EOIR

Executive Office for Immigration Review:

This is the immigration court. It is overseen by the U.S. Department of Justice. Immigration Judges work for EOIR in the court. You can check your case status and upcoming court dates here.

BIA

Board of Immigration Appeals:

This is the board that reviews appeals from an Immigration Judge’s decision in immigration court. The BIA is overseen by the U.S. Department of Justice.

CBP

Customs and Border Protection:

Like ICE, the CBP enforces immigration laws, but mostly works within 100 miles of the U.S. border, including shorelines and at ports of entry, like airports. Their main job is to make sure people do not enter the U.S. who do not have permission to do so. If you enter the country and get an entry document, it will be CBP who gives it to you. If you got an entry document upon entry, you can find your travel history here.

USCIS

United States Citizenship & Immigration Services:

This is the immigration office. It is overseen by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and they handle certain immigration applications. You can check the status of any applications you have pending with USCIS here.

ICE

Immigration and Customs Enforcement:

This is what people refer to as “la migra”. ICE enforces immigration laws and detains people who are undocumented. ICE looks for people who have orders of removal, and carries out operations to try to find undocumented people. ICE also employs attorneys who work in immigration court to argue that people should not get to stay in the U.S. ICE is overseen by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.