The Trump administration is rolling out a bold new initiative to bolster the ranks of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), offering former agents reenlistment bonuses of up to $50,000 to return to active duty amid an ambitious national immigration enforcement campaign.
According to internal emails obtained by the New York Post, ICE officials are calling on former Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents to reenter the force in what is being dubbed Operation Return to Service.
“You served the United States of America with distinction and honor. Now, your country calls upon you to serve once more,” the message read. “By returning to ICE, you are providing an honorable, indispensable service to our nation.”
The offer is being financed through the recently passed “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (BBB), a sweeping $1.2 trillion spending package that included $75 billion in additional funding for ICE, marking the largest single-year investments in the agency’s history.
Under the program, ICE is offering:
- $10,000 signing bonus upon return
- An additional $10,000 for agents who apply by August 1
- Annual bonuses of $10,000 for up to three years, bringing the total potential payout to $50,000
The agency is also allowing returning personnel to retain their pension payments and benefits, a rare incentive designed to make reentry more attractive for retirees or those who left for the private sector.
The Trump administration’s renewed focus on immigration enforcement marks a sharp break from the policies of the Biden administration, which ICE officials say led to record attrition and low morale across the agency.
A dedicated “Return to Mission” website has been launched to provide detailed information and FAQs for eligible former agents. The site reads: “Your country is calling upon you to serve. Due to the prior administration’s disastrous immigration policies, the men and women of ICE now face unprecedented challenges. You are critically needed to secure our communities and uphold our laws.”
The announcement has already drawn praise from immigration hawks.
The aggressive recruitment effort is just one piece of the broader immigration strategy now unfolding under Trump’s second term. The expanded ICE budget includes money for more detention facilities, increased surveillance capabilities, and a surge of deportation proceedings, many of which are already underway.
While morale among ICE personnel has soared since Trump returned to office—fueled by renewed political backing, increased funding, and a White House that allows the agency to do its job—former agents may be hesitant to rejoin. The risks associated with serving in ICE have escalated sharply in recent months, with agents increasingly facing threats, doxxing campaigns, and even physical attacks.
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