U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on November 6, 2025, that since starting its hiring campaign for “Homeland Defenders” on September 30, the agency “has received an overwhelming 35,000-plus applications—the most for any position in agency history” and has made “hundreds of job offers,” with more to come.
USCIS said it is seeking “fiercely dedicated, America-first patriots to serve on the frontlines and hold the line against terrorists, criminal aliens, and bad actors intent on infiltrating our nation. This includes interviewing aliens, reviewing applications, and identifying criminal or ineligible aliens.” Among those receiving offers, USCIS said, are “former law enforcement personnel and veterans who have experience serving and protecting their communities and our homeland.” The announcement did not specify what vetting procedures or training Homeland Defenders will undergo to enable them to perform the specified duties of the position. USCIS said it “has cut red tape and can make on-the-spot job offers at upcoming job fairs.”
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said that USCIS is “not wasting time” and is hiring “at a rapid pace,” and that he looks forward to “onboarding many more Homeland Defenders in the coming weeks.”
