ICE warns of vetting delays amid rapid hiring surge under Trump

Internal email outlines how to handle misconduct claims as expansion raises concerns about background checks

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is struggling to keep pace with vetting new hires during its historic recruitment push and is laying out a process to deal with allegations of past misconduct among recruits, the agency said in an internal email this week, underscoring concerns about ICE's rapid expansion.

The email, sent to supervisors with ICE's enforcement and removal operations (ERO) division and seen by Reuters, said the high volume of new hires" and stalled background checks could create uncertainty for field offices when allegations arise related to actions before joining the federal agency, and that allegations should be referred to the internal integrity investigations unit (IIU).