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2009 Immigration Detention Reforms - Detention and Removal Operations > Detention Reform
Today, Assistant Secretary John Morton announced substantial steps, effective immediately, to overhaul the immigration detention system. These reforms will address the vast majority of complaints about our immigration detention, while allowing ICE to maintain a significant, robust detention capacity to carry out serious immigration enforcement.
287(g) (PDF | 45 KB) - State and Local Coordination > ICE ACCESS
ICE, the largest investigative agency in DHS, is responsible for enforcing federal immigration laws as part of its homeland security mission. ICE works closely with federal, state, and local law enforcement partners in this mission.
ACCESS (PDF | 45 KB) - State and Local Coordination > ICE ACCESS
ICE Agreements of Cooperation in Communities to Enhance Safety and Security (ACCESS) provides local law enforcement agencies an opportunity to team with ICE to combat specific challenges in their communities. ICE developed the ACCESS program based on experience gained in responding to widespread interest from state and local law enforcement agencies in the Delegation of Immigration Authority—287(g) program. ICE ACCESS coordinates an umbrella of services and programs.
Alternatives to Detention - Detention and Removal Operations > Detention and Removal Operations
ICE, the largest investigative agency in DHS, is charged with enforcing the nation’s immigration and customs laws. Among ICE’s responsibilities is the detention and removal of illegal aliens from the United States.
Armas Cruzadas - Office of Investigations > Smuggling, BEST
ICE led bi-lateral law enforcement and intelligence-sharing operation to thwart export of arms from the United States into Mexico.
Border Enforcement Security Task Force (BEST) - Office of Investigations > Smuggling, BEST
ICE is the largest investigative agency in DHS. ICE is charged with enforcing a wide array of laws, including those related to securing the border and combating criminal smuggling.
Budget Fact Sheet - Fiscal Year 2005 (PDF | 134 KB) - Chief Financial Officer > Management and Budget
ICE's budget for FY 2005
Budget Fact Sheet - Fiscal Year 2006 (PDF | 141 KB) - Chief Financial Officer > Management and Budget
ICE's budget for FY 2006
Budget Fact Sheet - Fiscal Year 2007 (PDF | 127 KB) - Chief Financial Officer > Management and Budget
ICE's budget for FY 2007
Budget Fact Sheet - Fiscal Year 2008 (PDF | 254 KB) - Chief Financial Officer > Management and Budget
ICE's budget for FY 2008
Budget Fact Sheet - Fiscal Year 2009 (DOC | 137 KB) - Chief Financial Officer > Management and Budget
ICE's budget for FY 2009
Budget Fact Sheet - Fiscal Year 2010 (DOC | 133 KB) - Chief Financial Officer > Management and Budget
ICE's budget for FY 2010
Community Outreach - Office of Policy > Community Outreach
ICE partners with community and faith-based organizations, immigrant advocacy groups, immigration enforcement advocates, businesses, educators and government agencies to inform communities about immigration and customs laws, policies and procedures. By engaging in education, outreach and collaborative problem solving with external partners, ICE identifies and resolves issues that impact communities.
Community Shield - Office of Investigations > Public Safety, National Gang Unit
In February 2005, ICE began Operation Community Shield, a national law enforcement initiative that targets violent transnational street gangs through the use of ICE's broad law enforcement powers, including the unique and powerful authority to remove (deport) criminal aliens, including illegal aliens and legal permanent resident aliens.
Compliance Enforcement Unit - Office of Investigations > National Security, Compliance Enforcement Unit
The Compliance Enforcement Unit (CEU), an investigative component of ICE, is charged with tracking and pursuing foreign students, exchange visitors and other non-immigrant visitors who violate their immigration status. The CEU draws upon various government databases to gather and analyze leads on visitors to the United States, identify potential security or criminal threats, and ensure full compliance with immigration laws.
Counter-Proliferation Investigations - Office of Investigations > National Security
U. S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), formerly under legacy component U.S. Customs, has led law enforcement efforts in export enforcement for approximately 30 years utilizing the broadest export authorities within the U.S. government.
