On Friday, leaks from an agency that has become highly controversial over the course of President Donald Trump’s second term revealed that many insiders are “happy” that the GOP was heavily rebuked in the midterms. According to Anna Giaritelli, Homeland Security reporter at the Washington Examiner, “plenty” of officers with Immigration and Customs Enforcement – better known as ICE – are hoping that the election will result in accountability for the agency.
Over the course of the past two years, Trump’s heavy-handed use of ICE to push his mass deportation agenda has grown increasingly unpopular, particularly after he “surged” agents into Minnesota in January, resulting in the killing of protesters Renee Good and Alex Pretti. As sentiments against the agency have risen, so have calls for it to be reduced or even abolished. According to sources within the agency, however, many ICE agents are also hoping for change, and that the Republican midterm defeat will bring it.
“Post-election text from tenured ICE source,” posted Giaritelli. “This source and others have lamented to me that the new hires have inadequate training and [that] being assigned to the field with rookies is a liability for experienced officers.” She attached a screenshot of a message that read, “Please tell any of your WH/ICE leadership contacts that plenty of officers who are working the line are happy with the election results. They want complete accountability of the agency (from the local management level to HQ) and hope this will move toward a transformation of the agency. And many of us hope there will be a renewed push for Unionization.”
As this source suggests, many career ICE agents have been alarmed about the Trump administration’s approach to its mass deportation efforts, which has involved flooding the ranks with new recruits that more seasoned officers say are not receiving adequate training. Many complain of being overworked and burned out, and that the agency is at its “breaking point,” increasing the danger for everyone involved. According to a report from the Examiner in July, many ICE insiders assert that “morale is lower under President Donald Trump than it was during the Biden administration.” As one ICE agent with more than a decade of experience explained, the Trump administration has managed to upset even agency employees who celebrated Trump’s 2024 electoral win. “Many on the right will think this is an attack on Trump,” he said. “I voted for Trump this time around. I believe in immigration enforcement. But man, it’s so disorganized and chaotic.” And according to another agent, “No one is happy. If you hear Tom Homan saying, ‘Morale’s stronger than ever,’ I say, ‘No, it’s not. No, it’s not.’ I see it. I’ve been out in the field. I see it. I’ve seen senior officers quit.”
While ICE used to have a union representing employees through the American Federation of Government Employees, the AFGE legally separated from the ICE union in July 2022. Now, as the message from Giaritelli’s source suggests, many are hoping that a new union can be formed to address the poor working conditions.
What’s more, officers and supervisors hired prior to 2025 told the Examiner that new recruits being put on the street are underqualified and, in some cases, have not completed mandatory federal government background checks or been issued security clearances. “A supervisor with the fugitive operations unit expressed frustration at how many teams are filled with officers who haven’t even cleared background and don’t have a security clearance,” said one officer. “It’s not safe.”