Washington, Aug 27, 2008 - Washington, D.C. -- Congressman Doug Lamborn (CO-05) today welcomed the selection of a downtown Colorado Springs site for a new Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) office. The General Service Administration (GSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced they have chosen to locate Colorado’s newest ICE office at the Pueblo Bank & Trust Building at 415 E. Pikes Peak Avenue.

DHS anticipates this new office will be operational by early 2009.
Congressman Lamborn today expressed his appreciation to DHS for fighting illegal immigration.

“I thank Assistant Secretary Julie Myers and her staff for their hard work in bringing a much-needed ICE office to Colorado Springs. I look forward to the role ICE agents will play in our community. The financial burdens associated with illegal immigrants in our state are enormous. I am confident the new ICE office will help us get on top of this growing social and economic problem.

“I thank Senator Wayne Allard for his help in bringing this office to Colorado Springs. He has been a key player throughout this process. I also thank El Paso County Commissioner Jim Bensberg and many others in the community for their tremendous work in bringing us this new ICE office. ”—Congressman Doug Lamborn

ICE, the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), is responsible for eliminating vulnerabilities in the nation's border, and with economic, transportation and infrastructure security. The ICE organization is composed of five law enforcement divisions, including the Office of Investigations.

The new ICE office will be an investigations office.

ICE also investigates drug smuggling, human trafficking, financial crimes, human smuggling, illegal arms exports, document fraud, immigration fraud, child pornography/exploitation, and money laundering.

This new office is expected to alleviate some of the burden on local law enforcement and help Colorado Springs officials in addressing the numerous problems associated with illegal immigration.

Colorado currently has 8 ICE offices. They are located in Denver, Pueblo, Durango, Alamosa, Grand Junction, Glenwood Springs, Craig and Brush.

The awardee for the Colorado Springs office is Fletes First, LLC. The total square footage for the office is 9,958.

In addition to the Colorado Springs office, DHS is planning a new ICE office in Greeley. 


Additional press contact: Carl Rusnok, 214-905-5292
ICE Public Affairs in Dallas-Fort Worth