Enforcement and Removal Operations: Difference between revisions
Created page with "= Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) = Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is the arm of ICE built for one thing: finding people, detaining them, and deporting them. If ICE were split into two personalities, HSI is the investigator; ERO is the one knocking on doors at 5 a.m., arresting people at work, and filling detention centers across the country. ERO calls this “enforcing immigration law.” Communities across the U.S. know it as fear, intimidation..." |
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= Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) = | = Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) = | ||
Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is the arm of ICE built for one thing: finding people, detaining them, and deporting them. | Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is the arm of [[ICE]] built for one thing: finding people, detaining them, and deporting them. | ||
If ICE were split into two personalities, HSI is the investigator; ERO is the one knocking on doors at 5 a.m., arresting people at work, and filling detention centers across the country. | If [[ICE]] were split into two personalities, HSI is the investigator; ERO is the one knocking on doors at 5 a.m., arresting people at work, and filling detention centers across the country. | ||
ERO calls this “enforcing immigration law.” | ERO calls this “enforcing immigration law.” | ||
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These offices coordinate raids, jail pickups, courthouse arrests, and joint actions with local police. | These offices coordinate raids, jail pickups, courthouse arrests, and joint actions with local police. | ||
Learn more: [[ICE List:How Field Offices Operate]] | Learn more: [[[[ICE]] List:How Field Offices Operate]] | ||
== Inside the Deportation Machinery == | == Inside the Deportation Machinery == | ||
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'''1. Access to local jails''' | '''1. Access to local jails''' | ||
ERO routinely pulls people from county jails through detainers, many of which courts have repeatedly ruled unlawful. | ERO routinely pulls people from county jails through detainers, many of which courts have repeatedly ruled unlawful. | ||
Whole counties effectively function as feeders into ICE custody. | Whole counties effectively function as feeders into [[ICE]] custody. | ||
'''2. Large detention capacity''' | '''2. Large detention capacity''' | ||
ERO maintains a sprawling detention network — private prisons, county jails, purpose-built ICE facilities — with the ability to move people quickly and quietly. | ERO maintains a sprawling detention network — private prisons, county jails, purpose-built [[ICE]] facilities — with the ability to move people quickly and quietly. | ||
'''3. Enforcement programs''' | '''3. Enforcement programs''' | ||
ERO runs a web of programs that plug directly into local law enforcement, including: | ERO runs a web of programs that plug directly into local law enforcement, including: | ||
* 287(g) agreements (turning sheriffs into ICE extensions) | * 287(g) agreements (turning sheriffs into [[ICE]] extensions) | ||
* Secure Communities (fingerprint pipeline) | * Secure Communities (fingerprint pipeline) | ||
* CAP — Criminal Alien Program | * CAP — Criminal Alien Program | ||
See: [[ICE List:287g Agreements Explained]] | See: [[[[ICE]] List:287g Agreements Explained]] | ||
== Transportation and Removal == | == Transportation and Removal == | ||
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* buses between detention centers | * buses between detention centers | ||
* contract security escorts | * contract security escorts | ||
* chartered removal flights (ICE Air) | * chartered removal flights ([[ICE]] Air) | ||
Once someone enters the ERO system, movement is continuous and often invisible — deliberately designed to isolate people from lawyers, family, and community support. | Once someone enters the ERO system, movement is continuous and often invisible — deliberately designed to isolate people from lawyers, family, and community support. | ||
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* mandatory apps | * mandatory apps | ||
These programs extend | These programs extend [[ICE]]’s control far beyond detention centers. | ||
== Cooperation With Local Police == | == Cooperation With Local Police == | ||
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== See Also == | == See Also == | ||
* [[ICE List:ICE vs CBP vs HSI vs ERO]] | * [[[[ICE]] List:[[ICE]] vs CBP vs HSI vs ERO]] | ||
* [[ICE List:287g Agreements Explained]] | * [[[[ICE]] List:287g Agreements Explained]] | ||
* [[ICE List:How Field Offices Operate]] | * [[[[ICE]] List:How Field Offices Operate]] | ||
* [[ICE List:Inside ICE Detention]] | * [[[[ICE]] List:Inside [[ICE]] Detention]] | ||
* [[ICE List:Methodology]] | * [[[[ICE]] List:Methodology]] | ||
== External Context == | == External Context == | ||
For the public: ERO is the most visible and aggressive branch of ICE. | For the public: ERO is the most visible and aggressive branch of [[ICE]]. | ||
For the ICE List: it is the primary source of arrests, raids, and incidents across the United States — and the reason we document every badge, vehicle, and operation we can. | For the [[ICE]] List: it is the primary source of arrests, raids, and incidents across the United States — and the reason we document every badge, vehicle, and operation we can. | ||
Latest revision as of 14:16, 29 November 2025
Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO)
Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is the arm of ICE built for one thing: finding people, detaining them, and deporting them. If ICE were split into two personalities, HSI is the investigator; ERO is the one knocking on doors at 5 a.m., arresting people at work, and filling detention centers across the country.
