The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is the cabinet-level executive department responsible for protecting the United States from terrorism, securing the borders, and managing immigration. It was created by the Homeland Security Act of 2002 in response to the September 11 attacks and began operations on March 1, 2003.
DHS absorbed 22 existing federal agencies, including the legacy U.S. Customs Service (now part of CBP), the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. It is the third-largest federal department by employee count, with roughly 240,000 personnel.
Trade-relevant DHS components include:
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection — The primary trade enforcement agency, handling all imports at U.S. ports of entry
- Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) — Investigates customs fraud, UFLPA violations, and intellectual property theft through Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)
- U.S. Coast Guard — Maritime security, including vessel inspections and port security
- Transportation Security Administration (TSA) — Air cargo security
- Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) — Supply chain cybersecurity
DHS is led by the Secretary of Homeland Security, a member of the President's Cabinet. The Secretary appoints the Commissioner of CBP and sets overall enforcement priorities, including how aggressively CBP pursues forced labor and trade fraud cases.