Former President Donald Trump has shown support for the humorous proposal to rename the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) as NICE. This came after he shared a post from a conservative journalist suggesting the new name on his social media platform.
The original idea was floated by Alyssa Marie, a pro-Trump journalist affiliated with TABSReport, on March 25. Her proposal, which humorously suggested calling the agency the National Immigration and Customs Enforcement (NICE), garnered over 850,000 views before catching Trump's attention.
"I want Trump to change ICE to NICE so the media has to say 'NICE agents' every day," Alyssa Marie posted on the platform X.
Trump enthusiastically responded on Truth Social, declaring, "Great idea! Do it." The official White House rapid response account on X quickly amplified this message by sharing the screenshot of Trump's post.
Alyssa expressed her astonishment at the reach of her suggestion, writing, "It's surreal that my favorite president shared my post," on X this past Monday.
The Rationale Behind the Name Change
The humorous logic behind the suggestion is that renaming the agency to NICE would compel media outlets to refer to "NICE agents" in their reports, potentially softening the public's perception of the agency.
However, critics and media outlets like The Daily Beast have dismissed the idea as "embarrassing," viewing it as a superficial attempt to rebrand deportation operations without implementing any substantive changes.
Current Status and Controversies
As of now, there have been no formal moves by the government or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to enact the name change.
Trump's endorsement comes amid heightened controversy surrounding ICE. Interim director Todd Lyons announced his resignation effective May 31, following scandals involving deaths in custody.
In 2025, ICE detention centers witnessed at least 31 deaths, marking the highest number in two decades. The mortality rate continued to rise with at least 17 additional deaths reported by April of the following year.
In January, a tragic incident occurred during a migration operation in Minneapolis, where ICE and Border Patrol agents killed two American citizens—a mother of three and a nurse, both aged 37.
This incident led to the dismissal of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem in March 2026, who was subsequently replaced by Markwayne Mullin.
Expansion of ICE Operations
Despite ongoing controversies, the Trump administration has ramped up ICE operations. Miami has become a focal point for immigration raids, averaging 120 arrests daily in 2026.
In 2025, nearly three million undocumented immigrants left the U.S., with 2.2 million self-deporting and over 675,000 being forcibly removed.
The administration has also increased DHS personnel, hiring 12,000 new agents, effectively doubling ICE's street presence. A budget of $30 billion has been allocated to the agency, with recruitment bonuses reaching up to $50,000, which Trump touts as the most extensive immigration control effort in the nation's history.
Understanding Trump's Support for ICE Renaming
Why did Trump endorse the renaming of ICE to NICE?
Trump found the suggestion humorous and likely saw it as a way to alter public perception of ICE by renaming it to NICE, which would require media to use a more favorable term.
What has been the public and media response to the proposed ICE name change?
The response has been mixed, with some viewing it as a lighthearted suggestion, while others, including media outlets like The Daily Beast, criticize it as a superficial rebranding without meaningful policy changes.
Are there any plans to officially change ICE's name to NICE?
As of now, there are no official plans or actions by the government or the Department of Homeland Security to change the agency's name.