Increased Congressional Oversight of United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) (H.R. 877)

What is H.R. 877?

(Updated February 12, 2019)

This bill would “authorize” the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE), clarifying the mission and objectives of the agency. In  2003, Congress passed the Homeland Security Act—legislation that organized 22 different agencies under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.  The U.S. Customs Service became part of the Department of Homeland Security and was subsequently split into two, new agencies: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). 

The Homeland Security Act, which was pushed through Congress in the wake of 9/11, makes no mention of ICE whatsoever. In addition to clarifying ICE's objectives and procedures, the bill would also eliminate language from the Homeland Security Act that applies to federal agencies that no longer exist. 

A separate but related bill seeks similar authorization for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. 

Argument in favor

Streamlines and clarifies the mission and objectives of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Integrates, streamlines and modernizes national security.

Argument opposed

With few details to go off of, it’s hard to tell how the agency would change, and what sort of impact those changes would have on national security, immigration and customs.

Impact

The bill impacts ICE, the agency that deals with identifying and eliminating security vulnerabilities along the U.S. border. These issues include human trafficking, drug smuggling and arms trafficking. Legislators have said that while they seek to change little with how ICE operates at present, the bill would provide Congress with greater ability to make changes in the future.

Cost of H.R. 877

A CBO cost estimate is unavailable.

Additional Info

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