ICE received more than 200K job applications since Trump admin launched new crackdown: feds

Some of the upgraded advertisements for ICE include ones mirroring old-timey propaganda used during times of war to encourage enlistment in the military.dhs.gov

ICE Sees Surge in Applications Amid Trump’s Immigration Crackdown

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has received more than 200,000 applications since President Trump launched his new crackdown on illegal immigration, officials announced Friday. The surge includes a notable spike following the government shutdown that began at the end of September.

Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said the applications came from “patriotic Americans” eager to join ICE and help remove dangerous criminal illegal immigrants from the country. “Americans are answering their country’s call to serve and help remove murderers, pedophiles, rapists, terrorists, and gang members from our country,” Noem stated.

Just two weeks before the shutdown, Noem reported that ICE had already received about 150,000 applications and had extended 18,000 tentative job offers. The agency offers recruits attractive benefits, including a signing bonus of up to $50,000.

In August, Noem also announced that the federal government would eliminate the age cap for ICE applicants, allowing anyone to apply.

ICE’s recent operations in cities like New York, Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Chicago have triggered widespread protests. Some demonstrators have attempted to block or ram ICE vehicles, contributing to what DHS says is an 8,000% increase in death threats and violent attacks against agents. Local leaders, including Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and California Governor Gavin Newsom, have repeatedly called on ICE to leave their jurisdictions.

To attract and retain top recruits, DHS offers competitive salaries and bonuses, boosted by funding from the “Big Beautiful Bill.” The legislation, ratified in July, provided $75 billion to the agency, including $30 million specifically for arrest and deportation operations and additional funds to expand detention facilities. During the government shutdown, ICE agents received what Noem described as a “super check,” covering lost pay, overtime, and their next pay period.

DHS has also revamped its recruitment campaigns, increasingly using pop culture and social media, including edited videos of raids set to popular songs. Some ads feature modernized versions of wartime propaganda, including imagery of Uncle Sam, to encourage enlistment in the agency.

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