Democrats ask Noem for ICE recruitment data after agency lowers hiring standards

Flashy advertisements, $50,000 signing bonuses, and a fast-track training program

Joining ICE has never been easier or more lucrative. They have a president who has their back

Some Democrats in Congress are concerned the agency isn't getting the best of the best

You know, there's some cowboys among them. So are ICE's new standards making the agency better

ICE is actively recruiting across the country. To get new officers hired quickly, Republicans approved funding in the one big beautiful bill for more overtime, higher salaries, enhanced retirement benefits, and of course, the signing bonuses

Senator Dick Durbin is concerned some ICE hiring tactics are bringing in recruits who are not as well trained

I'm very concerned that people are jumping in a $50,000 bonus. Would I take a job in a county in Illinois for $50,000

You know, the fact is it's an incentive for people to sign up who may not have a good record

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem waived age limits. Previously, new hires had to be between 21 and 40 years old

ICE also removed requirements to speak Spanish and shorten the training program by five weeks

Durbin is concerned the lower standards will lead to officer misconduct He wrote a letter to Noem asking for recruitment data Who are these people that she hiring who wear the uniforms without any name tag who wear masks as they go into the neighborhoods of Chicago

ICE announced that more than 80,000 people applied to join in the first week of the recruitment campaign that began in August

The agency frequently highlights arrests of those in the country illegally who are either charged or already convicted of crimes

My understanding is there's been an unprecedented number of people wanting to go to work for ICE

And there's been actually a restored sense of morale at the Border Patrol and all of our immigration enforcement officials

They finally know that they have a president who has their back and who will let them do their job, unlike the previous administration

So the concern is that you're not necessarily getting the best of the best to go after the worst of the worst

I'm not concerned that somehow they won't be properly trained or incapable of performing their job

But not all Republicans are on board with the new standards. Well, I think in a world where we're rightfully trying to increase training requirements

and fitness requirements in the DOD, the last thing we should be doing is going in the opposite direction

I'm Ray Bogan for Straight Hour News. For more unbiased reporting straight from our nation's capital, download the SAN app