More than 150,000 ‘patriotic Americans’ apply for ICE jobs as new recruits lured in with $50k bonuses

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has received more than 150,000 job applications from Americans who want to join the agency to carry out President Donald Trump’s mass deportations.

Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem on Tuesday said ICE has extended more than 18,000 tentative job offers to “patriotic Americans who want to defend the homeland by removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from the US.”

“Americans are answering their country’s call to serve and help remove murderers, pedophiles, rapists, terrorists, and gang members from our country,” Noem said in a press release.

It comes after the agency kicked off a huge recruitment drive in July for new deportation officers, lawyers and investigators.

The campaign used recruiting posters from World War II with images of Uncle Sam and the words “America Needs You.”

ICE has offered new recruits incentives including a maximum $50,000 signing bonus, enhanced retirement benefits and student loan repayment and forgiveness options.

The agency also waived age limits for new applicants in a bid to attract more candidates.

“This is a pivotal moment in our country’s history, and your experience and expertise are vitally needed,” a message on ICE’s careers website says.

“On behalf of a grateful nation, we proudly call upon you to serve your country.”

ICE is set to receive $76.5 billion under Trump’s package of tax breaks and spending cuts signed in July. The figure is almost 10 times the agency’s current annual budget.

Almost $30 billion is for recruiting 10,000 more workers in order for ICE to meet its goal of 1 million deportations a year.