U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
ICE is a federal law enforcement agency operating under the Department of Homeland Security and is responsible for the identification, investigation, and dismantling of vulnerabilities affecting the country’s transportation, economic, border, and infrastructure security. The agency comprises of two major directorates namely Enforcement and Removal Operations and Homeland Security Investigations (www.ice.gov).
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
CBP is the biggest federal law enforcement organization operating under the Department of Homeland Security and is responsible for the regulation and facilitation of import duty collection, international trade, and the enforcement of U.S regulations pertaining to customs, immigration, and trade (cbp.gov). Its mandate includes to preventing both terrorists and the weapons used by these terrorists from being smuggled into the country. It is also responsible for preventing illegal immigrants and contraband goods from entering the country.
Despite these two agencies being different law enforcement agencies within the Department of Homeland Security, the ICE and the CBP have some similar as well as different responsibilities. Some of their duties seem to overlap, especially in the area of immigrations and border protection. Both undertake to prevent and control the illegal immigration of aliens into the country and the smuggling and trade of illegal goods and drugs into the country. Conversely, the CBP has a wider mandate that includes the protection of intellectual property theft, economic and agricultural interests, and international trade. Despite these differences, there have been problems in coordination between these two agencies (fiercehomelandsecurity.com). It is important that they are able to work together in order to control illegal trade and other illegal activities occurring across the vast borders of the country.
Works cited
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. (n.d). Who We Are. Web 4 Nov 2014. (www.ice.gov)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection. (n.d). About CBP. Web 4 Nov 2014. (http://www.cbp.gov/about)
Perera, David. CBP and ICE still not coordinating well, says DHS IG. Web Fierce Homeland Security 11 march, 2012. Web 4 Nov 2014. (http://www.fiercehomelandsecurity.com/story/cbp-and-ice-still-not-coordinating-well- says-dhs-ig/2012-03-11)
