1 GAO-10-15R U.S. Marshals: Qualifications and Characteristics 

United States Government Accountability Office

Washington, DC 20548 

November 13, 2009 

The Honorable Patrick Leahy 

Chairman 

Committee on the Judiciary 

United States Senate 

Subject: U.S. Marshals: Qualifications and Comparison of Demographic Characteristics to 

Their Counterparts in Selected Federal Law Enforcement Agencies

Dear Mr. Chairman: 

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), a component within the Department of Justice (DOJ), is 

charged with protecting federal judges and witnesses, transporting federal prisoners, 

apprehending federal fugitives, and managing assets seized from criminal enterprises, as well 

as managing USMS offices within federal judicial districts, among other responsibilities. 

Presidentially appointed U.S. Marshals direct the activities of 94 districts—1 for each federal 

judicial district, including at least 1 in each state, the District of Columbia, the 

Commonwealths of Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands, and 2 U.S. territories—the 

Virgin Islands and Guam.1

 The process used to appoint U.S. Marshals to the federal judicial 

districts has not changed since the establishment of the position.2

 The President, with the 

advice and consent of the Senate, appoints U.S. Marshals for a 4-year term. 

Federal law does not mandate specific qualifications for individuals appointed as U.S. 

Marshals. However, Section 505 of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act 

of 2005 states that U.S. Marshals should possess certain minimum characteristics in order to 

serve.3

 The suggested characteristics are (1) a minimum of 4 years of command-level law 

enforcement management duties, including personnel, budget, and accountable property 

issues, in a police department, sheriff’s office, or federal law enforcement agency; 

(2) experience in coordinating with other law enforcement agencies, particularly at the state 

and local levels; (3) college-level academic experience; and (4) experience in or with county, 

state, and federal court systems or experience with protection of court personnel, jurors, and 

witnesses. 

 

1

The President appoints U.S. Marshals to each of the 94 federal judicial districts, except that the U.S. 

Marshal of the U.S. Virgin Islands is appointed by the Attorney General. However, the U.S. Marshal 

appointed for the Northern Mariana Islands may at the same time serve as U.S. Marshal in another 

federal judicial district. 

2

U.S. Marshals were placed in federal judicial districts when the positions were created by the first 

Congress in the Judiciary Act of 1789. 

3

Pub. L. No. 109-177, § 505, 120 Stat. 192, 247 (2006) (codified at 28 U.S.C.§ 561(i)). The act was enacted 

on March 9, 2006. 
In contrast to the appointment process for U.S. Marshals, the senior field supervisors of other 

federal law enforcement agencies with comparable duties and responsibilities are selected 

under competitive, merit-based promotion criteria outlined in Title 5 of the U.S. Code. These 

individuals are required to apply and compete for these positions and meet any identified 

minimum standards. Minimum qualifications used to select senior field supervisors at some 

of the federal law enforcement agencies vary, but all require prior supervisory law 

enforcement experience. 

In April 2003, we reported on the appointment and qualifications of U.S. Marshals at which 

time there were no statutory provisions on the suggested minimum characteristics of U.S. 

Marshals.4

 We also reported that while the average length of overall law enforcement 

experience of U.S. Marshals was not significantly different than that of senior field 

supervisors at the three selected federal law enforcement agencies,5

 the level of government 

(federal, state, local, or county level) from which the experience was obtained differed. With 

passage of the act, you and the late Senator Edward Kennedy requested that we address the 

following questions: 

• To what extent do the U.S. Marshals possess the four suggested minimum characteristics 

included in Section 505 of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005? 

• To what extent are the U.S. Marshals’ experience, education, race, and gender comparable to 

those of senior field supervisors in other federal law enforcement agencies? 

To determine the extent to which each of the U.S. Marshals had the four minimum 

characteristics consistent with those suggested in the act, we requested that USMS complete 

a data collection instrument to obtain information on the characteristics of 83 of the 94 U.S. 

