U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), through its Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) division, announced a deepened partnership with Brazil’s Federal Police (PF) on April 22. This collaboration intends to tackle transnational criminal activities.
The signing of a memorandum of understanding took place at ICE headquarters in Washington, D.C., conducted by HSI International Operations Deputy Assistant Director Jeff DaRin and PF Director of International Cooperation Felipe Tavares Seixas.
Jeff DaRin highlighted the benefits of the agreement, stating, “This partnership will enable our agents and officers to collaborate seamlessly on high-impact investigations, strengthening our collective ability to address security threats and protect the well-being of citizens in both countries.”
The agreement reinforces the existing cooperation between HSI and PF, setting a framework for exchanging criminal investigative intelligence and methodologies to investigate transnational crimes effectively across the Americas.
Felipe Tavares Seixas remarked, “Today’s signing ceremony is not just a formal agreement, but a testament to our shared commitment to fighting crime and protecting our citizens. By leveraging our collective resources and expertise, we will make substantial strides in combating transnational crime and safeguarding the security of our nations.”
HSI and PF have worked together for over two decades against major transnational criminal groups. Their focus includes human smuggling and trafficking, firearms trafficking, child exploitation, cybercrimes, and financial criminal networks. In March, they dismantled a criminal organization linked to smuggling individuals from Brazil to the United States, with support from several partners.
For ongoing updates about ICE’s initiatives in immigration law enforcement and combating transnational crime, follow @ICEgov and @HSI_HQ on the platform X.
