Research Guides: Immigration and Human Rights Law Review Guide: Government Agencies

Department of Homeland Security

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) is the government agency that oversees lawful immigration to the United States.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enforces federal laws governing border control, customs, trade and immigration to promote homeland security and public safety. ICE was created in 2003 through a merger of the investigative and interior enforcement elements of the former U.S. Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBR) U.S. Customs and Border Protection is one of the world's largest law enforcement organizations and is charged with keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S. while facilitating lawful international travel and trade.

Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) The primary mission of the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) is to adjudicate immigration cases by fairly, expeditiously, and uniformly interpreting and administering the Nation's immigration laws. Under delegated authority from the Attorney General, EOIR conducts immigration court proceedings, appellate reviews, and administrative hearings.
Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) The Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER), enforces the anti-discrimination provision of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA), 8 U.S.C. § 1324b. Regulations for this law are found at 28 C.F.R. Part 44. This federal law prohibits: 1) citizenship status discrimination in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee, 2) national origin discrimination in hiring, firing, or recruitment or referral for a fee, 3) unfair documentary practices during the employment eligibility verification, Form I-9 and E-Verify, and 4) retaliation or intimidation.

Office of Foreign Labor Certification Provides links on the many issues involved in submitting a labor certification application, including forms.
U.S. Department of Labor U.S. employers must go through a process called "labor certification" with the Department of Labor in order to hire foreign workers. If an employer's labor certification application is denied, the employer can appeal to the Board of Alien Labor Certification Appeals (BALCA).

U.S. Department of State The State Department is responsible for the issuance of visas.
Bureau of Consular Affairs The Office of Visa Services, in the Consular Affairs Bureau, Department of State provides various functions: (1) serve as liaisons with the Department of Homeland Security (2) serve as liaisons between the Department of State and U.S. Embassies and Consulates abroad on visa matters (3) interpret visa laws and regulations, and act as a point of contact for the public.