A former senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement official says the agency lowered hiring and vetting standards during a recruitment surge last year, allowing some applicants to receive job offers before completing basic background checks and potentially creating national security risks.
The 17-year ICE veteran raised the concerns in an August 2025 whistleblower complaint to the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General, The New York Times reported Thursday after obtaining the complaint through a public records request.
The official, who oversaw more than 100 employees evaluating thousands of applicants, alleged "systemic breakdowns" as ICE rushed to expand its workforce to carry out President Donald Trump's immigration enforcement agenda.
Applicants received job offers before fingerprint, identity, or credit checks were completed, according to the complaint.
"We chose as an agency to be more convenient rather than thorough," the former official told the Times on condition of anonymity. "By doing so, there was a potential to put lives at risk and to jeopardize national security."
ICE defended its screening procedures, saying the agency "diligently applies the proper personnel vetting regulations" and evaluates available information for every applicant.
The inspector general's office has interviewed the whistleblower twice, and his allegations are being examined as part of an ongoing audit of ICE vetting practices.
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