ICE agents’ morale ‘extremely high’ amid surge in raids

The morale among Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents is reportedly soaring amid an increase in enforcement actions under the Trump administration.

Two sources familiar with the situation have confirmed that ICE officers are feeling more motivated as they resume their duties with fewer restrictions.

John Fabbricatore, a retired ICE field office director in Colorado, told Newsweek: “The morale is extremely high right now that they’re finally able to do their job; they’re allowed to follow the law as it’s written.”

Newsweek understands that Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers have been particularly “enthusiastic” since Trump returned to office.

Why It Matters

ICE has been thrust into the forefront of the national conversation surrounding immigration enforcement in the United States as President Trump begins to implement his mass deportation policy.

Immigration policies, including mass deportations, were a key element of President Trump’s campaign to return to the White House. Since the commencement of his second term, thousands of undocumented immigrants have been apprehended and hundreds deported.

Americans largely support immigration reform overall but disagree about how policies such as deportations should be carried out.

A majority of Americans support Trump’s current deportation plans. A poll carried out by The New York Times and Ipsos from January 2 to 10 found that 55 percent of voters strongly or somewhat supported such plans. Eighty-eight percent supported “deporting immigrants who are here illegally and have criminal records.”

Large majorities of both Democrats and Republicans agreed that the immigration system is broken.

What To Know

Over 1,000 arrests were made, and 814 detainers were lodged on January 29.

Since Trump took office, ICE and the White House have been publishing daily updates on the numbers of immigrants arrested, or placed under immigration detainers, which is not the same as the number of deportees.

An immigration detainer means federal agents should be notified by local law enforcement before an individual is released so they can be handed over for removal proceedings.

“ICE daily arrests have risen since Trump reentered the White House. Once ICE gets their feet under them after having not really enforced the law for the last four years, I think that the numbers will be better,” Fabbricatore, a Republican, said.

Tom Homan, the new “border czar,” has said the administration will need Congress to provide at least $86 billion for the deportation operation.

Fabbricatore, who previously worked with Homan, said he has a “good vision” for immigration enforcement.

“He’s done a lot of things right. I worked for Tom in the past; he used to be my boss. He’s a cop’s cop,” he said.

“He’s the kind of guy that, you know, has, you know, very good vision and goals on what he wants accomplished. And I think he’s just laid out his plan very well to the men and women of ICE.

“He expects them to perform the right way and, you know, do things the right way on the street to remain safe, you know, treat every detainee humanely, but get this deportation process going.

Ronald Vitiello, who served as acting director of ICE from June 2018 to April 2019, told Newsweek before the inauguration: “I’m thrilled for the workforce; you know, they’re going to have somebody that knows what they do and wants them to do it well.

Vitello has rejoined the Trump administration as a senior advisor for Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

Immigration raids in cities like Chicago and Los Angeles, along with Trump’s new directives permitting searches in schools and churches as well as workplaces and homes, have increased concerns in communities nationwide.

Amy Fischer, Director of the Refugee and Migrant Rights Program at Amnesty International USA, said in a statement: “To put it simply, these ICE operations are unconscionable and fly in the face of human rights.

“These harmful ICE operations directed by President Trump are racist and create undue chaos and damage to communities.

“ICE agents have provided unfettered access to media to exacerbate the fears and bolster their racist and inaccurate talking points, threatened enforcement at schools and churches, detained people who are citizens and long time residents, and even gone so far as covering up people’s security cameras at their homes to avoid any public accountability.”

“President Trump has been fixated on his mass deportation agenda, rooted in white supremacist beliefs and narratives, to unjustly go after our immigrant friends and neighbors across the United States.

The Trump administration will continue to ramp up enforcement operations as it implements a hard-line mass deportation program.

Since Trump’s return to office, ICE has played a prominent role in public discourse. It remains a deeply polarizing force—praised by some as a crucial enforcer of the rule of law and condemned by others as a symbol of draconian immigration policies.