A former MMA fighter has said he wants to join Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to target Indians.
“I keep seeing these memes where Indians are bragging about taking our tech jobs,” Aaron Ely, 36, who competed under the ring name “The Cyborg” in the bantamweight division, told The Washington Post. “So I said, ‘Oh yeah? Well I’m going to work with these guys that are going to arrest you, slam your face on the pavement and send you home.'”
Why It Matters
ICE has hosted several recruitment events as the agency ramps up hiring nationwide. The drive offers signing bonuses and aims to fill thousands of new positions, as the agency makes an aggressive push to expand its workforce to fulfill President Donald Trump‘s campaign pledge of widespread deportations.
It comes after the passage of Trump’s flagship domestic spending legislation, The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB). The bill funnels billions into ICE, including $45 billion to expand detention beds, $14 billion for deportation operations, $8 billion to hire 10,000 officers, and additional funds for technology, local partnerships, and retention incentives.
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer listens during a briefing, Jan. 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Md.
A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer listens during a briefing, Jan. 27, 2025, in Silver Spring, Md.
Alex Brandon/AP
What To Know
Ely blamed his inability to obtain a job in the IT sector on Indian employees who he says are doing the same work for less money.
Many Indian nationals enter the U.S. workforce through the H-1B visa program, which allows companies to hire highly skilled foreign workers in specialized fields such as technology. Indian professionals make up the largest share of H-1B recipients, particularly in the IT sector, where they often work for major U.S. tech firms and outsourcing companies.
Ely was among 3,000 people who attended an ICE recruitment event in Arlington, Texas, according to the Post.
ICE is offering a range of incentives for federal law enforcement positions, including a signing bonus of up to $50,000, student loan repayment and forgiveness options, and additional pay for certain roles—such as 25 percent Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) for HSI Special Agents and Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUI) for Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers, according to the Department of Homeland Security
Employees also receive enhanced retirement benefits.
DHS has said the agency has received 130,000 applications so far for jobs at ICE.
ICE, is responsible for enforcing U.S. immigration laws, including detaining and deporting individuals who are in the country unlawfully. The agency also investigates customs violations, human trafficking, and cross-border crime. Recruitment drives like the one in Arlington are part of a broader effort to increase staffing and strengthen enforcement capabilities across the country.
What Happens Next
The agency is expected to boost its workforce significantly in the coming months.