U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, who serves as the Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has raised concerns about recent changes in hiring practices at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In a letter addressed to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, Durbin questioned the agency's approach following a significant funding increase approved by Congress.
“In recent months, following an unprecedented and unnecessary funding increase from Republicans in Congress, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has undertaken an intensive recruitment campaign to hire approximately 10,000 additional personnel. This campaign appears designed to facilitate President Trump’s goal to deport one million individuals per year and arrest at least 3,000 individuals per day. To meet this quota, scores of masked and unidentified federal agents have already conducted unlawful arrests—including of U.S. citizens —and engaged in excessive force without clear cause. Whether it is an officer mishandling a gun and pointing it at bystanders or federal agents arresting U.S. citizen children in the dead of night, these mishaps have terrible consequences on immigrants and U.S. citizens alike. We are deeply concerned that these cruel, unlawful, and unprofessional actions will be worsened by lowering standards for recruiting law enforcement officials to work at ICE,” wrote Durbin.
Durbin highlighted several specific changes in ICE's recruitment process that he finds troubling. These include using promotional messages that call for “patriots” to “defend the homeland,” lowering the minimum age requirement from 21 to 18 with no upper age limit now set, removing the Spanish-language requirement for recruits which shortens training by five weeks, and spending millions on advertising aimed at potential recruits through social media platforms and television in selected metropolitan areas.
“To expand its applicant pool, ICE launched a campaign to recruit ‘patriots’ and ‘defend the homeland.’ ICE has also changed the age requirements for new recruits. Prior to the change in policy, individuals were required to be at least 21 years old and no older than 37 or 40, depending on the position. DHS announced that applicants now can apply at the age of 18 and there is no age cap. ICE also removed its Spanish-language requirement—shortening the training program by five weeks—and is pursuing additional ways to expedite training. ICE advertisements frequently appear on social media platforms and television, with the agency reportedly spending millions of dollars to target potential recruits in select metropolitan areas,” Durbin stated.
He concluded his letter by warning that reduced hiring standards could lead to more cases of officer misconduct similar or worse than previous surges in federal law enforcement hiring efforts seen earlier this century.
“The loosening of hiring standards and training requirements is unacceptable and will likely result in increased officer misconduct—similar to or worse than what occurred during a small surge in hiring U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in the early 2000s. Exacerbating our concerns, DHS has gutted offices responsible for overseeing ICE officers and ensuring accountability for use-of-force incidents. Given these developments, greater congressional oversight of ICE’s hiring is essential,” said Durbin.
The letter also requested information regarding whether any individuals involved in the January 6th Capitol insurrection have been hired under these new policies.
