A new investigation has raised serious concerns about the standards of a major recruitment drive for US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents, with claims that applicants who can "barely read or write" are being accepted.
Lowered Standards in Rush to Hire
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), under Secretary Kristi Noem, is in a race to bolster the number of ICE agents on American streets. The department aims to hire a staggering 10,000 new deportation officers by the end of the year to support President Donald Trump's expansive immigration enforcement agenda.
However, an investigation by the Daily Mail suggests this aggressive timeline is leading to significant corners being cut. A DHS official told the outlet that the process is accepting individuals who fail basic assessments. "We have people failing open-book tests and we have folks that can barely read or write English," the source said.
Shortcuts in Training and Screening
To meet its target, DHS has expanded the applicant pool by removing age limits for ICE agents and is implementing a shortened training period of just six weeks. While recruits are still required to undergo medical and drug screening and pass a fitness test, the report alleges these checks are being compromised.
Sources claim recruits are being sent to the ICE training academy in Georgia before their drug test results are confirmed. In one alarming instance cited, a recruit weighing 469lb was reportedly sent to the academy despite his own doctor certifying him as unfit for any physical activity.
These claims follow an NBC News report from October which found some recruits had failed drug tests or had disqualifying criminal backgrounds while already in training. The Daily Mail also reported an incident where a recruit asked to be excused from class to attend a court date for a gun charge.
Official Response and Broader Scrutiny
In response to the allegations, DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin told The Independent that the "vast majority" of new officers are experienced law enforcement professionals who have already completed an academy. She stated this group accounts for more than 85 percent of new hires and that all remain subject to validation checks.
McLaughlin added that DHS has received over 175,000 applications from "patriotic Americans."
The critical coverage of ICE's hiring practices emerges as the agency's field tactics also face intense scrutiny. Last month, a federal judge restricted immigration authorities from using tear gas and riot weapons during protests in Chicago unless "objectively necessary." Separately, authorities in Colorado are investigating an October incident where an immigration agent placed a protester in a chokehold.
The combination of rushed recruitment and operational controversies presents a significant challenge for the agency tasked with leading the administration's immigration crackdown.
