Who are ICE: Overview of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Introduction: Why knowing who ICE are matters

Understanding who ICE are is important for anyone affected by immigration enforcement, legal professionals and communities across the United States and abroad. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) plays a central role in enforcing customs and immigration laws, and its structure, remit and public resources shape how enforcement and legal processes operate.

Main body: Structure, roles and resources

Size, budget and footprint

ICE now has more than 20,000 law enforcement and support personnel working in over 400 offices across the United States and around the world. The agency operates with an annual budget of approximately $8 billion. That funding is primarily devoted to three operational directorates: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA).

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

HSI is described as the principal investigative component of the Department of Homeland Security. Its responsibilities include investigating, disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organisations and terrorist networks that threaten, or seek to exploit, the customs and immigration laws of the United States.

Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO)

ERO is one of the three principal directorates funded within ICE. While specific details of ERO’s daily activities are not listed here, it is identified as a core operational component alongside HSI and OPLA within the agency’s structure.

Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA)

OPLA provides a full range of legal services to ICE programmes and offices. This includes legal advice and prudential counsel on customs, criminal and immigration law enforcement authorities, and matters relating to the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act. OPLA also advises on ethics, legal liability under the Federal Tort Claims Act and a variety of administrative law issues such as contract, fiscal and employment law.

Services and guidance for individuals

ICE operates an online portal aimed at individuals placed in removal proceedings. The portal includes practical functions such as expediting changes of address and providing information needed to comply with immigration obligations. Guidance materials such as “Know Your Rights” emphasise that immigration officers sometimes identify themselves as “police”; members of the public are advised to ask whether an officer is from Immigration and Customs Enforcement or Customs.

Conclusion: Significance and what to expect

Who ICE are influences immigration enforcement, legal processes and community interactions. With a large workforce, significant budget and distinct directorates for investigation, enforcement and legal advice, ICE’s structure affects how cases are investigated, how removals are managed and how legal counsel is provided. For those directly affected, using ICE’s portal and understanding rights when encountering officers are practical steps to navigate interactions with the agency.