

ICE Recalls Retired Federal Workers To Bolster Its Ranks
30 snips Aug 7, 2025
Ximena Bustillo, an immigration policy correspondent for NPR, joins the discussion on ICE's recruitment of retired federal workers to address staffing shortages. They delve into the political and logistical challenges ICE faces in attracting new personnel amid divisive sentiments. Bustillo highlights how public perception and reduced funding complicate efforts, while examining the implications of these staffing struggles on immigration enforcement goals. The conversation reveals the intricate dynamics between policy shifts and operational capacity within the agency.
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ICE's Multifaceted Structure
- ICE comprises three parts: enforcement removal operations, Homeland Security investigations, and lawyers for immigration cases.
- About 6,000 of 20,000 ICE employees perform traditional immigration enforcement work inside the country.
Broad Recruitment Campaign
- ICE's hiring campaign targets retired federal employees and local law enforcement with monetary incentives.
- Congress authorized substantial funding, making ICE the highest funded federal law enforcement agency despite its small size.
Recruitment Challenges Due to Polarization
- Recruiting for ICE is difficult due to its polarizing reputation and partisan stance since the Trump administration.
- ICE faces challenges winning trust in communities that largely oppose its enforcement activities.