Marshals appointed as of January 1, 2009.6

 To ensure this instrument was completed in a 

consistent format and manner, we provided USMS with detailed instructions on completing 

the data collection instrument. To help ensure the quality of responses provided by USMS, we 

also verified the accuracy of the information for 24 of the 83 U.S. Marshals’ files. Specifically, 

we randomly selected 12 of the 71 files of U.S. Marshals who were appointed before the act 

and selected all 12 files of U.S. Marshals who were appointed after the act was enacted on 

March 9, 2006. We validated USMS determinations of the characteristics for each of the 24 

selected U.S. Marshals’ files; that is, we determined that the agency’s determinations were 

accurate (i.e., used relevant information to help ensure reliable determinations) and welldocumented (i.e., methodology, criteria, results, rationales, and sources of information were 

retained and available for examination). Additionally, we interviewed knowledgeable USMS 

officials about how they compiled and analyzed the data from the 83 U.S. Marshals’ files that 

they provided to us and determined that the data were sufficiently reliable for the purposes 

of this report. 

 

4

GAO, Appointment and Qualifications of U.S. Marshals, GAO-03-499R (Washington, D.C.: Apr. 2, 

2003). 

5

The three selected federal law enforcement agencies were the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms 

and Explosives; Drug Enforcement Administration; and Internal Revenue Service-Criminal 

Investigation. 

6

The remaining 11 U.S. Marshal positions were vacant as of January 1, 2009. 

 2 GAO-10-15R U.S. Marshals: Qualifications and Characteristics
To assess the extent to which U.S. Marshals’ experience, education, race, and gender are 

comparable to those of senior field supervisors in other federal law enforcement agencies, 

we analyzed Office of Personnel Management guidance7

 and interviewed officials from USMS 

and other federal law enforcement agencies to obtain information on the qualifications, 

responsibilities, and duties for their senior field supervisor positions. As a result, we 

compared the USMS senior field supervisor position to the following federal law enforcement 

agencies’ senior field supervisor positions: the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and 

Explosives (ATF); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Federal Bureau of Investigation 

(FBI); Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)-Office of Detention and Removal 

Operations (DRO); ICE-Office of Investigations (OI); and the U.S. Secret Service (USSS). 

Enclosure I provides information on the senior field supervisors at selected federal law 

enforcement agencies. We obtained demographic information from USMS and the other 

federal law enforcement agencies on each of the senior field office supervisors serving as of 

May 1, 2009. This information included the field office assigned; date appointed; pay grade; 

gender; race; education level and highest degree earned prior to assignment; law enforcement 

experience prior to assignment (including whether that experience was obtained at the same 

agency, another federal agency, or a local, state, or county agency); and supervisory law 

enforcement experience prior to assignment. To gauge the quality of the responses, we 

analyzed the data to identify any inconsistencies and conducted follow-up interviews, as 

appropriate. We determined that the data were sufficiently reliable for the purposes of our 

report. 

We conducted this performance audit from January 2009 to November 2009 in accordance 

with generally accepted government auditing standards. Those standards require that we plan 

and perform the audit to obtain sufficient, appropriate evidence to provide a reasonable basis 

for our findings and conclusions based on our audit objectives. We believe that the evidence 

obtained provides a reasonable basis for our findings and conclusions based on our audit 

objectives. 

