U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protects the United States from the cross-border crime and illegal immigration that threaten national security and public safety. To carry out that mission, ICE focuses on smart immigration enforcement, preventing terrorism and combating transnational criminal threats.
ICE is a law enforcement component of DHS. ICE was created in 2003 through a merger of the investigative and interior enforcement elements of the former U.S. Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service. ICE has more than 20,000 employees in 400 offices in the U.S. and 46 foreign countries. The agency has an annual budget of approximately $6 billion and three operational directorates: Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA).
The ERO directorate upholds U.S. immigration law at, within, and beyond our borders with more than 8,500 employees, including more than 6,100 deportation officers and more than 750 enforcement removal assistants who are assigned to 24 field offices in 50 states, four territories and more than 20 countries. ERO's work is critical to the enforcement of immigration law against those who present a danger to our national security, are a threat to public safety, or who otherwise undermine the integrity of our immigration system.
ERO operations target public safety threats, such as convicted criminal undocumented individuals 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 ordered removed by federal immigration judges. ERO deportation officers assigned to INTERPOL also assist in targeting and apprehending foreign fugitives or Fugitive Arrest and Removal (FAR) cases who are wanted for crimes committed abroad and who are now at-large in the U.S.
ERO manages all aspects of the immigration enforcement process, including identification and arrest, domestic transportation, detention, bond management, and supervised release, including alternatives to detention. In addition, ERO removes undocumented individuals ordered removed from the U.S. to more than 170 countries around the world.
HSI is the principal investigative component of DHS with more than 8,500 employees, including more than 6,500 special agents and 700 intelligence analysts who are assigned to more than 200 cities throughout the U.S. and more than 60 offices in more than 45 countries. HSI's international presence represents DHS' largest investigative law enforcement presence abroad. HSI conducts transnational criminal investigations that protect the U.S. against threats to its national security and brings to justice those seeking to exploit U.S. customs and immigration laws worldwide.
HSI has broad legal authority to investigate all types of cross-border criminal activity. This includes investigations and intelligence efforts into a myriad of smuggling and cross-border criminal activity, to include: financial crimes, bulk cash smuggling, cybercrimes, exploitation of children and child sex tourism, weapons smuggling and export enforcement, trade crimes such as commercial fraud and intellectual property theft, human smuggling and trafficking, narcotics smuggling and trafficking, identity and benefit fraud, human rights violations, transnational gang activity, counterterrorism and visa security.
Through its investigative efforts, HSI works with foreign, federal, state and local law enforcement partners to protect the national security and public safety of the United States by disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations that engage in cross-border crime.
The Management and Administration (M&A) directorate makes important contributions to the ICE mission by providing the vital infrastructure necessary for successful ICE operations. Management and Administration identifies and tracks the agency's performance measurements and leads a dynamic human capital program that includes aggressive recruitment endeavors and a commitment to equal employment opportunity. It coordinates ICE's administrative and managerial functions to address the needs of the ICE mission, while helping to guide the dynamic growth and future of the agency.
Management and Administration directs and maintains ICE's budget, expenditures, accounting and finance, procurement, facilities, property, and policy and privacy programs in full compliance with federal laws, regulations, and rules. Management and Administration provides a solid integrated information technology infrastructure to ensure the men and women of ICE have the tools they need to succeed. Management and Administration establishes acquisition strategies, provides oversight of procurement activities and contracts and executes sound and cost-effective financial management policies, standards and systems. In addition, Management and Administration ensures collaboration with internal stakeholders to increase diversity, guarantees timely responses to Freedom of Information Act requests and supports the agency's training needs.
The Office of the Principal Legal Advisor (OPLA) is the largest legal program in the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), with more than 1,300 attorneys and almost 300 support personnel across the country with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. Pursuant to statute, OPLA serves as the exclusive representative of DHS in immigration removal proceedings before the Executive Office for Immigration Review, litigating all removal cases including those against criminal noncitizens, terrorists, and human rights abusers. OPLA also provides a full range of legal services to all ICE programs and offices, including legal advice and prudential counsel to ICE personnel on their customs, criminal, and immigration law enforcement authorities, the Freedom of Information Act and Privacy Act, ethics, legal liability under the Federal Tort Claims Act, and a range of administrative law issues, such as contract, fiscal, and employment law. OPLA represents the agency before the Merit Systems Protection Board, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and the Board of Contract Appeals. OPLA attorneys provide essential support to the Department of Justice in the prosecution of ICE cases and in the defense of ICE's authorities and discretion in federal court.
