Today, Explained The new ICE army
98 snips
Jan 21, 2026 
Drew Harwell, a technology reporter for The Washington Post, reveals an internal ICE recruiting plan with a $100 million budget designed to attract macho, patriotic applicants through targeted ads at events like NASCAR and UFC. Eric Levitz, a senior correspondent for Vox, analyzes troubling white nationalist undertones in ICE's messaging, linking phrases to extremist ideologies. Both guests highlight concerns over how aggressive recruitment strategies might attract violent-minded recruits, stirring public outrage and sparking debate over the agency's tactics.
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Massive $100M Recruiting Surge
- ICE is running a $100 million, multimedia recruiting surge to hire over 10,000 staff.
- The campaign uses social ads, influencers, and real-world geofencing to reach target audiences.
Cinematic, Machismo Recruiting Tone
- The ads frame ICE as cinematic, patriotic, and aggressive using action-movie and video-game tropes.
- That marketing reframes routine law-enforcement roles as warrior-like missions to repel 'invaders.'
Geofencing At Sporting And Gun Events
- ICE uses geofencing to target people at events like UFC fights, gun shows, rodeos, and NASCAR races.
- If you enter those event areas with a phone, you may receive a targeted ICE ad telling you to join the agency.
