ICE has received more than 150,000 job applications after launching a massive recruitment campaign funded by President Trump’s $75 billion immigration enforcement bill.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement has received an overwhelming wave of interest from Americans seeking to join the agency,

with more than 150,000 people submitting applications to support President Donald Trump’s aggressive crackdown on illegal immigration, officials confirmed this week.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced the figures on Tuesday, describing the response as a patriotic surge that underscores the public’s willingness to aid federal law enforcement in carrying out deportation orders and arrest operations across the country.

“ICE has received more than 150,000 applications from patriotic Americans who want to defend the homeland by removing the worst of the worst criminal illegal aliens from the U.S.,” Noem said in a statement.

She emphasized that the agency has already extended more than 18,000 tentative job offers and expects thousands more to be processed in the coming months.

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

The recruitment drive, launched in late July, is part of the administration’s wider strategy to strengthen immigration enforcement under what the White House has called Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill.”

The bill, signed into law earlier this summer, authorized \$75 billion in additional funding for immigration-related operations.

Of that amount, \$30 billion was earmarked for arrest and deportation efforts, while \$45 billion was dedicated to expanding detention facilities and resources. The legislation marked one of the most significant boosts in funding for federal immigration enforcement in decades.

The surge in applications follows a summer of nationwide protests against Trump’s immigration policies, many of which escalated into clashes between demonstrators and law enforcement officers.

Anti-ICE protests erupted in major cities including New York, Los Angeles, and Chicago, where activists denounced mass deportations and family separations.

While the protests attracted widespread attention, they appear to have coincided with a wave of interest from citizens eager to support the administration’s enforcement agenda.

ICE has introduced a range of incentives to attract qualified candidates, particularly those with prior law enforcement experience.

Recruitment materials promise six-figure salaries for top recruits, signing bonuses of up to \$50,000, student loan repayment and forgiveness programs, enhanced retirement benefits, and eligibility for “administratively uncontrollable overtime” — a designation that often leads to significantly higher pay for enforcement officers.

The agency has also worked to rehire experienced officers who left federal service during the Biden administration. In July, ICE launched “Operation Return to Mission,” an initiative that directly appealed to former federal law enforcement officials to rejoin the ranks.

Many officers who resigned or retired in recent years have expressed interest in returning under the new enforcement priorities.

Another major shift in ICE hiring policy came last month when Noem announced the agency would end its longstanding age cap for new recruits. Previously, applicants over the age of 37 — or 40 for certain positions — were barred from joining the agency.

By eliminating the age limit, ICE hopes to bring in older candidates with valuable law enforcement or military backgrounds.

The recruitment wave comes as ICE continues to carry out high-profile enforcement operations across the country.

In recent weeks, federal officers have staged raids in cities such as Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., targeting migrants with criminal records and outstanding deportation orders.

Just last week, DHS unveiled “Operation Midway Blitz” in Chicago, a sweeping enforcement effort aimed at arresting individuals accused of violent crimes who, according to the department, sought refuge in Illinois under Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker’s sanctuary policies.

“These criminals flocked to Chicago because they knew the governor would protect them and allow them to roam free on American streets,” DHS said in a statement.

Officials added that the operation had already resulted in dozens of arrests and that further raids were planned in the weeks ahead.

The administration’s efforts have drawn both praise and criticism. Supporters argue that the expanded funding and recruitment drive will restore law and order while addressing the backlog of deportation cases.

Conservative groups have applauded the end of the age cap, saying it allows the agency to tap into a wider pool of experienced candidates.

Critics, however, warn that mass hiring combined with broad enforcement operations could lead to civil rights violations and an increase in cases of mistaken identity.

Despite these concerns, the sheer number of applications indicates broad enthusiasm for joining ICE at a time when the agency’s mission is front and center in national politics.

Observers note that immigration enforcement has long been one of Trump’s signature policy areas, and his administration has made clear that deportations and border security will remain a priority throughout his term.

For now, ICE officials are working to process the flood of applications and bring new hires into training programs.

Many of the tentative offers are expected to convert into full employment in the coming months, and with recruitment still open, the number of applications is likely to climb even higher.

Noem, who has become one of the administration’s most vocal defenders of immigration enforcement, said the agency’s progress reflects a shift in the national mood.

“We are no longer apologizing for enforcing our laws,” she said Tuesday. “Americans want to be part of protecting their country, and ICE is proud to welcome them into the mission.”

As enforcement sweeps continue and new agents prepare to join the field, ICE is poised to expand its presence nationwide in ways not seen since the agency was established in 2003.

With over 150,000 applicants eager to serve, officials say the agency is on track to meet — and potentially exceed — its recruitment goals.

Whether this surge translates into lasting public support for Trump’s immigration agenda remains to be seen, but for now, ICE is undergoing one of the largest growth phases in its history.