In the past, new ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers typically went through multi-month training, often including a combination of language instruction and law enforcement curriculum that could last around five months before field duties.
Over the past year, that training has been significantly reduced as part of a broader hiring surge. By late 2025 and into early 2026, investigative reporting found that the length of academy training for ERO officers has been cut to roughly eight weeks — about 47-48 training days if counted on a six-day-a-week schedule.² Some outlets have reported even shorter time frames, closer to six weeks, though official Department of Homeland Security sources have not confirmed exact day counts.
In contrast to earlier, longer training periods, the newer, shorter program is designed to move officers into field assignments more quickly amid rapid workforce expansion. This has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers and analysts concerned about readiness and preparedness for complex enforcement duties.