Local law enforcement agencies across the United States are sounding the alarm over what they describe as aggressive and disruptive recruitment tactics by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under Secretary Kristi Noem. As the Trump administration pushes for a dramatic ramp-up in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hiring, officials say the campaign is targeting their already strained ranks, worsening a nationwide police staffing crisis.
On August 9, 2025, Jonathan Thompson, executive director and CEO of the National Sheriff’s Association, voiced the mounting frustration during an interview with CNN. Comparing the situation to a personal betrayal, he remarked, "It's just one of those things where you would not try to steal your brother's girlfriend just to have a date, so we're a little bit frustrated to say the least." His words captured the sense of bewilderment and irritation felt by many in local law enforcement as they watch their own officers being lured away by federal recruiters.
The root of the tension lies in an ambitious recruitment campaign launched by the Trump administration, aimed at boosting ICE’s capacity to arrest 3,000 migrants a day—a self-imposed quota that has put extraordinary pressure on the agency’s staffing needs. According to CNN, the campaign has involved sending targeted emails to local police departments and sheriff’s offices across the country, actively encouraging officers to make the jump to ICE.
One such email, obtained by CNN and sent by ICE Deputy Director Madison Sheahan, read: "Your experience in state or local law enforcement brings invaluable insight and skills to this mission – qualities we need now more than ever." The message was clear: ICE wants the expertise and on-the-ground knowledge that local officers possess, and it’s willing to go to great lengths to get it.
But for communities already grappling with severe police shortages, those lengths have been a source of deep concern. Thompson highlighted the scale of the problem: "We're frustrated, I think it's hard to fathom how difficult the recruiting and retention problems facing law enforcement across this country are," he told CNN. "With many agencies looking at anywhere from 25% to 40% vacancy rates, this came to us as a bit of a surprise that you'd go to your partners to start recruiting for them."
The numbers bear out the challenge. Law enforcement agencies nationwide are reporting vacancy rates of between 25% and 40%, leaving communities with fewer patrols, slower response times, and growing unease about public safety. The prospect of losing even more officers to federal agencies—especially when those agencies are actively recruiting from within their ranks—has left many local leaders feeling abandoned by supposed allies.
The recruitment drive is being fueled by an unprecedented surge in ICE’s budget. Under the Trump administration, ICE received a record-high allocation of $37.5 billion, a sum that now eclipses the military budgets of all but 15 countries worldwide. The financial windfall has enabled ICE to offer sign-on bonuses as high as $50,000, a figure that dwarfs the incentives most local agencies can provide.
Despite the influx of cash and the lucrative offers, ICE has struggled to meet its hiring goals. The agency’s leadership, including Secretary Kristi Noem, has resorted to increasingly drastic measures to fill the ranks. According to both CNN and Raw Story, ICE has even gone so far as to forcibly reassign staff from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to ICE, threatening termination for those who refuse the transfer. This move has drawn criticism not only from law enforcement but also from emergency management professionals, who warn that such reassignments could leave the country less prepared for natural disasters and other crises.
For many in local law enforcement, the situation is nothing short of chaotic. Thompson’s analogy of “stealing your brother’s girlfriend” may sound lighthearted, but it reflects a serious sense of betrayal. Local agencies have long worked in partnership with federal counterparts, sharing information and resources to tackle everything from drug trafficking to terrorism. Now, some feel those relationships are being undermined by a federal agency desperate to meet politically charged quotas.
The frustration is not limited to the loss of personnel. Some local officials worry that ICE’s recruitment tactics could further erode morale among officers who remain. When officers see their colleagues being offered huge bonuses and federal jobs, it can breed resentment and a sense that their work at the local level is undervalued. This, in turn, could make it even harder to recruit and retain new officers, creating a vicious cycle that leaves communities less safe.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration has defended its approach, arguing that the need to enforce immigration laws and meet arrest targets justifies the aggressive recruitment. Supporters point to the record budget as evidence of the administration’s commitment to border security and public safety. They argue that ICE’s expanded capacity is essential for tackling illegal immigration, and that attracting experienced law enforcement professionals is a logical step.
Critics, however, see the campaign as shortsighted and disruptive. They argue that poaching officers from local agencies solves one problem by creating another—leaving small towns and cities to bear the brunt of depleted police forces. Some have called for a more collaborative approach, suggesting that federal and local agencies should work together to address staffing shortages rather than compete for the same limited pool of qualified candidates.
The controversy has also reignited debate over the role and scope of ICE itself. With a budget larger than most of the world’s militaries and a mandate that has expanded dramatically in recent years, ICE’s prominence in American law enforcement has never been greater. But as the agency grows, so too do the tensions with its local counterparts.
As the recruitment campaign continues, local law enforcement leaders like Thompson are urging the federal government to reconsider its tactics. The stakes, they say, are too high to ignore. "We need to find ways to support each other, not undermine each other," Thompson told CNN. "Our communities depend on it."
With the Trump administration showing no signs of backing down from its hiring goals, and local agencies struggling to keep their ranks full, the standoff looks set to continue. The coming months will test whether federal and local law enforcement can find a way to work together—or whether the competition for officers will further strain an already fragile system.
For now, the message from America’s sheriffs and police chiefs is clear: they want their officers to stay, and they want the federal government to stop treating them as a recruitment pool. Whether that message will be heard in Washington remains to be seen.
