Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Wednesday removed age restrictions for new applicants as part of the agency’s push to hire more agents for implementing President Donald Trump’s mass deportation plans.
On its website as of Wednesday morning, the agency said that applicants must be at least 21 years old and generally not yet 37 for the criminal investigator position and not yet 40 to become a deportation officer.
The Homeland Security Department didn’t immediately respond to a question if both the age minimum and maximums are being eliminated, but DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said on Fox News Wednesday morning that there’s “no longer a cap on how old you can be” and that 18-year-olds could sign up.
A DHS press release notes that recruits must go through a medical exam, drug screening and complete a physical fitness test.
Buoyed by more than $29 billion in funding from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act for hiring and training, ICE on July 29 launched a recruitment campaign. Its website features Uncle Sam telling the viewer that “America Needs You” and touts benefits, such as an up to $50,000 signing bonus, student loan repayment and premium pay.
Also on Wednesday, DHS reported that more than 80,000 individuals had applied to join ICE since the start of the campaign. The Trump administration is seeking to bring on 10,000 new immigration officers.
Currently, ICE has more than 20,000 law enforcement and support personnel.
Congressional Democrats and immigrant rights groups have criticized ICE, arguing that agents have regularly violated migrants’ due process protections and characterizing recent raids as intimidation tactics.