Homeland Security Investigations: Difference between revisions
Created page with "= Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) = Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is the investigative arm of ICE — the part the agency likes to point to when pretending it’s a normal federal law-enforcement outfit. In reality, HSI is a sprawling, powerful division with the mandate (and the budget) to investigate almost anything that crosses a border or touches a supply chain. It’s the side of ICE that dresses like federal agents on TV, runs multi-year operations,..." |
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= Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) = | = Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) = | ||
Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is the investigative arm of ICE — the part the agency likes to point to when pretending it’s a normal federal law-enforcement outfit. In reality, HSI is a sprawling, powerful division with the mandate (and the budget) to investigate almost anything that crosses a border or touches a supply chain. It’s the side of ICE that dresses like federal agents on TV, runs multi-year operations, and targets everything from human trafficking to counterfeit electronics. | Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is the investigative arm of [[ICE]] — the part the agency likes to point to when pretending it’s a normal federal law-enforcement outfit. In reality, HSI is a sprawling, powerful division with the mandate (and the budget) to investigate almost anything that crosses a border or touches a supply chain. It’s the side of [[ICE]] that dresses like federal agents on TV, runs multi-year operations, and targets everything from human trafficking to counterfeit electronics. | ||
HSI claims to be “the principal investigative arm of DHS.” What that really means is that HSI is the catch-all unit that grew out of post-9/11 paranoia and has never stopped expanding. Today, it is one of the largest federal investigative bodies in the United States. | HSI claims to be “the principal investigative arm of DHS.” What that really means is that HSI is the catch-all unit that grew out of post-9/11 paranoia and has never stopped expanding. Today, it is one of the largest federal investigative bodies in the United States. | ||
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* Seizures and asset forfeiture | * Seizures and asset forfeiture | ||
Because of this, HSI is often treated by the public (and even Congress) as the “legitimate” side of ICE — the part that doesn’t drag people out of their homes at 5 a.m. That distinction is false. HSI and ERO share information, coordinate operations, and blur the line between criminal investigation and immigration enforcement whenever it suits their objectives. | Because of this, HSI is often treated by the public (and even Congress) as the “legitimate” side of [[ICE]] — the part that doesn’t drag people out of their homes at 5 a.m. That distinction is false. HSI and ERO share information, coordinate operations, and blur the line between criminal investigation and immigration enforcement whenever it suits their objectives. | ||
== Relationship with ERO == | == Relationship with ERO == | ||
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* Critics argue that HSI’s criminal authority is regularly used as a pretext for broader immigration sweeps. | * Critics argue that HSI’s criminal authority is regularly used as a pretext for broader immigration sweeps. | ||
This has created long-running tension, including public HSI criticism of being associated with | This has created long-running tension, including public HSI criticism of being associated with [[ICE]]’s politically toxic deportation machine. | ||
== Controversies == | == Controversies == | ||
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== Criticism from Within == | == Criticism from Within == | ||
HSI agents themselves have publicly complained (an extremely rare thing in federal law enforcement) that the ICE brand is so toxic that it interferes with investigations. | HSI agents themselves have publicly complained (an extremely rare thing in federal law enforcement) that the [[ICE]] brand is so toxic that it interferes with investigations. | ||
Some pushed for HSI to break away from ICE entirely, arguing that ERO’s deportation machinery undermines their ability to work with immigrant communities. | Some pushed for HSI to break away from [[ICE]] entirely, arguing that ERO’s deportation machinery undermines their ability to work with immigrant communities. | ||
== See Also == | == See Also == | ||
* [[Enforcement and Removal Operations | * [[Enforcement and Removal Operations]] | ||
* [[ICE vs CBP vs HSI vs ERO]] | * [[[[ICE]] vs CBP vs HSI vs ERO]] | ||
* [[How Field Offices Operate]] | * [[How Field Offices Operate]] | ||
* [[287(g) Agreements Explained]] | * [[287(g) Agreements Explained]] | ||