Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is “rebranding.” As part of its rebranding, it has relaunched its website to distance itself from the politics of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE remains the parent agency of HSI.

HSI investigates crimes on a global scale – nationally and internationally – to protect the U.S. public. Its work includes criminal investigations into the illegal movement of people, goods, money, contraband, weapons, and sensitive technology. HSI’s wide-ranging investigations include drug and weapons smuggling, illegal technology exports (which can include deemed exports through foreign national employees), intellectual property crime, child exploitation, human trafficking (which can include investigations into repayment agreements that are seen as unreasonable restrictions on foreign nationals), financial fraud, art theft and scams.

HSI developed out of the U.S. Customs Service that was established in 1789. When the Department of Homeland Security was established after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the customs and investigations responsibilities formed the Offices of Investigations, Intelligence, and International Affairs (OIIIA) within ICE. In 2010, OIIIA became known as HSI.

HSI could not be severed from ICE without Congressional action, but rebranding was possible. HSI wants to distance itself from ICE because it believes it is hampered in some of its investigations by the connection. For instance, there are cities that limit involvement with ICE based on sanctuary policies. Also, individuals, particularly foreign nationals, can be hesitant to interact with HSI due its connection with ICE and the raids ICE has conducted. The ICE Acting Director Patrick J. Lechleitner noted in an interview:

We needed to give HSI space to operate and do the criminal investigations, as much as possible unaffected by the political turmoil that’s involved with civil immigration.

The newly branded website does not mention ICE in any prominent way and instead features the specific badge of HSI. HSI is seeking new employees, including analytical and administrative support staff in the United States and abroad.

Jackson Lewis attorneys are available to answer any questions you may have about HSI investigations.

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Photo of Forrest G. Read IV Forrest G. Read IV

Forrest Read is a Principal in the Raleigh, North Carolina, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He has extensive experience in both business immigration law and employment law and has particular focus in legal issues in graduate medical education (GME).

Mr. Read’s immigration practice…

Forrest Read is a Principal in the Raleigh, North Carolina, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He has extensive experience in both business immigration law and employment law and has particular focus in legal issues in graduate medical education (GME).

Mr. Read’s immigration practice focuses on assisting employers in obtaining employment-based nonimmigrant visas (e.g., H-1B, L, O, TN) for foreign national employees and work-related immigrant (green card) visas, including PERM Labor Certifications, and advising employers on compliance with U.S. immigration laws and regulations. He has broad experience in advising large, mid-size and small employers on their various immigration needs and developing strategies to help them navigate through complex immigration issues. He also has particular experience in counseling employers in the health care industry and addressing immigration-related issues that arise for their broad range of health care professional employees (including advising on and obtaining employment authorization for medical residents and fellows and obtaining J-1 visa waivers for foreign national physicians completing their medical training in the United States). His immigration practice also includes defending employers in connection with Department of Labor H-1B and H-2B investigations.

Mr. Read’s employment law experience includes representing management, particularly academic medical centers in the GME context, in a wide array of workplace disputes and litigation before federal and state courts and administrative agencies, including matters related to discrimination, retaliation, harassment, disability, family and medical leave, various wage and hour issues, contracts, and intentional torts. He advises academic medical centers on the interplay between applicable academic law and employment law and the ramifications of what are divergent legal requirements and standards. Mr. Read also provides counsel with respect to the legal impact of competency standards for residents and trainees in GME, including situations involving discipline, remediation, and dismissal. He provides advice and guidance in the peer review process, including provision of verification and assessment of training in response to third party inquiries.

As a member of the Firm’s Corporate Diversity Counseling group, Mr. Read also has experience in providing assessments and making recommendations to corporate and institutional clients with respect to diversity and inclusion policies and initiatives, conducting related internal investigations, and shaping, developing and enforcing effective policies and initiatives to ensure consistency with client values and in furtherance of business goals and objectives.

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