Are there medical or age waivers for ICE ERO physical fitness requirements in 2025?
Executive summary
ICE requires all law‑enforcement recruits to pass a medical exam and a pre‑employment physical fitness test (PFT); applicants who fail medical screening can request medical waivers and have 30 days to apply (ICE guidance) [1] [2] [3]. ICE job pages and FAQs confirm the PFT is mandatory for ERO deportation‑officer applicants and that medical waivers are handled case‑by‑case based on risk; documentation and review procedures are described in ICE materials [2] [4] [5] [3].
1. What ICE says publicly: screening plus a waiver path
ICE and DHS communications state that all recruits must undergo medical screening, drug screening and complete a PFT before academy or hiring decisions (DHS press release, USAJOBS posting, ICE career pages) [1] [2] [6]. ICE’s medical guidance explicitly allows candidates who are found to have disqualifying medical conditions to request a medical waiver within a 30‑day window; veterans with compensable disabilities may get OPM review if denied [3]. ICE career FAQs say passing the PFT ensures new ERO officers meet a “minimally acceptable level of physical fitness” for training and duties [7].
2. How waivers actually work, per ICE policy documents and FAQs
ICE’s Medical FAQ and applicant guidance explain waivers are decided case‑by‑case and hinge on the assessed risk the condition poses to training or duty performance; documentation such as medical records and treating‑physician statements are typically required [5]. The OHC (Occupational Health Clinic) process will request follow‑up information and forward certain veterans’ cases to OPM for final review if a waiver is denied [3]. ICE materials therefore show a formal, documented waiver process rather than a blanket exemption [3] [5].
3. Age changes don’t eliminate fitness or medical gates
In August 2025 DHS removed ICE’s upper age cap for law‑enforcement applicants, but the department emphasized that recruits still must pass medical, drug and physical fitness screens (DHS release, multiple news outlets) [1] [8] [9]. Reporting notes the age cap removal opens the applicant pool but does not waive fitness standards; older applicants must still meet the PFT and medical clearance [10] [11].
4. What the sources don’t say (limitations)
Available sources do not provide a detailed list of specific medical conditions that will or will not receive waivers, exact PFT cutoffs by age, nor a publicly available approval‑rate statistic for waiver requests (not found in current reporting). Forum discussions and third‑party training vendors reflect applicant experience and preparation guidance but are not official data on approval odds [12] [13]. ICE’s historical PFT format exists in older DRO documents but current numeric pass thresholds in 2025 postings are summarized, not fully enumerated in the provided sources [4] [6].
5. Practical implication for applicants and older candidates
The combination of an open age policy and mandatory PFT/medical screens means older applicants can apply but must meet the same medical and fitness standards or successfully obtain a waiver. ICE job announcements and recruiting materials advertise incentives and larger applicant pools while reaffirming the medical/PFT gates; waiver applicants should prepare extensive medical documentation and expect review procedures [2] [14] [5]. Anecdotal forum posts indicate the waiver process can be document‑heavy and slow, requiring physicians’ letters and prior medical records [12].
6. Competing perspectives and potential agendas
DHS/ICE and allied reporting frame the policy as expanding opportunities and addressing staffing shortfalls while maintaining safety standards [1] [14]. Critics reported in mainstream outlets argue the age removal supports rapid hiring for an administration prioritizing deportations; those accounts stress that operational demands, not relaxed standards, drive the move [8] [9]. The underlying agenda from DHS is explicit in its recruiting messaging: broaden the applicant pool while insisting on medical and fitness vetting [1] [15].
7. Bottom line for someone asking “are there medical or age waivers in 2025?”
Yes — in 2025 ICE removed age caps, but medical screening and the PFT remain mandatory; medical waivers are available on a case‑by‑case basis with procedures and timelines set out by ICE (age waiver = policy change removing an upper age limit; medical waiver = formal request process after disqualifying medical finding) [1] [3] [5]. For specific likelihoods, condition lists, or numeric PFT standards, available sources do not provide full detail; applicants should consult ICE’s official medical waiver guidance and the specific job announcement for the most current requirements [3] [2].