## Overview of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal law enforcement agency within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), established in 2003 in the wake of the September 11 attacks and the passage of the Homeland Security Act of 2002[1][2][5]. ICE was created by merging the investigative and enforcement functions of the former U.S. Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS), consolidating efforts to secure borders, enforce immigration laws, and combat cross-border crime[1][2]. ## Mission and Functions ICE’s primary mission is to safeguard national security and public safety by enforcing immigration and customs laws, targeting illegal immigration, human trafficking, drug smuggling, cybercrime, and terrorism[2]. The agency operates through three main directorates: - **Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO):** Focuses on apprehending, detaining, and deporting undocumented immigrants. - **Homeland Security Investigations (HSI):** Investigates transnational crimes, including the illegal movement of people and goods, intellectual property theft, and financial fraud. - **Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA):** Provides legal support for deportation proceedings[2]. With an annual budget of approximately $6 billion and a workforce exceeding 20,000 employees across more than 400 offices worldwide, ICE is one of the largest investigative arms of DHS[2]. ## Historical Context ICE’s roots trace back to the U.S. Customs Service (1789) and the INS, but its modern form was shaped by post-9/11 security reforms[1]. The agency inherited and expanded upon earlier initiatives, such as overseas migration interdiction programs like "Operation Global Reach," which aimed to deter illegal immigration at its source[3]. ## Achievements and Controversies ICE has played a central role in high-profile enforcement actions, including workplace raids and large-scale deportation operations[4]. I