ICE and CBP are both components of the Department of Homeland Security; CBP enforces customs and immigration law at and near the border and ICE enforces customs and immigration laws at the border as well as in the interior of the United States. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the U.S. while facilitating lawful international travel and trade. ICE is responsible for protecting the United States from the cross-border crime and illegal immigration that threaten national security and public safety.
Working for ICETo see a complete listing of job opportunities at ICE please visit the federal government's official job website, USAJOBS.
ICE jobs are posted on federal job website, USAJOBS. If you are a member of the general public, the first step in applying for a position at ICE is to create a USAJOBS profile at USAJOBS, and regularly search for ICE jobs that are listed as "open to the public (all sources)." If you are a current or former federal employee, you may search for ICE jobs at USAJOBS that are listed as "merit promotion eligible candidates" or "eligible for federal employees" in addition to those that are open to all sources.
ICE is an equal opportunity employer and seeks to employ a diverse workforce that is both highly productive and effective and is always actively recruiting and hiring persons with disabilities. We offer a variety of exciting jobs, competitive salaries, excellent benefits, and opportunities for career advancement. Read more about Disability Employment
Visit the federal government's official job website, USAJOBS, look in the "Help" section and search for "Federal Resume Training" as there are documents and videos available to help with creating a federal resume.
Effective April 15, 2022, ICE implemented a five-page resume limit. Although applicants will not be made ineligible if their resume exceeds the five-page limit, only the first five pages will be reviewed to determine whether they are qualified for the position.
No, there is not a cost or fee to apply for a job with ICE.
All job announcements clearly define eligible candidates under the "Who May Apply" section. Generally, if an applicant is a United States citizen, he/she may apply for positions labeled "open to the public (all sources)." If an applicant is a member of the armed forces or a current or former federal employee, he/she may apply for positions labeled "merit promotion eligible candidate."
ICE offers competitive salaries and an attractive benefits package including health, dental, vision, life, long-term care insurance, retirement plan, Thrift Savings Plan (similar to a 401(k)), flexible spending account, Employee Assistance Program, personal and sick leave days and paid federal holidays. Other benefits may include flexible work schedules, telework, tuition reimbursement, transportation subsidies, health and wellness programs and access to fitness centers. ICE is committed to employee development and offers a variety of training and developmental opportunities.
Are there any opportunities to meet current ICE law enforcement professionals and ask questions about their careers? Is there a one-day academy or workshop for potential applicants?
There are many opportunities to meet with ICE recruiters nationwide. You will be able to find these events on ICE's career page as well as follow information posted by ICE's Twitter and LinkedIn accounts.
You may also find out about ICE careers and opportunities at ice.gov/careers.
What Happens After I Apply for a Job With ICE?Once you submit your application, ICE will assess your experience and training, identify the best qualified applicants and refer those applications to the appropriate hiring managers for further consideration and interviews. We will notify you via email the outcome after each of these steps has been completed. In addition, your status will be updated on your USAJOBS account throughout the process.
A point of contact is provided for each job announcement.
Following receipt of a tentative selection letter, you must complete pre-employment requirements. These requirements vary by position. All positions require security vetting and a drug test. Your potential position may also require a medical exam, fitness exam or additional testing. Obtain more detailed information about the personnel vetting process.
No. A tentative selection letter remains tentative until all pre-employment requirements are met for the position. Once you have cleared these requirements, a firm job offer will be made.
Paying for a potential employee to move is at the discretion of the hiring office, therefore each position listed on USAJOBS will indicate if moving expenses may be offered.
There may be some flexibility in duty location. If so, it will be specified in the job listing on USAJOBS.
