Fact check: How many hours of training do new ICE agents receive?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the available analyses, new ICE agents receive training programs that last between 16-20 weeks, though the exact number of hours is not specified in the sources. The training structure varies by position:

• Deportation officers complete a 16-week Basic Immigration Enforcement Training Program (BIETP) ^[1]
• ERO deportation officers attend a 20-week basic training at FLETC (Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers) ^[2]
• Training includes comprehensive curriculum covering immigration law, policy, law enforcement regulations, Spanish language instruction, physical fitness, firearms training, and law enforcement tactics ^{[1] [2]}
• Some officers also complete an additional 25-day Spanish-language course beyond the core training program ^[1]

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The analyses reveal several important gaps in addressing the specific question about training hours:

• No source provides the actual number of hours - only weeks of training are specified, making it impossible to give a precise hourly figure ^{[3] [4]}
• Different ICE positions may have varying training requirements - the sources suggest deportation officers and ERO deportation officers have different training durations (16 weeks vs. 20 weeks)
• Training intensity and daily schedules are not specified - without knowing whether training is full-time, part-time, or the daily hour requirements, converting weeks to total hours is not possible
• Specialized training components like firearms training are mentioned but their duration within the overall program is unclear ^{[5] [2]}

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation or bias - it is a straightforward factual inquiry. However, the question's framing assumes there is a single, uniform training hour requirement for all "ICE agents," when the evidence suggests different ICE positions have different training durations and requirements. The term "ICE agents" is somewhat imprecise, as the sources specifically reference "deportation officers" and "ERO deportation officers," indicating there may be multiple categories of ICE personnel with distinct training protocols.