ICE Discontinues Cash Bonus Initiative for Rapid Deportations Following NYT Exposure

The New York Times reports that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) initially announced an internal plan to reward agents with monetary bonuses for expediting deportations, aiming to accelerate President Trump's mass removal efforts. However, less than four hours later, the agency abruptly withdrew the proposed 30-day pilot program. An ICE official, Liana J. Castano, instructed staff nationwide to "PLEASE DISREGARD" the initiative via a follow-up email. DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin clarified that the program was never officially implemented and no such policy has been in effect. The cancellation came shortly after inquiries from The New York Times about the program's existence.