Overview

ICE agents

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the second largest investigative agency in the federal government. Created in 2003 through a merger of the investigative and interior enforcement elements of the U.S. Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service, ICE now has more than 20,000 employees in offices in all 50 states and 47 foreign countries.

Mission

ICE's primary mission is to promote homeland security and public safety through the criminal and civil enforcement of federal laws governing border control, customs, trade, and immigration. The agency has an annual budget of more than $5.7 billion dollars, primarily devoted to its two principal operating components - Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO).

Leadership

Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, John MortonJohn Morton
Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

John Morton was unanimously confirmed as the Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by the U.S. Senate on May 12, 2009. ICE is the principal investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the second largest investigative agency in the federal government. Created in 2003, the agency has a budget of $5.7 billion dollars and more than 20,000 employees in offices in all 50 states and 47 foreign countries. The agency’s primary mission is to promote homeland security and public safety through the criminal and civil enforcement of federal laws governing border control, customs, trade and immigration.

Prior to his appointment by the President, Mr. Morton spent 15 years at the Department of Justice. At the Department, Mr. Morton served in several positions including Assistant United States Attorney, Counsel to the Deputy Attorney General and Acting Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the Criminal Division.

During his tenure at ICE, Mr. Morton has strengthened ICE’s investigative efforts, with a particular emphasis on border crimes, export controls, intellectual property enforcement and child exploitation. Mr. Morton has also sought to prioritize ICE’s immigration enforcement efforts around the removal of criminal offenders, recent border violators, and those who ignore orders of removal or obtain immigration status by fraud.

Strategic Plan

ICE Strategic Plan Fiscal Years 2010-2014

In June 2010, ICE issued its strategic plan for fiscal years 2010-2014. This comprehensive plan lays out how ICE will most effectively meet its responsibilities for criminal investigation and civil immigration enforcement over the next five years. Moreover, ICE is taking steps to streamline and improve its management structure to give the agency a clearer sense of identity and focus.

The plan details four key priorities for the agency's future:

  • Prevent terrorism and enhance security
  • Protect the borders against illicit trade, travel and finance
  • Protect the borders through smart and tough interior immigration enforcement
  • Construct an efficient, effective agency

For more information, the full strategic plan is available for download.

Contacting ICE

Report suspicious activity - toll free 1-866-DHS-2-ICE

Media Inquiries

For media inquiries about ICE activities, operations or policies, contact the ICE Office of Public Affairs at
(202) 732-4242

To Mail Secretary

Secretary Janet Napolitano
Department of Homeland Security
Washington, D.C. 20528

To Mail Director

Director John Morton
ICE
Washington, D.C. 20536

Mail/Freight Instructions

Vehicles transporting freight are required to undergo security inspections.
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