ICE deems allegations of ‘sex party’ solicitations unfounded
An investigation into an anonymous complaint that workers at a San Diego Immigration and Customs Enforcement office were being recruited for “sex parties” has concluded that the charges were unfounded.
A supervisor at the agency’s Enforcement and Removal Operations office reportedly had approached employees about participating in swinger parties at his home. An investigation by the Office of Professional Responsibility found nothing to support the complaint, according to a statement issued this week. The supervisor’s name has not been publicly released.
“OPR’s months-long probe, which included numerous interviews with witnesses and ERO employees, determined the original allegations of sexual impropriety were unsubstantiated,” ICE spokeswoman Lauren Mack said. “Accordingly, the case has been closed.”
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The complaint, a copy of which was obtained by the San Diego Union-Tribune, said that the solicitations had been going on for more than a year and that the practice was coercive of subordinate employees.
The solicitations reportedly were done verbally or via text messages. Those who went to the parties had their phones confiscated at the door of the home, the complaint said.
The ICE statement did not provide details of the investigation, but described it as “exhaustive.” It lamented the fact that the complaint had been released publicly.
“ICE is proud of its employees and the sacrifices they make every day in support of the agency’s often dangerous mission,” the statement said. “They deserve better than to be exposed to derision and ridicule based on anonymous, unproven allegations.”
Moran writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
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