According to the Los Angeles Times, the Department of Homeland Security has proposed a new policy regarding arrests of undocumented immigrants in response to controversial unauthorized inland Border Patrol sweeps in June.  Border Patrol agents will focus on arresting undocumented immigrants at the border and as they travel inland from transportation centers and highway checkpoints.  Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will cover the interior areas and lead all immigration investigations.  The boundary between the border and inland areas has not yet been clearly defined, however. 

Border Patrol agents oppose the proposal, arguing that ICE lacks the resources to enforce immigration law.  ICE agents already investigate immigrant and drug smuggling rings, terrorism, child pornography, copyright infringement, and customs violations.  Recent cutbacks in agents and investigations are expected to continue into the next fiscal year, but ICE has not commented on its capacity to handle the additional proposed duties.  The agency has also not disclosed whether it would conduct sweeps like those precipitated by the Border Patrol.