USMS Documentation Shows That a Majority of U.S. Marshals Possessed CommandLevel Law Enforcement Experience and College-Level Academic Experience 

A majority of U.S. Marshals possessed the suggested command-level law enforcement and 

college-level academic experience, according to USMS documentation. However, the absence 

of documentation made it difficult to determine the extent to which U.S. Marshals possessed 

the suggested experience in coordinating with other law enforcement agencies and 

experience with court systems and protecting court personnel. As shown in table 1, of the 83 

U.S. Marshals that were serving as of January 1, 2009, 54 reportedly possessed the suggested 

minimum characteristic of 4 years of command-level experience, while 28 did not.8

 USMS 

based its determination that U.S. Marshals had at least 4 years of “command-level law 

enforcement management” experience on whether U.S. Marshals previously had served in a 

police or sheriff’s department at the lieutenant level or above; as a supervisory criminal 

investigator in a federal law enforcement agency; or as a colonel or above in a military police 

unit, criminal investigation unit, or a similar military law enforcement function. USMS 

officials stated that this experience helps ensure that U.S. Marshals can effectively and 

 

7

U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Handbook of Occupational Groups and Families, 

(Washington, D.C., January 2008). 

8

There was no documentation in the file for one U.S. Marshal. The law does not require the USMS to 

obtain or retain information in its files related to whether the U.S. Marshals meet the four suggested 

minimum characteristics. 

 3 GAO-10-15R U.S. Marshals: Qualifications and Characteristics
efficiently manage the district offices. USMS did not consider positions in security or as 

prosecutors to be command-level experience. 

Of the 83 U.S. Marshals, USMS documentation showed that 64 possessed the suggested 

minimum characteristic of college-level academic experience, while 19 did not. USMS 

defined college-level academic experience to be, at a minimum, a 2-year college degree. 

Table 1: USMS Documentation Showing the Extent to Which the 83 U.S. Marshals9 Appointed as of 

January 1, 2009, Had the Suggested Minimum Characteristics Included in the Act10 

Categories 

Minimum of 4 years 

of command-level 

experiencea

College-level 

academic 

experience

Experience in 

coordinating with 

other law enforcement 

agenciesb

Experience with 

court systems 

and protecting 

court personnelc

U.S. Marshals who met 

the suggested 

characteristic 54 64 45 26

U.S. Marshals who did 

not meet the suggested 

characteristic 28 19 0 0

U.S. Marshals for whom 

documentation was not 

available to determine 

whether they met the 

suggested characteristic 1 0 38 57

Total U.S. Marshals 83 83 83 83

Source: GAO analysis; USMS information. 

Note: 

a

A minimum of 4 years of command-level law enforcement management duties, including personnel, budget, and accountable 

property issues, in a police department, sheriff’s office or Federal law enforcement agency. 

b

Experience in coordinating with other law enforcement agencies, particularly at the State and local level 

c

Experience in or with county, State, and Federal court systems or experience with protection of court personnel, jurors, and 

witnesses. 

Further, regarding experience in coordinating with other law enforcement agencies, USMS 

documentation showed that 45 of the 83 U.S. Marshals possessed this suggested 

characteristic, while 38 had insufficient documentation in the file to determine whether they 

possessed this characteristic. USMS determined whether the U.S. Marshals had this 

characteristic based on documentation in USMS files indicating that the U.S. Marshals had 

been employed at a law enforcement agency and had experience in working with other law 

enforcement agencies, such as being a member of a task force that included other law 

enforcement agencies. 

Finally, of the 83 U.S. Marshals, USMS documentation showed that 26 possessed the 

suggested characteristic of experience with court security and protection, while 57 had 

insufficient documentation in the file to make a determination. For those U.S. Marshals with 

documentation in their files, USMS determined that experience with court security and 

protection included providing security for judges, prosecutors, witnesses, prisoners, court 

personnel, and courthouses. USMS officials said that they do not consider experience 

 

9

One U.S. Marshal serves in each of the 94 federal judicial districts; however, we only reported results 

for 83 positions since we did not include 11 vacant positions in our analysis. 

10Section 505 of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005. 

 4 GAO-10-15R U.S. Marshals: Qualifications and Characteristics
testifying in court, obtaining an arrest warrant, providing support to a prosecutor, or being 

involved in a legal action to qualify as experience in coordinating with other law enforcement 

agencies. 

