An Immigration and Customs Enforcement official formally accused the agency of systematically circumventing hiring procedures, according to a whistleblower complaint filed in August 2025 with the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General.
The official, who previously served as unit chief for ICE's Office of Professional Responsibility, alleged that the agency issued final job offers before preliminary vetting by the personnel security division. Applicants received favorable preliminary suitability determinations without undergoing fingerprinting, identity verification or credit checks.
The complaint asserted these "systematic failures" violate federal law, DHS directives and national security policies. It warned that the "deliberate circumvention of personnel vetting and clearance procedures has placed DHS at grave risk of insider threats, infiltration, and reputational harm."
The official wrote that "proper risk mitigation is sacrificed to onboard personnel quickly," creating vulnerability to infiltration and exploitation by adversaries.
The complaint also alleged that political appointees within DHS received national security eligibility without completing required background investigations. It cited Corey Lewandowski, a former senior adviser to DHS, as an example.
The whistleblower claimed Lewandowski was subject to "derogatory findings" that should have disqualified him from federal service and national security eligibility. These findings were "disregarded," leading to an "improper clearance determination," the official wrote.
Lewandowski served as a de facto chief of staff for former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, whom President Donald Trump fired in March 2026. A spokesperson for Lewandowski did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Kevin Owen, the attorney representing the whistleblower, said his client faced immediate retaliation from DHS after filing the complaint. Owen said his client was interrogated, threatened with criminal charges and placed on leave for more than 10 months without being presented with specific allegations of misconduct or any valid reason for exclusion from the workplace.
