Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem revealed on Tuesday that more than 150,000 individuals have applied to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as a result of the agency’s extensive recruitment initiative this summer.
“ICE has received more than 150,000 applications from patriotic Americans who want to defend the homeland by removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from the U.S.,” Noem stated in a press release.
From these applications, ICE has identified 18,000 candidates for tentative job offers.
“Americans are answering their country’s call to serve and help remove murderers, pedophiles, rapists, terrorists, and gang members from our country,” added the Homeland Security chief.
In July, the Department of Homeland Security launched a new website featuring Uncle Sam, encouraging individuals to apply for one of three ICE positions: deportation officer, criminal investigator, or general attorney.
ICE is offering various incentives to attract job seekers, including a signing bonus of up to $50,000 and options for student loan repayment and forgiveness.
Following the launch of the recruitment campaign, ICE received over 100,000 applications within just two weeks.
The recruitment effort was supported by the passage of the Republicans’ One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which allocated $75 billion for the Trump administration’s initiatives to combat illegal immigration, including funding for arrests, deportations, and expanded detention facilities.
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In an effort to draw more recruits, ICE has lowered the minimum hiring age to 21 and removed the previous upper age limit of 37 or 40, which varied by position. This change has allowed actor Dean Cain, known for his role as Superman, to join ICE as an officer at the age of 59.
With an increasing number of agents, ICE is better positioned to implement its strict immigration policies. Currently, the agency is conducting immigration raids in Chicago and Illinois as part of “Operation Midway Blitz,” resulting in approximately 250 arrests since the operation commenced less than two weeks ago.
