Legal Definitions - Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a government agency that was created in 2003 to protect the United States from cross-border crimes and prevent the illegal movement of goods and people from getting into the country. ICE is the largest investigative agency under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and has four operational directorates:

• Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
• Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO)
• Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA)
• Management and Administration (M&A)

The main mission of ICE is to ensure public safety and national security by enforcing immigration laws and preventing the entry of illegal goods and people into the country. For example, ICE may investigate a person who submitted a fraudulent visa application or brought counterfeitmerchandise into the U.S. During the removal process, ICE manages the detention and deportation of the person who violated the immigration laws.

Overall, ICE plays a critical role in protecting the United States from threats to its security and integrity.