r/ICE__ERO

Is anybody else keeping a loaded gun by your front door of your house in case I.C.E. agents come to the wrong house? My wife is a legal immigrant who is now a citizen who has lived here for over 25 years. After seeing all these videos of I.C.E. agents breaking down people's doors, shooting them and there being no repercussions, even if it's the wrong house, I am starting to keep my .40 within arms reach of the entrance to my house. Is anybody else doing the same or am I just paranoid?

I have a question. My brother and I are planning to travel to Hawaii from LAX at the end of August with my cousin and his wife. They have a pending asylum case and both have REAL IDs, so they can travel domestically. However, a lot of people have been telling them not to travel because they’ve heard that ICE has detained people at LAX on domestic flights. They’re really worried because of that. Have you heard anything about this? Would it be any safer to fly out of Burbank instead of LAX?

The decline of ERO didn’t happen overnight. It accelerated when accountability became secondary to filling positions.

The mass hiring process, combined with what many perceive as insufficient background screening and an emphasis on quantity over quality, has eroded much of what once made the organization respected. Bringing in employees without thoroughly evaluating their qualifications, judgment, and professional history can have lasting consequences.

Many seasoned Deportation Officers who have built their careers on integrity, professionalism, and devotion to duty openly express concern about what they see as increasingly reckless conduct by some newer hires. As a result, many experienced officers prefer to work independently or alongside other veteran officers whom they know and trust, rather than risk being associated with conduct they believe could jeopardize operations, officer safety, or the agency’s reputation.

At the same time, there is a perception among some employees that questionable conduct is too often overlooked or minimized. When officers believe that poor judgment or unprofessional behavior is tolerated instead of addressed, it sends the wrong message throughout the workforce. The result is predictable: morale declines, trust in leadership erodes, and the officers who consistently uphold the highest standards begin to wonder whether integrity is still valued.

An agency’s reputation is built by the people who represent it. Every hiring decision, every supervisory decision, and every accountability decision shapes public confidence in the organization.

After nearly 30 years in public service, I never expected to witness what I view as such a level of reckless behavior being tolerated—or, in some cases, seemingly excused—by senior leadership. Accountability should never be sacrificed to meet staffing goals. The dedicated officers who continue to serve with honor deserve leadership that holds every employee to the same professional standards.

ERO’s greatest asset has never been its staffing numbers—it has always been the dedicated professionals who uphold the law with integrity, accountability, and respect for the public. Restoring those principles is far more important than simply increasing headcount.