ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations directorate was established simultaneously with DHS in 2003 as one of ICE’s primary operational components in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks. It was primarily tasked with enforcing immigration law in the U.S. interior, including identifying, arresting, detaining and removing illegal aliens from the United States.
More than two decades after its creation, ERO continues to play a vital role in safeguarding the nation. As terror threats have evolved over the years, ERO has quickly adapted to the changing landscape, transforming from a traditional deportation agency into a key pillar of America’s security and public safety infrastructure, working around the clock to prevent future terrorist attacks on American soil.
ERO’s acting Executive Assistant Director Marcos Charles believes the 9/11 attacks fundamentally reshaped how ERO approaches immigration enforcement. According to Charles, every encounter and every arrest, is weighed against the question: Does this individual pose a threat to the safety of the United States?
“Today, we are leveraging advances in intelligence-sharing, biometric screening and targeted enforcement to identify, locate, apprehend and remove individuals with known or suspected ties to terrorism who are unlawfully present in our country,” Charles said.
Removing terrorists from the homeland
ERO actively works to remove individuals who pose significant threats to the homeland. Here’s a quick look at some of the most dangerous criminal aliens ICE has removed:
- On Jan. 10, 2024, ERO Buffalo removed Mohammed Abdul Kader Khalil Saleh, a Jordanian national, after he served a 20-year prison sentence for seditious conspiracy, bombing conspiracy and attempted bombing. Arrested by ERO Philadelphia on Sept. 1, 2023, Saleh was tied to the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, which killed six and injured over 1,000. He was also involved in plots to bomb the United Nations, the Jacob K. Javits Federal Building, the Lincoln Tunnel, the Holland Tunnel, the George Washington Bridge and U.S. military installations.
- On Feb. 15, 2023, ERO Buffalo removed Wali Khan Amin Shah, a Saudi Arabian national, to Qatar after he served 26 years in federal prison for terrorism charges. Shah played a key role in the Bojinka Plot, an ambitious al-Qaida plan led by Ramzi Yousef and Khalid Sheikh Mohammed. The plot, disrupted in January 1995, included plans to assassinate Pope John Paul II, bomb 11 airliners flying from Asia to the U.S., and crash a plane into CIA headquarters.
- On March 9, 2021, ERO Buffalo removed Sami Samir Hassoun, a Lebanese national who was convicted of attempting to use weapons of mass destruction against people and property in Chicago. He placed a backpack that he thought contained a powerful explosive device into a curbside trash container on a crowded street near Wrigley Field in Chicago in September 2010.
- On Dec. 8, 2020, ERO Philadelphia removed Compton Eversley, a Guyanese national convicted for his role in a plot to attack John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Eversley participated in planning meetings and acted as a liaison to secure support from known terrorist organizations. In January 2011, the Eastern District of New York convicted him of providing material support to terrorists and sentenced him to 168 months in prison.
Support from the current administration
Many ICE employees credit President Trump’s stringent policies on illegal immigration as a key motivator in their work. These policies have reinvigorated the workforce, resulting in significant achievements and improved collaboration between local and state entities. Past policies often left employees feeling constrained in their ability to effectively pursue terrorists or illegal aliens. However, under the current administration, they feel fully supported, with leadership taking proactive measures to provide ICE with the resources necessary to fulfill its mission.
“ERO’s number one priority aligns with ICE and the rest of DHS: We aim to secure the homeland,” said an ERO official. “With the passing of recent legislation that provides substantial additional funding, ERO is preparing to expand resources to protect national security.”
Strong partnerships with other agencies
ERO increasingly collaborates with other federal agencies, including through its participation in the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Forces. In some cases, ERO officers serve as case agents for Joint Terrorism Task Force investigations. ERO routinely assists the FBI and ICE’s own Homeland Security Investigations directorate to coordinate administrative immigration arrests of individuals identified as national security threats. Additionally, ERO provides expert insight into the backgrounds of foreign-born suspects involved in acts of terrorism.
Through the Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Intelligence and Analysis, ERO formally shares intelligence with its partners. These collaborative efforts ensure a comprehensive approach to identifying and mitigating threats.
Contributions of DHS fusion centers
DHS fusion centers — state and locally operated hubs designed to facilitate information sharing and collaboration among federal, state, local, tribal, territorial and private sector partners — play a huge role in national security and public safety. Fusion centers are instrumental in information sharing, threat analysis, interagency coordination and community engagement. Established after the 9/11 terrorist attacks to address gaps in coordination, these centers have become critical components of modern counterterrorism efforts.
The Southwest Texas Fusion Center is one example. It serves as a command hub during emergencies, housing representatives from federal, state and local agencies; school resource officers; housing authorities; child protective services officials; private sector representatives and even military liaisons.
ERO supports the fusion center’s mission while benefiting from full access to Texas-specific databases.
“It’s like give and take,” said one ERO official stationed there.
These resources enable deportation officers to locate criminal aliens, gather intelligence on detention center inmates, investigate gang affiliations and foreign terrorist activities, research policy reports, and respond to public outreach and tips.
The official at the Southwest Texas Fusion Center described it as a collaborative environment where federal, state and local partners work together to combat threats using all available resources. This underscores the importance of multiagency, collaborative approaches in modern counterterrorism efforts.
By leveraging strong administrative support, interagency partnerships, and the capabilities of fusion centers, ERO continues to strengthen its ability to protect the homeland and address national security threats effectively.
Leveraging cutting-edge technology
ERO leverages cutting-edge technology and time-tested intelligence techniques to identify, locate and arrest suspects.
With advancements in technology and the use of social media and encrypted apps, the significantly evolving threat of terrorism requires ICE and other agencies to stay ahead of threats. One official described it as a “chase game,” noting that as authorities developed new countermeasures, terrorist groups and cartels also adapted with their own countermeasures, creating an ongoing cycle of tactical evolution.
ERO’s intelligence-driven approach ensures that the agency continues to remove dangerous aliens from the country while actively preventing future attacks through comprehensive intelligence collection and analysis.
Inside the Buffalo Field Office
ERO’s field offices across the United States manage and oversee its operations, including identifying, apprehending, detaining and removing individuals who are unlawfully present in the country or who pose threats to public safety or national security.
Strategically positioned along the Canadian border, the ERO Buffalo field office is responsible for the full spectrum of ICE’s mission, including apprehension, detention and removal of illegal aliens.
ERO’s field offices, like the one in Buffalo, routinely participate in community outreach events, such as National Night Out, to engage with local communities and address misconceptions about ICE.
As ERO continues to arrest, detain and remove illegal aliens, its field offices remain essential to guard against those who want to exploit our immigration system to harm the United States. Their work, often unseen by the public, helps ensure that the homeland security failures of 9/11 are never repeated.
ERO’s transformation reflects a broader understanding that immigration enforcement and national security are interconnected.
“ERO is no longer just an immigration agency,” says Charles, ERO’s top boss. “It’s now an integral piece in the overall mission of protecting the homeland.”