U.S. Marshals Had Similar Prior Law Enforcement Experience but Less Diversity 

and College-Level Experience Than Senior Field Supervisors in Other Federal Law 

Enforcement Agencies 

While U.S. Marshals and senior field supervisors at selected federal law enforcement 

agencies had similar amounts of law enforcement experience before they were appointed or 

assigned to their position, there was a smaller proportion of U.S. Marshals with prior federal 

law enforcement experience than the senior field supervisors at other federal law 

enforcement agencies. Also, the U.S. Marshals had less diversity and education than their 

counterparts at other law enforcement agencies. The U.S. Marshals had an average of 

25 years prior law enforcement experience, as shown in table 2. Similarly, supervisors from 

the other six federal law enforcement agencies averaged between 20 and 24 years of prior 

law enforcement experience. Further, U.S. Marshals had an average of 10 years of prior 

supervisory law enforcement experience, compared to senior field supervisors at the other 

six federal law enforcement agencies who ranged from 6 to 12 years of prior supervisory law 

enforcement experience. 

Table 2: Comparison of U.S. Marshals’ Experience to That of Senior Field Supervisors at ATF, DEA, FBI, 

ICE-DRO, ICE-OI, and USSS 

Federal law enforcement agencies 

USMSaATF DEA FBI ICE-DRO ICE-OI USSS

Total number of senior field supervisorsb83 25 20 65 22 24 41

Average years of prior law enforcement 

experience 25 20 24 21 23 22 20

Average years of prior supervisory law 

enforcement experience 10 9 9 12 12 9 6

Number of senior field supervisors with prior law enforcement experiencec

Within agency 21 25 20 65 22 23 41 

With other federal agency 19 7 0 0 13 7 4 

With state, local, and county agencies 62 7 0 0 7 6 0

Number of senior field supervisors with prior supervisory law enforcement experience 

None 25 0 0 0 0 0 0d

1 year to 4 years 2 0 0 0 2 3 10

5 years or more 55 25 20 65 20 21 31

Sources: GAO analysis; U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Federal 

Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—Office of Detention and Removal Operations (DRO); ICE—Office of Investigations (OI); and 

U.S. Secret Service (USSS) information. 

Note: 

a

USMS officials reported that prior supervisory law enforcement experience data were not available for one U.S. Marshal. 

b

The number of vacant positions is not included in the total number of senior field office supervisors for the respective federal 

law enforcement agencies. These data reflect the number of senior field office supervisors assigned as of May 1, 2009. 

Enclosure I provides the total number of field office supervisor positions assigned to each of the selected law enforcement 

agencies. 

c

Some of the senior field supervisors may have obtained prior law enforcement experience at more than one federal, state, 

local, or county law enforcement agency before they were appointed or assigned to their position. Therefore, each of the senior

field supervisors may be included in more than one prior law enforcement experience category. 

d

USSS officials reported that data on the number of senior field supervisors with prior supervisory law enforcement experience 

with state, local, and county agencies were not available. 

 5 GAO-10-15R U.S. Marshals: Qualifications and Characteristics
There were more U.S. Marshals with prior law enforcement experience at the state, local, or 

county levels than their counterparts at the other federal law enforcement agencies. While 

available data showed that 62 out of the 83 (75 percent) U.S. Marshals had experience at the 

state, local, or county levels, none of the senior field supervisors at three federal law 

enforcement agencies had experience at the state, local, or county levels. However, virtually 

all (196 of 197) of the senior field supervisors from the other six federal law enforcement 

agencies had experience within their respective agencies before they were assigned as senior 

field supervisors. Further, 25 out of the 8211 (30 percent) U.S. Marshals had no years of prior 

supervisory law enforcement experience before they were appointed to the position, unlike 

all of the senior field supervisors from the other six federal law enforcement agencies, who 

had prior supervisory law enforcement experience. Senior field supervisors from three of the 

six other federal law enforcement agencies—ATF, DEA, and FBI—all had at least 5 years of 

prior supervisory law enforcement experience before becoming senior field supervisors. 

