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Immigration Law Enforcement & Border Management

Border Patrol - U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Immigration Inspections - U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Investigations - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Intelligence - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Detention and Removal - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Overseas - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Foreign Attaché - U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Border Management
Immigration Enforcement
Special Registration
Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS)

On March 1st, 2003 the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the Directorate of Border and Transportation Security, assumed responsibility for securing our nation's borders and transportation systems and enforcing the nation's immigration laws - both in deterring illegal immigration and pursuing investigations when laws are broken. With the establishment of DHS, the functions, expertise, resources and jurisdictions of several immigration-enforcement organizations were reconstituted into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). This page now links to the relevant sections of the ICE and CBP websites.

Border Patrol - U.S. Customs and Border Protection
The Border Patrol, as the mobile uniformed branch of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), has as its mission the detection and prevention of smuggling and illegal entry of aliens into the United States, with primary responsibility between the Ports-of-Entry.

Immigration Inspections - U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Immigration Inspections is the uniformed branch tasked with the function of enforcing and administrating the Immigration and Nationality laws by inspecting all persons seeking admission to or transiting through the United States at air, land and sea ports-of-entry. Visit the CBP Travel section of their website for more information.

Office of Investigations - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
The Office of Investigations focuses on an array of national security, financial, and smuggling violations including illegal arms exports, financial crimes, commercial fraud, human trafficking, narcotics smuggling, child pornography/exploitation, and immigration fraud. Visit the ICE “Contact” page for field office information.

Office of Intelligence - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
The Office of Intelligence collects, analyzes, and exploits information relating to terrorists and their organizations, drug and contraband smuggling, human trafficking, criminal acts and enterprises, illicit trading of critical technology and Weapons of Mass Destruction, money laundering and financial crimes, and threats to government facilities and personnel. Visit the ICE “Contact” page for field office information.

Office of Detention and Removal - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
The Office of Detention and Removal (DRO) represents the final step of the immigration enforcement process. DRO serves the public by removing unauthorized aliens from the United States. Visit the ICE “Contact” page for field office information including Immigration Detention Centers.

Overseas Offices - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Overseas offices represent U.S. immigration interests abroad, to the Department of State, other U.S. government agencies, and to the Washington, D.C. diplomatic and consular community. The mission of the unit is to work with foreign countries and the U.S. missions abroad, to address both our immigration benefits and enforcement responsibilities under the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Foreign Attaché - U.S. Customs and Border Protection
CBP foreign Attachés provide information and assistance to the public on customs import and export policies, immigration, and agriculture procedures and regulations. This information can also be obtained by contacting the commercial officer in any U.S. Embassy. The primary mission of CBP attaches is investigative. Their law enforcement jurisdiction covers any commodity, vessel or person that crosses the border into or out of the United States that is in violation of U.S. law, including international mail.

Last Modified 06/17/2004