More than 150,000 Americans have applied to work with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as the agency ramps up deportation efforts across the country. The massive interest comes amid the government’s push to remove undocumented migrants with criminal records.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed the development on Tuesday, describing the surge as an “extraordinary outpouring of patriotism.” According to her, ICE has already issued more than 18,000 tentative job offers as part of its mission to arrest and deport migrants accused of crimes such as murder, rape, gang activity, and terrorism.
Officials say the recruitment campaign is part of a broader strategy to strengthen immigration enforcement and reassure Americans that communities will be safeguarded from dangerous individuals. The administration insists the focus is on what it calls the “worst of the worst” among undocumented immigrants.
To attract more recruits, ICE has introduced several financial incentives. New applicants may qualify for signing bonuses of up to $50,000, student loan repayment programs, and improved retirement packages. In addition, certain roles—such as Enforcement Removal Operations Deportation Officers—will benefit from “administratively uncontrollable overtime” pay, which could significantly increase earnings.
The agency has also launched a special program called “Operation Return to Mission,” designed to bring back experienced federal officers who left law enforcement under the previous administration. Officials believe this will boost staffing levels and provide critical expertise as deportation operations expand nationwide.
Funding for the expansion has been fueled by the Trump administration’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” which allocated $75 billion to ICE. Of this amount, $30 billion is set aside for deportation and criminal arrests, while $45 billion will go toward building and upgrading detention facilities across the United States.
In another major change, ICE announced it is lifting its age restrictions, which had previously prevented applicants over the age of 37 or 40 from applying for certain roles. Officials say the decision will allow older, skilled, and experienced candidates to join the agency’s ranks.
Recent operations highlight ICE’s new direction under the Trump administration. In major cities such as Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, ICE has launched intensified enforcement actions. One of the latest efforts, dubbed Operation Midway Blitz, specifically targeted criminal migrants in Illinois, a state known for its sanctuary policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The push for stronger enforcement comes after a summer of widespread protests against ICE’s deportation strategies. Some of the demonstrations turned violent, drawing sharp criticism from human rights advocates. However, officials argue that the overwhelming number of applications shows that many Americans strongly support ICE’s mission despite the controversy.
For the government, the high recruitment turnout signals a decisive step toward rebuilding and expanding ICE. For critics, however, the move reflects a deeper division in U.S. immigration policy—between those who see deportation as essential to national security and those who view it as harmful to vulnerable migrant communities.