Record 78,000 apply to join ICE to support Trump deportation efforts

A record-breaking 78,000 people have applied to join U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to support the Trump administration’s renewed deportation efforts, according to acting ICE Director Todd Lyons.

“We’ve had nearly 78,000 applicants since we opened up,” Lyons told Fox News, referring to a new recruitment initiative launched last week.

“We’re looking for people who genuinely want to serve their country and work in law enforcement,” he said. “It’s a great way to recruit. We’re even bringing back retired personnel—people who left early because they weren’t allowed to fully carry out their law enforcement duties.”

Lyons says the surge in applicants reflects growing confidence in ICE under the Trump administration. “There’s a belief now that we’re a true law enforcement partner making a difference in communities,” he said. “We’re excited to see so many new recruits applying.”

Last week, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), ICE, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) kicked off a recruitment campaign aimed at bolstering border security efforts. The campaign encourages Americans to join DHS, ICE, CBP, and the Border Patrol, according to The Center Square.

The Department of Defense also launched a program last month to help outgoing military personnel transition into federal border security roles.

According to Lyons, ICE is targeting retiring or separating military members and local law enforcement officers—calling them “some of the best of the best.”

The DHS campaign includes patriotic-themed posters and an array of benefits designed to attract new law enforcement professionals dedicated to finding, arresting, and removing criminal illegal aliens. These recruitment materials are being circulated nationwide—on college campuses, at job fairs, and through police networks.

To boost interest, ICE is offering generous incentives, including:

Up to $50,000 in signing bonuses
Student loan repayment and forgiveness options
25% Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) for HSI Special Agents
Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUO) for Enforcement Removal Operations Deportation Officers
Enhanced retirement benefits

CBP is also accepting applications from former Border Patrol agents who retired between July 2020 and July 2024. These candidates can apply for reemployment at the GS-1896-12 or GS-1896-13 level.

Recruitment and incentive funding comes from the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” signed into law by President Donald Trump.

Despite strong opposition from Democrats and civil rights groups—who have staged protests and interfered with ICE operations—interest in law enforcement careers has surged. ICE reports an 830% increase in attacks on officers, with dozens of Americans arrested in connection with those incidents, The Center Square reported.

ICE isn’t the only agency experiencing a surge in interest. Under the Trump administration, record numbers of applicants have also signed up to join the Secret Service, U.S. military, Coast Guard, and Border Patrol.