ICE plans $100 million 'wartime recruitment' push targeting gun shows, military fans for hires

[demmiblue]

Source: WaPo

Recruitment posters shared by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security on their social media channels appeared to mimic video games in their style and tone. (Immigration and Customs Enforcement ; Department of Homeland Security)

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials are planning to spend $100 million over a one-year period to recruit gun-rights supporters and military enthusiasts through online influencers and a geo-targeted advertising campaign, part of what the agency called a “wartime recruitment” strategy it said was critical to hiring thousands of new deportation officers nationwide, according to an internal document reviewed by The Washington Post.

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2025/12/31/ice-wartime-recruitment-push/

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New: We got an internal ICE document revealing its 0 million ad plan to bring in 14,000 new hires: deals with "tactical" influencers; ads to gun & military buffs; and geo-targeting phones around NASCAR races and gun shows.

A "wartime recruitment" mode with paramilitary branding: wapo.st/44QrP5j

— Drew Harwell (@drewharwell.com) 2025-12-31T12:09:38.276Z

[Irish_Dem]

1. But we have no money for food, housing, medical care, housing, science, vaccines, etc.

[ananda]

10. And tell me how this is a "wartime" recruitment?

My only conclusion is that he considers normal anti-fascist
non-haters to be "domestic terrorists," so he's now making
war against all of us, here.

[bucolic_frolic]

2. The rise of vigilante justice

https://www.history.com/articles/origins-of-the-mafia

https://www.americanheritage.com/vigilante-justice

The above 2 sites are mostly a nationalist take on it, but there is also a homegrown, economic conditions point of view:

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11698-023-00272-1

[ChicagoTeamster]

3. military "fans" ? Like the people who cheer on our military during a war but never serve and ignore disabled veterans?

Like the Bros who yell at the TV screen and want to start a war in a bar over a football game but never played football? That sounds like the goons that we see with their faces covered tackling people in immigration court and knocking over bystanders even elderly. Real cops take care to avoid harming bystanders when they make a tactical arrest. Goons don't.

[Ray Bruns]

5. People like this.

[ChicagoTeamster]

8. They wouldn't fit in the clothes anyway. Or afford them.

[William Seger]

4. Gun nuts make the best jackboot thugs (nt)

[Firestorm49]

6. "Wartime recruitment", I guess that means against us, the American public. Lord, are we in trouble.

[liberalgunwilltravel]

7. Maybe if some of the current thugs

Were to face the "ultimate sacrifice" for their orange god, recruiting wouldn't be so easy.

[Bayard]

9. Don't use my American flag or the Statue of Liberty on those posters!

This shit is as far from American ideals as you can get.

When will they start the KKK back up? They'd work for free!

[Grins]

11. TV ad in Washington, DC, offers $70,000 signing bonus

I'm sure there are thresholds - but THAT'S A LOT OF MONEY!!!!