Activists bombard ICE with bogus applications for new ‘Citizens Academy’

Agency says scheme is intended to educate public and build community spirit

(Getty Images)

Activists have bombarded the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) with thousands of bogus application to its “Citizens Academy”.

Earlier this month, ICE launched the academy to teach civilians about how it performs “targeted arrests”. It is being piloted in Chicago with a view to expansion across the rest of the country.

“The goal of the program is for participants to become familiar with how and why ICE carries out its mission,” the agency said in a statement earlier this month.

“Modelled after other law enforcement academies, including ICE’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), FBI, US Customs and Border Protection, and local police departments, [we plan] to directly engage and educate the public through the academy.”

Those who sign up will be enrolled on a six-week course, with training taking place for four hours once per week.

The program has spread alarm among civil liberties campaigners and immigration rights organisations, who questioned why a federal agency wanted to familiarise citizens with detention tactics.

After the academy scheme first came to light earlier this month, ICE issued a statement clarifying that it did not plan to teach citizens how to make arrest themselves. Instead, agents will show trainees how ICE agents make arrests.

Inspired by Never Again Action – a Jewish political group that opposes ICE – thousands of activists have flooded the agency’s job portal with fake applications.

“ICE is asking the public to apply to be part of their armed vigilante ‘Citizens Academy,’” Never Again Action said in a tweet.

“Well, let’s give them what they asked for: thousands of applications! Except our applications are going to be... a little different. Time to #FloodICE.”

According to Twitter posts, many Never Again Action followers heeded its call to apply.

“I truly hope whoever opens this at ICE reconsiders their role in the atrocities being committed by the United States and resigns,” one person wrote, after saying they had submitted their application.

“I poured my blood sweat and tears into this application. Hope I get in!!” another wrote.

“Just sent in my ‘application’ with a list of ICE’s human rights violations and a collage of protest pictures...for putting this information out there for people!” a third said.