How the retail crime bill could bolster ICE

Concerns are growing that the Combating Organized Retail Crime Act, set to become law soon, may lead to retailers being involved in mass deportations. The bill, which has bipartisan support in Congress, would create a new bureau within the Department of Homeland Security's Homeland Security Investigations unit, known as the Supply Chain Crime Coordination Center.

This would allow ICE's director to appoint the center's head. While retailers and loss prevention experts generally support the bill, arguing it streamlines cooperation between law enforcement and the private sector in fighting retail crime, some experts warn it could put retailers in the middle of an immigration crackdown. The National Retail Federation and the Retail Industry Leaders Association, two major supporters of the bill, have not addressed concerns about ICE's involvement.

Critics argue that defining the scope of "organized retail crime" is impossible due to the lack of a clear legal definition and the fact that the crime's impact has never been measured. The bill's supporters, however, contend that the legislation narrowly defines the scope of criminal activity and provides congressional oversight of the proposed center.