ICE vs CBP vs HSI vs ERO
ICE vs CBP vs HSI vs ERO
Overview
The United States immigration-enforcement system is split across several agencies with overlapping but distinct responsibilities. Understanding the differences between ICE, CBP, HSI, and ERO helps identify which units appear in incidents, how they operate, and how they cooperate with state and local law enforcement.
CBP operates primarily at and near the border.
- Manages ports of entry: airports, seaports, and land crossings.
- Conducts passport and visa inspections.
- Patrols between ports of entry through the U.S. Border Patrol.
- Handles customs duties, trade enforcement, cargo inspections, and smuggling interceptions.
- Controls initial admissions and denials of entry.
CBP is usually responsible for uniformed officers at airports, border stations, and international checkpoints.
ICE operates mainly inside the United States (interior enforcement).
- Enforces federal immigration law within the country.
- Identifies, arrests, detains, and removes people subject to deportation.
- Conducts investigations into cross-border crime, trafficking, financial violations, and document fraud.
- Works with local police, sheriff offices, and federal task forces.
ICE has two main enforcement branches: HSI and ERO.
HSI: Homeland Security Investigations (Branch of ICE)
HSI is the criminal-investigations arm of ICE.
- Investigates human trafficking, human smuggling, and transnational crime.
- Targets narcotics, weapons trafficking, and gang networks.
- Handles financial crimes, money laundering, and trade fraud.
- Conducts cybercrime and child-exploitation investigations.
- Often operates in plain clothes with tactical vests.
HSI focuses on criminal cases, not civil immigration violations.
ERO: Enforcement and Removal Operations (Branch of ICE)
ERO is ICE’s immigration-enforcement arm.
- Locates and arrests undocumented individuals inside the U.S.
- Manages ICE detention centers and private-contracted facilities.
- Oversees custody, processing, transport, and deportations.
- Executes removal flights and transfers.
- Works with local police through programs like 287(g).
ERO is responsible for most street arrests, home raids, and detention operations.
How They Work Together
Although each agency has a defined mission, operations often overlap.
- CBP transfers individuals to ICE/ERO after border apprehensions.
- HSI conducts criminal investigations that may lead to ERO removals.
- Joint task forces can include ICE, CBP, FBI, DEA, and local police.
- Local law-enforcement cooperation varies widely depending on state and city policy.
Understanding which agency is involved helps accurately classify incidents, identify units, and verify footage.