United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement

The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Homeland Security. Its stated mission is to conduct criminal investigations, enforce immigration laws, preserve national security, and protect public safety. ICE was created as part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 following the September 11 attacks. It absorbed the prior functions of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the United States Customs Service.

ICE has two primary and distinct law enforcement components: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO). It has three supporting divisions: the Management and Program Administration, the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA), and the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR). ICE maintains domestic offices throughout the United States and detachments at major U.S. diplomatic missions overseas. ICE personnel (special agents and officers) do not patrol American borders; rather, that role is performed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Coast Guard. The acting director is Todd Lyons; the agency has not had a Senate-confirmed director since Sarah Saldaña stepped down on January 20, 2017.

ICE has been involved in multiple controversies throughout its existence, with significant increases in criticism during the first and second administration of Donald Trump. Following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in 2025 as part of President Trump's immigration policy, ICE became the largest and most well-funded federal law enforcement agency in U.S. history. Its enforcement actions, publicity campaigns, and tactics have resulted in public controversy and loss of morale, and raised concerns over legality, accountability, and civil rights. ICE agents are noted for wearing masks, civilian clothing, and using unmarked vehicles. The agency has been the subject of protests, particularly in 2018 and 2025, with some activists calling for its abolition. During the second Trump administration, the agency has been described by critics as a growing militarized police force, secret police, and paramilitary.