Working for ICE

Who We Are

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) employees protect America from the cross-border crime and illegal immigration that threaten national security and public safety. To carry out our mission, ICE focuses on legal and safe immigration enforcement, terrorism prevention and combating transnational criminal threats.

Career Paths

ICE's homeland security mission is carried out by a wide variety of law enforcement, intelligence and mission support professionals – all of whom contribute to the safety and security of our country. With so many opportunities at ICE, there’s a lot to learn. Check out our FAQs to get some answers.

Your Skills Can Fit in at ICE

In addition to core law enforcement occupations, there are also a wide range of professional and administration functions that support the ICE mission. Career paths in management, information technology, law, mission support, public affairs and community outreach are available within the agency. Stay up to date with upcoming recruiting events with ICE and ICE email career updates.

Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO)

ERO enforces U.S. immigration law at, within, and beyond our borders. ERO’s work is critical to the enforcement of immigration law against those who present a danger to our national security, are a threat to public safety, or who otherwise undermine the integrity of our immigration system. ERO operations target public safety threats, such as convicted criminal aliens and gang members, as well as individuals who have otherwise violated our nation’s immigration laws, including those who illegally re-entered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

HSI is the principal investigative component of DHS consisting of 8,500 employees, 6,500 special agents and 700 intelligence analysts assigned to 200 cities throughout the United States and 45 countries internationally. HSI’s international presence represents DHS’ largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad. HSI conducts transnational criminal investigations that protect the U.S. against threats to its national security and brings to justice those seeking to exploit U.S. customs and immigration laws worldwide. HSI has broad legal authority to investigate all types of cross-border criminal activity.

Management and Administration (M&A)

The M&A directorate makes important contributions to the ICE mission by providing the vital infrastructure necessary for successful ICE operations. Management and Administration identifies and tracks the agency’s performance measurements and leads a dynamic human capital program that includes aggressive recruitment endeavors and commitment to equal employment opportunity. It coordinates ICE’s administrative and managerial functions to address the needs of the ICE mission, while helping to guide the dynamic growth and future of the agency. Management and Administration directs and maintains ICE’s budget, expenditures, accounting and finance, procurement, facilities, property, and policy and privacy programs in full compliance with Federal laws, regulations, and rules. Management and Administration provides a solid integrated information technology infrastructure to ensure the men and women of ICE have the tools they need to succeed. Management and Administration establishes acquisition strategies, provides oversight of procurement activities and contracts and executes sound and cost-effective financial management policies, standards and systems. In addition, Management and Administration ensures collaboration with internal stakeholders to increase diversity, guarantees timely responses to Freedom of Information Act requests and supports the agency’s training needs

Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA)

OPLA is the largest legal program in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) with more than 1,250 attorneys. OPLA serves as the exclusive legal representative of DHS in exclusion, deportation, and removal proceedings before the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), Executive Office for Immigration Review in immigration courts across the country. OPLA also provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices. OPLA provides legal advice to ICE personnel on their law enforcement authorities, the Federal Tort Claims Act, the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act, ethics, contracts, fiscal law, and employment law. OPLA attorneys support DOJ in the prosecution of ICE cases and in the defense of civil cases against ICE. In addition to headquarters in Washington, D.C., OPLA operates in more than 60 locations across the country.

Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR)

OPR is responsible for upholding the agency’s professional standards through a multi-disciplinary approach of security, inspections and investigations. OPR promotes organizational integrity by vigilantly managing ICE’s security programs, conducting independent reviews of ICE programs and operations, and impartially investigating allegations of serious employee and contractor misconduct, as well as internal and external threats against ICE personnel and facilities.