The United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) mission is to protect America from cross-border crime and illegal immigration that poses a threat to national security and public safety. This mission is executed through the enforcement of more than 400 federal statutes. ICE was created in March 2002 as part of the Homeland Security Act. The Act was in response to the 9/11 attacks on the United States and was the largest reorganization of the United States government since the Department of Defense was created in 1947.
Since ICE’s inception, there has been much contention and controversy surrounding the role of its agents and the agency’s mission. As a newcomer to the United States, you have no doubt heard concerning stories about encounters with ICE agents. In this article, we’ll cover a brief overview of the federal immigration agencies, the role and responsibilities of ICE, and what you should do if you encounter an agent.
Federal Immigration Agencies Overview
To understand the US immigration system and process, it is important to understand the basic structure of the agencies charged with enforcing the immigration laws.
US Department of Homeland Security
The Homeland Security Act abolished the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (“INS”) and the former US Customs Service. It combined the functions of these agencies within one department: the US Department of Homeland Security (“DHS”). The DHS now performs the duties of these former agencies and delegates the responsibilities to many agencies within the DHS. The agencies within the DHS that have the most contact with and impact on non-citizens are:
- US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
- US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
- US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
US Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
The CBP is responsible for protecting the US borders and controls access into the country. CBP must enforce US immigration laws and, as such, can question, investigate, and detain those arriving at US ports of entry. The US Border Portal is part of the CBP and is responsible for patrolling areas at and around international land borders. The role of border agents is to protect and apprehend those attempting to enter the United States illegally. CBP agents have the right to veto the issuance of a visa if it’s determined that the individual is inadmissible to the US.
The CBP jurisdiction includes US land borders and 99 miles surrounding the border. Enforcement activities by CBP include maintaining traffic checkpoints along highways leading from border areas, conducting city patrols and transportation checks, and conducting anti-smuggling investigations.
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
The major difference between ICE and CBP is that while CBP is responsible for enforcing immigration laws at and near the borders, ICE is responsible for enforcing immigration laws, including investigating, arresting, detaining, and deporting within the remaining areas of the US. In addition, the activities of ICE include anti-smuggling efforts, locating persons illegally in the country, and enforcing laws against unauthorized employment of undocumented immigrants.
ICE has two primary divisions: Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). ERO enforces immigration laws, including detaining and removing the people violating them. HSI investigates international criminal operations and organizations, including the illegal trade of goods, weapons, and drugs, and the smuggling or trafficking of people into the US. ICE has 400 offices in the US and 46 countries.
US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)
The USCIS approves and denies visas, permanent residency, and citizenship applications. Unlike CBP and ICE, USCIS is not a law enforcement agency. However, USCIS adjudicates applications for immigrant waivers, while CBP adjudicates nonimmigrant waivers. Similarly, while many applications for immigrant visas are filed with USCIS, some applications for nonimmigrant visas are filed with CBP.
Even though USCIS is not a law enforcement agency, it has the power to place individuals into proceedings before an immigration judge, as do CBP and ICE.
ICE prioritization
In its short existence, ICE has had a turbulent history. Various bodies have questioned ICE’s necessity as a standalone agency. During President Trump’s administration, ICE agents were required to treat any undocumented immigrant as a priority for removal. The Brennan Center claims that this prioritization was reflected in ICE’s “increasing use of decades-old misdemeanors as grounds for arrest of even long-time US residents, appearing to focus particularly on nationals from Latin American and Muslim-majority countries.”
President Biden’s administration released new prioritization guidelines in September 2021. The policy gave immigration and border agents discretion to spare migrants who have lived in the United States a long time, are elderly, are minors, or whose family members might be adversely affected by deportation. The guidelines directed ICE agents to prioritize arresting immigrants deemed public safety or national security risks and recent border crossers. According to CNN, “The department is returning to Obama-era immigration enforcement measures based on a priority system instead of the more aggressive approach taken under the Trump administration. That approach, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas argues, takes into account the department’s limited resources and the fact that a ‘removable non-citizen should not alone be the basis of an enforcement action against them.'”
As of June 2022, a federal judge vacated the Biden administration’s prioritization of immigration enforcement. The ruling argued that the DHS guidance prevented US Immigration and Customs Enforcement from enforcing the law. Judge Drew Tipton said the government’s regulations were not just offering guidance to agents, as the government claimed, but instead “provides a new basis on which aliens may avoid being subject to the enforcement of immigration law.”
As of the time of the writing of this article, The Biden Administration had seven days to appeal the ruling.
What to do when confronted by immigration officers
Regardless of your immigration status, you have certain protection rights when encountering a Border Control agent or ICE. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has provided guidelines for several scenarios. A few things to note:
- Immigration officers can only enter your home if they have a warrant signed by a judge.
- If the police have an arrest warrant, they are legally allowed to enter the home of the person on the warrant if they believe that person is inside. But a warrant of removal/deportation (Form I-205) does not allow officers to enter a home without consent.
- Law enforcement is allowed to enter your home if you are on probation with a search condition.
- At border crossings, federal authorities do not need a warrant or even suspicion of wrongdoing to justify conducting what courts have called a “routine search,” such as searching luggage or a vehicle.
- You have the right to remain silent. You do not have to answer questions asked by immigration officers if you do not want to answer them. This includes questions about your citizenship status, birthplace, or place of residence.
You have a right to a lawyer if you are arrested or detained. A reputable and knowledgeable immigration lawyer will offer you options and information that immigration officers may not provide.
Looking for Immigration Help?
Stump & Associates is Oklahoma City’s most respected immigration law firm. With more than 30 years of experience, we know how to handle cases just like yours.
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