What is the role of ICE agents?

The role of ICE agents is primarily focused on enforcing immigration laws and investigating criminal activities related to customs. This encompasses a broad range of responsibilities, including the apprehension of undocumented immigrants, the enforcement of immigration-related laws, and conducting investigations into criminal activities such as human trafficking, drug smuggling, and immigration fraud.

ICE is specifically structured into two main divisions: Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). ERO focuses on the apprehension and removal of individuals who violate immigration laws, while HSI investigates transnational crime and immigration-related crimes, which includes overseeing compliance with customs laws.

This focus is driven by the necessity to maintain national security and uphold the integrity of the immigration system, making the enforcement of laws and regulations central to ICE's mission. Other roles, such as overseeing public safety and health, managing federal funding, or conducting census activities, do not align with ICE's specific function within the Department of Homeland Security, which emphasizes immigration enforcement and customs investigations.