Fact Check: "ICE plans to hire 8,500 new officers and 2,000 attorneys."
What We Know
The claim that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) plans to hire 8,500 new officers and 2,000 attorneys is based on past proposals and budget requests. In 2018, ICE had initially aimed to hire 8,500 deportation officers and 1,500 criminal investigators as part of a broader initiative to increase law enforcement personnel under the Trump administration's executive order. However, this solicitation was canceled due to funding delays, and ICE later indicated that it would reissue the solicitation in fiscal year 2019 (source).
In the fiscal year 2025 budget, ICE's staffing plans include an increase of 289 positions, but it does not specify hiring 8,500 new officers or 2,000 attorneys (source). The budget documents indicate that ICE is focusing on hiring additional personnel, but the figures mentioned in the claim do not align with the current budgetary allocations or proposals (source).
Analysis
While the initial proposal for hiring 8,500 officers was made, it was not realized due to funding constraints and subsequent cancellations of hiring contracts. The claim references a significant past intention but does not reflect the current status of ICE's hiring plans. The recent budget documents indicate a much smaller increase in personnel, with no mention of hiring 2,000 attorneys (source).
Moreover, ICE has faced challenges in meeting its hiring goals, with the number of new deportation officer hires significantly lower than anticipated in previous years. For instance, in the first year of the Trump administration, only 371 new deportation officers were hired, far short of the goals set (source).
The reliability of the sources varies; while government budget documents are generally credible, the original claim seems to stem from a historical context rather than a current actionable plan. The cancellation of the solicitation and the subsequent budget allocations suggest that the claim may be outdated or misrepresentative of ICE's current hiring strategy.
Conclusion
Verdict: Partially True
The claim that ICE plans to hire 8,500 new officers and 2,000 attorneys is partially true in that it reflects a past intention from the Trump administration. However, it does not accurately represent ICE's current hiring plans or budgetary allocations, which indicate a much smaller increase in personnel. The claim is misleading as it suggests an active plan that is not supported by recent budgetary evidence.
