Which federal agency is primarily responsible for immigration enforcement?

The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) plays a key role in immigration enforcement, particularly at the borders of the United States. CBP is responsible for securing the nation's borders and facilitating lawful trade and travel. It enforces immigration laws by preventing illegal entry of individuals into the country and managing the flow of immigrants at ports of entry.

However, while CBP is integral in border security and initial immigration checks, the agency specifically tasked with immigration enforcement, including the detention and removal of undocumented immigrants inside the country, is the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE operates under the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees various aspects of national security, including immigration policy.

Thus, although CBP has primary responsibilities related to immigration enforcement at the borders, ICE is the federal agency focused on enforcing immigration laws, making it a more precise answer to the question regarding overall immigration enforcement responsibilities.