Trade Crimes
Fact Sheets
Commercial Fraud Fact Sheet
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), in close cooperation with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), investigates commercial fraud, including false statements and deceptive business practices. HSI's National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) focuses and prioritizes protecting U.S. economic interests, national security and the health and safety of our nation’s people.
DHS Issues Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory
The Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Commerce are issuing a Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory detailing risks and considerations for businesses with supply chain exposure to entities engaged in forced labor and other human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
Drawback Program Fact Sheet
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Trade Enforcement Unit manages the drawback program for all HSI drawback investigations. HSI focuses on importers and any individuals submitting false statements to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to obtain improper drawback refunds.
Environmental Crimes Program Fact Sheet
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Commercial Fraud Unit (CFU) manages the environmental crimes program. This program involves investigations of the importation and exportation of endangered and non-native detrimental species; unapproved or non-compliant automobiles, machinery and other equipment; environmentally hazardous materials and chemicals; and prohibited and contaminated animal or vegetable food products and seafood fraud.
Forced Labor Program Fact Sheet
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Forced Labor Program coordinates investigations into allegations of forced child labor and forced labor relating either to the manufacturing or production of goods overseas that are exported to the United States, or, labor here in the United States that results from coercion, debt bondage/indentured labor, or other non- voluntary means of forcing an individual to provide work or a service.
Free Trade Agreements Fact Sheet
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Commercial Fraud Unit ) manages HSI’s Free Trade Agreements (FTA) program, which provides oversight and guidance on HSI investigations involving individuals and companies engaging in violations of the rules of FTAs and trade preference programs.
General Fraud Program Fact Sheet
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Trade Enforcement Unit manages the general fraud program for all HSI general fraud investigations. HSI conducts general fraud investigations focusing on violations of laws or regulations pertaining to the importation of merchandise by means of false or fraudulent documents, statements, and/or practices.
In-Bond Diversion Program
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Trade Enforcement Unit manages the in-bond diversion program for all HSI in-bond investigations. HSI conducts in-bond investigations to prosecute individuals and corporations responsible for the illegal entry of merchandise into the commerce of the United States through the exploitation of the in-bond process. HSI in-bond diversion investigations and programs also target violations related to foreign trade zones and bonded warehouses.
IPR Center applauds DHS Secretary Award recipients
The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center is acknowledging the release of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary’s Awards for 2019 that were presented during a special ceremony in Washington, D.C.
IPR Center forced-labor partnership earns top honors
A partnership created at the National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) to combat forced labor in global commerce has earned a place among the top recipients of Homeland Security Investigations’ (HSI) 2019 Executive Associate Director Awards.
IPR Center hosts agreement signing to combat forced labor
The Global Trade Investigations Division, part of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), has announced a partnership with Grace Farms Foundation to advance their shared missions of disrupting and combating forced labor around the world.
Operation Joint Venture Fact Sheet
The National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center’s (IPR Center) Outreach and Training Section engages in partnerships with the public and private sectors to combat Intellectual Property (IP) theft through its Operation Joint Venture (Joint Venture) initiative. This IPR Center-led outreach initiative is designed to increase information sharing with public and private sectors to combat the illegal importation and distribution of counterfeit, substandard and tainted goods. Joint Venture targets rights holders, manufacturers, importers, customs brokers, freight forwarders, bonded facilities, carriers and others to discuss the IPR Center’s priorities of protecting public health and safety, the economy, and securing the Government’s supply chain. Through outreach and public engagement, the Outreach and Training Section raises the public’s awareness of the dangers of trade based violations, such as IP, while serving as a public point of contact for investigative leads.
Textile Program Fact Sheet
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Trade Enforcement Unit manages the textile program. The textile program focuses on investigations of criminal and civil violations of customs laws relating to textiles importations. The violations are executed through a variety of fraudulent schemes and practices including false invoicing, false claims of country of origin, false markings/labeling, misclassification, false description, and smuggling.
Tobacco Smuggling Fact Sheet
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Commercial Fraud Unit manages the tobacco smuggling program. HSI’s illicit tobacco program coordinates case development, develops leads and assists investigations and interdictions of tobacco smuggling. The program monitors, coordinates, and provides guidance to HSI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Attorneys’ offices, foreign, state, and local law enforcement agencies on international smuggling matters. The program also provides training and reference material to investigators and HSI works with CBP; Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF); Food and Drug Administration (FDA); and Treasury’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB), as well as private industry, to address legal and policy issues related to tobacco smuggling.
Wildlife Trafficking Fact Sheet
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Commercial Fraud Unit overseas the wildlife trafficking program for the agency.
Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory [RUSSIAN]
The Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Commerce are issuing a Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory detailing risks and considerations for businesses with supply chain exposure to entities engaged in forced labor and other human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory [ARABIC]
The Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Commerce are issuing a Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory detailing risks and considerations for businesses with supply chain exposure to entities engaged in forced labor and other human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory [FRENCH]
The Department of Homeland Security, Department of State, Department of the Treasury, and the Department of Commerce are issuing a Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory detailing risks and considerations for businesses with supply chain exposure to entities engaged in forced labor and other human rights abuses in Xinjiang.