HSI agents use private forum to criticize ICE colleagues, debate deportations

Agents vent about internal divisions

Current and former Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents are using a private online forum to criticize their colleagues, debate the ethics of mass deportations, and vent about failing technology. The forum serves as a digital watercooler for more than 2,000 members, with some posts dating back to 2004. Members frequently target Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), the division of ICE responsible for detaining and deporting immigrants. One user accused ERO officers of "dressing up as Black Ops Commandos" with tactical gear and Punisher patches to arrest non-violent individuals. HSI agents typically focus on criminal investigations like human trafficking and drug smuggling rather than administrative immigration arrests. Internal tension peaked in July 2025 as agents questioned the blurring lines between criminal investigation and civil enforcement. Many HSI agents, classified as 1811 special agents, believe their skills are being wasted on administrative tasks. They argue that pulling investigators away from gang and child exploitation cases damages the agency's reputation and wastes federal resources.

Debating the use of force

The forum became a battlefield for opinions following the fatal shootings of two protesters, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, in January 2025. On January 12, five days after ICE agent Jonathan Ross shot Good, members argued over whether the government should suspend civil liberties in areas where ICE operates. One retired agent described organized protests as an "insurrection" that warranted extreme measures. Other posters took a more critical view of the shootings, questioning the tactical necessity of the violence. One member noted that while the shooting of Good might be "legally good," the agent could have simply stepped aside rather than firing. This user pointed out that Good was an unarmed U.S. citizen and that the shooter nearly hit his own partner during the incident. The debate grew more toxic as some members labeled the deceased protesters "domestic terrorists," echoing language used by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. Critics on the forum pushed back, calling these labels an exaggeration of the threat posed by "unarmed" civilians. They compared the agency’s aggressive stance toward protesters to the lenient view some agents held regarding the January 6 Capitol riot.

Broken pay and missing bonuses

Labor disputes and financial frustrations dominate many of the forum's most active threads. ICE offered rehired annuitants—retired agents who return to duty—signing bonuses of up to $50,000 to help manage the 2025 immigration surge. However, many members report that these bonuses have not arrived or were significantly smaller than promised after taxes. Agents also complained about complex "super checks" that failed to account for their actual hours worked. One poster reported receiving only $600 more than their usual pay despite the massive influx of overtime. Others noted that their pay is capped biweekly and yearly, meaning they frequently work for free once they hit their limit. Specific complaints regarding compensation include:

• Rehired annuitants reported working 50 to 60 hours a week while only being paid for 40 due to federal pay caps.
• One user claimed a $20,000 bonus installment arrived as only $10,000 after unexplained deductions.
• Agents in major cities reported being "capped out" early in the year, leading to low morale during high-tempo operations.
• Special agents expressed resentment that ERO officers often have different, more flexible pay caps.

Software bugs and facial recognition

Technological failures are a constant source of frustration for agents processing detainees in the field. Members frequently mock the EAGLE system, a database used to process biometric and personal information. One agent claimed it takes longer to process an individual through the "total mess" of a computer system than it does to actually find and arrest them. While the database tools struggle, agents have praised a controversial mobile facial recognition app called Mobile Fortify. Launched in May 2025, the app uses AI trained on Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data to identify people using "contactless" fingerprints and facial scans. Despite its popularity among agents, reports indicate the app has misidentified at least one person and may be used outside its original design scope. The agency also faces a shortage of basic protective equipment despite spending heavily on branded vehicles. One user complained that leadership prioritizes "ICE marked cars" over the gear needed to handle protesters. Agents feel that headquarters has failed to advocate for the tools necessary to manage the increasingly hostile environment in cities like Minneapolis.

Preparing for a summer surge

The forum suggests that the current drawdown in Minnesota is only a temporary lull in activity. Agents discussed the ongoing construction of a network of "mega detention centers" and large warehouses across the U.S. These facilities indicate that the Department of Homeland Security expects the volume of detentions to increase significantly. One member warned that the "op tempo" will only get more intense as the weather warms up. They described a workforce that is "strung out" and "antagonized" by both leadership and the public. The user predicted that the spring and summer of 2025 will see an even greater push to fill the newly built detention capacity. This internal dialogue reveals a workforce deeply divided by politics and professional identity. While some agents call for harsher crackdowns and the suspension of rights, others fear they are becoming "fake ass cops" doing administrative work instead of solving crimes. Neither DHS nor ICE responded to requests for comment regarding the contents of the forum or the identities of its members.