U.S. Law Enforcement Recruitment Surges Under Trump Administration

Former acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf stated that rising recruitment numbers at Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Border Patrol demonstrate renewed confidence among federal law enforcement officers who now believe they can effectively carry out their duties under President Donald Trump.

Wolf, currently serving as executive vice president of the America First Policy Institute, made these remarks during a recent appearance on “Rob Schmitt Tonight.” He highlighted that the administration has reversed policies he described as detrimental to enforcement during the prior administration, specifically noting the widespread use of humanitarian parole and the CBP One app—which allowed migrants to gain entry with minimal resistance. “You could go on your app and basically get a free entry into the country,” Wolf said.

Ending these measures, he claimed, immediately reduced apprehensions and ended catch-and-release practices. “They’re no longer releasing individuals into the interior of the country,” Wolf added, stating that “catch and release has been stopped by this administration.” He also cited increased fentanyl seizures and higher deportation rates as evidence of improved drug enforcement outcomes.

Wolf attributed the surge in recruitment to restored morale among federal agents, noting that when officers know they can perform their duties without political interference, “they’re going to sign up to do that job because there’s a duty.” He contrasted this with the discouraging environment under the previous administration, where agents were “called all sorts of names by both the [former] president and the leadership in his administration,” leading many to avoid serving.

Recent Department of Homeland Security data corroborates Wolf’s claims. ICE’s “Defend the Homeland” recruitment campaign has generated over 220,000 applications, with plans to hire 10,000 officers by year-end. The U.S. Border Patrol received more than 100,000 applications during Trump’s second term—including nearly 35,000 from January through May 2025—a 44% increase compared to the same period in 2024. Additionally, the administration reported an 84% rise in monthly average new Border Patrol hires.