WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have launched a recruitment campaign to expand deportation and border security efforts.
DHS and ICE launched an ad campaign to recruit Americans to join ICE as federal law enforcement agents.
The campaign includes posters of images of Uncle Sam, harkening back to World War I-era ads that first depicted Uncle Sam wearing a top hat pointing his finger, calling on Americans to join the Army. More than four million posters were printed through the Committee on Public Information, a federal government wartime propaganda bureau tasked with selling an unpopular war at home.
More than 100 years later, DHS is employing a similar tactic.
“America has been invaded by criminals and predators. We need YOU to get them out,” DHS said on X, publishing an image of Uncle Sam pointing his finger, saying, “AMERICA NEEDS YOU.”
DHS is also publishing videos of images of American landscapes, families and military service members, saying, “The Promise of America is worth Protecting. The Future of our Homeland is worth Defending.”
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem makes the same argument, saying, “Your country is calling you to serve at ICE. … Your country needs dedicated men and women of ICE to get the worst of the worst criminals out of our country. This is a defining moment in our nation’s history. Your skills, your experience, and your courage have never been more essential. Together, we must defend the homeland.”
DHS says it’s “rolling out patriotic recruitment posters and benefits to attract the next generation of law enforcement professionals to find, arrest, and remove criminal illegal aliens.” Recruitment materials are being distributed throughout cities nationwide, as well as on college campuses, at job fairs and through law enforcement networks beginning this week.
Democrats and civil rights groups laregly oppose the Trump administration’s sweeping deportation efforts, staging nationwide protests and interfering with some ICE operations.
ICE is also offering a range of incentives as part of the major recruitment effort. They include a maximum $50,000 signing bonus, student loan repayment and forgiveness options, a 25% Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) for HSI Special Agents, Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUI) for Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) Deportation Officers, and enhanced retirement benefits.
ICE encourages Americans “with a commitment to public safety, national service, and upholding the rule of law” to apply to work for ICE at www.ice.gov/careers.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is also offering opportunities for former U.S. Border Patrol agents who retired between July 2020 and July 2024 to rejoin as a reemployed annuitant.
“CBP is committed to hiring the best individuals for our frontline law enforcement positions,” CBP Human Resources Management Assistant Commissioner Andrea Bright said. “Border Patrol retirees have the knowledge and experience we need to address the challenges ahead, and this would provide a unique opportunity to continue their service.”
Reemployed annuitants serve at the will of the appointing official. Under this process, CBP may allow those who want to serve to receive a salary and their retirement benefits at the same time.
A waiver of salary offset, known as a Dual Compensation Waiver, may be issued, CBP said, “which enables CBP to reemploy Federal Employee Retirement Service and Civil Service Retirement System annuitants on a temporary or time-limited term without a reduction in salary while continuing to receive their full annuity.”
Those who rejoin as reemployed annuitants would be assigned to a full-time work schedule under a term appointment lasting for a period of 1-4 years, with the possibility for extended appointments, CBP says.
Applications are currently being accepted for the following two positions: Border Patrol Agent (Reemployed Annuitant) GS-1896-13, and Border Patrol Agent (Reemployed Annuitant) GS-1896-12.
Recruitment and incentives funding was allocated by Congress through the “One Big Beautiful Bill” President Donald Trump signed into law.