USMS data show that a higher proportion of its senior field supervisors were males compared 

to senior field supervisors in the six other federal law enforcement agencies, as shown in 

table 3. While the majority of senior field supervisors at all seven federal law enforcement 

agencies were male, USMS had the highest percentage—98 percent (81 of the 83 U.S. 

Marshals). The percentage of senior field supervisors who were male at the other federal law 

enforcement agencies ranged from 82 percent (53 out of 65 at FBI) to 96 percent (23 out of 24 

at ICE-OI). Additionally, the U.S. Marshals had the highest rate of Caucasians at 83 percent 

(69 out of 83), whereas the percentage of senior field supervisors who were Caucasian at the 

six other federal law enforcement agencies ranged from 64 percent (16 out of 25 at ATF) to 

82 percent (18 out of 22 at ICE-DRO). The percentage of American Indians, Asian Americans, 

and Hispanics at USMS was within the range of the other federal law enforcement agencies. 

However, USMS had a smaller percentage of African Americans, 7 percent (6 out of 83), 

compared to the six other federal law enforcement agencies which ranged from 10 percent 

(2 out of 20 at DEA) to 16 percent (4 out of 25 at ATF). 

Finally, and as highlighted in table 3, most (67 percent) U.S. Marshals had obtained a 

bachelor or advanced degree. In fact, the percentage of U.S. Marshals who had obtained at 

least a bachelor degree was slightly higher than the percentage of senior field supervisors at 

one agency (67 percent for USMS compared to 64 percent for ICE-DRO), but lower than the 

percentage of senior field supervisors at the other five federal law enforcement agencies. 

However, unlike the U.S. Marshals, senior field supervisors in four of the five remaining 

federal law enforcement agencies all had obtained at least a bachelor degree.12 Finally, the 

range of education for the U.S. Marshals was greater than that of the senior field supervisors 

at the other federal law enforcement agencies. Seventeen percent (14 out of 83) of U.S. 

Marshals’ highest level of education was high school, whereas senior field supervisors at the 

other six federal law enforcement agencies all had at least some college experience. Table 3 

shows the demographic information of U.S. Marshals and senior field supervisors at the six 

selected federal law enforcement agencies. 

 

11USMS officials reported that prior supervisory law enforcement experience data were not available 

for one U.S. Marshal. 

12At the remaining federal law enforcement agency, ICE-OI, the percentage of senior field supervisors 

who had obtained at least a bachelor degree was 92 percent (22 out of 24). 

 6 GAO-10-15R U.S. Marshals: Qualifications and Characteristics
Table 3: Comparison of U.S. Marshals’ Education, Race, and Gender to That of Senior Field Supervisors 

in ATF, DEA, FBI, ICE-DRO, ICE-OI, and USSS 

Federal law enforcement agencies 

USMS ATF DEA FBI ICE-DRO ICE-OI USSS

Total number of senior 

field supervisorsa

83 25 20 65 22 24 41

Gender 

Female 2 2 2 12 3 1 4

Male 81 23 18 53 19 23 37

Race/ethnicity 

African American 6 4 2 10 3 2 6

American Indian 0 1 0 0 0 0 1

Asian American 1 0 0 3 0 1 1

Caucasian 69 16 14 45 18 18 32

Hispanic 7 4 4 7 1 3 1

Highest level of education 

High school diploma 14 0 0 0 0 0 0

Some college 5 0 0 0 6 2 0

Associate’s degree 8 0 0 0 2 0 0

Bachelor’s degree 37 17 16 35 10 15 34

Advanced degree 19 8 4 30 4 7 7

Sources: GAO analysis; U.S. Marshals Service (USMS); Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA); Federal 

Bureau of Investigation (FBI); Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—Office of Detention and Removal Operations (DRO); ICE—Office of Investigations (OI); and 

U.S. Secret Service (USSS) information. 

