• Kari Lake wrongly says “80,000 Americans” signed up to join ICE, confusing applications with actual hires.

  • Kristi Noem’s recruitment drive drew 80,000 applications for 10,000 open ICE officer roles, not new agents.

  • High-profile supporters like Dean Cain boost ICE’s appeal, but application numbers don’t guarantee staffing increases.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (TDR) — Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake incorrectly asserted that 80,000 Americans have signed up to join ICE, conflating applications with actual new agents. The claim came during her appearance on Newsmax host Rob Schmitt’s show, where she praised the Trump administration’s border enforcement efforts.

Noem’s Recruitment Drive

Last week, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem launched a campaign inviting U.S. citizens to apply for positions at ICE, declaring, “Your country is calling you to serve at ICE… to get the worst of the worst criminals out of our country.” In a DHS press release and on Fox & Friends, Noem noted ICE had received 80,000 applications, while seeking to hire 10,000 officers .

“This is a defining moment in our nation’s history,” Noem said, emphasizing the agency’s need for “dedicated men and women of ICE.”

ICE’s own website states the agency employs “20,000 law enforcement and support personnel in more than 400 offices.”

Lake’s Exaggerated Figures

On Newsmax, Lake claimed she had “heard Kristi Noem… say 80,000 Americans have signed up” to “help send these people back home”. In reality, Noem was referring to applications submitted, not confirmed hires . Lake also overstated that 15 million migrants entered under the Biden presidency, a figure not supported by Homeland Security data.

Deportations and Voluntary Departures

Trump’s border czar Tom Homan reported that 300,000 people have been deported in 200 days, with a further 1 million leaving voluntarily . These numbers underscore ICE’s aggressive removals but do not correlate with Lake’s recruitment claims.

Celebrity Endorsements

Former TV star Dean Cain announced on social media he is joining ICE, praising its “arrests of terrorists, rapists, murderers, pedophiles, MS-13 gang members, drug traffickers” and touting a $50,000 signing bonus .

“If you want to help save America… we need your help to protect our homeland,” Cain urged.

Implications for ICE and Policy

While the influx of 80,000 applications demonstrates public interest, experts caution that application numbers do not translate directly into staffing gains. ICE will still need to clear background checks, training, and budget appropriations to convert applicants into active agents.

Looking Ahead

As ICE continues its ramp-up, questions remain about how many applicants will become officers and how accurately public figures convey recruitment metrics.

Will ICE’s recruitment surge translate into meaningful staffing increases, or will inflated claims undermine trust in enforcement policy?

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