According to a recent article in Slate magazine, there are allegations that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has a flawed vetting process, which might even put criminals on high alert or target them for employment. A journalist known for her critical stance against ICE, Laura Jedid, claims she was hired by the agency a few months back.
In her article, Jedid states, “ICE officially hired me,” although it appears that her intentions were possibly misunderstood. She received communication about the hiring process that seemed to welcome her to ICE.
Various liberal outlets, including The Guardian and Democracy Now, quickly picked up on Jedid’s narrative, suggesting that individuals with criminal pasts—like pedophiles and rapists—could slip through the cracks in ICE’s hiring procedures.
The Department of Homeland Security responded, describing the main assertion in Slate’s piece as “a lazy lie.”
This rebuttal led to discussions online where doubts about the authorities’ statements were raised.
Investigating further, Blaze News found that ICE never officially hired Jedid or extended a final job offer, contrary to her statements.
Jedid alleged she had spoken with a recruiter and applied for a position. She thought her military experience and background might give her an edge in the hiring process. However, her claims were complicated by what seemed like a glitch in the ICE hiring portal.
She mentioned receiving instructions to proceed with her application on September 3, which included submitting several documents, but felt unsure about the next steps.
A few weeks later, she reportedly received an email asking her to undergo a pre-employment drug test. However, she described being uncertain about whether she was meant to complete this step at all.
In her video update, she pointed out that the ICE hiring portal seemed to indicate she was in the final stages of training for a deportation officer position, despite having completed neither drug nor fitness tests. It appeared that the portal had mistakenly welcomed her as though her employment was confirmed.
Jedid speculated that had she accepted the job, there would have been additional checks that would likely have rectified any errors in the hiring process, raising questions about the agency’s vetting and document management.
The DHS spokesperson clarified that Jedid was never offered a job with ICE. Instead, applicants might receive a preliminary letter indicating interest after an application and interview, but it doesn’t guarantee a position.
ICE’s recruitment page elaborates that such preliminary selection letters remain conditional until all employment requirements are satisfied, including safety and drug tests.
Although Jedid acknowledged that she was not officially hired, she highlighted potential systemic issues within ICE and suggested it raises concerns about how well they evaluate the individuals they detain or deport.
She posed an important question: “How can we trust ICE to conduct thorough investigations when it can’t manage its personnel documents effectively?” Moreover, she seemed to overlook crucial details about a related incident involving a man shot by an ICE agent, who was reportedly engaged in reckless behavior.