Criminal Alien Program (PDF | 37 KB) - Detention and Removal Operations > Detention and Removal Operations
ICE, the largest investigative agency in DHS, places a high priority on combating illegal immigration, including targeting illegal aliens with criminal records who pose a threat to public safety. ICE’s Criminal Alien Program (CAP) is responsible for identifying, processing and removing criminal aliens incarcerated in federal, state and local prisons and jails throughout the United States, preventing their release into the general public by securing a final order of removal prior to the termination of their sentences, when possible.
Cultural Heritage Investigations - Office of Investigations > Smuggling, Cultural Heritage Investigations
Investigating the loss or looting of cultural heritage properties and returning them to their countries of origin are an important part of ICE's diverse mission. ICE, as a legacy of the U.S. Customs Service, has authorities that target a wide range of criminal activities, many of them involving smuggling and trafficking, both of goods and people. The agency often investigates leads to art and artifacts that are important evidence of another nation's history and cultural heritage. ICE takes pride in bringing to justice those who would trade in such items for personal profit and in returning to other nations these priceless items.
Customs Cross-Designation - State and Local Coordination > ICE ACCESS
ICE, the largest investigative agency in DHS, is charged with a wide array of law enforcement duties aimed at protecting the homeland. In order to be more effective in that mission, ICE works collaboratively with federal, state, and local partners in a force multiplier approach to investigations.
Detainee Health Care (PDF | 42 KB) - Detention and Removal Operations > Detention and Removal Operations
The ICE, Office of DRO is responsible for ensuring safe and humane conditions of confinement for detained aliens in federal custody, including the provision of reliable, consistent, appropriate and cost-effective health services.
Detention Management - Detention and Removal Operations > Detention and Removal Operations
The ICE Office of DRO maintains custody of one of the most highly transient and diverse populations of any correctional or detention system in the nation. This administrative custody environment presents significant management challenges compared to the typical static prison environment.
Detention Standards (PDF | 31 KB) - Detention and Removal Operations > Detention and Removal Operations
When ICE was formed in 2003, the Office of DRO followed a set of 38 national detention standards (NDS) that were originally issued in September 2000 to facilitate consistent conditions of confinement, access to legal representation, and safe and secure operations across the INS immigration detention system.
Document and Benefit Fraud Investigations - Office of Investigations > Fraud
Immigration fraud poses a severe threat to national security and public safety because it creates a vulnerability that may enable terrorists, criminals, and illegal aliens to gain entry to and remain in the United States. ICE uproots the infrastructure of illegal immigration by detecting and deterring immigration fraud.
DRO: Mortality Rates at ICE Detention Facilities - Detention and Removal Operations > Detention and Removal Operations
ICE, Office of DRO takes great care to ensure the safety and well being for each of the hundreds of thousands of individuals who come through our detention facilities each year. ICE has put processes in place with the U.S. Public Health Service, Division of Immigration Health Services (DIHS) medical professionals to provide care for all those detained, including those who may encounter a medical emergency while in custody. Though the ICE detainee population has increased by more than 30% since 2004, the mortality rate has actually declined. The number of deaths per 100,000 is dramatically lower for ICE detainees than for U.S. prisons and jails and the general U.S. population as a whole.
Fugitive Operations Program (PDF | 45 KB) - Detention and Removal Operations > Detention and Removal Operations
ICE established the first Fugitive Operations Teams in 2003 to dramatically expand the agency’s efforts to locate, arrest, and remove fugitives from the United States. An ICE fugitive is defined as an alien who has failed to leave the United States based upon a final order of removal, deportation, or exclusion; or who has failed to report to ICE after receiving notice to do so.
Gangs - Office of Investigations > Public Safety, National Gang Unit
In February 2005, ICE began Operation Community Shield, a national law enforcement initiative that targets violent transnational street gangs through the use of ICE's broad law enforcement powers, including the unique and powerful authority to remove (deport) criminal aliens, including illegal aliens and legal permanent resident aliens.
