The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) was established in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to coordinate and oversee “a comprehensive national strategy to safeguard the country against terrorism and respond to any future attacks,” according to the DHS.

In November 2002, the DHS became a cabinet-level department.

Here’s what to know about the three agencies in DHS working on immigration:

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

ICE employees in the Enforcement and Removal Operations unit are officers, not agents. The officers arrest and detain people for deportation.

ICE employees in the Homeland Security Investigations unit are agents, not officers. They investigate criminal activity that crosses international lines, such as trafficking of humans or goods, mo

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