ICE, ATF to join forces against gun smuggling

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives signed a memorandum of understanding Tuesday at the start of a two-day summit in Albuquerque.

The agreement was signed by John Morton, an assistant secretary for ICE and nominee to head the agency, and acting ATF director Kenneth Melson.

“It will send to all of the agents ... in both ATF and ICE a clear and unambiguous direction as to where our agencies are going in this fight against gun trafficking,” Melson told the summit attendees before the signing.

Under the agreement, the two agencies will share intelligence, solve computer problems to allow for better communication, coordinate with each other more and invite agents from both agencies to participate in investigations of international firearms trafficking and possession of firearms by illegal aliens.

ICE and ATF also will create an interagency working group to focus on investigating firearm trafficking, he said.

Last month, a Government Accountability Office report criticized the two agencies for not working together to stop the flow of arms to Mexico.

Jerry Robinette, ICE's special agent incharge of the San Antonio field division, said his busy office has long practiced the cooperative ideals outlined in the new agreement.

The San Antonio field division, which covers the border from Del Rio south to Brownsville, is a particularly busy one when it comes to stopping southbound gun traffic.

Washington has sent more ICE investigators, support staff and funds in recent months to reflect a higher priority on the gun smuggling problem.