Here’s a detailed roadmap of how to pursue a career as an ICE law enforcement officer in 2025.
Becoming a law enforcement officer with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is a multi-step process involving strict eligibility criteria, competitive selection, background vetting, and specialized training. ICE hires for several roles including Deportation Officer (within Enforcement & Removal Operations, ERO) and Special Agent / Criminal Investigator (within Homeland Security Investigations, HSI).
1. Ensure Basic Eligibility
Before applying, you must meet foundational requirements:
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| U.S. citizenship | You must be a citizen (by birth or naturalization) |
| Valid driver’s license | A requirement for many field positions |
| Firearm eligibility | Must be permitted to carry a firearm under federal law |
| Age limits (or waivers) | Traditionally, entry must be before age 40 (waivers exist for veterans or those with prior federal law enforcement service) |
| Selective Service registration | For males born after Dec. 31, 1959 |
Note: In 2025, DHS announced that ICE will remove age limits for new applicants, meaning more flexibility in age eligibility.
2. Obtain Required Education & Experience
Candidates generally must hold:
- Bachelor’s degree (in any field). Some degrees in criminal justice, law, foreign language, or international relations may be preferred.
- Graduate-level study or equivalent credentials may be required or beneficial to waive certain requirements.
- Relevant experience (law enforcement, military, security) can enhance competitiveness.
For Deportation Officer / ERO roles, applicants may not need prior law enforcement experience to start at entry levels (GS-5 to GS-7) as long as education or background aligns.
3. Search & Apply for ICE Jobs
- Create a USAJOBS account
ICE job listings are posted on the official federal jobs portal. Start by making a profile there. - Search for law enforcement roles
Use keywords like “ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations,” “HSI Criminal Investigator,” or “Immigration Enforcement” to find postings. - Submit an application
This includes your federal resume (ICE limits review to first five pages) and supporting documentation. - Track application via ICE Recruitment Portal
ICE maintains its hiring portal where you may monitor status (Application, Tentative Offer, Pre-employment, Final Offer, Onboarding). Click to see
4. Selection & Pre-Employment Requirements
If your application is tentatively selected, you’ll undergo several evaluations:
- Security vetting / background investigation
This stage can take on average three months, but may vary from two weeks to a year. - Drug test
Screening for illegal substances. - Medical exam
Ensures fitness for duty. - Physical fitness test
Applicants must demonstrate strength, stamina, and agility. - Oral board / panel interview
You may face questions from ICE personnel on scenarios or law enforcement principles. - Polygraph (if required)
Some candidates may undergo polygraph examinations depending on the level of position or security requirements.
5. Training: Academy & Field Preparation
Once officially hired, ICE law enforcement personnel go through distinct training pipelines:
- ERO (Deportation / Removal Officers):
Officials report that training may include immigration law, arrest and detention procedures, firearms, defensive tactics, constitutional law, and case management
ICE used to run a 13-week ERO academy; recent adjustments reportedly shortened ERO training. - HSI Special Agents:
Trainees complete the interagency Criminal Investigator Training Program (CITP) followed by ICE/HSI’s specialization training. Curriculum includes criminal investigations, undercover operations, warrant execution, international investigative techniques, and counterintelligence.
6. Deployment & Career Progression
After training, officers serve in their assigned duty locations. ICE offers opportunities for:
- Promotion into supervisory roles
- Transfers to different ICE divisions (ERO, HSI, intelligence)
- Specialized assignments (counterterrorism, human trafficking, cybercrime)
Employees are also subject to periodic continuing education, certifications, and performance assessments to advance.
Becoming a law enforcement officer with ICE is a competitive and rigorous path. Prospective applicants must clear strict eligibility, vetting, and training requirements. While the process may take many months, successful candidates can embark on a career that places them at the intersection of national security and immigration law enforcement.
