Ice entices new recruits with patriotism pitch and pledge of $50,000 signing bonuses

[erronis]

Source: The Guardian

"‘Brave and heroic Americans’ campaign seeks investigators, officers and lawyers after agency gets funds from Congress"

The agency responsible for carrying out Donald Trump’s mass deportations is launching a recruiting campaign to entice “brave and heroic Americans” to serve as new deportation officers, lawyers and investigators as the government gears up for a major expansion of immigration enforcement thanks to a recent infusion of money from Congress. The icing on the cake: a promise of up to $50,000 in signing bonuses.

The US Immigration and Customs Enforcement campaign, which rolled out late Tuesday, recalls recruiting posters from the second world war with images of Uncle Sam and the words “AMERICA NEEDS YOU.” There also are photos of the US president and top homeland security officials with the words “DEFEND THE HOMELAND” across the images.

“Your country is calling you to serve at ICE,” said homeland security secretary Kristi Noem in a news release. “This is a defining moment in our nation’s history. Your skills, your experience, and your courage have never been more essential. Together, we must defend the homeland.”

In addition to appealing to prospective applicants’ patriotic fervor, homeland security is making a pocketbook pitch. The agency is promising up to $50,000 in signing bonuses, the potential for lots of overtime for deportation officers and other benefits such as loan repayment or forgiveness options.

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/jul/30/ice-hiring-incentives-signing-bonuses

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$$$$ doesn't mean better quality recruits. Exactly the opposite.

[Lovie777]

1. ICE will run out of money by the end of the year.........................

[littlemissmartypants]

7. If I'm not mistaken...

They are already using funds from other agencies and Noem has been accused of spending the people's money like "a drunken sailor."

'Spending like drunken sailors': Kristi Noem risks criminal charges over ICE
Krystina Alarcon Carroll
June 16, 2025 10:56AM ET
https://www.rawstory.com/ice-2672378668/

ICE's cash crisis deepens amid immigration crackdown
https://archive.ph/https://www.axios.com/2025/06/16/ice-cash-crisis-immigration-crackdown-trump

Tue, July 29, 2025 at 12:17 PM EDT
FEMA to require states use terrorism prevention funds for migrant arrests
https://www.aol.com/news/fema-require-states-terrorism-prevention-161747950.html

[mahatmakanejeeves]

2. "Up to" NT

[erronis]

3. And paid in trumpcoin (or dogecoin or dog-shit). Doesn't matter.

[Bengus81]

12. Yeah...UP TO $50K or what DOWN TO about $1,000?? The Guardian needs to change their tag line.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

14. Found a "news" website...

...that I won't link to that says bonuses are broken down this way:

$10,000 for any applicant (new or returning) that applies by 1 Aug
$10,000 for previous agents returning to service
$10,000/year for three years for previous agents returning to service

Previous agents who had retired will be able to maintain their federal pension payments via a dual-compensation waiver.

IF this is true (I'm looking for a more reliable source), then any new applicants who don't apply by tomorrow will get nothing.

[AverageOldGuy]

4. The rest of the ICE announcement: "If you made C's and D's in high school . . .

. . . we will put you in management."

[LisaL]

17. High school?

Sounds fancy.

[Bayard]

5. Brave and heroic, my ass

More like cowardly and brutal. You don't see them pulling this crap on any big guys, do you?

$50K sign on bonuses! That's more than most people make in a year. What are the salaries like?

[SickOfTheOnePct]

10. Depends on where they live & work...

USAJobs shows starting pay of $49,739 to - $89,528 for GS 5 to GS 7 for deportation officers, promotable up to GS 12.

Different areas have different pay scales, so pay could be higher in areas with higher locality pay. Plus they have basically unlimited overtime if they want it.

[popsdenver]

6. i thought that Trump just pilfered

160 Billion from some other part of Fed Gov't to finance his new push..........


Better than just saying 160 Billion, it would be better to say it: 160 THOUSAND MILLION.............

[JohnnyRingo]

8. We're seeing the result of that $200 billion they carved out for ICE.

Biden spent a trillion bailing us out of a pandemic, building bridges, creating parks, and good jobs. Trump is spending it for racist hatred.

[twodogsbarking]

9. Playing the "p" card. Not like the pee tape. Patriotism is used to convince others .

See? Sign up now. What are you, a commie?

[Bengus81]

11. Must need those thugs bad to part with that kind of cash on a sign up....

People quitting already?

[Bengus81]

13. "Could take 3-4 years to hire and train ICE workers"

How much training do you need to throw a Mexican guy running a weed eater at Ihop to the ground along with 4-5 other goons?

[Harker]

15. The sort they want most would sign up for a six pack and a carton of smokes.

[muriel_volestrangler]

16. Also comes with a cover story, so your neighbors don't find out what you're really doing

You know, something less embarrassing and more admired. Mafia hitman or something.

[Fla Dem]

18. Probably recruiting from RW militia groups, Oath Keepers, 3 Percenters etc.

No law enforcement training, just brutal street fighters.

[MissMillie]

19. What a boon!

Recruits can play Dirty Harry and collect $50K to do it.