ICE is the Department of Homeland Security law‑enforcement agency that enforces federal immigration laws through two main operational components: Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), which locates, arrests, detains and removes noncitizens, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), which conducts criminal investigations. Immigration officers’ arrest powers come from the Immigration and Nationality Act and statutes such as 8 U.S.C. §1357, which authorize interrogation and warrantless arrests in specified circumstances; removals are carried out by ERO after a final order of removal.
DHS/ICE use legal definitions in the Immigration and Nationality Act, criminal convictions, investigative and intelligence information (often from FBI, NCTC, State), and formal U.S. State Department Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) designations to assess threats. “Member of an FTO” is a legal concept tied to the State Department’s FTO listing; DHS can also treat people as terrorist‑related under INA/TRIG grounds based on evidence gathered by investigators.
“Criminal illegal alien” is not a single statutory term; operationally ICE (via its Criminal Alien Program, CAP) uses it to refer to noncitizens who are removable because they have been charged with or convicted of crimes or otherwise prioritized for removal as public‑safety risks. Federal law treats such persons as “aliens” removable under the INA when they meet criminal‑removability grounds.
After an immigration judge issues a removal order it becomes final when the appeal period expires, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA) dismisses an appeal, or the respondent waives appeal. Once final, ICE has a statutory “removal period” (generally 90 days under 8 U.S.C. §1231) during which it is to remove the person; removals are executed by ERO via escorted commercial flights, charter flights or ground transport, subject to stays, appeals, or logistical/foreign‑country coordination.
Tricia McLaughlin is DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs; she leads the Department’s Office of Public Affairs and serves as the principal advisor to the Secretary on media, digital, strategic and crisis communications.
Publicizing enforcement actions is governed by federal privacy and disclosure rules and DHS policies; DHS/ICE routinely publish press releases but must balance operational security and privacy. Oversight and reporting come from Congress (appropriations and oversight committees), the DHS Office of Inspector General, and statutory transparency laws (e.g., FOIA); agencies also follow internal communications and legal-review processes before naming individuals or alleging affiliations. Specific statutory limits on disclosures depend on case status, classified information and privacy protections.
Acts as an unregistered agent of a foreign government is charged under statutes such as 18 U.S.C. §951 (acting as an agent of a foreign government without notice) or under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) (22 U.S.C. §611 et seq.) for failure to register; convictions require proof that the defendant acted at the direction or control of a foreign government or principal and knowingly failed to comply. IEEPA (50 U.S.C. §1701 et seq.) violations (sanctions/export controls) are pursued by DOJ/OFAC; proofs focus on prohibited transactions (exports, transfers, financial dealings) with sanctioned parties and the defendant’s willfulness/knowledge.