History of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Timeline

United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a federal law enforcement agency within the Department of Homeland Security. Created in 2003 following the Homeland Security Act of 2002 after the 9/11 attacks, ICE's mission encompasses enforcing immigration laws, conducting criminal investigations, preserving national security, and protecting public safety. It was formed by consolidating functions previously held by the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the U.S. Customs Service. ICE focuses on identifying, arresting, and deporting undocumented immigrants, particularly those deemed a threat to national security or public safety, as well as combating transnational crime.

1903: Immigration Transferred to Department of Commerce and Labor

In 1903, immigration responsibilities were transferred to the purview of the Department of Commerce and Labor.

1913: Immigration Under Department of Labor

In 1913, after the split of the Department of Commerce and Labor, immigration was transferred to the Department of Labor.

1933: Establishment of the Immigration and Naturalization Service

In 1933, the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) was established.

1940: Immigration and Naturalization Under Department of Justice

In 1940, due to increasing concerns about national security, services relating to immigration and naturalization were organized under the authority of the Department of Justice.

2001: Government Reorganization Following September 11 Attacks

In 2001, the September 11 attacks led to a major government reorganization, resulting in the creation of the Department of Homeland Security and the restructuring of immigration and customs services.

2002: Homeland Security Act of 2002

In 2002, the Homeland Security Act led to the creation of the Department of Homeland Security.

2002: ICE Created as Part of Homeland Security Act

In 2002, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was created as part of the Homeland Security Act, following the September 11 attacks. ICE absorbed the functions of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the United States Customs Service.

March 1, 2003: Dissolution of INS and Creation of ICE

On March 1, 2003, the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the United States Customs Service were dissolved. The Homeland Security Act of 2002 transferred most of their functions to three new entities within the newly created United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS): United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

2003: Federal Air Marshals Service Moved to ICE

In 2003, Asa Hutchinson moved the Federal Air Marshals Service from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to ICE.

February 2005: Operation Community Shield Launched

In February 2005, ICE began Operation Community Shield, a national law enforcement initiative targeting violent transnational street gangs by removing criminal immigrants.

2005: Federal Air Marshals Service Moved Back to TSA

In 2005, Michael Chertoff moved the Federal Air Marshals Service back to the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

October 28, 2009: Federal Protective Service Transferred

On October 28, 2009, the Federal Protective Service was transferred from ICE to the National Protection and Programs Directorate.

2009: Start of Obama Administration Deportations

Starting in 2009, the Barack Obama administration began overseeing the deporting of a record number of undocumented immigrants.

2015: ICE Deportation Data

According to ICE data, about 40% of those deported by ICE in 2015 had no criminal conviction, while a majority of those convicted were guilty of minor charges.

2016: End of Obama Administration Deportations

By 2016, the Barack Obama administration oversaw the deporting of a record 2.4 million undocumented immigrants.

January 20, 2017: Sarah Saldaña Steps Down as Director

On January 20, 2017, Sarah Saldaña stepped down as director of ICE. Since then, the agency has not had a Senate-confirmed director, with Todd Lyons serving as the acting director.

2017: Trump's Immigration Policy and Increased ICE Staffing

In 2017, shortly after taking office, Donald Trump signed an executive order to increase ICE's staffing by 10,000 people and vastly expand ICE's immigration enforcement powers.

June 17, 2018: Occupy ICE Movement Begins

On June 17, 2018, the Occupy ICE movement began outside Portland, Oregon, initially as a vigil that grew into a larger movement protesting ICE policies.

2018: HSI Leaders Request Separation from ICE

In 2018, 19 HSI special agents in charge (SACs) sent a letter to DHS secretary Kirstjen Nielsen requesting that HSI be formally separated from ICE due to concerns that ICE's civil immigration enforcement mission was hampering HSI's investigative mission. This request was ultimately ignored.

2018: Public Protests and Calls for Abolition of ICE

In 2018, ICE was the subject of protests, with some activists calling for its abolition due to public controversy over its enforcement actions, publicity campaigns, and tactics.

August 1, 2019: San Francisco ICE Office Protest

On August 1, 2019, a month-long peaceful protest began outside the San Francisco ICE office, with protesters demanding an end to family separation at the border.

September 14, 2019: Sit-in at Microsoft Store in NYC

On September 14, 2019, a sit-in at the Microsoft store on 5th Avenue in NYC was led by Close the Camps NYC, protesting Microsoft for providing technology to aid ICE.

2020: Calls for Abolition of ICE

By 2020, growing numbers of Democratic lawmakers and progressive figures called for the abolition of ICE and an overhaul of the United States immigration system due to ICE's controversial practices.

2020: ICE Office Damaged During Portland Protests

During the 2020 protests and riots in Portland, Oregon, the local ICE office had its window broken.

