What is Immigration and Customs Enforcement?

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly called ICE, is the federal agency responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws and certain customs laws within the interior of the United States. ICE was created in 2003 as part of the Homeland Security Act and the consolidation of immigration enforcement and customs investigation functions that had been split between the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (in the Department of Justice) and the U.S. Customs Service (in the Department of the Treasury). ICE operates within the Department of Homeland Security. The agency is headquartered in Washington, D.C., and operates field offices across the United States and overseas. ICE has roughly 20,000 employees and operates with an annual budget of about 8 to 9 billion dollars.

ICE has two main operational components. Enforcement and Removal Operations is responsible for identifying, arresting, detaining, and removing people who are unlawfully present in the United States. ERO operates immigration detention facilities, often through contracts with private companies and local jails, holding people pending immigration court hearings and removal. ERO conducts removal operations, transporting people who have received final orders of deportation back to their home countries. The agency processes hundreds of thousands of arrests and removals each year, with annual numbers varying significantly based on administration policies and enforcement priorities.

Homeland Security Investigations is the principal federal investigative agency for transnational criminal organizations, immigration violations, customs violations, financial crimes, and cyber crimes related to cross-border activity. HSI investigates human trafficking, child exploitation, drug trafficking, weapons smuggling, money laundering, intellectual property crimes, and trade fraud. HSI special agents work both domestically and through more than 80 international offices.

ICE also operates the ERO 287(g) program, which allows ICE to delegate certain immigration enforcement powers to state and local law enforcement officers under specific agreements. The program has expanded and contracted with different administrations and has been controversial in some communities.

Immigration enforcement priorities and tactics have shifted significantly between administrations. The Obama administration emphasized enforcement against people with serious criminal records or recent border crossers. The first Trump administration broadened enforcement priorities. The Biden administration narrowed priorities again. The second Trump administration, which took office in January 2025, has expanded enforcement operations significantly. ICE remains one of the most politically contested federal agencies, drawing criticism from immigration advocates and praise from those favoring stricter enforcement.