Human Rights Violators Investigations - Office of Investigations > National Security
The United States has always been a place of refuge and freedom from oppression for millions. We must never deny safe haven to those with a genuine and legitimate fear of persecution. But we must also ensure that those who come here seeking freedom and the rule of law do not have to fear that their persecutor may become their neighbor.
Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center - Office of Investigations > National Security, Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center
ICE, the largest investigative agency in DHS, has responsibility for enforcing laws related to human smuggling and trafficking. As a result, ICE plays a leading role in The Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center (HSTC), the federal government's primary tool in the fight against human smuggling and trafficking.
Human Trafficking and Smuggling (DOC | 120 KB) - Office of Investigations > National Security, Human Smuggling and Trafficking Center
ICE, the largest investigative agency in DHS, has responsibility for enforcing a wide range of crimes related to border security, including investigations of human trafficking and human smuggling. In fact, ICE is the federal government’s lead agency with responsibility for combating human trafficking.
ICE Pre-Columbian Repatriation Ceremony - Office of Investigations > Smuggling, Cultural Heritage Investigations
A listing of Pre-Colombian artifacts repatriated to their country of origin.
Illegal Pay Schemes: Operation Paycheck - Office of Investigations > Financial Crimes/Cornerstone
ICE is the largest investigative agency in DHS. ICE is charged with enforcing a wide array of customs and immigration laws through investigations that target the people, money, and materials that support terrorists and other criminal activities.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Pattern Analysis and Information Collection System (ICEPIC) - Office of Investigations > Law Enforcement Officer Mission Support
The DHS ICEPIC Program has been authorized to address the ICE requirement for disrupting and preventing terrorism activities. The mission of ICE is to investigate possible violations of U.S. customs and immigration law as well as identify possible terrorist threats and plots. ICEPIC assists ICE in achieving this mission by helping to identify suspicious identities and discovering possible non-obvious relationships among individuals and organizations. All ICEPIC activity is predicated on valid and ongoing law enforcement investigations.
In-Bond Merchandise Diversion Smuggling - Office of Investigations > Smuggling
The in-bond system allows merchandise not intended for entry into U.S. commerce to transit the Unites States. In-bond movements allowed under U.S. law are valuable to the trade community since they help alleviate port congestion and facilitate trade by allowing importers to move cargo more efficiently. Merchandise may move without duties or taxes being paid because it is moving under a bond that provides for liquidated damages if the conditions of the bond are not met.
Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Investigations - Office of Investigations > Public Safety, National IPR Coordination Center
ICE, the largest investigative arm of DHS, plays a leading role in investigating the production, smuggling, and distribution of counterfeit products. ICE investigations into these IPR violations focus not only on keeping counterfeit products off U.S. streets, but also on dismantling the criminal organizations behind this activity.
Law Enforcement Support Center (LESC) (PDF | 45 KB) (En Espanol PDF | 45 KB) - Office of Investigations > Law Enforcement Support Center
LESC is a national enforcement operations facility administered by ICE, the largest investigative agency in DHS. LESC is a single national point of contact that provides timely customs information and immigration status and identity information and real-time assistance to local, state and federal law enforcement agencies on aliens suspected, arrested or convicted of criminal activity.
National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Coordination Center) - Office of Investigations > Public Safety, National IPR Coordination Center
In recent years, the threat to intellectual property rights (IPR) has grown in magnitude and complexity. Industry and trade associations estimate that counterfeiting and piracy cost the U.S. economy in excess of $200 billion per year and more than 750,000 American jobs. However, as great as the monetary loss is, the loss of technological superiority and trade competitiveness to U.S. trademark and copyright owners is immeasurable.
NSEERS: Changes to National Security Entry/Exit Registration System (NSEERS) - Office of Investigations > National Security, Compliance Enforcement Unit
DHS has decided to suspend the National Security Entry/Exit Registration System (NSEERS) re-registration requirement that mandated aliens to re-register after 30-days and one year of continuous presence in the United States. The new process is outlined in the interim rule published in the Federal Register.
