We know they go. We know they come back militarized. But how is it paid for? And where exactly does the money go?
We dug into the government archives—GAO reports, internal strategy documents, and university exchange disclosures—to find the “mechanism” behind the Deadly Exchange. It turns out, this isn’t just a few rogue cops taking a vacation. It is a structured, taxpayer-funded pipeline run through the DHS Office of International Operations.
Here is the evidence.
1. The Mechanism: “HSI International Operations”
You might think these trips are “off the books.” They aren’t. They are part of a massive bureaucratic engine called HSI International Operations.
According to official DHS documentation, HSI International Operations is the largest international investigative component of DHS. It maintains 62 attaché offices in 46 countries, including a robust presence in Tel Aviv.
The “Cover”: The stated mission is to “build counterpart capacity.”
The Reality: This office is the travel agent for the exchange. They facilitate the “liaison” visits where American ICE directors meet with Israeli Shin Bet commanders.
The Document: HSI International Operations Fact Sheet (Official .gov PDF) – See the section on “Training and Outreach.”
2. The Campus: “Mini Gaza” (The Urban Warfare Training Center)
When we say “training,” you might imagine a classroom. You should be imagining a mock city built for war.
Multiple reports confirm that U.S. law enforcement delegates have toured and observed training at the Tze’elim Urban Warfare Training Center in the Negev Desert.
What it is: A $45 million facility (funded largely by U.S. military aid) built to simulate a Palestinian city—complete with mosques, narrow alleys, and confusing casbahs.
The Nickname: Israeli soldiers call it “Mini Gaza.”
The Lesson: American police are taught how to navigate and suppress an “enemy population” in a dense urban environment. When you see militarized ICE raids in Minneapolis apartment complexes, you are watching tactics designed for “Mini Gaza.”
The Document: Amnesty International Report: “With Whom are Many U.S. Police Departments Training?”
3. The Shadow Delegates: GILEE Annual Reports
The Georgia International Law Enforcement Exchange (GILEE) is one of the biggest hubs for this training. They are careful not to release full lists of names, but their Annual Reports are sloppy.
The Evidence: In their 2015 Annual Report, GILEE explicitly lists “ICE Executives” and “Special Agents in Charge” as participating agencies.
The Admission: A GILEE breakdown confirms they have trained over 1,700 law enforcement executives. This isn’t a niche program; it is an industry standard for career advancement in ICE. If you want to make “Assistant Director,” you go to Tel Aviv.
4. The Lack of Oversight: GAO Report 13-681
Does Congress know this is happening? Yes, but they claim ignorance on the details.
A pivotal Government Accountability Office (GAO) report exposed that DHS has almost no oversight on these foreign training missions.
The Finding: The GAO found that DHS components (like ICE) were making decisions to deploy resources abroad “at the individual component level” without a department-wide strategy.
Translation: ICE directors can fly to Israel for “counter-terrorism training” with almost zero accountability or review from the main DHS office. It is a slush fund for militarization.
The Bottom Line
This is not a conspiracy. It is a government program.
The Funding: Comes from HSI International Operations.
The Classroom: Is “Mini Gaza.”
The Oversight: Is non-existent (per the GAO).
We aren’t just fighting “rhetoric.” We are fighting a taxpayer-funded syllabus of occupation.
Sources to Bookmark & Share:
GAO Report 13-681 (PDF) – The proof of lack of oversight.
ICE International Operations Overview – The mechanism for the trips.
Deadly Exchange Report (JVP) – The definitive NGO investigation.
