what is ice in usa

ICE in the USA stands for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security, created in 2003 after the Homeland Security Act of 2002, following the 9/11 attacks. ICE's mission is to enforce immigration laws, conduct criminal investigations, preserve national security, and protect public safety. ICE has two main components: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which focuses on investigating transnational crimes, and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), which is responsible for apprehending, detaining, and removing undocumented immigrants. ICE operates numerous detention centers across the country for people suspected of being in the US illegally or posing a public safety threat. ICE does not patrol US borders; that responsibility belongs to the Customs and Border Protection agency. ICE enforces over 400 federal statutes related to immigration, customs violations, terrorism prevention, and trafficking. The agency has been involved in controversy, especially regarding immigration enforcement practices and detention policies. In summary, ICE is the primary federal agency tasked with interior immigration enforcement and investigations related to customs and immigration laws within the United States.