NSEERS: Changes to the NSEERS Process - Office of Investigations > National Security, Compliance Enforcement Unit
The Department of Homeland Security has suspended the 30-day and annual interview requirements from the special registration process for certain non-immigrants. An interim rule will be published in the Federal Register on December 2, 2003, which provides for a 60-day public comment period.
Operation Guardian - Office of Investigations > Public Safety, National IPR Coordination Center
Operation Guardian is a multi-agency effort to combat the increasing importation of substandard, tainted and counterfeit products that pose a health and safety risk to consumers. The identification of these commodities has led to the successful detention and seizure of numerous containers of hazardous products.
Operation Predator (PDF | 45 KB) - Office of Investigations > Public Safety, Predator
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the largest investigative agency in the Department of Homeland Security, places a high priority on enforcing laws against child pornography, sexual exploitation, child sex tourism and other crimes against children. Under Operation Predator, the agency’s flagship initiative targeting child sex predators, ICE has made more than 11,600 arrests since 2003.
Organized Retail Crime (PDF | 1.2 MB) - Office of Investigations > Financial Crimes/Cornerstone
Organized retail crime is the orchestration of a scheme to convert stolen goods to cash. The scheme involves individuals known as boosters, who are members of organized criminal networks. Many of the boosters have recently immigrated to the United States and work in an orchestrated manner to illegally obtain high-value, over-the-counter retail products.
Project COLT: A Joint United States-Canada Telemarketing Fraud Task Force - Office of Investigations > Fraud
Since April 1, 1998, in a joint effort to combat Canada-based criminal fraudulent Telemarketing schemes, ICE special agents and members of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), in conjunction with the Sûreté du Québec (Quebec Provincial Police), the Montreal City Police Department, the FBI, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service have been involved in the initiative known as Project COLT.
Rapid REPAT (PDF | 28 KB) - Detention and Removal Operations > Detention and Removal Operations
In November 2007, ICE began meeting with state executive agencies to discuss the concept of ICE Rapid REPAT (Removal of Eligible Parolees Accepted for Transfer) as part of the ICE ACCESS (Agreements of Cooperation in Communities to Enhance Safety and Security) initiative. The concept, recently implemented in Puerto Rico and Rhode Island, is modeled after two programs in the States of New York and Arizona that capitalize on ICE’s ability to more effectively identify and ultimately remove criminal aliens from the United States while still preserving the integrity of the criminal justice system.
Residential Standards - Detention and Removal Operations > Detention and Removal Operations
ICE opened the T. Don Hutto Family Residential Facility in Taylor, Texas, in May 2006 to accommodate alien families in ICE custody. This facility was retro-fitted for families who have been placed in administrative immigration proceedings and is one of the major reasons the Department of Homeland Security has been able to successfully end the “catch and release” of illegal aliens at the southern border. ICE also operates the Berks Family Residential Center in Leesport, Pennsylvania. These facilities are an effective and humane alternative to maintain the unity of alien families as they await the outcome of their immigration hearings or return to their home countries. ICE began formulating the standards by analyzing operations at both facilities and applicable state statutes.
Secure Communities (PDF | 2.1 MB) - Secure Communities > Secure Communities
Secure Communities: A Comprehensive Plan to Identify and Remove Criminal Aliens is a Department of Homeland Security initiative that improves public safety by implementing a comprehensive, integrated approach to identify and remove criminal aliens from the United States.
SEVIS Fee Fact Sheet - Office of Investigations > National Security, SEVP
SEVIS is an automated process for collecting, maintaining and managing information about international foreign students, exchange visitors and their dependents during their stay in the United States. SEVIS exemplifies our commitment to open doors and secure borders by facilitating the process for millions of welcomed students, while closing loopholes for those wishing to defraud our systems or do us harm.
Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP!) - Office of Investigations > Public Safety, National IPR Coordination Center
Growing global trade in pirated and counterfeit goods threatens America’s innovation economy, the competitiveness of our leading companies and small manufacturers, and the livelihoods of their workers. Bogus products – from CDs, DVDs, software and watches to electronic equipment, clothing, processed foods, consumer products, and auto parts – are estimated to account for up to 7% of global trade and cost legitimate rights holders around the world billions of dollars annually.
Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) Fee Increases (PDF | 20 KB) - Office of Investigations > National Security, SEVP
Congress mandated a fee-based system to better keep track of international students and exchange visitors in the United States. To accomplish this task, DHS established SEVP under ICE. SEVIS is the database that allows SEVP to track international students, exchange visitors and their dependents to ensure that they are in the United States for the purposes they stated. SEVIS currently monitors more than one million records of international students, exchange visitors and their dependents.
Student Hiring Programs - Office of Human Capital > Careers
The Student Volunteer Program offers unpaid, professional training opportunities to undergraduate and graduate college students. These opportunities provide work experience related to the students’ academic programs and provide them an opportunity to explore career options, as well as develop their personal and professional skills. These are uncompensated positions and do not have to be announced nor do they count towards existing vacancies.
T. Don Hutto Residential Facility - Detention and Removal Operations > Detention and Removal Operations
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) opened the T. Don Hutto Family Residential Facility in Taylor, Texas, in May 2006 to accommodate alien families in ICE custody. This state-of-the-art facility was designed for families who have been placed in administrative immigration proceedings and is one of the major reasons the Department of Homeland Security has been able to successfully end the “catch and release” of illegal aliens at the southern border.
Terrorism-Related Threats and ICE’s Authority - Office of Investigations > National Security
ICE Removes Man who Tried to Purchase C4 Explosives (New York) - On October 14, 2006, ICE removed Sayed Malike to Afghanistan. Malike came to the attention of ICE via the FBI because he attempted to purchase C4 explosives, night vision goggles, bullet proof vests, and drugs from an undercover FBI agent. He was charged in the Eastern District of New York with the crime of lying to a law enforcement officer. Malike pled guilty to this offense on November 2, 2005. ICE placed him in removal proceedings based on this conviction. On June 1, 2006, an immigration judge ordered the removal of Malike from the United States.
The Shadow Wolves - Office of Investigations > Smuggling
The Shadow Wolves comprise an ICE tactical patrol unit based on the Native American Tohono O’odham Nation in southern Arizona. Shadow Wolf officers are known for their ability to track alien and drug smugglers as they attempt to smuggle their illegal commodities across the border. The unit boasts an esteemed history of tracking passed down from generation to generation. The name “Shadow Wolves” refers to the way the unit hunts, like a wolf pack. When one wolf finds prey, it calls in the rest of the wolf pack.
US Visit Program - Office of Investigations > National Security, Compliance Enforcement Unit
Pursuant to the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the Secretary of DHS, in consultation with the Secretary of DOS, is responsible for establishing an automated entry/exit system. DHS has made the US-VISIT (United States Visitor and Immigrant Status Indicator Technology) program one of its top priorities. The US-VISIT, the Department's automated entry/exit system, will expedite legitimate travelers, while making it more difficult for those intending to do us harm to enter our nation.
Worksite Enforcement Cases - Office of Investigations > Public Safety, Worksite Enforcement
Worksite enforcement actions target a key component of the illicit support structure that enables illegal immigration to flourish. No employer, regardless of industry or location is immune from complying with the nation's laws. ICE and our law enforcement partners will continue to bring all of our authorities to bear in this fight using criminal charges, asset seizures, administrative arrests and deportation.
Worksite Enforcement Overview (PDF | 107 KB) - Office of Investigations > Public Safety, Worksite Enforcement
ICE has a vital responsibility to enforce the law and engage in effective worksite enforcement to reduce the demand for illegal employment and protect employment opportunities for the nation's lawful workforce. ICE employs an effective, comprehensive worksite enforcement strategy that addresses both employers who knowingly hire illegal workers as well as the workers themselves.
Worksite Enforcement Strategy (PDF | 99.4 KB) - Office of Investigations > Public Safety, Worksite Enforcement
DHS has a vital responsibility to enforce the law and engage in effective worksite enforcement to reduce the demand for illegal employment and protect employment opportunities for the nation's lawful workforce
