Departments of the U.S. Government and What Their Roles Are In Immigration Procedures- Middle School

Instead of just one agency handling everything, the U.S. government splits the responsibilities of immigration procedures among three major cabinet-level departments. 

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

The DHS is the largest department involved in immigration. It handles the hands-on, daily operations of managing the U.S. borders and processing paperwork inside the country.

Three specific agencies inside the DHS divide up this work:

1. U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS): 

   • If someone wants to get a Green Card, apply for a work permit, or take the oath to become a U.S. citizen, USCIS is the agency that processes their applications.

2. Customs and Border Protection (CBP): 

   • CBP officers are the people who do the physical work. You see them at international airports, seaports, and land borders. They inspect passports, check visas, and ensure that people and cargo entering the U.S. are doing so legally and safely.

3. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE): 

   • While CBP guards the borders, ICE enforces immigration laws inside the country. They investigate illegal activities and handle the detention and removal of individuals who are in the U.S. without legal permission.

The Department of State (DOS)

The DOS operates U.S. Embassies and Consulates all over the world. If a citizen of another country wants to visit, study, or work in the U.S., they usually must visit a U.S. Embassy in their home country first. DOS officers conduct interviews and issue visas—the official stamps in a passport that grant permission to travel to a U.S. port of entry.

The Department of Justice (DOJ)

The DOJ runs the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR), which is a fancy name for the U.S. Immigration Court system. If someone is facing deportation, or if they are seeking asylum (protection from danger in their home country), an immigration judge hears their case. The judge reviews the evidence and decides whether the person can legally stay in the United States.