U.S. ICE to Review Recruitment After Migrant Deaths as Border ‘Smart Wall’ Expands

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced it will review its recruitment protocols following the deaths of migrants, while rejecting claims that it made errors in the incidents. The agency said the review will focus on improving training and hiring standards.

At the same time, the Trump administration continues to invest in a technologically advanced border barrier known as the “smart wall.” Roughly $46 billion has been allocated, with 119 km of fence already built and plans to add another 861 km where terrain makes construction difficult. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Commissioner Rodney Scott described the system as more than a barrier, highlighting autonomous towers, fiber‑optic sensors and AI that detect movement and differentiate between people, vehicles and animals.

Both moves reflect the administration’s broader emphasis on tightening immigration enforcement and curbing drug‑trafficking routes.