Former Superman actor Dean Cain has made headlines with his announcement to join the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency. Known for his role in the popular television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman from 1993 to 1997, Cain revealed his intentions during an interview on Wednesday.
Cain’s commitment to public service
As a current sworn law enforcement officer, Cain stated, “I will be sworn in as an ICE agent asap.” His announcement comes on the heels of ICE’s recruitment campaign aimed at bolstering its workforce in response to increased deportation efforts under the Trump administration.
In late July, ICE disclosed plans to recruit 10,000 new personnel, effectively doubling its staff as the agency prepares for a significant increase in deportations across the nation. The agency is particularly focused on hiring deportation officers, attorneys, criminal investigators, and visa adjudicators.
During his appearance on Fox News, Cain discussed his motivation for joining ICE, emphasizing the need for more individuals to step forward and assist the agency. “People have to step up. I’m stepping up. Hopefully a whole bunch of other former officers, former ICE agents will step up, and we’ll meet those recruitment goals immediately and we’ll help protect this country,” he remarked.
Recruitment efforts and political context
President Donald Trump has pledged to escalate deportations to one million annually, which has resulted in increased immigration raids that have drawn protests nationwide. Critics argue that these raids are unlawful and detrimental to communities. In an effort to attract candidates, ICE has offered recruitment bonuses of up to $50,000 alongside student loan assistance for individuals looking to contribute to the administration’s deportation initiatives.
With recruitment posters reminiscent of World War Two campaigns—featuring slogans like “America Needs You” and “Defend the Homeland”—the agency aims to create a sense of urgency around its hiring goals. As of Wednesday, ICE reported receiving over 80,000 applications for the available positions.
ICE currently employs approximately 20,000 officers and support staff across 400 offices nationwide. The recruitment push follows the recent enactment of a vast spending bill that allocated more than $76 billion to ICE, marking a significant increase in funding for the agency.
“I put out a recruitment video yesterday – I’m actually a sworn deputy sheriff and a reserve police officer – I wasn’t part of ICE, but once I put that out there… it went crazy,” Cain explained.
As the agency continues its drive to fill these critical roles, it remains to be seen how successful it will be in achieving its ambitious recruitment targets.