The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) secretary explained training standards for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will increase. The move comes after widespread criticism of the agency’s immigration enforcement tactics throughout the previous eighteen months. The issue was contentious enough disagreements over ICE funding even lead to a partial government shutdown in early 2026.

According to the New York Times, the average hours for training an ICE agent dropped forty percent between July 2025 and February 2026. The move was part of an government effort to streamline removals for undocumented individuals. Required ICE training hours return to their original levels on July 1, 2026.

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