US Politics
ICE is trying to increase recruitment with $50K signing bonus and ‘Defend the Homeland’ posters
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Read more
Immigration and Customs Enforcement is attempting to sign on recruits with bonuses of as much as $50,000 as well as student loan forgiveness, as it tries to reach the Trump administration’s goal of hiring 10,000 new ICE agents.
The Department of Homeland Security received a big boost to its cash flow for immigration enforcement following the signing of President Donald Trump’s Big, Beautiful, Bill. On Tuesday, ICE launched a new campaign with the title “Defend the Homeland.”
The campaign included posters of Trump and DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, as well as pay benefits to recruit “the next generation of law enforcement professionals to find, arrest, and remove criminal illegal aliens,” the department states in a press release.

“Your country is calling you to serve at ICE. 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,” Noem said in a statement. “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.”
The Republican spending package sent $170 billion to immigration and border security, a significant increase as the White House chases the goal of deporting one million people a year. However, ICE will have to increase hiring to reach such goals.
Earlier this month, Trump border czar Tom Homan told Politico, “This isn’t easy. Ten thousand ICE officers? Never happened before.”
“But I’ll say this: It’s about time … with more money, we can do more,” he added.
DHS also announced benefits such as improved retirement benefits and overtime pay, adding that recruitment materials would be sent to job fairs, college campuses, and law enforcement networks this week.
The campaign is aimed at recruiting “brave and heroic Americans to join ICE as federal law enforcement agents and remove the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from America’s streets,” the press release stated.
“ICE encourages Americans with a commitment to public safety, national service, and upholding the rule of law to apply today to jumpstart a fulfilling career in federal law enforcement,” it concludes.