- ICE rushed hiring to meet Trump-era goals, cutting vetting and shortening training, raising public safety and integrity concerns.
- Internal data show over 200 recruit dismissals; some had criminal charges or failed drug tests that should've been flagged.
- Lawmakers and former officials warn that lowered standards, chaotic rollout, and leadership controversies risk misconduct and erode trust.
The Department of Homeland Security is facing intense criticism amid revelations that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has allowed recruits into training without completing full background checks, as the agency races to meet aggressive hiring goals under the Trump administration.
Reports indicate that some new hires have arrived at the academy with unresolved issues, including criminal charges and failed drug tests, sparking concerns about potential risks to public safety and agency integrity.
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A current DHS official expressed worries about the process, stating, “There is absolutely concern that some people are slipping through the cracks.”
The official also questioned the reliability of self-reporting, adding, “What about the ones who don’t admit it?”
This comes from internal discussions where officials noted that vetting and drug test policies “have not been adhered to as strictly as it was before the agency sought to increase its staffing.”
Internal ICE data, as reported, shows that more than 200 recruits have been dismissed since the summer hiring surge began.
The majority failed physical fitness tests or academic requirements, such as exams on immigration law and constitutional protections.
Fewer than 10 were removed for more serious issues like criminal charges or failed drug tests that should have been flagged earlier.
Darius Reeves, a former ICE field office director in Baltimore, attributed some of the fitness failures to the recent waiver of age limits, saying, “These new recruits are dropping like flies.”
Official DHS Statements
DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin pushed back on the reported figures, explaining, “The figures you reference are not accurate and reflect a subset of candidates in initial basic academy classes.”
She emphasized that “the vast majority of new officers brought on during the hiring surge are experienced law enforcement officers who have already successfully completed a law enforcement academy.
This population is expected to account for greater than 85% of new hires. Prior-service hires follow streamlined validation but remain subject to medical, fitness, and background requirements.”
A senior DHS official also defended the training adjustments, noting, “No subject matter has been cut. Candidates still learn the same elements and meet the same high standards ICE has always required.”
The hiring push aims to add 10,000 new deportation officers by early next year, backed by a massive budget increase to over $100 billion by 2029.
But the rapid pace has led to chaos, with training shortened from 13 weeks to about six, provisional clearances issued, and HR teams overwhelmed. One administration official described the situation bluntly: “It’s a shit show.”
With over 175,000 applications flooding in, lured by incentives like $50,000 signing bonuses, the pressure is on.
Lawmakers And Former Officials Raise Red Flags
Lawmakers and former officials are raising red flags.
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin labeled the changes “unacceptable,” warning in a letter to DHS Secretary Kristi Noem that “the loosening of hiring standards and training requirements is unacceptable and will likely result in increased officer misconduct—similar to or worse than what occurred during a small surge in hiring U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in the early 2000s.”
He added, “Exacerbating our concerns, DHS has gutted offices responsible for overseeing ICE officers and ensuring accountability for use-of-force incidents.
Given these developments, greater congressional oversight of ICE’s hiring is essential.”
John Sandweg, who served as acting ICE director under President Obama, echoed these sentiments: “But the concern here would be, to the extent to which the administration wants to get these people deployed quickly, do they cut corners?
I worry that if you start cutting corners on standards or background checks or training, that it’s only a recipe for problems down the line.”
DHS’ Propaganda Attempt Flops
The recruitment drive itself has been aggressive, with DHS launching the “Defend the Homeland” campaign.
Secretary Noem stated, “Your country is calling you to serve at ICE. In the wake of the Biden administration’s failed immigration policies, your country needs dedicated men and women of ICE to get the worst of the worst criminals out of our country.”
She added, “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.”
Airports like LAX, JFK, and Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson—handling millions of passengers daily—have quietly pulled the plug on the administration’s propaganda commericial, citing neutrality policies and pressure from local officials.
“We’re not a billboard for political spin,” an LAX spokesperson told The Daily Beast, requesting anonymity.
Noem’s leadership has been marred by other controversies.
Reports surfaced that she expedited over $11 million in FEMA funds to rebuild a historic pier in Naples, Florida—near the home of her adviser Corey Lewandowski, with whom she’s been romantically linked (though both deny it)—after a major donor contacted her.
DHS denied favoritism, but the timing raised eyebrows, especially amid broader complaints of FEMA delays under her policy requiring personal approval for expenditures over $100,000.
The agency –under her leadership– has been called out for using an outdated photo to lie and bolster claims about a drug-smuggling boat, amid escalating tensions with Colombian President Gustavo Petro over U.S. naval operations.
In another odd twist, DHS has been in talks with a TV producer about a reality show called “The American,” where immigrants would compete in challenges for fast-tracked citizenship. While a DHS spokesperson said it’s in early vetting and Noem hasn’t reviewed it, sources indicate her support.
The pitch aims to “celebrate what it means to be American,” but critics call it dystopian.
More recently, DHS drew backlash for posting a video of young Black men with a caption threatening ICE agents, which users claimed was altered from an original joking about Iran.
The post warned, “If you threaten or lay hands on our law enforcement officers we will hunt you down and you will find out, really quick. We’ll see you cowards soon.”
DHS stood by it, but Rep. Eric Swalwell demanded it be deleted, calling it fake.
Cartels Are Now After DHS?
Noem has also highlighted dangers facing agents, claiming bounties from cartels: “We have specific officers and agents that have bounties that have been put out on their heads.
It’s been $2,000 to kidnap them, $10,000 to kill them. They’ve released their pictures. They’ve sent them between their networks, and it’s an extremely dangerous situation and unprecedented.”
newsweek.com DHS detailed a tiered system: $2,000 for intel or doxxing, up to $50,000 for killing high-ranking officials.
Adding to the scrutiny, an internal probe found that under the Biden administration, FEMA employees systematically skipped homes with Trump signs during disaster aid outreach, violating privacy and delaying help.
Noem condemned it: “The federal government was withholding aid against Americans in crisis based on their political beliefs—this should horrify every American, regardless of political persuasion.”
She continued, “For years, FEMA employees under the Biden Administration intentionally delayed much-needed aid to Americans suffering from natural disasters on purely political grounds.
They deliberately avoided houses displaying support for President Trump and the Second Amendment, illegally collected and stored information about survivors’ political beliefs, and failed to report their malicious behavior.”
The case has been referred to the Justice Department.
ICE ramps up operations, like recent raids in New York’s Chinatown targeting counterfeit goods, the combination of hasty hiring, operational risks, and leadership controversies puts DHS in a precarious spot.
With billions in funding at stake, the question remains whether the agency can balance speed with standards without further erosion of trust.
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