ICE is about to go on a hiring spree

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ICE is about to go on a hiring spree
Former ICE officials think the Trump administration will have to lower standards and hire private contractors

By Russell Payne
Staff Reporter
Published July 26, 2025 6:30AM (EDT)


(Salon) Former Department of Homeland Security officials and employees are raising the alarm that the Trump administration’s plan to hire 10,000 more immigration enforcement officers could result in lower hiring standards, as expansions have in the past, and that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers’ current behavior could attract prospective agents for the wrong reasons.

As part of its campaign to hire new ICE personnel, the Trump administration has presented a smattering of offers, including a $10,000 yearly bonus for agents over the next four years, a $50,000 signing bonus to former ICE agents who decide to return to the agency and a starting salary of up to $89,528 for new officers.

Combined with the fact that ICE agents are not required to take any pre-employment exams, have no educational requirements and are only required to pass a background check and a physical exam (which includes a “kneel/stand test,” five minutes of cardio and performing 15 pushups in two minutes), the job offers a better salary and benefits than many, especially considering it doesn’t even require a high school education.

John Sandweg, who served as the acting director of ICE from 2013 to 2014, told Salon that he’s concerned that the current conduct of the agency under Trump could also attract candidates for the “wrong reasons.” .................(more)

https://www.salon.com/2025/07/26/ice-is-about-to-go-on-a-hiring-spree/