About Law Enforcement Officer PositionsICE is looking for individuals with integrity and courage. ICE is interested in hiring law enforcement personnel who aspire to the highest standards of performance, professionalism and leadership. Deportation officers and special agents must be in excellent physical condition, able to tolerate environmental stresses and have strong critical thinking skills. ICE employees should be committed to its mission to protect America from cross-border crime and illegal immigration that threaten national security and public safety.
Mobility is a major factor in the special agent occupation. Applicants must be willing to accept employment at any location offered. Assignment at the first duty station will be at least three years for special agents; however, completion of the three years does not imply that a transfer is guaranteed. Additionally, special agents may be reassigned at any time in their career to new locations based on agency needs.
ICE law enforcement officers should expect a certain level of risk when performing their duties; however, they are expertly trained and every precaution is taken by ICE when it comes to protecting its officers' well-being.
Yes. Applicants must be at least 21 years of age. The day immediately preceding an individual's 37th birthday will be the last day to be referred for selection consideration for criminal investigators. The day immediately preceding an individual's 40th birthday will be last day to be referred for selection consideration as a deportation officer. The age restriction may not apply if you are a preference-eligible veteran, currently serving or have previously served in a federal civilian law enforcement position covered by 5 U.S.C. & 8336(c) or 5 U.S.C. & 8412(d).
Applicants may be required to successfully pass a polygraph examination.
Yes. Executive Order 12564 requires all federal employees to refrain from the use of illegal drugs on and off duty. All ICE applicants who are tentatively selected must satisfactorily complete a drug test as a mandatory condition of employment. ICE schedules and pays for these drug tests. All ICE employees are subject to the random drug testing program throughout their career.
No, fluency in Spanish is not required to apply for a position; some candidates may undergo Spanish language training.
Not at the GS-5 level. Above the GS-5 level requires one year of specialized experience or appropriate education substitution. Please refer to each specific job announcement for qualification requirements.
Overtime pay for federal government employees is determined by special rules and regulations that are often particularly complex. Some federal employees, who are not entitled to overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), may be entitled to overtime pay under Title 5. Some forms of government pay, such as Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) and Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUO), are available under Title 5 but not the FLSA.
Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUO) pay: AUO is a form of premium pay that is paid on an annual basis to an employee in a position in which the hours of duty cannot be controlled administratively and which requires substantial amounts of irregular, unscheduled overtime work, with the employee generally being responsible for recognizing, without supervision, circumstances which require the employee to remain on duty. AUO is compensation for all irregular overtime hours (i.e., overtime hours that are not regularly scheduled) which varies between 10 and 25 percent of an employee's basic rate of pay. "Regularly scheduled" overtime hours continue to be compensated with Federal Employees Pay Act (FEPA) overtime ("45 Act/Title 5 overtime").
Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP): LEAP is a type of premium pay that is paid to federal law enforcement officers (LEOs) who are criminal investigators. Due to the nature of their work, criminal investigators are required to work, or be available to work, substantial amounts of unscheduled duty. Availability pay applies to unscheduled duty hours as well as the first two hours of regularly scheduled overtime on any day containing part of the criminal investigator's basic 40-hour workweek. The rate is fixed at 25% of the employee's rate of basic pay, subject to aggregate premium pay limitations. Other hours of overtime continue to be paid under the provisions of Title 5/FEPA, but LEAP employees are exempt from the FLSA.
Law enforcement officers are competitively rewarded for their time on the job. In addition to base pay, agents may be eligible for locality pay, overtime pay and more. They may also be eligible to earn premium pay for working on Sundays, holidays and night shifts.
New ICE law enforcement officers are covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) and 5 U.S.C. § 8412(d). Employees covered by this retirement system who reach age 50 with at least 20 years of service as a law enforcement officer are eligible for law enforcement retirement. In addition, ICE law enforcement officers are eligible for law enforcement retirement at any age with at least 25 years of service as a law enforcement officer.
Finally, employees who reach age 57 with at least 20 years of service as law enforcement officers are subject to mandatory retirement under both retirement systems.