How Field Offices Operate
How Field Offices Operate
Field Offices are the core administrative hubs that direct ICE and related agencies’ operations across the United States. Each office oversees a geographic region, coordinating arrests, detention transfers, field investigations, joint operations with local police, and removals. Although ICE presents field offices as simple administrative centers, in practice they function as regional command structures.
Regional Command Structure
Field Offices act as the central point of command for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and often coordinate with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). Each office supervises multiple sub-offices or satellite units, distributes operational priorities, and assigns teams to surveillance, arrests, or transport duties. Internal directives, priorities, and target lists often originate at this level.
Coordination With Local Agencies
Field Offices frequently work with police departments, sheriff’s offices, federal task forces, and joint-operations groups. Cooperation may vary by city or state, especially where 287(g) agreements or sanctuary policies shape local involvement. Despite public statements suggesting narrow cooperation, field offices often coordinate behind the scenes through information-sharing channels, gang task forces, and fusion centers.
Case Management and Targeting
Officers within a Field Office handle immigration cases, detainer requests, database checks, and background investigations. They determine which individuals to target, track, or detain, often using nationwide databases such as IDENT and NCIC. Field Offices assign teams to arrest operations, surveillance activities, and long-term investigations, prioritizing based on internal guidelines that are rarely disclosed publicly.
Detention and Transfer Logistics
A significant part of Field Office operations involves detention coordination—assigning individuals to detention centers, arranging transport, and managing transfers between facilities. This includes scheduling removal flights, coordinating with charter-flight contractors, and preparing individuals for deportation proceedings.
Removal Operations
Field Offices oversee final removal processes, including staging individuals at specific facilities, coordinating with national removal units, and arranging travel documentation. They communicate directly with consulates, federal courts, and airline contractors to carry out deportations. Removal timelines and decisions are heavily influenced by regional office priorities and resource availability.
Public Interface and Limited Transparency
Although Field Offices maintain public phone numbers and contact portals, transparency remains limited. Public-facing information—such as visitation hours or case-status updates—often obscures the broader operational scope. Internal coordination, arrest planning, and investigative priorities are seldom disclosed to the public, making Field Offices central but opaque hubs of ICE enforcement strategy.