...
By Billal Rahman
Immigration Reporter
0
Share
Newsweek is a Trust Project member
See more of our trusted coverage when you search.Prefer Newsweek on Googleto see more of our trusted coverage when you search.
A former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is warning against the agency’s rapid recruitment push, saying that fast-tracking the deployment of new officers may carry serious risks if oversight, training, or vetting procedures are relaxed.
"But the concern here would be, to the extent to which the administration wants to get these people deployed quickly, do they cut corners? I worry that if you start cutting corners on standards or background checks or training, that it’s only a recipe for problems down the line," John Sandweg, who served as acting director of ICE under former President Barack Obama, from August 2013 to February 2014, told Politico.
...
Read More on News
Why It Matters
ICE has returned to the national spotlight amid expanded enforcement operations and potential mass deportations. As the administration seeks to rapidly grow the agency’s ranks to meet its immigration goals, questions have emerged over whether that speed could compromise oversight and training.
What To Know
Sandweg cautions that cutting corners in recruitment or standards could create deeper problems for ICE at a time when its authority and tactics are once again under intense public scrutiny.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has begun a nationwide recruitment campaign to expand the ranks of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, citing a growing need for personnel to handle enforcement and deportation operations. According to DHS, ICE has already received more than 150,000 applications from prospective recruits and extended roughly 18,000 tentative job offers. To attract qualified candidates, the agency is offering several incentives, including signing bonuses of up to $50,000 and student loan repayment programs.
The administration’s push to increase ICE staffing comes at a moment when immigration enforcement remains a contentious political priority. The scale and pace of this hiring effort have drawn attention, not just for what it aims to accomplish, but also for how it may be implemented.
Some critics worry that in an environment of political urgency, oversight may be deprioritized. The former ICE leader’s remarks capture that tension: a balance between meeting enforcement goals and preserving institutional integrity.
Both ICE and the U.S. Border Patrol have several allegations of misconduct. Reports have cited instances of excessive force, mistreatment of migrants in detention facilities, and allegations of civil rights violations. While both agencies have said they investigate credible complaints and have taken steps to strengthen accountability and oversight, critics argue that disciplinary measures are often inconsistent and that systemic problems persist within the culture of enforcement. The renewed focus on expanding immigration operations has revived concerns about whether internal reforms can keep pace with the agencies’ growing size and authority.
The “One Big Beautiful Bill,” signed into law on July 4, 2025, includes substantial new funding for border and homeland security operations. The legislation allocates roughly $170 billion for enforcement and infrastructure, with significant portions directed to DHS and ICE. Much of the funding is intended to expand detention capacity, enhance transportation and technology systems, and support large-scale hiring initiatives within the agencies.
What People Are Saying
John Sandweg, a former acting ICE director, told POLITICO Magazine: “I don’t think we’ve ever seen a nationwide immigration enforcement effort like this.
"In my experience, most ICE agents do their jobs. They do, and they treat people with dignity and respect. I know we’ve seen some incidents where that hasn’t been true. And I think that’s attributable to a lot of things. I think it’s because the agents are under tremendous pressure. They’ve been under a lot of pressure to ratchet up the number of arrests."
What Happens Next
Implementation of the new funding and recruitment measures is expected to increase in the coming months, with DHS and ICE under pressure to meet hiring and enforcement targets.
View 0 Comments
Submit Correction
View Editorial & AI Guidelines