“Our Constitution and laws are the most unifying forces we have as a nation state…Lady Justice, armed with a sword, her blindfold symbolizing equal treatment under the color of law, and careful balance of scales serve as an icon for aspiring federal agents….”
As one of President Trump’s hot-button campaign promises, our immigration woes are front page news. Some of the changes planned by his office include deportations, increased screenings, a closer vetting process to detect those with criminal pasts, the erection of a more secure border wall to discourage the droves of illegal entries, and aggregation of intelligence regarding terrorist activities. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary John Kelly has reportedly drafted revisions to President Trump’s immigration enforcement plans, including hiring approximately 15,000 law enforcement agents for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as well as Customs and Border Enforcement (CBP) roles.
As for President Trump’s federal hiring freeze regarding various government jobs and roles, law enforcement was not included. To the contrary, the White House administration seeks to thicken the law enforcement ranks, indicative of the president’s convictions to the promises he made to the American populace, Republican and Democrat alike. As an avid supporter of the American law enforcement institution, President Trump recently signed an executive order attesting to his presidential support of cops and the perilous job with which they are entrusted. It is fair to say our 45th constitutionalist is a huge police supporter, another validation which should be of interest to parties interested in joining federal law enforcement agencies.
Badges at Borders and Beyond
Notwithstanding the naysayers who seek to undermine the U.S. presidency and national security effort, more law enforcement hands are required to beef-up borders, weed-out illegal aliens, and chronicle those here on temporary visas. Imagine the enormity of roughly 11,000,000 folks on American soil illegally who seek to remain cloaked among our robust 324,000,000 populace. The problem is worsened as some political minds who are seemingly intent on the open-arms model, have conceptualized the “sanctuary city”, whereby known illegal immigrants are harbored from the reach of federal authorities. With respect to immigration laws, some city and county governments went from rules of engagement to no engagement of rules, blatantly defying President Trump’s immigration policies and forestalling federal law enforcement efforts to round-up those who have no legal right to be here.
When some municipal and county governments across the United States opt to thumb their noses at Constitutional frameworks and render excuses for non-cooperation, it musters the need for strengthening federal police to swoop in and serve justice accordingly. Albeit unofficially as of this writing, DHS Secretary Kelly has authored memorandum delineating how the Trump Administration plans to address any impediments to immigration enforcement. We can look forward to its official publication detailing our next steps in reeling-in and deporting illegal immigrants.
Prospects in Policing
As DHS Secretary Kelly reconsiders recent court rulings and refines policies, procedures, and directives, it would be wise for those of you who are seeking career roles with the federal government to tidy up your résumé, sharpen your Constitutional knowledge base, stay abreast of political news, maintain awareness of immigration-related news, and cease social media postings which may be deemed prohibitive towards government employment. Nowadays, it should come as no surprise that law enforcement entities avidly use social media outlets not only to further their criminal investigations but also to weed-out candidates whose behavior (postings) would be considered sub-standard for the profession.
Law enforcement candidates brimming with hope of a police career are handsomely positioned as potential recruits of the federal government as it is adding roles in the realm of national security. Throughout the application process, and as conditional offers to hire are contracted, candidates will immerse themselves in the world-renowned federal law enforcement academy known as FLETC (Federal Law Enforcement Training Center). There, recruits will be rigorously tested, physically challenged, thoroughly trained, and professionally outfitted to perform the duties of federal law enforcement backed by a Constitutional oath which, on any given day, is tested, tried and true.
On its website, the purpose of the Department of Homeland Security entails:
“a vital mission to secure the nation from the many threats we face. This requires the dedication of more than 230,000 employees in jobs that range from aviation and border security to emergency response, from cyber-security analyst to chemical facility inspector. Our duties are wide-ranging, and include detection, preparation for, prevention, protection against, response to, and recovery from terrorist attacks; enhancing security; securing and managing our borders; enforcing and administering immigration laws; safeguarding and securing cyberspace; and ensuring resilience to disasters. Our primary goal is clear – keeping America safe.”
Our Constitution and laws are the most unifying forces we have as a nation state on behalf of its people, as is often touted by Republican Congressman Trey Gowdy. Lady Justice, armed with a sword, her blindfold symbolizing equal treatment under the color of law, and careful balance of scales serve as an icon for aspiring federal agents. She symbolizes the very nature of Constitutional applications, a portion of which involves police officials enforcing principles of government, often in the face of absolute opposition, much like we are witnessing in the realm of immigration enforcement.
Integrity at the federal police table is paramount, as are objectivity, diligence, critical-thinking skills, and courage to ensure the public safety mission; in this case, it is a national playing field entrusted to capable hands and watchful eyes, backed by honor hewn from virtuous existence.
In my police career, I have worked the streets with some fabulous folks who opted to “go federal” and encompass a national jurisdiction over a municipal mass of landscape. From each of them, elation in transforming from a city cop to a federal agent was as evident as fish loving their gills. Respectful of all cops, federal scope affords a grand stage on which to perform … and immigration enforcement at the moment is quite a production in which to be a protagonist representing the voice of many.
Sounds like a marvelous opportunity to help “Make America Great Again”! You in?
Stephen Owsinski is a Senior OpsLens Contributor and retired law enforcement officer whose career included assignments in the Uniformed Patrol Division and Field Training Officer (FTO) unit. He is currently a researcher and writer.
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