Leaked internal chat logs from current and former officers at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are offering a rare and unvarnished look at an agency under acute strain, with officers describing deadly enforcement operations, inexperienced recruits pushed into high-risk roles, and leadership failures they say are undermining public safety and internal morale.
The posts, shared in online forums frequented by more than 5,000 self-identified officers from ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, depict an organisation grappling with staff shortages, truncated training programs and what officers characterize as unrealistic operational demands. Taken together, the exchanges suggest systemic problems rather than isolated incidents.
Several officers described enforcement actions that they viewed as reckless or poorly conceived. One post recounted agents "snatching individuals off lawn mowers" during an operation, leaving equipment and vehicles unattended, and concluded the approach was "definitely not working smarter." Another thread warned about an agent attempting a vehicle PIT maneuver without adequate instruction, cautioning that such actions could "wipe out a family."
Concerns about training were among the most consistent themes. Officers criticised the replacement of in-person instruction with what one described as an "extremely embarrassing" three-week virtual academy, predicting it would "end up embarrassing all of us." Others said newly hired agents were being deployed to complex operations after completing only minimal practical exercises.
Veteran officers argued that the influx of underprepared recruits was compounding risks already present in volatile enforcement environments. Several posts linked recent injuries and fatalities to what they described as leadership decisions to accelerate deployments without ensuring sufficient field readiness.
The chats also reflected lingering anger over the loss of collective bargaining protections. Thousands of ICE employees were previously represented by a council affiliated with the American Federation of Government Employees, which negotiated overtime rules and workplace protections. Those ties were severed in 2022, a move that officers in the forums said contributed to longer hours, fewer guaranteed days off and diminished recourse when disputes arise.
One former union representative following the discussions described the mood as officers feeling "used and abused" by an organisation that no longer safeguards their interests. Many blamed senior leadership for decisions "made far above their pay grade" that translate into confusion and danger on the ground.
Despite the frequent use of dark humor, the posts revealed anxiety about personal safety and ethical strain. Officers joked about questionable hiring decisions, including applicants they said were physically unfit for the job, while simultaneously expressing concern about being held responsible for mistakes made under pressure.
The leaked conversations do not establish the accuracy of every account, but they provide insight into how frontline personnel perceive the agency's direction. Officers repeatedly pointed to political pressure, shifting enforcement priorities and public scrutiny as factors constraining leadership and pushing risk downward.
