man identified by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as a Venezuelan immigrant with a criminal record was injured.
"Following His Training" - A Cause for Alarm?
The former official pointed to comments from current DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, who said the ICE agent who shot Ms. Good was "experienced" and acting in line with his training. "If that's the case... then we have a big problem," Harvin told MS NOW's Ana Cabrera. He argued this indicates systemic issues with how ICE agents are taught police safety and survivability tactics.
"We have ICE agents that are rolling off the assembly line, so to speak, with far, far less training than the agent involved in Good’s death," Harvin continued. He emphasised the gravity of the comparison: "Your local dog catcher will need more training to carry a firearm and execute warrants and arrest people than an ICE agent."
Controversy Over the 47-Day Figure
The specific 47-day training figure has been a point of controversy. According to a report by The Atlantic in August last year, three unnamed officials claimed the training was shortened to 47 days because Donald Trump is the 47th president. The report noted the cut was also partly due to eliminating Spanish language courses.
However, a senior DHS official later told The Washington Examiner that The Atlantic's reporting was "false." The Independent has contacted both DHS and ICE for further comment on the current training curriculum and duration.
The debate over ICE agent preparedness is unfolding against the backdrop of President Trump's stringent immigration policies. With agents on the front line of enforcement, the adequacy of their training has become a critical question of public safety and professional standards.
