May 6 (UPI) -- U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement will end abbreviated training programs intended to get its officers out into the streets sooner, unnamed sources familiar with the move told multiple news organizations Wednesday.
In fall 2025, ICE allegedly slashed its training from 72 days to 42 days, a move criticized by Democrats and some others as the Trump administration sought to deport large numbers of people from the country. Critics said recruits did not receive enough training on how to handle firearms or First Amendment rights, The Washington Post reported.
There have been many calls for reform in the agency as well as calls for it to be outright abolished, both of which grew after ICE agents killed two U.S. citizens in January in Minneapolis. Many others have died in ICE custody.
Homeland Security officials told news agencies The Washington Post, The Hill and Politico that ICE will return to the longer training period as of July 1. The move is due to a surge in hiring for ICE that will double the number of agents to about 22,000, the officials said. It also comes as new Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin says he'll restore public confidence in the agency.
The department, which has denied it ever shortened the training, did not officially confirm the change Wednesday.
