ICE in the USA stands for "United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement." It is a federal law enforcement agency under the Department of Homeland Security responsible for enforcing immigration laws, conducting criminal investigations, preserving national security, and protecting public safety within the United States.
ICE was established in 2003 following the Homeland Security Act of 2002, which reorganized existing agencies in response to the September 11 attacks. It absorbed functions from the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the United States Customs Service. ICE has two main law enforcement components: Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which focuses on transnational crimes, and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), which handles detention and deportation of undocumented immigrants.
In summary, ICE is the U.S. federal agency that enforces immigration laws and combats related crimes inside the country, not at the borders, which are under Customs and Border Protection.
