ICE is now the largest federal law enforcement agency in the country. And it has the fewest checks on its power.
On July 4, 2025, Congress passed and President Trump signed a budget bill that will pour $170.7 billion1 into immigrant and border enforcement over the next 4 years.
ICE is getting a massive share of that money:
- $37.5 billion per year which is more than the FBI, DEA, ATF, BOP, and U.S. Marshals combined
- Bigger than the military budget of nearly every country on earth2
- $45 billion for detention centers that could double ICE’s capacity
- 30,000 ICE agents — more than the entire FBI staff3
But who holds ICE accountable?
Unlike local police4, ICE:
- Isn’t required to wear body cameras or provide ID
- Can arrest without a warrant if they think you might flee
- Often operates in plainclothes, in unmarked vehicles
- Faces fewer checks than nearly any other law enforcement agency
Meanwhile, the agencies meant to provide oversight have been:
- Defunded5
- Undermined6
- Hit with layoffs7
- Led by political loyalists8
- Blocked from accessing ICE facilities9
If left unchecked, ICE could be transformed into something far more dangerous than an immigration enforcement agency.
Learn more about the size of ICE and its lack of accountability »