What Happened
Vox’s investigation into ICE’s historical claims reveals a striking transformation in American immigration enforcement. The agency’s website states that “despite U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s relatively young age, its functional history predates the modern birth of the agency by more than 200 years.”
This “functional history” refers to the evolution of federal immigration services that began in 1891 with the creation of the first federal immigration agency—a modest operation with just 4 employees. Today, ICE employs over 22,000 people, representing a 5,500-fold increase in staffing over 130+ years.
Why It Matters
Understanding ICE’s historical development is crucial for comprehending current immigration debates and policies. The agency’s transformation from a small administrative body focused on managing immigrant labor and benefits to a massive law enforcement operation centered on national security reflects broader changes in American attitudes toward immigration.
This evolution helps explain why immigration enforcement today operates so differently from the past, with greater emphasis on detention, deportation, and border security rather than integration and labor management.
Background
The story of American immigration enforcement is one of gradual but profound change. The original federal immigration services were designed primarily to manage the flow of workers and provide basic services to newcomers. Ellis Island and other processing centers exemplified this approach—they were gateways for legal entry, not barriers to it.
Over the decades, several factors contributed to the shift toward enforcement:
- National security concerns: Wars, terrorism fears, and changing global dynamics made immigration a security issue
- Economic pressures: Periods of economic downturn often led to calls for stricter immigration controls
- Political evolution: Immigration became increasingly politicized, with enforcement seen as a measure of governmental control
- Technological capabilities: Modern surveillance and database technologies enabled more comprehensive tracking and enforcement
The formal creation of ICE in 2003 under the Department of Homeland Security represented the culmination of this transformation, consolidating various immigration enforcement functions under a single agency with a clear law enforcement mandate.
What’s Next
Recent developments suggest this enforcement-focused approach will continue to intensify. ICE announced a “historic 120% manpower increase” in early 2026, indicating significant expansion of its operations and capabilities.
This growth raises important questions about the future direction of American immigration policy:
- Resource allocation: How will expanded enforcement capabilities be deployed?
- Policy balance: Will there be corresponding investments in legal immigration pathways and integration services?
- Community impact: What effects will increased enforcement have on immigrant communities and local economies?
- Legal challenges: How will courts and civil rights organizations respond to expanded enforcement actions?
The historical context provided by ICE’s evolution suggests that current debates about immigration enforcement are part of a much longer trajectory that has fundamentally reshaped how America manages immigration.