Exclusive | Thousands of ICE officers to be reassigned from desk jobs under Trump admin
US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers who spent the last four years stuck behind a desk processing illegal migrants under the Biden-Harris administration are preparing to get back out into the field — as President-elect Donald Trump and his “border czar” Tom Homan vowed to “flood” sanctuary cities with agents.The move would mean thousands of desk-bound ICE officers will soon be out making arrests of the millions of illegal immigrants who snuck across the besieged southern border and are now roaming American streets. The federal agency has a total workforce of about 21,000 employees, which includes non-law enforcement personnel who handle administration work, according to a Department of Homeland Security budget overview.It is unclear exactly how many of the total law enforcement personnel will be reassigned from pushing paperwork, however, sources from a West Coast field office and an East Coast field office told The Post that an estimated 60-70% of their officers are currently stuck behind desks.
ICE sources said the rank-and-file are excited to be “catching criminals that Biden let roam freely in the country for the last four years without any consequences.”One source said they “can’t wait” to get back onto the streets while another said that while he hasn’t had any experience yet making arrests for ICE, his years of previous experience with Border Patrol will make it an easy task.It will be a heavy lift for the new administration, however, which will need to train those officers who haven’t had experience making arrests under the Biden-Harris administration, sources said.In a recent interview with The Post, Homan — an ex-cop and former border agent from West Carthage, New York — put sanctuary cities, including the Big Apple, on notice, warning them to cooperate with the feds.“If they’re not willing to do it then get out of the way — we’re coming,” Homan said, adding that enforcing tougher immigration laws will re...