In several U. S. states, lawmakers are drafting bills that would bar people who join Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) during a specific window from working in state jobs later on. The proposals would touch everything from police work to teaching, and some even aim at the entire civil service.

The idea came after ICE expanded its ranks with huge federal funding. Congress poured nearly thirty billion dollars into hiring new agents, and the agency started a recruitment drive that promised big bonuses. The goal was to carry out the former president’s promise of deporting all undocumented immigrants.

Critics say ICE has overstepped its bounds. They point to incidents where agents have used force, fired weapons, and separated families. In 2023, two ICE officers were involved in shootings that killed civilians. These events sparked a national debate about the agency’s tactics.

Because federal lawmakers have stalled on new funding for ICE, state officials are stepping in. In New Jersey, the governor signed an order that keeps federal agents off certain state properties. California has banned masked federal officers, and Maryland passed a law that stops local police from deputizing federal agents for immigration duties.

The new bills are part of a broader effort to distance state workers from ICE. In Maryland, a proposed act would stop anyone who started an ICE job after January 2025 from being hired by state police. California’s version would prevent former ICE agents from becoming teachers or officers in the most populated state.

Supporters argue these laws send a clear message that ICE’s actions are unacceptable. Opponents worry about discrimination and constitutional challenges, noting that federal law generally takes precedence over state rules. Legal experts say courts have not yet decided whether such restrictions can survive a federal challenge.

The proposals are still in the early stages. Lawmakers anticipate they may need to be revised as they move through the legislative process. Regardless, the bills highlight how state governments are trying to counter what they see as overreach by a federal agency.

States Aim to Stop ICE Workers From Future Jobs

Actions