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ICE Plans $100 Million “Wartime Recruitment” Campaign Targeting Military and Firearms Enthusiasts

HeadlineJan 02, 2026

Officials at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE, are planning to spend $100 million over a one-year period to recruit gun rights supporters and military enthusiasts through online influencers and a geotargeted advertising campaign. That’s according to The Washington Post, which reports it’s part of what the agency called a “wartime recruitment” strategy aimed at hiring thousands of new deportation officers nationwide. The recruitment drive is targeted at people who have attended UFC fights, listened to far-right podcasts or shown an interest in guns and tactical gear. It uses the ad-industry technique known as “geofencing” to send ads to people who set foot near military bases, NASCAR races, college campuses or gun shows.

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