Federal Agencies with Immigration Responsibilities
Many different federal agencies have responsibilities for regulation of immigration. The following list identifies those that have the most responsibility.
Department of Homeland Security
- Citizenship and Immigration Services (CIS)Reviews and approves applications for immigration benefits, including immigrant visa petitions, naturalization petitions, and asylum and refugee applications. Part of the Department of Homeland Security.
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)Responsible for interior security. Includes two law enforcement divisions, Homeland Security Investigations and Enforcement and Removal Operations. Part of the Department of Homeland Security.
- Customs and Border Protection (CBP)Responsible for inspecting persons and cargo passing through points of entry and securing the borders. Part of the Department of Homeland Security.
Department of Justice
- Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR)Includes several offices, including the Board of Immigration Appeals, the immigration judges, and the administrative law judges. Immigration judges conduct removal hearings; administrative law judges hear cases involving employers and those alleging document fraud. The EOIR is part of the Department of Justice.
- Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment PracticesThe Office of Special Counsel (OSC), part of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, enforces the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act.
Department of State
- Bureau of Consular AffairsProvides visa and passport services as well as services for overseas citizens. Part of the Department of State.
- U.S. ConsulsWebsites of U.S. embassies, consulates, and diplomatic missions abroad. Consular officers may, among other duties, issue visas to foreign nationals and passports to U.S. citizens.
Department of Labor
- Office of Administrative Law JudgesJudges preside over hearings on many kinds of labor-related matters, including matters involving immigrants and aliens. Includes the Board of Alien Labor Certifications, which reviews denials of certification of aliens for certain immigrant visas.