November 2021: American Immigration Council Report on Detainers

From February to November 2021, the American Immigration Council found that nearly half (49.8 percent) of detainers were carried out against people in the “other” category, nearly a third (33.2 percent) of arrests fell under the “other” category and 23.4 percent of removals were also classified as “other.”

2021: End of Trump's First Presidency

Donald Trump's first presidency ended in 2021, after enacting hardline immigration policy.

October 2023: ICE Detention Numbers

As of October 2023, ICE held approximately 30,000 individuals in detention facilities across the United States.

June 2025: Protests Against ICE Raids in Los Angeles

In June 2025, ICE raids in Los Angeles led to strong protests, described by Reuters as the strongest domestic backlash to the Trump administration since January.

June 2025: Los Angeles Protests Against ICE

In June 2025, demonstrations emerged nationwide against ICE's immigration enforcement activity and policies, including the June 2025 Los Angeles protests.

June 2025: Increase in 287(g) Agreements

In June 2025, the number of 287(g) agreements, which enhance collaboration between local law enforcement and immigration enforcement agents, increased to 649, up from 135 in January 2025.

June 2025: Lawsuits Filed Against ICE for Accessing Benefit Data

In June 2025, twenty states filed lawsuits alleging that ICE's access to Medicaid and benefit data was used to facilitate immigration raids, disproportionately impacting mixed-status families. These actions were criticized as violating the Privacy Act of 1974.

July 4, 2025: One Big Beautiful Bill Act Signed into Law

On July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act was signed into law, allocating unprecedented funding to ICE for detention facilities, deportation operations, and new agents, making it the most well-funded federal law enforcement agency in U.S. history.

July 2025: Majority Disapproval of ICE

By July 2025, multiple polls showed a majority of Americans disapproved of ICE, with strongly negative public opinion that surpassed prior negative opinion of it during the 2018 "Abolish ICE" movement.

July 2025: Public Opinion Shifts Against ICE

In July 2025, a Fox News poll revealed that 58% of Americans viewed ICE as "too aggressive," marking a 10-point increase since July 2025.

August 2025: ERO Training Cut in Half

In August 2025, ICE's ERO training was cut in half.

September 2025: ICE Contracts with Clearview AI and Reactivation of Paragon Solutions Contract

In September 2025, ICE signed a $10 million contract with Clearview AI, their largest to date, for facial recognition software. Additionally, a $2 million contract with Paragon Solutions, a spyware company, was reactivated. This contract had been paused under a 2023 executive order restricting spyware but was reinstated by the second Trump administration. Civil liberties advocates raised concerns about due process and human rights.

September 2025: Trump Administration and ICE Target Anti-ICE Protesters

In September 2025, Trump labeled "Antifa" a "domestic terrorist organization" and ordered federal agencies to investigate it. ICE, under acting director Todd Lyons, announced it would investigate anti-ICE protester networks, track their finances, and target "ringleaders" and "professional agitators." Concerns were raised about sweeping surveillance of constitutionally protected political action.

October 1, 2025: Start of Fiscal Year for ICE

October 1, 2025, marks the beginning of the new fiscal year for ICE. As of February 2026, ICE reported using 225 detention facilities during this fiscal year.

October 2025: Removal of ICE Tracking Apps and Groups

In October 2025, Apple and Google removed apps used to document ICE activities from their app stores, and Meta removed a Facebook group dedicated to tracking ICE agents at the Justice Department's request.

October 2025: Zach Bryan Posts Snippet of Anti-ICE Song

In October 2025, Zach Bryan, an American country music singer-songwriter, posted an audio snippet onto his Instagram account of a partial recording of an unreleased song called "Bad News" with lyrics which appeared to be critical of tactics used by some ICE agents deployed in cities around the country.

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October 24, 2025: Stephen Miller's Response to Illinois Criminal Charges

On October 24, 2025, Stephen Miller, White House deputy chief of staff, responded to the suggestion that the State of Illinois could pursue criminal charges against ICE agents involved in Operation Midway Blitz.

November 2025: Shakeup in ICE Leadership

By November 2025, at least half of ICE's top leadership had been fired or reassigned, and many were replaced with Border Patrol officials as part of the Trump administration's desire to increase deportations.

December 2025: ICE Detention and Deportation Statistics

As of December 2025, ICE held 68,440 people in detention, nearly 40,000 of whom had no criminal record or only pending charges. Between January and December 2025 the administration had arrested over 328,000 people and deported nearly 327,000.

December 2025: Operation Metro Surge Begins in Minnesota

Beginning in December 2025, ICE began Operation Metro Surge in Minnesota, which was characterized by local police and journalists as an escalation in the severity and brutality of ICE tactics, harassment and threats against observers, the detention of US citizens, and the arrest of 3,000 people.

December 2025: Abuse Reports at Camp East Montana

By December 2025, more than 45 detainees had reported abuse and injuries to their attorneys at Camp East Montana. Two inmates reported having their testicles crushed by guards as a form of punishment.