Note: 

a

The number of vacant positions is not included in the total number of senior field office supervisors for the respective federal 

law enforcement agencies. These data reflect the number of senior field office supervisors assigned as of May 1, 2009. 

Enclosure I provides the total number of field office supervisor positions assigned to each of the selected law enforcement 

agencies. 

Agency Comments and Our Evaluation 

We provided a draft of this report to the Attorney General, the Secretary of Homeland 

Security, USMS, ATF, DEA, FBI, ICE-DRO, ICE-OI, and USSS for review and comment. These 

agencies did not provide written comments to include in our report. However, in emails 

received in October 2009, the liaisons for DOJ, DHS, USMS, ATF, and FBI said that these 

agencies had no comments on the findings in the report. The USMS, DEA, and USSS provided 

technical comments, which we incorporated into the report as appropriate. 

– – – – – 

We are sending copies of this report to interested congressional committees, the Attorney 

General, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and other interested parties. This report will 

also be available at no charge on GAO’s Web site at http://www.gao.gov. 

 7 GAO-10-15R U.S. Marshals: Qualifications and Characteristics
If you or your staff have any questions about this report, please contact me at (202) 512-4379 

or lords@gao.gov. Contact points for our Offices of Congressional Relations and Public 

Affairs may be found on the last page of this report. Glenn Davis, Assistant Director, and 

Frederick Lyles, Jr., Analyst-in-Charge, managed this assignment. Jeremy Manion and Lisa 

Shibata made significant contributions to this report. James Ashley and Stanley Kostyla 

assisted with design and methodology. Tracey King provided legal support. Lara Kaskie 

provided assistance in report preparation. John Cooney and Ramon Rodriguez provided 

assistance related to law enforcement issues. 

Sincerely yours, 

Stephen Lord 

Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues 

Enclosure 

 8 GAO-10-15R U.S. Marshals: Qualifications and Characteristics
Enclosure I 

9 GAO-10-15R U.S. Marshals: Qualifications and Characteristics 

Agency Names, Titles, Number of Positions, and Responsibilities and Duties for U.S. 

Marshals and Senior Field Supervisors at Selected Federal Law Enforcement 

Agencies 

Agency 

Title of senior 

field office 

supervisor 

Total number 

of senior 

field office 

positions Summary of responsibilities and duties 

U.S. Marshals 

Service (USMS) 

U.S. Marshal 94 (1) Leads a USMS district office; (2) protects the judicial 

process by ensuring the safe and secure conduct of 

judicial proceedings and protecting federal judges, jurors 

and other members of the federal judiciary; (3) executes 

federal court orders; (4) supervises investigations 

involving the apprehension of federal fugitives; (5) 

provides emergency and tactical support services in 

response to emergencies, disasters, homeland security 

incidents, and at times of heightened law enforcement; 

(6) provides for the safe and secure housing and 

transportation of federal prisoners while in USMS 

custody; and (7) maintains and disposes of property 

seized and forfeited to the federal government. 

Bureau of 

Alcohol, Tobacco, 

Firearms and 

Explosives (ATF) 

Special Agent in 

Charge 

25 (1) Manages a major field division of ATF, and exercises 

executive responsibility for the enforcement of federal 

alcohol, tobacco, firearms, explosives, and arson laws 

and regulations; (2) plans, directs, implements, and 

evaluates comprehensive law enforcement and 

regulatory programs; (3) manages all administrative and 

program matters, including budget formulation, allocation 

of human and material resources, implementation of 

technological solutions, and related matters; (4) serves 

as the ATF representative to law enforcement 

organizations, industry groups, political and community 

groups, the media, and the public; and (5) coordinates 

with other field special agents in charge and ATF 

headquarters officials. 

