United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Our mission is to protect national security by enforcing our nation's customs and immigration laws.

ICE has five operational divisions:

• Federal Protective Service (FPS)
• Office of Intelligence
• Office of Investigations (OI)
• Office of International Affairs (OIA)
• Detention and Removal Operations (DRO)

In addition, ICE has other high-visibility programs and initiatives, including but not limited to:

• Border Enforcement Security Taskforce (BEST)
• Community Shield (targeting violent transnational street gangs)
• Cyber Crimes Center (C3)
• National Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Coordination Center
• Secure Communities (SC)
• Doing business with ICE

ICE was established in 2003 after the Homeland Security Act of 2002. Prior to 2003, many of the functions of ICE were performed by elements within United States Customs Service (Treasury), Immigration and Naturalization Service (Justice) and Federal Protective Service. ICE works with components of Department of Homeland Security and federal, state, and local organizations to secure the country and preserve our freedoms.