The Biden administration has appointed Michelle Brané, an activist who has criticized ICE’s activities and called for defunding the agency, to scrutinize the detention of illegal immigrants.
Brané began her tenure earlier this month as the immigration detention ombudsman at the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). She has been outspoken in her stance against ICE, writing in a 2019 post that fees for immigration applications are used to “supplement ICE’s abusive enforcement.” She has also criticized ICE’s policy of detaining asylum seekers, calling it a “waste of taxpayer money.”
Former ICE officials have expressed concerns about Brané’s appointment, arguing that her previous statements show she is unfit to audit the agency’s enforcement actions. DHS did not respond to requests for comment.
Meanwhile, ICE has increased its audits of detention facilities, inspecting one facility 92 times last year. Some officials believe that Brané’s opposition to the agency’s mission may undermine these audits.
The Biden administration has defended Brané’s appointment, citing her experience in family reunification. However, critics argue that her anti-ICE stance makes her unsuitable for the role of overseeing the detention of illegal immigrants.
