The Journal. Inside the ICE Hiring Blitz
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Sep 2, 2025 
Michelle Hackman, a reporter for The Wall Street Journal, dives into ICE's ambitious plan to recruit 10,000 new deportation officers. She shares insights from her visit to a Georgia training center, highlighting intense training exercises, including high-speed driving and live shooting. Hackman discusses innovative recruitment strategies, including retro-themed ads aimed at attracting applicants. The conversation also touches on ICE's increasing visibility in urban areas and the implications of aggressive enforcement tactics on communities and immigration policy.
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Mock Raid Demonstration
- Michelle Hackman described a mock raid at a FLETC training neighborhood with armored vehicles, flashbangs, and door breaching.
- The demo showed how elite ICE teams practice high-risk home entries to train deportation officers.
Rapid Expansion Backed By New Funding
- ICE is attempting to nearly triple its roughly 6,000 deportation officers using new funding from the GOP tax bill.
- The agency views rapid hiring as essential to achieve the White House's deportation goals.
Big Signing Bonuses To Lure Recruits
- ICE is offering large financial incentives, including $50,000 signing bonuses, to attract recruits from other agencies.
- The bonuses make ICE competitive with or above pay in local and federal law enforcement.