DHS grants ICE agents expanded powers under new enforcement directive

Trump signed Executive Order 14159 'Protecting the American People Against Invasion' and EO 14165 'Securing Our Borders' on Jan. 20, 2025, immediately reshaping federal immigration enforcement priorities and border security operations.

The orders directed DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to significantly increase ICE and CBP agents, with DHS launching the 'Defend the Homeland' recruitment campaign in Jul. 2025 offering $50,000 signing bonuses and enhanced benefits.

ICE removed age caps for new hires in Aug. 2025, allowing applicants over 40 to join deportation forces while eliminating the 37-year age limit for investigators to rapidly expand enforcement capacity.

Section 4 of EO 14159 redirected Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) to prioritize immigration enforcement over other federal crimes, fundamentally changing the agency's investigative mission and resource allocation.

The orders established policies for physical border barriers, mandatory detention of apprehended aliens, and enhanced federal-state cooperation in immigration enforcement, bypassing congressional approval through executive authority.

Twenty thousand ICE agents received new enforcement priorities on Jan. 21, transforming workplace raids and deportation procedures nationwide while Congress remained unable to intervene in executive branch implementation.