Drug 

Enforcement 

Administration 

(DEA) 

Special Agent in 

Charge 

21 (1) Implements and directs programs designed to 

perform criminal investigations, and cooperates with 

other law enforcement agencies in their investigations 

when feasible; (2) conducts audits and on-site 

inspections of pharmaceutical companies to determine 

possible diversion of controlled drugs from legitimate 

commerce; (3) provides training for law enforcement 

officials to improve drug law enforcement; (4) conducts 

education programs for regulated industry officials and 

local groups to discourage illegal drug activities; (5) 

compiles intelligence data on narcotic activities for DEA 

use and coordination; and (6) represents DEA within the 

area. 

Federal Bureau of 

Investigation 

(FBI) 

Special Agent in 

Charge 

65 (1) Oversees operations at field office level; (2) maintains 

responsibility for all counterterrorism, intelligence, and 

investigative operations; (3) protects the United States 

from terrorist and foreign intelligence activity, combats 

criminal activity, preserves civil liberties and provides 

leadership, intelligence and law enforcement assistance 

to other law enforcement partners; and (4) streamlines 

administrative and operational processes, improves 

internal communications, maximizes organizational 

collaboration, and appropriately executes finance and 

budget planning to achieve management excellence. 
Enclosure I 

 10 GAO-10-15R U.S. Marshals: Qualifications and Characteristics

Agency 

Title of senior 

field office 

supervisor 

Total number 

of senior 

field office 

positions Summary of responsibilities and duties 

Immigration and 

Customs 

Enforcement 

(ICE)—Office of 

Detention and 

Removal 

Operations 

(DRO) 

Field Office 

Director 

24 (1) Provides adequate and appropriate custody 

management to support removals, to facilitate the 

processing of illegal aliens through the immigration court, 

and to enforce their departure from the United States, 

including identifying and removing all high-risk illegal 

alien fugitives and absconders, ensuring that those 

aliens who have already been identified as criminals are 

expeditiously removed, and developing and maintaining 

a robust removals program with the capacity to remove 

all final order cases issued annually, thus precluding 

growth in the illegal alien absconder populations; and (2) 

plans, directs, manages, and coordinates operations and 

functions relating to the apprehension, transportation, 

and detention of aliens ordered removed execution of 

final orders of deportation and serves as the liaison with 

departmental, interagency, and community partners on 

DRO matters. 

ICE—Office of 

Investigations 

(OI) 

Special Agent in 

Charge 

26 (1) Maintains responsibility for a geographical area 

consisting of multiple jurisdictions; (2) manages the dayto-day programs, operations, and staff, including 

immigration and customs-related criminal investigations; 

(3) oversees the investigation of issues including 

terrorism, criminal financing, export enforcement, money 

laundering, human trafficking, anti-smuggling, 

contraband, and fraud; (4) regularly briefs and advises 

supervisor concerning all investigative matters; (5) 

cooperates with other officials in the assigned area in 

resolving matters crossing organizational lines; and (6) 

works with civic organizations. 

U.S. Secret 

Service (USSS) 

Special Agent in 

Charge 

42 (1) Controls, directs, and coordinates the work of 

professional, technical, and administrative support 

personnel engaged in carrying out the various law 

enforcement, investigative, and protective programs of 

the USSS; (2) develops, reviews, and evaluates present 

and proposed policies, programs, procedures, and 

operations of assigned USSS areas; conceives, 

develops, and revises procedures and work methods to 

provide the most efficient accomplishment of assigned 

areas of responsibility; conducts comprehensive and 

continuing evaluations of the effectiveness and adequacy 

of program operations; establishes and maintains liaison 

and coordination with senior officials of the Secret 

Service and other law enforcement organizations on 

program and policy matters; and recommends changes 

in assigned day-to-day programs and operations to 

accommodate the specific needs and requirements of 

the employees and the USSS. 

Sources: GAO analysis; USMS, ATF, DEA, FBI, ICE-DRO, ICE-OI, and USSS information. 

(440784) 
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