In response to a request from United States Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is reinstating the Honolulu field office of the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE) as a Special Agent in Charge (SAC) office from an Associate SAC office.

Senator Akaka had strongly objected to the Department of Homeland Security's decision to downgrade the Honolulu office to an Associate SAC office, which occurred as part of a June 9, 2003, reorganization of BICE, in letters to Michael Garcia, the Acting Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. On Tuesday, November 18, Senator Akaka pressed his concern during a meeting with Admiral James M. Loy, President Bush's nominee to be DHS Deputy Secretary, and reiterated those concerns later that day at Admiral Loy's nomination hearing before the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, where Akaka served as the Committee's ranking Democrat. Akaka sought an explanation and justification for the downgrade. "This downgrade would have limited the Honolulu office's access to DHS headquarters and raised serious concerns over the safety of the state and the ability of the Honolulu office to prevent terrorism," Akaka warned.

Under the June redesignation, the Honolulu office, which is responsible for Hawaii and independent countries and U.S. territories in the Pacific, reported to the BICE office in California rather than reporting directly to Washington, D.C. Akaka told Garcia and Loy that the immense territory covered by the Honolulu field office necessitates direct access with headquarters. "The reinstatement of the Honolulu field office to a SAC office will ensure direct communication with Headquarters on issues of importance to homeland security for Hawaii and areas in the Pacific," Akaka said.