Some 100,000 people have already applied to join the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement drive, following a surge in funding that created thousands of new roles. However, the agency is reportedly struggling to process the influx of candidates while ensuring they are both qualified and willing to relocate to regions where Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is ramping up operations.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Tuesday that interest in ICE jobs has spiked since its recruitment campaign began in July. Still, some experts warn the agency faces challenges in vetting and training applicants.
Why It Matters
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has pledged to carry out President Donald Trump’s plan to deport millions of illegal immigrants over the next four years. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act allocates billions in extra funding to ICE, including resources for hiring 10,000 new agents. Critics caution that the agency already risks overreach, pointing to mistaken or unnecessary arrests of both undocumented immigrants and U.S. citizens.
What To Know
ICE launched its hiring campaign shortly after Trump signed a $45 billion tax and spending bill into law. The measure provides $75 billion to ICE over four years, with $30 billion earmarked specifically for recruitment. Incentives include signing bonuses of up to $50,000, student loan repayment, tuition reimbursement, and starting salaries approaching $90,000.
These benefits—along with the removal of age restrictions following pressure from supporters online—appear to have fueled the flood of applications.
But the question remains: how many applicants are qualified? Time reported Tuesday that DHS has struggled to find candidates who meet even minimal requirements for entry-level positions. The agency also faces difficulties in attracting applicants to areas where enforcement is most needed, such as sanctuary cities.
To fill the gap, the administration has reached out to recently retired ICE and Border Patrol officers, hoping their experience would require less training and allow for faster deployment.
The Trump administration argues that thousands of additional agents are critical to achieving mass deportation goals and increasing detention capacity from around 47,000 beds to nearly 100,000. At present, ICE is strained to meet its ambitious target of 3,000 arrests per day.
During the surge of new arrivals under the Biden administration, ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) were stretched thin, with DHS shifting personnel from the interior to the border. Now, as border crossings have slowed, enforcement efforts are more concentrated within the U.S.
The last major hiring wave came under President George W. Bush, when more than 8,000 new Border Patrol agents were added between 2006 and 2009, according to the American Immigration Council (AIC). ICE’s ranks also swelled after its creation in 2003.
That expansion period also saw rising corruption concerns. AIC reported that between 2007 and 2012, misconduct arrests of employees increased by 44 percent, with some agents allegedly connected to cartels and criminal networks.
While DHS has since tightened recruitment standards, the sharp increase in enforcement since January 2025 has raised alarms among immigration advocates and civil rights groups. Agents have been accused of excessive force and are frequently seen wearing face coverings during operations. DHS counters that assaults on officers have surged.
The Trump administration told Newsweek that all new ICE hires must undergo medical and drug screening as well as physical fitness testing.
What People Are Saying
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, senior fellow at the American Immigration Council, told Newsweek:
“While ICE touts significant application numbers, many questions remain about whether those applications will result in job offers. There are also concerns about candidate quality at a time when the agency is waiving normal recruitment rules. During a previous hiring binge under the Bush administration, relaxed standards allowed multiple cartel double agents to be hired.”
Secretary Kristi Noem, in a statement to Newsweek, said:
“In the wake of the Biden administration’s failed immigration policies, your country needs dedicated men and women of ICE to get the worst of the worst criminals out of our country. This is a defining moment in our nation’s history. Your skills, your experience, and your courage have never been more essential. Together, we must defend the homeland.”
What’s Next
With billions in new funding secured, ICE is ramping up its presence at job fairs, college campuses, and other recruitment events. The agency has also launched a social media campaign that leans heavily on patriotic imagery and wartime-style messaging to attract new recruits.
