More than 200 new Immigration and Custom Enforcement agent recruits have been dismissed as the Trump administration ramps up hiring at the agency, NBC News reported exclusively on Wednesday.
The agency has reportedly brought in new recruits before they completely pass the vetting process. After bringing some recruits on, ICE officials have realized that they didn’t pass the drug test, have criminal backgrounds, or fall short of the physical and academic conditions, the report said.
“Just under 10” had criminal convictions, didn’t pass drug tests or had safety concerns. A majority of the dismissed recruits didn’t pass the physical and academic requirements. NBC News’ reporting aligns well with reporting from The Atlantic on Monday.
“It’s pathetic,” one ICE official told The Atlantic. The publication also reported that ICE headquarters sent an email to top ICE officials claiming that “a considerable amount of athletically allergic candidates” showed up to the academy.
ICE Security’s Personnel Security Division (PSD) handles vetting and hiring. According to the agency’s website, the division plays a “vital role as the frontline guardians, entrusted with safeguarding our workforce, agency, and national interests against potential harm posed by individuals who may not uphold our standards.”
