Thousands of US Immigration Agents Turn to Online Forum to Voice Job Frustrations
Thousands of federal immigration agents have reportedly taken to an anonymous online forum to vent their frustrations about their work, with many criticising what they describe as incompetent leadership and a severe morale crisis. According to a report by WIRED, over 5,000 users claiming to be current and former agents with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have joined the platform to share their grievances.
Agents at the Centre of Administration Crackdown Express Discontent
The agents, who are part of the Department of Homeland Security, find themselves at the forefront of the Trump administration's intensified immigration enforcement operations. On the forum, which does not require users to verify their employment, participants have been candid about the negative public perception of their agencies, excessive working hours, and leadership failures. One user posted, "I'm all for removing illegals, but snatching dudes off lawn mowers in Cali and leaving the truck and equipment just sitting there? Definitely not working smarter."
Morale Plummets Following High-Profile Incidents and Scrutiny
Forum activity reportedly increased significantly after public outrage erupted in Minnesota, where federal immigration agents were involved in the fatal shooting of US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis last month. A thread titled "Ready to resign, had enough stress" was started just days before Pretti's death, with the user writing, "I have 2.3 years left for full special category retirement … but don't know if I'll make it. Tired of this Agency. Employees being abused badly."
Other complaints highlighted the strain of sudden deployments to cities where large-scale immigration operations are underway, with agents losing weekends and facing unprecedented workloads. One post lamented, "No more weekends off, more work than ever before in 18 years. No more union. No more down time. This is not what any of us envisioned for our last years of career when we are in our 50's."
Leadership Criticised as Agency Faces Internal and External Pressure
Users did not hold back in their criticism of Homeland Security leadership, with one stating, "Led by some of the worst leadership I’ve ever witnessed, from the local level all the way up to the national stage, this agency has managed to turn a righteous mission into a complete clown show." Another warned, "This is going to be a train wreck that we may not survive."
These online revelations align with broader reports of plummeting morale among federal law enforcement officers tasked with executing the administration's immigration policies. Following the Minneapolis incident, more than 20 current and former officials anonymously told The New York Times of their discontent, with some expressing distrust in official statements from top White House and Homeland Security officials.
Official Response and the Human Element of Enforcement
In response to the growing concerns, Tricia McLaughlin, Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary, defended the agents, stating that ICE and border patrol personnel "get up every morning to try and make our communities safer." She emphasised, "The men and women of ICE and Border Patrol are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. Like everyone else, our officers just want to go home to our families at night. The violence and dehumanization of these men and women who are simply enforcing the law must stop."
Despite this defence, the forum discussions and anonymous reports suggest a deepening crisis within the agencies, with one current ICE official bleakly noting, "We lost all trust. I’m not sure I can see how we exist three years from now." As the Trump administration continues its crackdown, the internal dissent highlighted in these online vents points to significant challenges in maintaining both operational effectiveness and officer well-being.