December 2025: ICE's High-Tech Surveillance Expansion

In December 2025, Politico reported on ICE's substantial investments in high-tech surveillance equipment, totaling at least $300 million. Coupled with relaxed data collection guardrails, this indicated a shift in enforcement policy, extending beyond immigrants to include American critics of ICE's actions. The facial recognition app called Mobile Fortify draws from databases from the CBP Traveler Verification Service.

December 2025: ICE Employee Numbers

In December 2025, United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) had 20,000 employees.

2025: ICE Becomes Largest, Well-Funded Federal Law Enforcement Agency

In 2025, following the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, ICE became the largest and most well-funded federal law enforcement agency in U.S. history.

January 7, 2026: ICE Officer Shoots and Kills Renée Nicole Good

On January 7, 2026, an ICE officer shot and killed 37-year-old Renée Nicole Good during an incident in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

January 15, 2026: ICE Reports Highest Custody Levels Since 2003

On January 15, 2026, ICE reported holding around 73,000 individuals in custody. This was the highest level since its founding in 2003.

January 2026: Cultural Revolt Against ICE

By January 2026, The Associated Press reported that a "broad cultural revolt" against ICE and Trump's immigration agenda was forming across American culture, business, sports, and entertainment. On January 28, Bruce Springsteen released the anti-ICE protest song "Streets of Minneapolis". In 2026, U2 released the song "American Obituary" criticizing ICE. Multiple celebrities at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards used the event to criticize ICE.

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January 2026: ICE Labeled as a Paramilitary Force

By January 2026, politicians, journalists, and scholars had increasingly described ICE as a paramilitary force.

January 2026: Criticism and Impunity of ICE

Following January 2026 killings of American citizens, The Economist wrote that ICE embodies a "macho culture" and has "revelled in the wanton use of force". By January 2026, The Washington Post reported that 16 DHS shootings since July 2025 were prematurely declared justified by federal officials before investigations were completed, and no federal officers were held accountable.

January 2026: ICE Disobeys Federal Directives

In January 2026, Chief Judge Patrick J. Schiltz of Minnesota noted that ICE had disobeyed more federal directives in January alone than some federal agencies had in their entire existence, citing 97 court orders ICE had disobeyed since January 1 of that year.

January 2026: Protests Against ICE Actions

In January 2026, following the killing of Renée Good, tens of thousands protested across various cities in America. On January 30, protestors organized a "National Shutdown" to protest ICE actions.

January 2026: Detainee Deaths Reported at Camp East Montana

As of January 2026, three detainee deaths were reported within 44 days at Camp East Montana. An autopsy ruled the death of 55-year-old Cuban immigrant Geraldo Lunas Campos as a homicide caused by asphyxia.

January 22, 2026: Poll Finds 63% Think ICE Has Gone Too Far

A January 22, 2026, nationwide Times/Sinema poll found that 63% of Americans thought that, as a whole, ICE as an agency had gone "too far".

January 24, 2026: Killing of Alex Pretti by DHS Agents

On January 24, 2026, Alex Pretti, an ICU nurse, was killed by DHS agents after attempting to protect a woman during a public demonstration against the Trump administration's immigration enforcement policies. Government statements following the incident were controversial and contradicted video footage.

February 2026: District Court Blocks California's No Secret Police Act

In February 2026, a district court judge blocked California's No Secret Police Act, which aimed to prevent federal agents from wearing masks during raids, because the law only applied to federal agents and not state officers.

February 2026: ICE Used 225 Detention Facilities

In February 2026, ICE reported it used 225 detention facilities in the current fiscal year, which began on October 1, 2025.

March 2026: Washington and New Jersey Pass Anti-Mask Laws

In March 2026, Washington and New Jersey both passed anti-mask laws banning all law enforcement officers, including federal agents, from wearing masks, in response to ICE's practice of concealing identities.

2026: ICE Air Fleet Expansion

By 2026, the number of aircraft used by ICE Air to send deportees back to their home countries increased to 12, up from 10 in 2017.

2026: Concerns About ICE Presence at Polling Places

In 2026, concerns arose about ICE appearing at polling places due to political rhetoric suggesting federal agents would be deployed around polling stations in the 2026 midterm elections, though the White House did not confirm any formal plans.

2026: ICE Cuts Basic Training Program

In 2026, internal documents from ICE detailed cuts to 240 hours of its basic training program, including practical hands-on training, firearms training, fitness training, and legal authority training.

2026: Protests Against ICE at Milan Winter Olympics

In 2026, large protests erupted in Milan and other cities across Italy in response to the planned presence of ICE agents at the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, where they were assigned to the security team for U.S. Vice President JD Vance. The protests, led by student groups, escalated into confrontations with police.

2026: ICE Recruiting Efforts

In 2026, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) is attempting to hire 10,000 new employees, and have allocated $100 million in one year to what they have referred to as a "wartime recruitment" campaign.