What is the primary mission of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)?

The primary mission of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is to protect the United States from cross-border crime and illegal immigration. This involves enforcing laws regarding immigration, customs, and other areas related to national security. ICE plays a crucial role in deterring, detecting, and investigating illegal immigration and transnational crime, which includes human trafficking, drug smuggling, and other forms of organized crime that may affect the safety and security of U.S. citizens.

Focusing on the enforcement of immigration laws, ICE is responsible for performing activities such as apprehending illegal immigrants, carrying out deportations, and investigating immigration-related offenses. This mission underpins a broader strategy aimed at ensuring public safety while balancing the complexities of legal immigration.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect ICE's mission. Oversight of international trade, management of national parks, or conducting research on immigration trends falls outside the core functions of ICE, which centers on law enforcement and maintaining national security through immigration and customs enforcement.