Former Taco Bell Manager Seeks to Join ICE, Motivated by Biden’s Immigration Policies

• Former Taco Bell manager seeks to join ICE
• Criticizes Biden and local authorities
• Chicago at center of immigration operations

A Chicago man who worked for several years at the fast-food chain Taco Bell decided to change his professional path by applying for a position with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Alexander Acevedo, of Puerto Rican origin, explained that he made this decision because of his concerns about public safety and what he considers failures in President Joe Biden’s policies.

Former Taco Bell Manager Alexander Acevedo Explains His Reasons for Joining ICE

Newsweek has reviewed Alexander Acevedo’s confirmation email from DHS, which states he applied for a role as a deportation officer. https://t.co/22yh5x8FDn

— Newsweek (@Newsweek) September 23, 2025

Why It Matters

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently launched a nationwide recruitment campaign to hire new ICE officers.

The agency reported receiving more than 150,000 applications from Americans interested in joining, showing the strong demand for these positions.

According to official figures, 18,000 tentative job offers have already been extended, with incentives such as hiring bonuses of up to $50,000 and student loan repayment programs.

Acevedo’s application comes as Chicago remains a focal point for federal operations targeting immigrants with outstanding deportation orders.

These operations are often carried out alongside local police, sparking tensions and protests from immigrant advocacy groups.

What Alexander Acevedo Said

Acevedo worked eight years as a shift manager at Taco Bell, from 2014 to 2022, and currently works at the Jewel-Osco supermarket chain. He confirmed to Newsweek that he applied for a deportation officer position.

“Biden and his incompetence” were the reasons that, according to him, pushed him to take this step.

The former manager emphasized that his main goal is to protect his family and community:

“I applied because I want to help make my country a safer place for my children and for other Americans. I want to help my country. My city has a big problem with illegals.”

He also expressed support for Donald Trump’s administration, praising its push for mass deportations:

“I am grateful for President Trump,” he stated, describing federal measures as “good for the city.”

As for local authorities, Alexander Acevedo did not hold back in his criticism. He accused Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker of prioritizing undocumented immigrants over citizens:

“Pritzker cares more about criminals and illegal immigrants than about American citizens,” even calling him “the dumbest person in Illinois politics.”

He also targeted Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, saying: “Brandon Johnson is just a racist tool put there to get the minority vote. He knows nothing about politics.”

Context in Chicago

The city has been the stage for Operation Midway Blitz, a federal initiative targeting undocumented immigrants with criminal records or pending charges.

The strategy intensified following the death of Katie Abraham, a 20-year-old Illinois student, in a hit-and-run accident involving an undocumented Guatemalan national.

These measures, backed by Donald Trump himself, have triggered protests from pro-immigrant groups, but Acevedo considers them necessary.

While awaiting DHS’s response to his application, he insists his goal is to contribute to national security.

The Essentials

Although Puerto Rico is not a state, people born there have been U.S. citizens since 1917. Alexander Acevedo, as a Puerto Rican, stresses that his commitment to the United States drives him to seek a role in ICE.

His case illustrates how immigration policy continues to divide opinions in cities like Chicago, where security, inclusion, and human rights intersect.

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Source: Newsweek