U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has launched a targeted recruitment campaign aimed at Seattle-area law enforcement officers, offering $50,000 signing bonuses to join federal immigration enforcement efforts.
The Department of Homeland Security advertisement, which began airing last week, directly addresses Seattle officers with messaging that criticizes local sanctuary city policies.
“Attention Seattle law enforcement, you took an oath to protect and serve, to keep your family, your city safe, but in sanctuary cities you’re ordered to stand down while dangerous illegals walk free,” the commercial states, urging officers to join ICE to help “catch the worst of the worst.”
Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson strongly criticized the recruitment effort. “Trump is trying to deport our neighbors while weakening the progress we’ve made on public safety as a pretext to sending in the National Guard,” Nelson said. “I have one message: stay out of Seattle.”
Mayor Bruce Harrell’s office indicated it is coordinating with the Seattle Police Department to prepare a formal response expected Tuesday.
Department of Homeland Security officials reported significant interest in the recruitment campaign, with Secretary Kristi Noem stating that ICE has received over 150,000 applications from prospective agents, issuing more than 18,000 tentative job offers.
“Americans are answering their country’s call to serve and help remove murderers, pedophiles, rapists, terrorists, and gang members from our country,” Noem said in a September 16 press release.
The recruitment push could exacerbate existing staffing challenges for local law enforcement agencies, according to Law Enforcement Analyst John Urquhart, former King County Sheriff.
“If you want to fight crime, become a community police officer … help people,” Urquhart said. “You can make a difference in your local community. You don’t need to go to ICE, wear a mask, to fight crime.”
Washington state law prohibits local law enforcement agencies from assisting federal immigration agents, while Seattle Municipal Code restricts officers from enforcing federal immigration laws. The Seattle Police Department states it “does not ask about an individual’s immigration status unless directly connected to a criminal investigation, such as human trafficking.”
The recruitment campaign occurs as ICE operations have intensified under the Trump administration’s goal of removing one million people annually through deportations, according to the 2026 budget overview.
ICE’s recruitment website indicates entry-level positions require no college education, with salaries ranging from $49,739 to $89,528 annually, or $63,148 to $101,860 for candidates over 40. In contrast, Seattle Police Department offers starting salaries of $103,000 plus a $7,500 signing bonus.
Recent immigration enforcement activities in Washington have included detentions during citizenship interviews and immigration check-ins, with some individuals facing self-deportation pressure.
Tom Homan, Trump’s border czar, warned in August that immigration enforcement would “ramp-up” in states with sanctuary city policies.
The targeted recruitment campaign represents a direct challenge to Seattle’s sanctuary jurisdiction policies and could create tension between federal immigration priorities and local law enforcement community policing strategies.
