New immigration chief gets mixed reception (cronie to head ICE/INS)

[Mugsy]

Apparently, the lesson of the danger of appointing an unqualified cronie such as "Brownie" to such an important job hasn't yet made an impact on Shrub:

New immigration enforcement chief gets mixed reception

By Chris Strohm
http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0106/010506c1.htm

President Bush gave his pick to head one of largest investigative agencies in the federal government a recess appointment this week, prompting a strong and mixed reaction. Critics said Thursday she is too inexperienced to manage a vast bureaucracy, while supporters contended she is perfect for the job.

Whatever the take, there was widespread consensus that 36-year-old Julie Myers has her work cut out for her as she takes charge of the Homeland Security Department's Immigration and Customs Enforcement bureau. Myers previously worked in the departments of Treasury, Commerce and Justice, and most recently served as a special assistant to Bush.

She will replace Michael Garcia, who announced his resignation last July and is now the U.S. attorney for the southern district of New York. Because Myers was given a recess appointment, she escaped the full Senate confirmation process.

Critics have questioned whether Myers, who is the niece of former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Richard Myers and wife of the chief of staff for Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, is qualified for the job.

Concerns about her management experience grew considerably last fall after the government's failed response to Hurricane Katrina caused Michael Brown to resign as chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Lawmakers began to scrutinize presidential appointees' political and personal connections more closely just as Myers was nominated.

<...>

"Managing ICE, the second largest federal law enforcement agency with more than 15,000 employees and a budget of $4 billion, is a mammoth responsibility," said Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawaii, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia.

"The head of ICE should be an individual who has demonstrated extensive executive-level leadership and the ability to manage a budget through reorganizations and budget cycles," he said. "Ms. Myers has not demonstrated this ability."

<more>

I have a NeoCon friend that loves every Bush policy except when it comes to immigration. He is definitely not alone. Myers received a totally unnecessary "recess apointment" just to sneak her in there. So I wonder how they'll react to this appointment?

[C_U_L8R]

1. Friends don't let friends

beome Neocons.

My sympathies. :-)

[Rainscents]

2. This should be interesting...

I'll sit back and watch. My guess, INS will run same as last 5 years as usual.

[Mugsy]

3. "INS" but not "INS"

I should clarify, since most people don't know what "ICE" is ("Immigration and Customs Enforcement"), I put "INS" in the title, though in fact Myers won't be running "INS" ("Immigration and Naturalization Service") specifically.

I added it for clarity (just wanted to set the record straight before any confusion ensues).

In all honesty, I'm not really sure what difference... if any... there really is between the two.

[WilmywoodNCparalegal]

4. ICE and USCIS are two different entities

ICE is for enforcement, while USCIS (U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Services, formerly known as INS) deals with the process for legal immigration (both family and employment-based). Two different entities with different objectives.

[OKNancy]

5. kick

[Mugsy]

6. Thanks for kick, but...

...not recommended?

I thought this was a more important story, considering "immigration" is what Republicans believe is at "the front lines of National Security". :P

Talk to any Bush supporter and ask them to name just ONE thing they disagree with Bush on, and it is almost uniformly "illegal immigration" and the threat of "terrorists sneaking across our borders".

Then tell them that Bush secretly recess-appointed another unqualified "Brownie" to head immigration, and see how they respond.

...then ask them, "Do you get it yet?"