The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is hiring 10,000 new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. The reconciliation bill provided $75 billion in new funding for this initiative.
In addition to core law enforcement occupations, there are also a wide range of professional and administrative functions that support the ICE mission. Career paths in management, information technology, law, mission support, healthcare, public affairs, and community outreach are also available.
FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT INCENTIVES
ICE is offering a robust package of federal law enforcement incentives, including:
- A maximum $50,000 signing bonus
- Student loan repayment and forgiveness options
- 25% Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) for HSI Special Agents
- Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUI) for Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) Deportation Officers
- Enhanced retirement benefits
Former Federal Employees are also encouraged to apply, especially those with experience in immigration enforcement. ICE recruiting is also targeting individuals already working with the agency through various programs, which involve cooperation between local and federal law enforcement.
ENFORCEMENT AND REMOVAL OPERATIONS (ERO) HIRING
ERO operations target public safety threats, such as convicted criminals, undocumented aliens, and gang members, as well as individuals who have otherwise violated our nation’s immigration laws, including those who illegally re-entered the country after being removed and immigration fugitives. The primary occupations include:
Deportation Officers
This occupation enforces immigration laws against those who present a danger to our national security, are a threat to public safety, or otherwise undermine the integrity of our immigration system.
They manage all aspects of the immigration enforcement process, including the identification and arrest, transportation, detention, case management, and removal of undocumented aliens.
Detention and Deportation Officers
These officers conduct legal research to support decisions on removal cases and assist attorneys in representing the government in court actions. Working with other federal law enforcement officials, they identify, locate, and arrest undocumented aliens, and are responsible for ensuring the physical removal of undocumented aliens from the United States. Detention and deportation officers also prepare, present, and defend cases at removal proceedings.
ICE Health Service Corps
ICE Health Service Corps (IHSC) administers an immigration health care system that provides direct care in IHSC-staffed facilities; oversees compliance with health-related standards in non-IHSC-staffed facilities; manages medical referrals and reimburses for off-site medical care; and provides medical support during special operations.
Management and Program Analysts
This group serves as an analyst and advisor to management on the effectiveness of programs and operations and/or the productivity and efficiency of your assigned organizational component. The work involves the application of fact-finding and investigative techniques, oral and written communications, and the development of presentations and reports.
Mission Support Specialists
Mission Support Specialists are management advisors who perform work in support of their assigned office. They coordinate a variety of administrative and management services essential to the operation of the office, including, but not limited to: budget, acquisition, training, logistics, property, records management, travel, human resources, and time and attendance.
ICE RESUME PARAMETERS
ICE implemented a five-page resume limit for its vacancy announcements. This limit is incorporated into all ICE job opportunity announcements. ICE job applicants should update their resumes to fall within the parameters of the five-page limit. Only the first five pages of the resume will be considered to determine if an applicant meets the qualifications of the position.
HOW TO APPLY
All of the ICE job vacancies are posted on USAJOBS.gov. It’s essential to read the entire job announcement before applying and to print out a copy for your records. The announcement includes an employee’s name and email address at the very end of the documents, which you can use to contact them if you have any questions or wish to follow up after submitting your package.
If you haven’t worked for the federal government before, select the “Open to the Public” under the “Hiring Path” filter on the job announcement. This is located in the top right column at the top of each announcement. If you are a former federal employee or are a federal retiree, select the appropriate filter from the “Hiring Path” filter selections.
Review the job announcement’s “Requirements” section that provides a list of qualifications for the position applied for and other essential information.
After reading the announcement, click on APPLY located at the top right of the announcement to begin your application.
Currently, there are 72 open job announcements, many with multiple positions nationwide. For example, the Criminal Investigator (Special Agent) announcement has many vacancies at 30 locations across the country.
