U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

ICE was created in 2003 through a merger of the investigative and interior enforcement elements of the former U.S. Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. The agency has more than 20,000 law enforcement and support personnel in over 400 offices in the United States and around the world, with an annual budget of approximately $8 billion. ICE focuses on three main operational areas: Homeland Security Investigations, Enforcement and Removal Operations, and the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor. The Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) directorate is critical in upholding U.S. immigration law, targeting public safety threats such as convicted criminal undocumented aliens and gang members. ERO's mission is essential for maintaining national security and public safety, ensuring that individuals who violate immigration laws are held accountable.