ICE Plans To Double Deportation Officers Nationwide

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is rapidly expanding its workforce to support President Donald Trump's aggressive deportation policies, aiming to hire 10,000 additional deportation officers by the end of 2025. Congress has approved $76.5 billion to accelerate deportations, with nearly $30 billion allocated for new hires, and ICE has received 121,000 applications, many from former officers. The agency has launched a new recruiting website, offered hiring bonuses up to $50,000, and is actively recruiting at career expos and hiring events, including a recent major event in Arlington, Texas. New recruits receive training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Brunswick, Georgia, where ICE has increased the number of instructors and shortened training by reducing Spanish-language requirements to better prepare officers for field assignments. ICE reports a significant rise in assaults on its officers amid escalating enforcement actions, leading to heightened security measures such as equipping officers with gas masks. These efforts have sparked considerable debate about the agency's tactics and the broader immigration enforcement approach under the current administration.