An agreement that Trump officials signed at the last minute with the union for immigration and customs officials that could undermine comprehensive policy changes has been rejected by the Biden government.
The move Tuesday is the basis for a possible showdown between President Joe Biden and ICE’s union, which former President Donald Trump endorsed in 2016 and 2020.
Earlier this month, a whistleblower claimed that Ken Cuccinelli, a top official of the Trump administration, had abused his authority by entering into a set of agreements that gave the union ‘extraordinary power and benefits’ and allowed it to changes in immigration enforcement policy ‘indefinitely. and practice. ”
The Department of Homeland Security notified the union ICE on Tuesday; it stated that one of the agreements “was not negotiated in the interest of DHS and that it was rejected because it was not in line with applicable law,” a spokesman for the agency said in a statement.
“The general manager of human capital of the department informed ICE and the trade union in writing today that the proposed agreement had been rejected,” the spokesperson added. “DHS will make policy decisions in accordance with the law and based on what is best for national security, public safety and border security, while upholding the values of our country.”
According to the DHS, officials have 30 days to approve or reject the agreement after it is signed.
Cuccinelli, the controversial former acting deputy secretary, has signed a series of agreements requiring DHS to give local jurisdictions six months to comment on immigration policy and to submit comments. The state of Texas, which has signed one of the agreements, eventually sued DHS over Biden’s deportation moratorium, claiming it violated the contract.
A union representative did not immediately return a request for comment. But Cuccinelli told the New York Times earlier this month: “The agreement is completely legal and appropriate, otherwise we would not have implemented it.”
In the first week, the Biden administration issued new priorities for ICE officials from 1 February, including focusing on immigrants who are considered a national security threat, arrested at the border after 1 November 2020, or who are guilty found to be a felony.
“This abuse of authority is shocking,” reads the letter from the whistleblower’s lawyer, David Seide. When the evidence is gathered – the final timing of the agreements, the extraordinary transfer of power and benefits, the alleged invulnerability and extraordinary involvement of Mr. Cuccinelli – it is clear that this is another example of the previous government’s attempt to weaken it. hours to confirm a legacy against taxpayer. ”