What A Day A Brief History of ICE
Jan 19, 2026
Garrett Graff, a historian and journalist with two decades of experience covering federal law enforcement, dives into the origins and controversies surrounding ICE. He explains how the agency was born from post-9/11 policies and its split functions with Customs and Border Protection. Graff highlights recruitment and training flaws, particularly the reliance on AI screening. He also discusses how policy shifts during the Trump administration led to more aggressive tactics. Lastly, he warns that constitutional rights offer no guaranteed protection from ICE's reach.
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How ICE Was Created
- ICE was created during the 2003 DHS reshuffle to handle interior immigration and customs enforcement separate from CBP at the border.
- It combined INS deportation officers into ERO and customs/INS investigators into HSI for transnational investigations.
Border Vs. Interior Roles
- CBP was designed as a unified border security agency while ICE would handle interior enforcement and complex investigations.
- The split intended one agency to watch the border and another to police activity inside the U.S.
Limited Authority Of ERO Officers
- ERO officers have narrow immigration enforcement powers and limited authority compared with HSI special agents.
- They can arrest for federal crimes they witness but lack broader investigative powers or regular policing experience.
