The Department of Homeland Security announced that more than 175,000 citizens have applied to join US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) under the Trump administration.
This week, Assistant Secretary of Public Affairs Tricia McLaughlin appeared on The Alex Marlow Show, where she praised the wave of applications.
“It really is encouraging to see that patriots see through the charade of the media, they want to enforce the rule of law, and they want to protect our homeland,” McLaughlin said.
“They saw how the last four years this nation was brought to its knees with this scourge of illegal immigration, and they want to protect their communities and where they come from,” she added.
The administration has significantly expanded efforts to recruit ICE agents, particularly after the passage of the “Big Beautiful Bill” earlier this year, which included a large increase in funding for border and immigration enforcement. DHS is now offering new hires a $50,000 signing bonus, student loan forgiveness, and enhanced retirement benefits, among other benefits.
“We’re encouraging more patriots,” McLaughlin said, “ It’s a very rewarding job [and] a $50,000 bonus.”
According to The Associated Press, DHS has spent $6.5 million on recruitment advertising, running campaigns on television and podcasts. Advertisements have also been seen on major streaming platforms such as Spotify and HBO Max. Many ads have emphasized patriotism, duty, and service to the nation, particularly aimed at younger Americans.
“We’re aiming to really revive patriotism and pride in our heritage and but also debunk and defang a lot of these [media-carried] attacks against our men and women,” McLaughlin said.
