U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was created under the Homeland Security Act of March 2003, which states that the act is to “better protect national security and public safety in answer to the tragic events on 9/11.” The agency’s purpose is to enforce immigration, customs and trade laws. Since its establishment, ICE’s budget has stayed below $10 billion, until President Donald Trump’s second term in office, when it grew under The One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
ICE has now been given the largest budget related to U.S. law enforcement agencies at around $85 billion. This budget includes a $75 billion supplement that can be spent over four years, plus a $10 billion annual budget. The government is using money from taxes to fund this budget.
Since the budget increase, ICE now offers recruitment bonuses of $50,000 over a five-year commitment and aids student loan debt up to $60,000, incentivizing people to join. According to a press release from the Department of Homeland Security, ICE has “doubled our officers and agents from 10,000 to 22,000.”
The government believes that the increase in hirings will allow for the deporting of up to 1 million people per year. ICE had over 220,000 applicants in 2025, as the government has been reusing World War II posters and designs, with the hope of getting more people to join the agency. This will overall reinforce Trump’s goal with ICE and stand in for justification on why the department needs a bigger budget. The more workers ICE has, the more it provides another layer of reasoning for having a bigger budget. Agents also receive a $10,000 bonus on top of their salary, which depends on their schooling and experience, ranging from $49,739 to $89,528. They also receive benefits, consisting of sizable overtime, retirement and paid time off.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act expanded ICE’s budget, not just for the employees but to finish the goals Trump sought out in his first term. Majority of the money from the act is going toward two goals: $46.5 billion to finish the wall that is on the U.S.-Mexico border and $14.4 billion on removal transportation.
Trump has defended ICE’s plans, even with the controversy of eight deaths at the hands of ICE. Following these deaths, Congress wants to renegotiate clearer restrictions on ICE, as leaders Jeffries and Schumer create reform demands to help citizens feel safer throughout Trump’s anti-immigration goal in the U.S. Renegotiating ICE’s restrictions may affect its future funding.
