In a surprising turn of events, actor Dean Cain, best known for his portrayal of Superman in the 1990s television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, has announced plans to become a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent. Cain, who is already a sworn law enforcement officer, confirmed in a Wednesday interview that he will soon be sworn in as an official ICE agent.
“I will be sworn in as an ICE agent ASAP,” Cain stated, further emphasizing his commitment to supporting the U.S. government’s aggressive immigration policies. His announcement follows his recent participation in a recruitment campaign urging other Americans to join ICE, as the agency seeks to bolster its operations under the Trump administration’s ramped-up deportation efforts.
During his role as Superman, which aired from 1993 to 1997, Cain became a household name, but since then, he has worked across a range of films and television shows and even directed. Now, however, the 57-year-old actor is focusing on contributing to national security.
ICE Recruitment Campaign Expands Amid Immigration Crackdown
This move comes in the wake of a significant recruitment push by ICE, which aims to recruit an additional 10,000 new officers. ICE’s expanded operations have been aligned with President Donald Trump’s plans to increase the number of deportations from the U.S., with an ambitious target of one million deportations annually.
“I put out a recruitment video yesterday – I’m actually a sworn deputy sheriff and a reserve police officer,” Cain said during a Fox News appearance. “I wasn’t part of ICE, but once I put that out there and you put a little blurb on your show, it went crazy. So now I’ve spoken with some officials over at ICE, and I will be sworn in as an ICE agent ASAP.”
In support of the increased enforcement, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has stated that Cain will be sworn in as an “honorary ICE Officer” in the coming month. DHS Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin noted that Cain, as a former Superman, would now inspire others to take action: “Superman is encouraging Americans to become real-life superheroes by answering their country’s call to join the brave men and women of ICE to help protect our communities to arrest the worst of the worst.”
The Trump administration’s recent efforts to ramp up deportations have sparked protests across various U.S. cities, with critics labeling the immigration raids as unlawful. However, Cain remains steadfast in his support for the immigration enforcement agency, stating his personal commitment to helping “protect this country” through his new role.
U.S. Government Offers Incentives to Boost ICE Recruitment
In late July, ICE unveiled new recruitment incentives, including a generous bonus of up to $50,000 for new hires. The recruitment effort also promises student loan assistance to attract candidates for various positions, including deportation officers, attorneys, criminal investigators, and student visa adjudicators.
By Wednesday, ICE reported receiving over 80,000 applications for the 10,000 available positions. The agency’s recruitment campaign even echoes wartime-era posters, featuring the iconic “Uncle Sam” image and slogans like “America Needs You” and “Defend the Homeland,” with prominent figures like Trump and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem depicted alongside.
The effort to expand ICE’s workforce follows President Trump’s signing of a spending bill that allocated over $76 billion to the agency—an unprecedented budget increase, cementing ICE’s position as the highest-funded federal law enforcement body.
A Bold Move Toward Enforcement and Deportation
For Cain, his decision to become an ICE agent is about more than just supporting law enforcement—it’s about answering a personal call to help protect the U.S. “People have to step up. I’m stepping up. Hopefully, a whole bunch of other former officers, former ICE agents will step up, and we’ll meet those recruitment goals immediately,” Cain said.
As ICE continues its aggressive recruitment push, Cain’s high-profile involvement will undoubtedly draw more attention to the ongoing immigration debate. His transition from television superhero to real-life law enforcement agent underscores the increasing militarization of the immigration enforcement system and its place within the broader narrative of Trump’s immigration policy.
