What does the Immigration and Customs Enforcement do?

Updates published annually

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a subdivision of the US Department of Homeland Security responsible for enforcing immigration laws, investigating criminal activities, and ensuring national security. ICE conducts investigations, detains and deports individuals who violate immigration laws, and works to dismantle criminal organizations involved in human trafficking, drug smuggling, and other illegal activities. It was established in 2003.

In FY 2024,

$9.99B

was spent by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement

In FY 2024,

11.2%

of Dept. of Homeland Security spending was by the Immigration and Customs Enforcement

How much does Immigration and Customs Enforcement spend?

Immigration and Customs Enforcement spent a net total of $9.99 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This was 11.2% of the $89.3 billion spent by the Department of Homeland Security, which itself was 1.3% of all federal spending. The ICE ranked 4th among DHS subdivisions in net spending.

Net spending is the difference between agency spending and any financial accounts generating funds from the agency’s own activities, like fees or rent. When these funds offset all spending, net spending appears negative. Some agencies tend to operate with positive net spending while others will register negative net spending sometimes or often.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement ranked 4th among Department of Homeland Security divisions in net spending in 2024.

DHS net spending by division, FY 2024

Like the overall federal budget, agency spending may shift over time due to population growth, changes in policy and programs, and emerging problems to address. Adjusting for inflation, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s federal spending has increased from $3.51 billion in 2003 to $9.99 billion in 2024.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s federal spending in FY 2024 was higher than in FY 2003.

Yearly federal net spending by ICE, adjusted for inflation (2024 dollars), FYs 2003–2024

Since 2003, Immigration and Customs Enforcement's spending has increased 184.9%, while overall spending has increased 83.3%.

As a percentage of the overall federal budget, a positive number means agency net spending made up some positive share of total federal spending; a negative number means that net generated funds offset a portion of total spending. ICE spending grew more than overall federal spending since 2003, which means that its share of the federal budget increased. In 2024, ICE accounted for 0.1% of overall federal spending.

Major legislation, internal or global economic conditions, and acute events like the COVID-19 pandemic can affect spending year to year. For example, the federal budget fluctuated during the pandemic, rising from $5.3 trillion (in 2023 dollars) in 2019 to $7.7 trillion in 2020 and $7.8 trillion in 2021.

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s share of federal spending in FY 2024 was higher than in FY 2003.

Net spending by ICE as a share of federal spending, FYs 2003–2024

Most federal spending can be categorized as direct or indirect. Direct spending refers to money the federal government spends on budget items such as federal programs, employee salaries, and debt interest. Indirect spending refers to federal transfers to state and local governments.

In FY 2024, all of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement's spending was direct.

The chart below outlines all net ICE spending.

How did the Immigration and Customs Enforcement spend its budget in 2024?

Federal government net spending isolated to ICE, FY 2024

How many people work for Immigration and Customs Enforcement?

Some 20,606 of the 2.31 million total civilian federal employees work for Immigration and Customs Enforcement as of September 2024. This is 3.6% more people than the division staffed in 2010.

The number of federal employees working for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement has increased 3.6% since 2010.

Number of federal employees working for ICE, September 2010–2024

The Immigration and Customs Enforcement accounts for 0.9% of the overall federal workforce. As the number of federal employees has changed, so too has the way the workforce is organized, with resources allocated to agencies depending on government priorities. The division constituted a similar share of the overall federal workforce in 2024 compared to 2010 (0.9%).

While the number of employees on an agency’s payroll contributes to that agency’s expenditures, some agencies have relatively few employees compared to their budget or vice versa, giving them an outsized share of either the budget or the workforce. According to the most recent data, the Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s share of the workforce (0.9%) is larger than its share of the budget (0.1%).

Who leads the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement?

The ICE is led by a director. This individual is appointed by the president of the United States and requires confirmation by the Senate. The ICE director reports to the Secretary of Homeland Security. There is no fixed term for this position.

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Methodology

USAFacts standardizes data, in areas such as time and demographics, to make it easier to understand and compare.

Page sources

USAFacts endeavors to share the most up-to-date information available. We sourced the data on this page directly from government agencies; however, the intervals at which agencies publish updated data vary.

Office of Personnel Management
FedScope
Office of Management and Budget and US Department of the Treasury
Budget of the US Government and Monthly Treasury Statement