ICE Officers Suspended Over False Shooting Claims in Minneapolis

**Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)** is a federal law enforcement agency under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Established by the Homeland Security Act of 2002, ICE was created in response to the 9/11 attacks to enhance national security and protect public safety. The agency's primary mission is to enforce federal laws related to customs, trade, and immigration, focusing on cross-border crime and illegal immigration[1][2][3]. **History and Structure:** ICE was formed by merging the U.S. Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. It operates with over 20,000 staff across more than 400 global offices, with an annual budget of approximately $8 billion[3]. The agency is structured into several key directorates, including **Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO)**, which handles immigrant detention and deportation, and **Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)**, which investigates transnational crimes[1][2]. **Key Functions and Achievements:** ICE is known for its immigration enforcement efforts, particularly in interior regions of the U.S. It conducts investigations into human trafficking, terrorism, and other transnational crimes. Despite controversy over policies like family separation and detention conditions, ICE has made significant strides in combating illegal activities and protecting national security[4][6]. **Current Status and Notable Aspects:** Today, ICE continues to face challenges and controversy, particularly regarding its enforcement practices and impact on immigrant communities. The agency's actions can have profound effects on local economies and social services, as fear of ICE may deter undocumented immigrants from accessing essential services[6]. Despite these challenges, ICE remains a crucial component of U.S. immigration policy, working to balance enforcement with humanitarian concerns.

The **U.S. Attorney's Office** comprises 93 offices across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia, serving as the primary federal prosecutors representing the government's interests in criminal and civil matters.[1][4][5] Appointed by the President and supervised by the Attorney General through the Executive Office for United States Attorneys (EOUSA), established in 1953, these offices handle prosecutions of federal crimes, civil litigation involving the U.S., and administrative duties like legal education and budgeting.[1][4] Founded by the **Judiciary Act of 1789**, the offices predate the Department of Justice (DOJ), created in 1870 under President Ulysses S. Grant to centralize oversight previously shared among the Attorney General, Treasury Department, and others.[1][2][3][4] Initially independent, U.S. Attorneys—originally termed "district attorneys"—prosecuted offenses cognizable under federal authority and represented the U.S. in civil actions, evolving from part-time roles into a robust network amid growing federal litigation.[1][5] **Key achievements** include enforcing civil rights post-Civil War, combating domestic terrorism against Reconstruction Amendments, and pioneering coordinated prosecutions, such as dismantling organized crime networks in districts like Eastern Michigan.[2][6] These efforts fortified the rule of law during pivotal eras, from early revenue disputes to modern high-profile cases. Currently, the offices remain vital to DOJ operations, with U.S. Attorneys serving four-year terms removable at presidential discretion, amid occasional controversies over appointments.[1][4] For business and technology sectors, they prosecute white-collar crimes, cyber fraud, antitrust violations, and intellectual property theft, safeguarding innovation and markets through cases like tech firm data breaches and corporate espionage indictments. Notably politicized since inception—Washington's selections reflected party loyalties—these offices balance enforcement independence with executive influence, embodying federal justice's front line.[