ICE AGENTS: WHO ARE THEY?
ICE agents are masked. They are prepared to use violent tactics. They are motivated by what they consider patriotic ideals. And they have already arrived in Maine.
How are ICE agents recruited? Besides the usual techniques of visiting job fairs and posting ads on federal job sites, there are less common methods. To attract the “patriots”, pictures of Uncle Sam of the “We Want You” variety are posted. The recruitment drive uses a technique called “geofencing”, targeting anyone living near a military base or attending particular sporting events or gun shows. Influencers are used especially on sites popular with the political right. Then there are sign-up bonuses of up to $50,000 and student loan forgiveness and repayment options. The under-employed and those from blue collar backgrounds are targeted. Age limits, which were 21 to 40, have been dropped.
Since Trump took office a year ago the number of ICE agents has gone from 10,000 to 22,000. ICE training has been cut from 16 to 8 weeks. The requirement to learn some Spanish has been eliminated.
So what kind of ICE agents do we end up with?
People who have right-wing political views, are having trouble finding work, have sketchy educations and need money. They are given little training and are sent out onto our streets. Their bosses are the real criminals, but the agents are not innocent.
Source: Deutsche Welle, 1/17/26