Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is a division within Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that investigates “criminal organizations illegally exploiting America’s travel, trade, financial and immigration systems,” according to its government website. HSI has operational offices both within the country and internationally to enforce “America’s customs and immigration laws at and beyond [U.S.] borders.” HSI is the Department of Homeland Security’s largest investigative presence abroad.
Formed officially in 2010, Homeland Security Investigations is organized into eight divisions. These include Domestic Operations, International Operations, and Investigative Programs, which include operations in areas such as cybercrime, financial and narcotics violations, as well as support for law enforcement. Special agents at HSI investigate a broad array of crimes and have the statutory authority to enforce the Immigration and Nationality Act, U.S. Customs laws, general federal crimes, the Controlled Substances Act, and many other aspects of U.S. law.
Homeland Security Investigations had a budget authority of nearly $1.7 billion in 2019.
