ICE Dedicates Millions to Recruitment Ads Amid Controversy

Fri Oct 10 2025 19:18:34 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

ICE's multi-million dollar advertising campaign aims to attract local law enforcement officers disillusioned with sanctuary city policies as it seeks to expand its deportation efforts dramatically.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has rolled out a significant advertising campaign across various metropolitan areas, aimed at recruiting local law enforcement officers who feel constrained by their cities' immigration policies. With a budget of $30 billion to hire 10,000 additional deportation officers, ICE's strategy relies on a series of targeted ads that highlight the need for officers to join in combatting perceived threats. However, this controversial tactic has raised concerns among local police departments, and the implications of such a push could alter the dynamics of local law enforcement in sanctuary cities.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is allocating millions towards a television advertising campaign in numerous metropolitan areas across the nation. This campaign, identified through an Associated Press tally, is designed to attract local police officers who are dissatisfied with the immigration enforcement restrictions enacted by their respective cities, particularly sanctuary cities.

“You took an oath to protect and serve, to keep your family and city safe,” intones a narrator against a backdrop of arrest scenes featuring ICE agents. “But in sanctuary cities, you’re ordered to stand down while dangerous illegals walk free.”

Aimed at bolstering President Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts, this campaign is part of ICE's $30 billion initiative to recruit 10,000 additional deportation officers by year’s end. This funding comes from an aggressive budget push by the Trump administration, seeking a staggering $76.5 billion for ICE, marking a tenfold increase in the agency's current resources.

While some areas of the federal government are grappling with shutdowns due to Congressional budget impasses, ICE’s advertising initiative illustrates their commitment to ramping up deportations, a move considered top priority for the current administration.

The ads, which span over a dozen cities including major urban centers such as Chicago, Atlanta, and Seattle, focus on a standard format that calls for local law enforcement to ally with ICE in capturing drug traffickers, gang members, and more. These 30-second spots commenced airing in mid-September, with over $5.7 million already spent, notably with significant sums allocated to regions like Seattle and Atlanta.

The selection of areas for these ads is not clearly defined by any standard measure of sanctuary jurisdictions, which generally refer to locales limiting cooperation with federal immigration enforcement. Despite repeated inquiries, Department of Homeland Security officials have not clarified the reasoning behind their targeted advertising strategies, but they reported receiving over 150,000 job applications, signaling a strong interest in their recruiting efforts.

Local law enforcement agencies have been largely tight-lipped regarding the advertisements, with many stating they do not comment on the actions of external agencies. Still, leaders from several police associations expressed concern about the enticing recruitment offers from ICE, suggesting that the significant signing bonuses may attract prospective officers away from local departments.

As the ad blitz unfolds during a time when local police departments across the country are struggling to meet staffing demands, its implications on community policing and relationships with immigrant populations remain to be seen. This campaign undoubtedly seeks to redefine the interaction between federal immigration enforcement and local law enforcement in the ongoing debate over immigration policy and strategy.