ICE Reports 120% Workforce Increase Following Nationwide Recruitment Surge
Key Highlights
- ICE hired over 12,000 officers and agents in less than a year, increasing its workforce by 120%.
- The recruitment campaign received more than 220,000 applications, exceeding initial targets.
- The expansion was supported by legislation signed by President Trump, providing necessary funding.
WASHINGTON -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced Jan. 3 that a nationwide recruitment campaign resulted in the hiring of more than 12,000 officers and agents in less than a year, increasing the agency’s operational workforce from approximately 10,000 to 22,000 personnel.
According to ICE, the hiring effort exceeded its original target of 10,000 new officers and agents after the agency received more than 220,000 applications. Officials attributed the expansion to recently enacted legislation signed by President Trump, which provided funding to support the rapid increase in staffing levels.
“The good news is that thanks to the Big Beautiful Bill that President Trump signed, we have an additional 12,000 ICE officers and agents on the ground across the country,” said Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin. “That’s a 120% increase in our workforce. And that’s in just about four months.”
ICE said thousands of newly hired officers and agents are already deployed nationwide and supporting enforcement operations, including arrests, investigations, and removals. Agency officials stated the accelerated hiring pace allowed ICE to place personnel in the field faster than any previous recruitment effort in its history.
The agency reported the recruitment initiative relied on data-driven outreach to identify and attract qualified applicants nationwide. ICE said it maintained existing training and readiness standards while scaling up hiring. The agency continues to accept applications for federal law enforcement positions.