Immigration and Customs Enforcement has received an unprecedented surge of more than 150,000 job applications in just weeks, as Donald Trump’s renewed crackdown on illegal immigration drives both controversy and opportunity. The New York Times confirmed that ICE’s recruitment portal crashed multiple times under the demand, which officials say is unlike anything the agency has ever seen.
The wave comes after Trump announced sweeping new directives: mass deportation flights, expanded detention centers, and fast-tracked removals. In a fiery speech in Arizona, he vowed to hire “thousands of new ICE agents” to carry out what he called “the largest domestic operation in American history.” Fox News reported that Trump personally boasted of the flood of applicants, calling it proof that “patriots are lining up to defend America.”
Applicants range from recent college graduates to retired military personnel. One former Marine told The Wall Street Journal: “I’ve been looking for a way to serve again. If this administration is serious about enforcement, I want to be on the front lines.” The agency is reportedly prioritizing candidates with law enforcement and language skills, given the scale of planned operations.
ICE has received 150,000+ job applications since Trump’s crackdown announcement. Demand is so high the system temporarily shut down. — @axios
Critics, however, warn the hiring surge represents a dangerous escalation. Civil rights groups argue that the expansion will lead to abuses, racial profiling, and the tearing apart of families. “This is not about law and order — it’s about fear and intimidation,” an ACLU attorney told NBC News. Democratic lawmakers echoed those concerns, urging oversight into who is being recruited and how they will be trained.
Within ICE, morale appears to have skyrocketed. According to Politico, agents describe the influx of applications as a sign that “the public is with us.” Yet even insiders admit the sheer volume poses logistical challenges. Vetting and background checks could take months, if not longer, raising questions about how quickly Trump’s plans can be realized.
150,000 Americans just applied to ICE jobs. Trump is turning immigration enforcement into a movement. — @secupp
For immigrant communities, the surge feels ominous. Advocacy groups in California, Texas, and New York reported spikes in hotline calls from fearful families. The Los Angeles Times noted that some parents are preparing guardianship papers for their children in case of sudden detention. “It’s not just policy — it’s terror,” said one organizer in Los Angeles.
Meanwhile, Republican allies celebrated the hiring push as a historic moment. Senator Tom Cotton praised the “army of enforcement officers ready to take back our borders,” while House conservatives urged Congress to approve emergency funding to accelerate training and deployment. Reuters reported that the White House is considering redirecting Pentagon resources to expedite the buildup.
The Trump administration wanted thousands of ICE recruits. They got 150,000. A staggering show of force. — @JonLemire
The flood of applications highlights a striking divide in America: while millions fear the machinery of deportation, others are clamoring to be part of it. With Trump promising the “biggest deportation program ever attempted,” the question is not whether ICE will grow, but how far — and how fast.