At a Glance
- A Republican-backed spending package has nearly tripled ICE’s annual budget to $75 billion over four years
- ICE has hired 12,000 new officers, swelling its ranks to 22,000-larger than most U.S. police departments
- Armed teams are conducting aggressive street arrests in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities
- Why it matters: The expansion is funded through 2029, limiting Congress’s ability to rein in operations even as public approval of Trump’s immigration policy slips
President Donald Trump’s promise of the largest mass-deportation drive in U.S. history is being powered by a little-scrutinized provision in the GOP’s recent tax-and-spending bill, according to Amanda S. Bennett. The measure funnels $170 billion in new Homeland Security money through 2029, with $75 billion earmarked for Immigration and Customs Enforcement-enough to double ICE’s size and keep it there beyond Trump’s second term.
A Budget “Supercharging” ICE
Bobby Kogan, senior director of federal budget policy at the Center for American Progress and a former Biden White House aide, told News Of Los Angeles the cash infusion is “super-charging ICE” in ways Americans have yet to grasp.
- ICE’s baseline $10 billion annual budget jumps to $30 billion for operations plus $45 billion for detention facilities
- Hiring bonuses of $50,000 helped attract 12,000 new officers in months
- Total ICE personnel now stands at 22,000, exceeding the size of most municipal police departments
“We’re looking at ICE in a way we’ve never seen before,” Kogan said.
From Border to City Streets
While illegal crossings at the southern border have fallen to historic lows, enforcement has shifted inland. Residents of Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Chicago and other cities have watched masked officers-often in unmarked vehicles-smash windows, pull people from cars and conduct door-to-door sweeps.
The shooting death of Renee Good during one such Minneapolis operation ignited weeks of protests and prompted Trump to consider invoking the Insurrection Act. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem confirmed Thursday that 1,500 soldiers are on standby if Governor Tim Walz does not “restore order.”
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., warned Democrats not to “play games” by protesting the tactics. “They need to get out of way and allow federal law enforcement to do its duty,” Johnson said on Capitol Hill.
“Goon Squad” or Legitimate Force?
Democrats say the public never signed up for what they call militarized policing. Rep. Nydia Velázquez, D-N.Y., argued that viral videos of street arrests are eroding trust. “They didn’t sign on for this,” she said at a Capitol press conference backing impeachment articles against Noem.
- Reports indicate U.S. citizens and non-criminals have been detained
- The Supreme Court last year lifted a ban on using race alone in immigration stops
- Trump recently labeled Somali immigrants “garbage,” echoing earlier slurs against migrants from “sh-hole countries,” according to Amanda S. Bennett
Sen. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., told CNN the agency needs dismantling. “People want immigration enforcement that goes after criminals,” Gallego said, “not this goon squad.”
Money Flows With Few Strings
Because the new funds were written into the GOP’s 2025-2029 budget resolution, they bypass annual appropriations fights. Even a government shutdown would not immediately choke off the pipeline.
Kathleen Bush-Joseph of the Migration Policy Institute told News Of Los Angeles the spending pattern mirrors Pentagon budgets. “Trump is militarizing immigration enforcement,” she said.
| Agency | Typical Annual Budget | New 4-Year Total |
|---|---|---|
| ICE (operations) | $10 billion | $30 billion |
| ICE (detention) | varies | $45 billion |
| Border-wall construction | minimal | $37 billion* |
*Already obligated out of roughly $58 billion spent so far, according to a congressional assessment shared with News Of Los Angeles.
Recruitment Success, Deportation Shortfall
Homeland Security blew past its goal of 10,000 new hires, onboarding 12,000 officers since January 2025. The department claims:
- 600,000 people arrested and deported
- 1.9 million more “voluntarily self-deported”
- Daily detention target: 100,000 (roughly triple the historical norm)
Still, the 1 million annual deportations Trump vowed has not yet materialize.
Congressional Pushback
With Republicans controlling Congress, impeachment of Noem is unlikely. A growing bloc of Democratic senators and the Congressional Progressive Caucus say they will oppose routine Homeland Security funding after Jan. 30 unless the bill includes:
- Limits on arrests near hospitals, schools, churches
- Mandatory identification and ban on face masks for officers
- Curbs on partnerships with local police
Rep. Robin Kelly, D-Ill., filed three articles of impeachment against Noem Wednesday, citing obstruction of Congress and “self-dealing.” The move is symbolic; GOP leaders have no plans to hold hearings.
Public Approval Slips
An AP-NORC poll shows Trump’s approval on immigration has fallen since he took office, even among segments of his base. Springsteen’s on-stage swipe at ICE over the weekend amplified the backlash, but the administration shows no sign of retreat.
“Thanks to the Big Beautiful Bill … we have an additional 12,000 ICE officers and agents on the ground,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in December.
For now, the money keeps flowing-and the raids continue.
Key Takeaways
- The GOP spending bill locks in $75 billion for ICE through 2029, shielding it from annual budget fights
- ICE has doubled in size to 22,000 officers, using $50,000 hiring bonuses
- Armed teams are conducting aggressive arrests far from the border, sparking protests and legal challenges
- Congress faces a Jan. 30 deadline to fund Homeland Security, but Democratic efforts to attach restrictions appear doomed in the Republican-controlled House and Senate
