DHS sees surge in ICE applications amid hiring push
The Department of Homeland Security has received more than 100,000 applications from people looking to become U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, Fox News reports. The agency is aiming to hire 10,000 new ICE officers to assist the Trump administration in deporting millions of unauthorized immigrants over the next three-and-a-half years.
After President Donald Trump’s “big beautiful bill” was signed into law, ICE received $30 billion in hiring funds. With those funds, ICE is looking to bring on an additional 10,000 officers to help detain people living in the country illegally.
To incentivize applicants, the agency is offering signing bonuses of up to $50,000 and up to $60,000 for student loan repayment. Applicants do not need an undergraduate degree, and the age limit has been removed.
Some salaries start at $90,000 and can reach as high as $195,200 per year.
“We’ve removed any of the age barriers. We no longer have a cap on how old you can be,” DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said while appearing on Fox News. “Or, you can continue at age 18 and sign up for ICE and join us and be a part of it. We’ll get you trained and ready to be equipped to go out on the streets and help protect families.”
It takes time to train new deportation officers, especially in using firearms and making arrests. All ICE agents currently train at a central facility in Georgia (FLETC), which has limited space and staff, creating a bottleneck in the process. To fix this, Noem said DHS plans to open smaller training centers in various cities in hopes of speeding up training and keeping officers close to their families, Time magazine reports.
Dean Cain joins ICE
Earlier this month, actor Dean Cain announced that he is joining ICE as an honorary officer.
“If you’re a legal citizen here in this country, no worries, you’re great! But if you’re here illegally, you’ve broken the law to begin with,” Cain said, according to Fox News. “Whatever the circumstances are, you’ve had multiple opportunities to self-deport. And the fact that these men and women who are doing their jobs are getting vilified, I had to stand up with them and for them because I think it takes people standing up to change the culture.”
Increased assaults on ICE agents
The Trump administration has a minimum goal of 3,000 arrests per day, according to White House adviser Stephen Miller.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is touting the recruitment effort amid a rise in attacks against ICE officers. During an interview with Fox News, Noem said there has been a 1,000% increase in assaults on agents while anti-ICE protests continue across cities nationwide. She said the increase is more reason for expanded recruitment and stronger enforcement.
The agency has also reached out to former law enforcement officers, encouraging them to “return to mission,” according to their website.
“You served the United States of America with distinction and honor. Now, your country is calling upon you to serve once more,” a statement from the site reads.
Open positions with ICE currently include deportation officer, criminal investigator and general attorney, among others.
Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
