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The new chief of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Arizona says he's here for the long haul.

If Matthew Allen, 42, follows through on that pledge, it would come as welcome news for an agency that has shuffled through six leaders in Arizona since its creation within the Department of Homeland Security in 2003.

Allen, who is expected to start in June, will become the seventh special agent in charge of investigations in Arizona. His predecessor, Alonzo Peña, held the position for 16 months before leaving to take another position in Homeland Security.

"I plan on being here for a number of years," said Allen, who currently heads Immigration and Customs Enforcement's financial, narcotics and public safety division in Washington, D.C.

"I have kids, and I want to give them some stability, so I am going to be here for awhile."

This will be Allen's second stint in Arizona. The New York native spent four years in the Nogales office from 2000 to 2004, including nine months as the resident agent in charge. Allen spoke with the Star last week about his the new position:

Q: Having worked in Nogales, Ariz., how do you think that will help you in this new position?

A: "I actually think it sets me up very well. My time there really helped round me out. I had never done any time on the border before Nogales, and I came away with a very good appreciation of the border and what goes on there.

"I've had an opportunity to use some of that experience in Washington in my current job, and that has helped me get ready to come back."

Q: Having worked in the headquarters in D.C., how will that experience help you as the special agent in charge in Arizona?

A: "It will give me the ability to know what decision-makers in Washington need to know about our state and what is going on here. And it kind of gives me an opportunity to learn how to best articulate the needs that we have in ICE and what we are seeing in Arizona.

"As you know, there are many, many people back there who are interested in what's going on here, and if we can find a way to best articulate what we are seeing, we can get more resources for the state."

Q: What are your priorities here?

A: "My first priority is to continue on the good work of my predecessor, Alonzo Peña, who has made tremendous strides in kind of maintaining and improving our relationships with our partners in state and local law enforcement, which is something that we needed to work on. My job is going to be to keep that moving forward.

"And also, to give some stability to the state. It's always tough when you have a change in management. As you know, ICE has had some changes over the last couple of years, and I need to make sure that my work force here knows that I'm here for the long haul and that I believe in them and our mission and our work and that I'm going to support them."

Q: You will be the seventh special agent in charge in Arizona since 2003. Why do you think there has been so much turnover at the position, and what are your plans with the position?

A: "Every person who has been here has left for slightly different reasons. Some have left for opportunities, some have left for retirement, and some of those things you obviously can't control. But, I'm here for the long haul. I've been here before.

"I look forward to the opportunity. I take it as a sign of confidence that the secretary and the assistant secretary and the director of investigations have in me that they are willing to send me to one of the most important areas we have in the United States.

"This is clearly the largest point of entry for aliens and drugs that come into the U.S. Personally, I take it as a testament to me that I have been selected to come here."

Q: As you know, employer sanctions are obviously a hot topic here with the new state law. What do you think of that law, and how does it fit in with what ICE is doing?

A: "The state work-site law, if it survives any remaining legal challenges, is actually going to be a very good opportunity for ICE to partner with the state and conduct an experiment on a smaller level that we really tried to get done in comprehensive immigration reform last year.

"I think ICE is going to be very interested in working with state prosecutors and other law enforcement agencies to the extent that we can.

"Identify employers that are knowingly hiring illegal aliens and hold them criminally accountable, if we can make criminal cases. That is one of our core priorities at ICE — work-site enforcement."

Q: How do you see that playing out in working with the state, county attorney's offices, the state attorney general; would you follow up on cases they receive or would you help them out?

A: "Both, primarily the first one. To the extent that the county attorneys are going to be the focal point for receiving allegations.

"I think the next natural step is to have those allegations funneled to ICE for investigation or screening to make a determination about whether or not we can make a criminal case based on what we know or whether we need to do additional investigation to prove or disprove the allegation."