OPR works with internal and external partners, programs and offices to ensure allegations of misconduct are addressed appropriately, fairly and expeditiously. It also conducts reviews of all critical incidents at ICE. These independent fact-finding reviews document the events that transpire during critical incidents and are presented to the ICE Firearms and Use of Force Incident Review Committee for action.

OPR’s field offices, which are geographically located to best serve the agency’s footprint, investigate matters rising to the level of criminal and serious administrative misconduct. OPR refers less-serious misconduct to relevant ICE directorates via the Management Inquiry program or to an ICE manager for resolution.

OPR manages a variety of programs throughout ICE that promote organizational health and accountability, including:

• Prison Rape Elimination Act program. This program coordinates with agency offices, programs and other investigative entities to ensure sexual assault-related allegations involving individuals in ICE custody are appropriately addressed.
• Giglio/Henthorn program. This program responds to impeachment requests from the U.S. Department of Justice related to ICE employees who may serve as government witnesses or affiants in federal criminal proceedings.

OPR inspects ICE detention facilities to ensure they comply with ICE national detention standards. This includes reviewing agency compliance with applicable national detention standards, reviewing the circumstances surrounding in-custody deaths of noncitizens in ICE custody, and overseeing ICE’s portion of the DHS Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) audit program. These inspections are used to protect the health, safety, and well-being of all noncitizens in ICE custody. Its duties include:

• Biannual inspections. Congress mandates two annual inspections of each facility housing 10 or more noncitizen detainees for more than 72 hours.
• Special reviews. OPR conducts one annual inspection of each facility housing between one and nine noncitizen detainees for more than 72 hours or one or more noncitizen detainees for less than 72 hours.
• Detainee death reviews. OPR conducts independent, objective examinations of the facts surrounding the detention and death of an individual in ICE custody to determine whether the agency complied with the applicable detention standards concerning the individual’s health, safety and security.
• Prison Rape Elimination Act audits. OPR manages the DHS Prison Rape Elimination Act audit contract and oversees the audits of the ICE long-term and short-term/overnight detention facilities’ related standards.

OPR inspects ICE directorates, programs and field offices to verify and ensure compliance with established federal, department, agency or program-specific policies and procedures. These inspections highlight for ICE leadership any areas needing attention, resources or improvement. Its duties include:

• Financial audits. OPR conducts biennial financial audits of agency Certified Undercover Operations to ensure undercover financial activities are properly accounted for in accordance with law and agency policy.
• 287(g) inspections. OPR conducts biennial inspections of each 287(g) program to ensure the effectiveness of the program and compliance with the agency’s requirements.
• Self-inspection. OPR assists agency field offices and headquarters programs with assessing their own compliance with agency and department policies and procedures.
• Field inspections. OPR conducts independent, on-site inspections and focus reviews of domestic and international ICE field offices and headquarters programs to assess their compliance with agency and department policies and procedures.

OPR manages background investigations for ICE applicants, employees and contractors by determining suitability, fitness and classified national security information (CNSI) eligibility. It also ensures existing employees and contractors continuously meet these standards by conducting periodic reinvestigations and administering the agency’s continuous evaluation-continuous vetting program. It also administers pre-employment polygraph screenings for law enforcement applicants.

OPR protects the agency by detecting, preventing, mitigating and investigating internal and external threats against the agency, ICE senior leaders and ICE headquarters facilities by managing the ICE Insider Threat Program and counterintelligence functions involving ICE personnel. It also monitors threat levels at ICE headquarters and National Capital Region offices and facilities while ensuring the adequacy of protective measures and compliance with Interagency Security Committee standards at all facilities across the United States and U.S. territories. It’s responsible for identity and access management services, including administration of personal identity verification cards, physical access controls, and the ICE badge and credential program.

OPR also manages the lifecycle and activities of the agency’s CNSI spaces, including Sensitive Compartmented Information Facilities and the Homeland Security Data Network. It also promotes policies to mitigate and safeguard against the loss of all classes of sensitive national security information while providing national security secure communication devices to enable ICE to focus on advancing the mission.