Fact Check: Was anti-ICE journalist Laura Jedeed hired as a deportation officer?

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: A claim circulating online claims that Laura Jedeed, a journalist known for reporting against ICE, was hired by the agency as a deportation officer. The claim is based on an interpretation of her writing about attending an ICE recruitment event and references to the agency’s hiring process, leading to a widespread debate. Let us fact-check the claim.

Claim: Anti-ICE journalist was hired by ICE

A rumor spread online this month that an independent journalist who had openly criticized ICE and its parent agency, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), was hired by ICE with minimal vetting.

The claim originated with journalist Laura Jedeed herself and stems from an article she published in Slate, a left-leaning online news magazine.

On January 13, 2026, Jedeed posted a link to her report on X, with a headline, 'You've Heard About Who ICE Is Recruiting. The Truth Is Far Worse. I'm the Proof.' 

Her X post read, "A few months ago, ICE hired me"

"I didn't sign and submit any paperwork. I'm real outspoken about my opinion of the Trump administration, and I am extremely googlable"

"And yet, there it was, in plain English. "Welcome to ICE!"

In response, DHS denied Jedeed’s claim in a post on X, saying, “This is such a lazy lie."

"This individual was NEVER offered a job at ICE."

"Applicants may receive a Tentative Selection Letter following their initial application and interview that is not a job offer. It just means they are invited to submit information for review, similar to any other applicant.”

Fact Check: Laura Jedeed's ICE hiring claims remain unverified

Jedeed sent the alleged evidence of the communications she received from a federal government hiring platform and human resources at ICE to Snopes.

The verification of domain names and links in the documents confirmed that they lead to websites related to ICE and the hiring platform (usastaffing.gov).

During a review of documents related to a supposed drug test for the application, the identity of a healthcare company employee who was reported to have exchanged messages with Jedeed about the alleged screening was confirmed.

Direct access to Jadeed’s account on ICE’s hiring platform would have helped confirm her account. However, she said she lost access after turning down the job offer.

She did provide a video that she claimed showed her using the platform before, and the web address visible in the recording was valid.

There was no sign that the documents Jadeed shared with Snopes were fake. However, since her account on the federal hiring platform could not be accessed independently, the claim could not be rated.

The Department of Homeland Security also did not provide evidence to back up its claim that Jadeed was lying.

ICE hiring documents and drug test communications reviewed

Jedeed provided Snopes with emails and documents tied to a drug test linked to ICE. 

This included messages from a DOCS Health case manager directing her to complete the screening. It confirmed the case manager's job and responsibilities.

Jedeed stated that she took the test, even though she thought she would fail, and a screen recording of her hiring account seemed to show that she passed.

The emails matched the details in her recording. She also shared an email that seemed to confirm she had turned down a tentative job offer from ICE.