What’s the difference between ICE and Border Patrol? Are both in NC?

Immigration operations continued this week in Charlotte, with over 250 arrests reported so far, and in the Raleigh area on Tuesday, Nov. 18.

While current activities have been attributed to both U.S. Border Patrol and Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) interchangeably, the two agencies differ in a few key ways.

However, both are federal immigration-enforcement agencies under the Department of Homeland Security, they both have the authority to detain and arrest people for immigration violations and they wear similar uniforms, which can make it difficult for the public to distinguish between them.

But how are they different? Here’s what you need to know.

Are Border Patrol and ICE in Charlotte, Raleigh?

Yes, though ICE agents have been in Charlotte since earlier this year, The Charlotte Observer reported.

However, only Border Patrol has been linked to current immigration crackdown efforts and arrests in Charlotte and Raleigh.

How is ICE different from Border Patrol?

There are three main ways ICE and Border Patrol differ:

• Mission: ICE’s mission centers on criminal investigations, immigration enforcement and removal operations inside the U.S. rather than just at the border, according to the agency’s website. U.S. Border Patrol is specifically tasked with preventing illegal entry between ports of entry, intercepting people crossing the border and stopping smuggling of contraband.
• Structure: Border Patrol is a subset of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which handles both customs and immigration at the border. ICE, on the other hand, is its own agency under the Department of Homeland Security.
• Enforcement: Border Patrol agents are mainly involved in apprehending people as they attempt to cross the border or at checkpoints, whereas ICE’s role is more investigative and long-term, according to the Migration Policy Institute. ICE probes for document fraud, conduct I-9 audits of workplaces, detain people in interior facilities and carry out removals.

How is Border Patrol in NC if it’s not near a border?

Although North Carolina isn’t near an international border, customs and Border Patrol agents are still legally authorized to operate well inside the U.S., the Observer previously reported.

“Their ability to operate nationwide ensures border patrol can enforce immigration laws, combat smuggling and address national security threats anywhere in the United States,” Tricia McLaughlin, a Department of Homeland Security spokeswoman told the New York Times. “And that immigration enforcement is not limited to border regions when individuals who evade detection at the border can still be apprehended.”

Border Patrol officers can operate within 100 miles of U.S. borders, The News & Observer reported. Borders include all venues for entry into the United States, including the coast and international airports.

This story has been updated. The News & Observer’s Virginia Bridges’ reporting contributed to this story.

This story was originally published November 18, 2025 at 11:03 AM with the headline "What’s the difference between ICE and Border Patrol? Are both in NC?."

Evan Moore

The Charlotte Observer

Evan Moore is a service journalism reporter for the Charlotte Observer. He grew up in Denver, North Carolina, where he previously worked as a reporter for the Denver Citizen, and is a UNC Charlotte graduate.