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What are the physical fitness requirements for new ICE agents to join the training program in 2025?
Executive Summary
The clear, recurring claim across reporting is that ICE/HSI applicants for 2025 must pass a timed Physical Fitness Test comprising push-ups, sit-ups, a short sprint, and a 1.5-mile run, with commonly reported minimums around 15 push-ups, 32 sit-ups, a 220-yard sprint of about 47–48 seconds, and a 1.5-mile run near 14:25–14:60; however, reporting differs on exact numbers, age adjustments, and which ICE components (HSI versus all ICE law enforcement roles) these standards apply to [1] [2] [3]. Coverage from investigative outlets and DHS responses also documents significant recruit failure rates and disputes over aggregate statistics, highlighting gaps between stated standards and outcomes in the 2025 hiring surge [4] [5].
1. How the fitness test is routinely described — a four-event hurdle that matters for hiring
Reporting converges on a four-event Physical Fitness Test used in screening applicants: timed sit-ups and push-ups, a short sprint, and a 1.5-mile run. Multiple fact-check and investigative pieces describe the test as a gateway for entry into the training program rather than an academy-only assessment, and they list minimums often cited as roughly 32 sit-ups, 15–22 push-ups, a sub-48-second ~220-yard sprint, and a 1.5-mile run around 14:25–14:60 [3] [1]. These accounts emphasize that passing the PFA is a condition of employment and a predictor of operational readiness, and they note that some sources frame these standards specifically for HSI Special Agents, which could differ from other ICE components’ role-specific expectations [2].
2. Reported failure rates and the recruitment push — numbers that provoked official pushback
Investigative and mainstream outlets reported substantial failure rates among new recruits during the 2025 intake, with some reporting roughly a third or more of trainees failing the physical test and others saying nearly half were sent home for failing written or fitness screens; this coverage tied failures to an accelerated recruitment drive aimed at meeting force size targets [6] [5]. DHS and ICE offered conciliatory or corrective statements disputing aggregated portrayals of widespread failure and emphasizing that standards have not been lowered, arguing some summaries conflated different cohorts, roles, or non-physical vetting issues [4]. The tension between on-the-ground training outcomes and agency messaging frames the larger story about capacity and quality control under hiring pressure.
3. Discrepancies in published standards — age, role, and official policy gaps
Published accounts and fact-checks show inconsistencies: some articles list precise numeric minimums while others present ranges or do not clarify whether the standards are age- and sex-adjusted, which is standard for many federal law enforcement tests. Several analyses highlight that the most specific figures appear to reference HSI Special Agent benchmarks rather than uniform ICE-wide requirements, and that official ICE or DHS policy documents with exhaustive, role-differentiated PFA tables are not consistently linked in public reporting [1] [2] [7]. That gap fosters confusion for applicants about whether the described thresholds apply to their intended track and whether medical waivers or modifications exist.
4. Comparison with other agencies and the predictive rationale for the test
Reporting places ICE’s test in a comparative frame, noting it is less extensive than some proposed military or multi-event combat-readiness reforms but similar in concept to other investigative agencies’ demands for baseline endurance and strength. Analyses argue the PFA’s design aims to predict arrest and investigative task performance and rapid-response capacity, with the 1.5-mile run and anaerobic sprint serving as proxies for endurance and short-burst exertion [2]. Critics cited in coverage question whether these simple event minima adequately map to the varied physical demands of modern ICE operations, while agency defenders stress the PFA balances logistical feasibility with operational standards [2] [4].
5. What this means for applicants and unresolved verification needs
For prospective 2025 applicants, the practical takeaway across sources is to prepare to meet at least the commonly cited minima—push-ups, sit-ups, sprint, and 1.5-mile run within the reported timeframes—and to expect the PFA as a mandatory employment screen. Journalistic analyses and DHS responses together indicate that some recruits failed to meet these standards amid rapid hiring, prompting scrutiny of recruitment practices [6] [5]. Remaining verification needs include a single authoritative ICE/DHS publication that lists age- and role-specific PFA tables and clarifies waiver and retest policies; absent that, public reporting will continue to cite similar numeric thresholds while diverging on scope and failure-rate interpretation [7] [1].