Fact check: Do ICE agents receive hazard pay or other special compensation in 2025?

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, ICE agents do receive special compensation in 2025, though not specifically labeled as "hazard pay." The evidence shows multiple forms of enhanced compensation:

• Law Enforcement Availability Pay (LEAP): ICE HSI Special Agents receive 25% Law Enforcement Availability Pay ^{[1] [2]}
• Administratively Uncontrollable Overtime (AUI): Enforcement Removal Operations (ERO) Deportation Officers receive this form of overtime compensation ^{[1] [2]}
• Signing bonuses: Up to $50,000 signing bonuses are being offered to new and returning agents ^{[3] [4] [2] [5] [6] [7]}
• Student loan benefits: Up to $60,000 in student loan forgiveness and repayment options ^{[4] [2]}
• Dual compensation: Retired employees can collect both their full basic annuity and full salary when returning to ICE ^{[5] [6]}

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question specifically asks about "hazard pay," but none of the sources explicitly mention traditional hazard pay by name. However, one source notes that ICE applicants "should expect a certain level of risk" ^[4], which suggests the dangerous nature of the work that would typically warrant hazard pay.

The 25% LEAP payment could functionally serve as hazard pay, as it's specifically designed for law enforcement positions that require availability beyond normal work hours and involve inherent risks. The sources describe these as part of a "robust package of federal law enforcement incentives" ^{[1] [2]}.

ICE leadership and the Department of Homeland Security benefit from promoting these compensation packages as they help address staffing shortages during increased enforcement operations. Secretary Noem specifically unveiled initiatives to recruit agents with no age limits ^[2].

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question is not inherently biased but may reflect a narrow understanding of how special compensation is structured for federal law enforcement. By specifically asking about "hazard pay," it misses the broader reality that ICE agents receive multiple forms of enhanced compensation that serve similar purposes.

The question also doesn't acknowledge that ICE is actively recruiting with unprecedented incentive packages due to staffing needs, which provides important context for why these compensation structures exist. The sources reveal this is part of a major hiring spree ^[6] with massive ad campaigns ^[4] to attract personnel for enhanced enforcement operations.