Last week, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) introduced a new public advocate position. ICE created the position to ensure that immigration advocacy groups and immigrants have a voice in deportation, detention and immigration policy discussions.

Andrew Lorenzen-Strait has been named the new public advocate. Immigration rights advocates, immigration attorneys and ICE respect him for his past work as a liaison between the two groups. His new role will involve speaking with immigrant groups and bringing deportation concerns to ICE.

While immigration advocates are hopeful that this position will be a positive change, they are also skeptical. The Obama administration claims itself to be immigrant-friendly, but has deported more people than any previous administration. Nearly 400,000 undocumented immigrants were deported last year. There is concern that the public advocate position is merely an attempt to improve ICE's public relations.

Last year, ICE rolled out a new policy that encourages immigration prosecutors to use their discretion when deciding to pursue deportation cases. However, it also created difficult immigration enforcement programs. For example, one program, called "Secure Communities," allows federal agents to take the fingerprints of alleged criminals to determine if they are illegal immigrants.

Perhaps, however, the tides are changing. According to Lorenzen-Strait,

            As we work to enact significant policy changes to focus the agency's
            immigration enforcement resources on sensible priorities, implement
            policies and processes that prioritize the health and safety of detainees
            in our custody while increasing federal oversight, and improve the
            conditions of confinement within the detention system, I will strive to
            expand and enhance dialogue with the stakeholder community.

Source: Huffington Post, "Immigrant Advocates Skeptical On New DHS Public Advocate Position," Elise Foley, Feb. 7, 2012.