The Indicator from Planet Money How well are ICE's 12,000 new officers being trained?
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Feb 18, 2026 They dig into ICE's rapid hiring surge and how recruitment shortcuts changed who gets hired. Training practices are examined, including a mock “simulation city” and shorter classroom time. The conversation highlights lost Spanish instruction and how on-the-job mentoring and agency culture shape conduct. Officials' responses and accountability gaps are also discussed.
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Massive, Rapid Expansion Of ICE
- DHS more than doubled ICE's workforce with 12,000 hires in about a year.
- That rapid expansion made ICE one of the fastest-growing and most scrutinized workplaces in the country.
Training Weeks Shortened To 14
- DHS shifted funding to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers for ICE and other agencies.
- New ICE recruits now receive 14 weeks of training, shorter than their previous program and below many local police averages.
Mock City Training At FLETC
- Mark Brown described training at FLETC's mock city with storefronts, houses, and crowd-control exercises.
- He said trainees are taught to avoid debating protesters and to remove handcuffed people quickly to keep everyone safe.