A recent Associated Press investigation has revealed concerning issues with the hiring practices of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, finding that several newly recruited officers began their duties before completing comprehensive background screenings and had histories of financial difficulties, legal troubles, and employment issues.
ICE announced this year that it successfully completed a massive recruitment drive, bringing on 12,000 additional officers and special agents to effectively double its workforce size. These personnel are tasked with supporting President Donald Trump’s large-scale deportation efforts, backed by $75 billion in congressional funding allocated to the agency.
However, the rapid pace at which these individuals were added to federal employment rolls for positions with significant authority and national security importance has sparked concerns both within and outside the organization.
ICE maintains strict confidentiality regarding employee identities, claiming this protection is essential to prevent harassment, unlike many local police departments. This secrecy prevents a complete assessment of the new personnel.
The Associated Press examined over 40 officers who voluntarily disclosed their new ICE positions on LinkedIn profiles, utilizing public records to investigate their backgrounds. The investigation yielded several notable findings:
One new hire identified is Carmine Gurliacci, 46, who left his position as a Richmond Hill, Georgia police officer to join ICE’s Atlanta office in December, based on resignation documents obtained through public records requests.
Court documents reveal he declared bankruptcy in 2022, claiming zero income and two years of unemployment following his relocation from New York to Georgia. He reported residing with a friend and performing household tasks for shelter, while listing significant unpaid debts including loans, bills, child support, and other obligations totaling tens of thousands of dollars.
Records also show he previously filed for bankruptcy in 2013 while in New York, reporting $95,000 in debts. Gurliacci, who worked at six different Georgia law enforcement agencies over three years, refused to provide comment.
The investigation identified two additional new ICE employees with recent bankruptcy filings, including one officer and one agency attorney. Multiple other recent hires faced previous lawsuits regarding unpaid debts.
Claire Trickler-McNulty, who held ICE positions during the Obama, first Trump, and Biden administrations, described financial problems as a “pretty big red flag” for applicants since such issues could make them vulnerable to bribery and extortion schemes.
However, she noted that ICE’s aggressive promotion of signing bonuses reaching $50,000 would naturally appeal to financially struggling candidates.
Andrew Penland, 29, represents another concerning hire, joining ICE after leaving his position as a Greenwood County, Kansas sheriff’s deputy in December.
Penland spent most of his law enforcement career with Bourbon County, Kansas, but departed last year while facing litigation alleging he arrested a woman on fabricated charges in 2022. Settlement documents show the county’s insurance company paid $75,000 to resolve the woman’s lawsuit.
June Bench, who filed the lawsuit, expressed outrage upon learning of Penland’s ICE employment. She had previously attempted unsuccessfully to convince Kansas authorities to examine all his arrests and pursue disciplinary measures.
“That’s scary to me. He abuses his power,” Bench said regarding Penland’s work with ICE.
Following contact from reporters, Penland removed his LinkedIn profile and notified ICE about the media inquiry but provided no response to the Associated Press.
The investigation uncovered two other new ICE staff members who faced lawsuits alleging improper force during previous law enforcement roles, though those cases were ultimately dismissed.
The Department of Homeland Security, which oversees ICE, declined to address questions about individual hiring choices. However, officials confirmed that some candidates received “tentative selection letters” and temporary work authorization before completing full background investigations.
“ICE is committed to ensuring its law enforcement personnel are held to the highest standards and rigorously vets them throughout the hiring process,” the department stated. “Vetting is an ongoing process, not a one-time occurrence.”
The screening process involves examining criminal records and credit ratings, plus conducting background investigations that include interviewing former employers and associates, which can require several weeks. The massive hiring surge has overwhelmed the agency, which promoted positions that didn’t require college education.
An internal document first disclosed by Reuters in February instructed ICE supervisors to forward any “derogatory information about a newly hired employee’s conduct” to internal affairs for investigation. Such information might include employee terminations or forced resignations, according to the memo.
During a February congressional hearing, ICE’s acting director Todd Lyons expressed pride in the recruitment effort, which generated over 220,000 applications.
“This expansion of a well-trained and well-vetted workforce will help further ICE’s ability to execute the president’s and secretary’s bold agenda,” he stated.
