US President Donald Trump has suggested renaming the country's immigration enforcement agency from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to “NICE”, arguing that the change could improve public perceptions of the agency and counter criticism of its work.
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In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he was considering launching a public poll on the proposal, which would add an “N” for “National” to the agency's name.
Trump Suggests New Name
Trump claimed that ICE officers had been unfairly portrayed by media organisations and praised their work enforcing immigration laws.
“ICE has been abused by the Fake News Media at levels never seen before,” he wrote, describing agency personnel as “great patriots” operating in a difficult environment.
He argued that changing the name to “NICE” would alter how journalists and the public discuss immigration enforcement activities.
Trump said reporters would be forced to use phrases such as “NICE facility” or “NICE agents,” adding that the change would make it harder for critics to portray the agency negatively.
Mixed Reaction Within Administration
The president said the idea had been discussed with border enforcement official Tom Homan, who he described as “legendary”.
According to Trump, the proposal has been well received by many people, although ICE agents themselves may be less enthusiastic.
“Everyone loves it, but I have been told by Tom Homan that the agents do not love it as much as the other population,” Trump wrote.
He also described the proposed rebranding as a way to give the agency what he called a “more prestigious name”.
Immigration Debate Continues
The proposal comes as immigration enforcement remains a contentious political issue in the United States.
According to reports by the New York Post, recent demonstrations outside the Delaney Hall migrant detention facility in Newark have led to clashes between protesters and law enforcement officers. Several people from outside the state were arrested during confrontations at the site.
The newspaper reported that some of those detained had connections to the Sunrise Movement, a progressive organisation that has campaigned for the closure of Delaney Hall and the abolition of ICE.
The report also referenced anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis earlier this year that drew national attention and became a rallying point for immigration activists.
Agency's History
The immigration enforcement body was originally established under the Homeland Security Act of 2002 as the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
However, the acronym “BICE” failed to gain widespread use, and the Department of Homeland Security formally adopted the shorter name “ICE” in 2007.
Trump's proposal has generated discussion online but no formal plans for a name change have been announced.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 21 June 2026