The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is reportedly setting aside $100 million for a year-long recruitment drive aimed at attracting individuals who are staunch supporters of gun rights or have a passion for combat sports and military activities.
As detailed by The Washington Post on Wednesday, following a review of an internal agency document, ICE has framed this initiative as a "wartime recruitment" strategy. The goal is to saturate social media with content and enlist influential figures from conservative and anti-immigration circles to reach potential recruits.
The campaign also includes targeted advertising based on geographic location, designed to reach specific profiles.
The 30-page document, which reportedly began circulating within the agency last summer, outlines plans for advertisements targeted at individuals who have attended UFC fights or NASCAR races, listened to patriotic podcasts, or shown interest in firearms and tactical gear, according to the report.
The recruitment strategy involves influencer promotions on platforms like Snapchat and Rumble (noted for its popularity among conservatives), and employs a geolocation advertising system called “geofencing.” This technology enables ICE to send advertisements to web browsers and social media accounts on phones located within particular coordinates during specific timeframes.
With this tool, ICE could potentially target notifications to attendees of sporting events, gun shows, or even those visiting tactical equipment stores or military bases.
Increased Budget for Arrests and Deportations The report further highlights that in July, the U.S. Congress tripled ICE's funding for arrest and deportation operations to $30 billion. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which oversees ICE, has already publicly discussed plans to increase its workforce by 10,000 employees, adding to its current roster of approximately 20,000 workers.
According to the document, since President Donald Trump's return to the White House in January, there has been an escalation in efforts to curb illegal immigration.
The report mentions that while exact figures are yet to be confirmed, it is believed that the U.S. could have deported hundreds of thousands of individuals this year. Additionally, over a million migrants in irregular situations may have taken advantage of a federal self-deportation incentive program.
Understanding ICE's Recruitment and Deportation Strategy
What is ICE's "wartime recruitment" strategy?
ICE's "wartime recruitment" strategy focuses on a massive social media campaign using influencers to attract individuals interested in gun rights, combat sports, and military activities.
How does geofencing work in ICE's recruitment plan?
Geofencing in ICE's plan involves sending targeted advertisements to users' devices located within specific geographical coordinates at designated times, such as during events or at particular locations.
What increase in budget has ICE received for deportations?
ICE's budget for deportation operations was tripled to $30 billion by the U.S. Congress in July, signaling a significant increase in funding for these activities.