Migra

Migra is a term most commonly associated with immigration enforcement in North America. In the United States, “la migra” is a colloquial expression for government agents responsible for enforcing immigration laws. Historically, the term referred to enforcement units within the federal agencies that managed immigration, such as the Immigration and Naturalization Service, and after 2003, units within the Department of Homeland Security including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The phrase is widely used in Spanish-language media and within immigrant communities and is often linked to border checkpoints, raids, and other enforcement actions.

Migra derives from migración, the concept of migration, and the informal label la migra has been used to refer to the agents as a group associated with immigration control. The use of the term varies by region and context, and some speakers view it as informal or pejorative. In addition to its primary sense, the term can appear in journalism, literature, and film as a cultural symbol of immigration policy and border enforcement.

Outside this primary sense, Migra can also appear as a surname or as part of organizational names and titles in diverse contexts, though such uses are less common and highly context-dependent. Related terms include migración, la migra, ICE, CBP, and INS.