DHS Removes Age Limits for ICE Hiring, Offers $50,000 Bonuses Amid Sanctuary City Criticism by Kristi Noem

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced the removal of age limits for new hires at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), allowing applicants over 40 years old to join the agency. Previously, candidates had to be between 21 and 40 years old. This change is part of a broader hiring initiative under the Trump administration, which includes offering signing bonuses of up to $50,000 to attract new officers. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem highlighted recent immigration enforcement efforts during a press conference in Chicago, where she criticized sanctuary city policies, particularly in Illinois. Noem stated that in the past seven months, ICE issued over 1,664 detainers in Chicago, but only 8% were honored by local authorities. She accused Illinois leaders of obstructing efforts to remove dangerous criminals, including murderers and rapists, from communities. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin also condemned sanctuary city politicians, blaming them for deaths linked to illegal immigration. Noem displayed 20 kilograms of fentanyl seized by federal officers, emphasizing the scale of the drug threat. The administration’s rhetoric framed the enforcement actions as critical to public safety and criticized Democratic officials for sanctuary policies.