DHS Removes Age Limit for ICE Hiring to Expand Force

The Department of Homeland Security, led by Secretary Kristi Noem, has removed all age limits for applicants seeking to join U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as part of an effort to recruit 10,000 new officers under President Donald Trump's expanded immigration enforcement agenda. Previously, applicants had to be at least 21 and faced upper age limits of 37 or 40 depending on the position, but now candidates as young as 18 and with no maximum age can apply, provided they meet fitness and medical standards. This change is backed by significant funding from the recently passed "big, beautiful bill," which allocates approximately $46.5 billion for hiring and retention, and offers incentives including up to $50,000 signing bonuses and student loan repayment benefits. Despite mixed reactions from local law enforcement about federal hiring incentives, Noem reported over 80,000 applicants already competing for the 10,000 available positions, characterizing the recruitment as extremely successful. The DHS emphasizes the need for more ICE agents to enforce immigration laws and remove criminal illegal aliens, framing the recruitment campaign as a response to what they describe as an open borders crisis under the Biden administration. While the Justice Department has denied that ICE has been given specific arrest quotas, the agency is clearly expanding its operational capacity significantly.