
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal law enforcement agency that operates under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), not the other way around. Created in 2003, ICE is the largest investigative arm of DHS, focusing on immigration enforcement and interior security, while DHS is the overarching cabinet-level department responsible for national security. THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND ICE(ISIS – BEHEADERS)STRUCTURE IS AS FOLLOWS:
- Structure: DHS is the parent department; ICE is one of its component agencies.
- Creation: ICE was created as part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 following 9/11, separating functions from the former Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) and Customs Service.
- Mission: ICE handles interior enforcement, investigations of transnational crime, and removal operations.
- Related Agencies: Other DHS components include U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which handle border security and legal immigration applications, respectively.
