ICE Launches Nationwide Hiring Campaign With $50K Bonuses

The US government, under President Donald Trump, has initiated a massive recruitment drive to hire over 14,000 new ICE agents, attorneys, and staff as part of a plan to deport up to a million undocumented immigrants annually, offering incentives such as $50,000 signing bonuses, student loan relief, and premium pay. This expansion, fueled by $75 billion in new funding from the 'Big Beautiful Bill,' aims to make ICE the largest federal law enforcement agency, surpassing the FBI, DEA, and ATF. Recruitment efforts are focused on both new applicants and current or retired law enforcement officers, which has generated frustration among local sheriffs concerned about losing deputies. The campaign has sparked controversy and community unrest due to aggressive ICE tactics and concerns about the morality and constitutionality of the job, with critics likening the offers to bribery for work many find objectionable. Despite the incentives, questions remain about how ICE will train such a large influx of agents and the potential consequences for civil liberties and local policing. The drive is seen by supporters as necessary for national security, while opponents warn it could lead to a 'rogue police state' and widespread rights violations.