Opinion: Immigration enforcement shouldn't be an entry-level job

"Flush with cash from Congress, the agency is ramping up hiring while lowering standards for employment. ICE is using controversial slogans and imagery to attract new recruits. In its rush to expand, ICE is placing immigrants, citizens and its own agents in harm's way. Under the terms of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act that the president signed into law in July, Congress has given ICE an additional $75 billion in funding."

"The agency wants to hire at least 10,000 new agents as the administration seeks to fulfill its promise of deporting a million immigrants a year. To meet this goal, ICE is lowering hiring standards. ICE agents can now be as young as 18, and there is no longer an age cap for new hires. The agency has also cut training time for recruits from 13 to eight weeks, by reducing Spanish lessons, firearms training and classroom hours."

"Working for ICE does not require a high school diploma, a military background or any law enforcement experience. An aspiring ICE agent only has to pass a background check, meet physical and medical requirements, and complete the abbreviated training course. In contrast, many local police and sheriff's departments have stricter hiring requirements. The Los Angeles Police Department requires its applicants to have a high school diploma, to complete six months of training"

ICE held multiple hiring fairs that attracted hundreds of applicants by offering signing bonuses up to $50,000 and salaries between $50,000 and $100,000. The agency received an additional $75 billion from Congress and seeks to hire at least 10,000 new agents to pursue a deportation target of one million immigrants per year. Hiring standards have been relaxed: minimum age lowered to 18, no upper age cap, high school diploma not required, and military or law-enforcement experience not required. Training was cut from 13 to eight weeks, reducing Spanish instruction, firearms training, and classroom hours. Local police departments maintain stricter requirements, raising safety and qualification concerns.

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