The US Department of Homeland Security's Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency plans to reassign an estimated 1,000 U.S. immigration agents to serve as as customs inspectors.

"It lacks wisdom to take 20 percent of your work force who know how to deal with criminal detainees - experienced officers - and make grapefruit inspectors out of them," Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, is reported to have said.

ICE is the US government agency responsible for the enforcement of both immigration and customs laws.

See Report: U.S. immigration agents reassigned, UPI, August 29, 2007, for the rest of the story.