ERO calls this “enforcing immigration law.” Communities across the U.S. know it as fear, intimidation, and family separation.
What ERO Actually Does
ERO oversees every stage of the deportation pipeline:
- identifying individuals for removal
- conducting arrests and sweeps
- managing detention facilities
- handling transportation (including removal flights)
- supervising people released under monitoring programs
On paper, it’s civil enforcement. In practice, ERO behaves like a national police force operating with minimal oversight.
Field Offices
ERO divides the country into numerous field offices, each controlling operations across entire regions. These offices coordinate raids, jail pickups, courthouse arrests, and joint actions with local police.
Learn more: [[ICE List:How Field Offices Operate]]
Inside the Deportation Machinery
ERO’s power rests on three pillars:
1. Access to local jails ERO routinely pulls people from county jails through detainers, many of which courts have repeatedly ruled unlawful. Whole counties effectively function as feeders into ICE custody.
2. Large detention capacity ERO maintains a sprawling detention network — private prisons, county jails, purpose-built ICE facilities — with the ability to move people quickly and quietly.
3. Enforcement programs ERO runs a web of programs that plug directly into local law enforcement, including:
- 287(g) agreements (turning sheriffs into ICE extensions)
- Secure Communities (fingerprint pipeline)
- CAP — Criminal Alien Program
See: [[ICE List:287g Agreements Explained]]
Transportation and Removal
ERO operates a full transport system:
- buses between detention centers
- contract security escorts
- chartered removal flights (ICE Air)
Once someone enters the ERO system, movement is continuous and often invisible — deliberately designed to isolate people from lawyers, family, and community support.
Surveillance and “Alternatives to Detention”
ERO uses “Alternatives to Detention” (ATD) as a PR phrase. In reality, these are surveillance programs:
- ankle monitors
- facial-recognition check-ins
- GPS tracking
- mandatory apps
These programs extend ICE’s control far beyond detention centers.
Cooperation With Local Police
ERO relies heavily on local law enforcement. Some agencies welcome the cooperation; many others reject it because it destroys trust in communities and diverts resources from actual crime prevention.
ERO’s partnerships often operate in the shadows, without public debate or transparency.
Oversight and Controversy
ERO is consistently criticized for:
- unconstitutional detainers
- abusive conditions in detention
- separating families
- retaliatory raids targeting activists
- mass removals without due process
- racial profiling through cooperative agreements
Civil rights groups, watchdog organizations, and legal teams have documented patterns of abuse across multiple field offices.
See Also
- [[ICE List:ICE vs CBP vs HSI vs ERO]]
- [[ICE List:287g Agreements Explained]]
- [[ICE List:How Field Offices Operate]]
- [[ICE List:Inside ICE Detention]]
- [[ICE List:Methodology]]
External Context
For the public: ERO is the most visible and aggressive branch of ICE. For the ICE List: it is the primary source of arrests, raids, and incidents across the United States — and the reason we document every badge, vehicle, and operation we can.