U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that it has received more than 35,000 applications since launching its Homeland Defender hiring campaign on September 30 — the highest number of applications for any single position in the agency’s history.
According to USCIS, the campaign has drawn widespread interest through expanded recruitment and social media outreach. The agency is currently processing applications, conducting interviews, and extending job offers to fill the new Homeland Defender positions.
“The Homeland Defender Campaign has already been a tremendous success and has resonated with the American people. I’m pleased to announce that in addition to seeing a historic number of applications, we are starting to bring on applicants at a rapid pace,” said USCIS Director Joseph Edlow. “These candidates are not just applying for a job—they are applying to guard our values and defend our homeland. I look forward to onboarding many more Homeland Defenders in the coming weeks.”
USCIS has made hundreds of job offers so far and expects to onboard the first group of new employees soon. The agency noted that applicants include former law enforcement personnel and military veterans with backgrounds in national security and public service.
Homeland Defenders will be responsible for interviewing applicants, reviewing immigration benefits requests, and identifying individuals who may be ineligible under federal law.
USCIS said the positions offer incentives such as signing bonuses of up to $50,000, student loan repayment, flexible duty locations, and remote work options for select openings. Entry-level positions that do not require a college degree are also being filled through an expedited hiring process.
