Washington Post Finds 19 Trump-Era ICE Hires Had Misconduct Records
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 10
Washington Post Finds 19 Trump-Era ICE Hires Had Misconduct Records
2 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 10
Summary
At least 19 ICE officers hired since Trump took office in 2025 had prior misconduct allegations, criminal charges or other red flags, according to a Washington Post review of about 300 names from a leaked DHS database.
The report says ICE’s rapid expansion for mass deportations loosened normal vetting, with an internal whistleblower alleging in 2025 that some hires were made without fingerprint or identity checks.
Five of the 19 were tied to use-of-force incidents, five were named in lawsuits that ended in settlements, and at least six had been fired, decertified or resigned under threat of dismissal.
Examples included a Detroit officer linked to a 2021 fatal shooting later settled for $2.5 million, a former NYPD detective who pleaded guilty in a $2,900 champagne theft, and officers accused of excessive force or falsifying reports.
DHS defended its process, saying ICE applies proper vetting rules and may grant temporary status while full background checks are pending, but former DHS officials told the Post several cases should have triggered deeper scrutiny.