A journalist and vocal critic of former President Donald Trump has made startling claims about the recruitment process for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), alleging she was offered a job as a deportation officer after an interview lasting less than six minutes.
The 'On-the-Spot' Hiring Event
Laura Jedeed, a 38-year-old reporter for Slate and a former US Army analyst who served in Afghanistan, attended an ICE Career Expo in Arlington, Texas, in August 2025. The event promised on-the-spot hiring for deportation officer roles. Despite describing herself as "anti-ICE," Jedeed booked an appointment to test the vetting process.
She claims her interview was remarkably brief. The recruiting officer asked only for her name, date of birth, age, and details of her military and law enforcement experience. After this short conversation, she was told her resume would be adjudicated and to expect an email about next steps.
Job Offer Without Submission of Paperwork
On 3 September 2025, Jedeed received a tentative offer email instructing her to complete several forms, including a background check consent and a domestic violence affidavit. She states she intentionally submitted none of this required paperwork.
Nevertheless, three weeks later, she received a follow-up email thanking her for proceeding and instructing her to complete a drug test. After complying, she logged into the ICE jobs portal on 3 October to a surprising discovery.
"Somehow, despite never submitting any of the paperwork they sent me... ICE had apparently offered me a job," Jedeed writes. The portal listed her as having accepted a final offer and being entered on duty as of 30 September, assigned to her home state of New York. It also falsely stated she had passed a fitness test and background check on 6 October, three days in the future.
Implications of a Rapid Recruitment Drive
Jedeed ultimately declined the position but concludes that the experience reveals a deeply flawed system. She argues the recruitment process is "so sloppy that the administration effectively has no idea who’s joining the agency’s ranks."
Her account raises significant concerns, given the scale of ICE's expansion. Before President Trump took office in 2025, ICE had roughly 10,000 agents. It added another 12,000 in 2025 alone, meaning new recruits now outnumber experienced officers. Jedeed warns this could oversee a major cultural shift within the agency tasked with sensitive law enforcement work.
The report emerges amid public scrutiny of ICE, following incidents such as the killing of Renee Nicole Good in Minneapolis. The Independent has contacted ICE and the Department of Homeland Security for comment.
