ICE said that thousands of newly hired agents and officers have already been deployed nationwide and are actively supporting enforcement operations.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) saw a 120 percent jump in its workforce following an “unprecedented” nationwide recruitment campaign that “shattered expectations” after 12,000 employees and officers were hired in a few months, the agency said in a statement on Jan. 3.
“After receiving more than 220,000 applications from patriotic Americans to join ICE, the agency blew past its original hiring target of 10,000 new officers and agents within a year,” ICE stated.
“In fact, it has more than doubled ICE personnel from 10,000 to 22,000.
“With these new patriots on the team, ICE will be able to accomplish what many said was impossible and fulfill President Trump’s promise to make America safe again.”
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) launched ICE’s “Defend the Homeland” recruitment drive on July 29, 2025. The effort is backed by funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law by President Donald Trump in July.
The law allocated ICE $76.5 billion—roughly 10 times the agency’s typical annual budget—out of which $30 billion was set aside for hiring 10,000 additional staff members, with ICE aiming to deport 1 million illegal immigrants from the United States every year.
ICE offered attractive incentives for new recruits, including up to $50,000 in signing bonuses, student loan repayment and forgiveness options, and enhanced retirement benefits.
In its latest statement, ICE said thousands of newly hired agents and officers have already been deployed nationwide and are actively supporting enforcement operations, including investigations, arrests, and removals.
“The accelerated hiring tempo has allowed ICE to place officers in the field faster than any previous recruitment effort in the agency’s history,” the agency stated.
According to ICE, the recruitment initiative used data-driven outreach to hire qualified, patriotic Americans, resulting in the agency exceeding its hiring target.
“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,” DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin said.
