How well are ICE's 12,000 new officers being trained?

The Department of Homeland Security’s rapid expansion of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has doubled the agency's ranks through aggressive recruitment, yet this growth faces intense scrutiny over training quality and operational conduct. While DHS maintains that training standards remain consistent, new recruits receive only 14 weeks of instruction—less than previous requirements and the national average for law enforcement. Key shifts include the elimination of Spanish language classes in favor of unspecified translation services and a reliance on field training that may perpetuate aggressive behaviors. Law enforcement experts, including former instructor Mark Brown and economist Matthew Ross, argue that the modeling of veteran behavior often overrides formal protocols, leading to avoidable uses of force. Despite the prospect of costly legal settlements and public criticism regarding the detention of legal residents and citizens, the agency appears to treat these liabilities as a standard cost of business rather than a catalyst for cultural reform.