So, I asked the ChatGPT - How much do ICE agents get paid?

[SalamanderSleeps]

And then, this is what it spit out.

Key Ranges & Examples
• For ICE Special Agents (criminal investigators / HSI special agents):
o Glassdoor reports a total pay range around $121,000 to $173,000/yr (base + extras) for many experienced agents. Glassdoor+1
o Base salary is often in the upper GS (General Schedule) levels, plus locality adjustments. Glassdoor+2Criminal Justice Programs+2
• For Deportation Officers / Enforcement & Removal Operations (ERO) roles:
o Glassdoor shows salaries ranging from about $72,000 to $113,000 for deportation officers. Glassdoor
o Some ICE job announcements list baseline salaries between $49,739 and $89,528 for certain positions, with potential for added overtime or locality bonuses. Newsweek
• For entry-level positions in ICE more broadly (investigative support, administrative) under the GS pay scale:
o Some sources suggest entry ICE agents might start in the $48,000 to $77,000 range (for lower GS levels) and potentially rise to well over $160,000 at high GS levels. Research.com
o For example, an ICE guide says entry-level special agents might start at $48,371 (GL-7) rising up to $167,603 at the GS-15 level in more senior roles.
Here’s a breakdown of what I found about bonuses and extra compensation for ICE agents. Some is formal policy, some is recent news about special incentive programs, so availability and amounts can vary.
________________________________________
Formal Premium / Differential Pay
These are regular types of bonus-or-premium pay ICE employees may receive under normal circumstances:
Type Who it applies to / when How much
Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP) For ICE criminal investigators (such as HSI Special Agents). For those who must be available for unscheduled duty and work unscheduled hours. Ice Gov+1
LEAP is 25% of basic pay. Ice Gov+1

Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUO) For roles like Enforcement & Removal Operations (ERO) / Deportation Officers, where duty hours are irregular or unscheduled, making control of overtime hard. Ice Gov+1
Typically, between 10% and 25% of basic pay (depending on the job, how much unscheduled/irregular overtime). Ice Gov+1

Sunday Premium Pay ICE employees working a regularly scheduled shift that begins or ends on Sunday, even if not overtime hours. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
25% extra pay for the Sunday hours. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

________________________________________
Special / Recruitment / Signing / Retention Bonuses (Recent & Temporary Programs)
These are newer incentive programs, usually tied to recruitment or retention. They are less permanent and often have qualifying conditions (dates, service agreement, etc.).
Program / Initiative Who it's for What is being offered / Key conditions
“Return to Mission” signing bonuses Former ICE employees being re-hired (“annuitants”) & sometimes new hires under certain recruitment pushes. Factually+3New York Post+3VisaVerge+3
Up to $50,000 total in bonuses in some cases. For example: • $10,000 upon rejoining • another $10,000 if application submitted by a deadline • plus annual bonuses (e.g. ~$10,000) for up to 3 years. Factually+3New York Post+3VisaVerge+3

Signing bonus for new recruits New employees in roles deemed difficult to fill (e.g. Deportation Officers, Criminal Investigators) under recent ICE recruitment campaigns. AP News+2VisaVerge+2
Up to $50,000 signing bonus in some campaigns. Also student loan repayment / forgiveness options in some cases. AP News+3The Wall Street Journal+3VisaVerge+3

Student loan repayment / forgiveness Eligible recruits or employees under these recruitment pushes. The Wall Street Journal+1
Reports of up to $60,000 in student loan assistance in some offers. The Wall Street Journal+1

Retention bonuses Once employees are onboard / reinstated, to encourage them to stay. May also require signing service agreements. Factually+2yourNEWS+2
Examples: $10,000/year payments for up to 3 years after rejoining, part of the $50,000 total package. yourNEWS+1


Caveats / Things to Know
• Service agreements / continuation requirement: Many of these bonuses are conditional. To receive the full bonus, an employee often must commit to stay with ICE for a certain number of years. If they leave early, part of the bonus might have to be repaid or forfeited. yourNEWS+2VisaVerge+2
• Deadline / timing restrictions: Some bonus offers are only available if applications are submitted by certain dates. yourNEWS+2New York Post+2
• Type of employee matters: Former employees, rehires (annuitants), or those in “hard to fill” roles often are more likely to get the bigger bonuses. Standard new employees might get smaller or different bonuses. Factually+2VisaVerge+2
• Temporary program: Some of these are tied to recent legislative funding increases and political priorities. They may not last, or may change. AP News+1


I guess life is sweet, if you are an asshole.

[highplainsdem]

1. What ChatGPT spit out could very well be wrong. Did you bother to check to see if any of the cited

sources exist and say what ChatGPT says they say? Chatbots are notorious for both making up sources and lying about sources' content. That's why, for instance, lazy lawyers foolish enough to use ChatGPT tend to get in trouble with judges who don't find AI slop amusing.

[rubbersole]

2. They have to spend that $50 billion somewhere.

Sure wouldn't want it to go to the poors.

[Celerity]

3. De rec for AI slop as an OP.