ICE Agent's Claim Of $200K Salary With Just High School Degree Goes Viral; Netizens Ask, 'Where To Sign Up?'

A heated exchange caught on camera in Bloomington, Minnesota has taken social media by storm, drawing attention to a tense interaction involving a US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer and two

civilians. The clip, now widely circulated on platforms like X and YouTube, has fuelled online debate for reasons that go beyond the confrontation itself.The video opens with the ICE officer issuing a stern warning to the man and woman present, saying, “if you get in my way, I will arrest you.” The man responds calmly, “Sir, we are just observing, calm down,” while the woman adds, “I am observing. Do you see me in the way? I am back.”As the exchange continues, the two civilians are heard questioning the officer’s conduct, asking if he has “anger issues,” whether his “parents were present,” and telling him he should be “ashamed” of himself. While such confrontations with ICE officers have become increasingly common amid public criticism of the agency, the video takes an unexpected turn later.When the woman suggests that the officer is ashamed of his job, he responds confidently, “I love my job. I can’t believe I get paid for this. I’d do it for free.” The conversation then shifts to salaries after the woman mentions she earns “$200K” as a physician’s assistant. The officer asks how long she studied for the role. “Seven years,” she replies, prompting the officer to say, “Really? I went to high school and I make $200K.”

Social Media Reactions - This remark stunned many viewers online, triggering a wave of reactions across platforms. “Where do I sign up,” one YouTube user asked. Another commented on X, “this is exactly why the system is broken when mindless muscle gets paid the same as medicine.” A third wrote, “Yeah I don’t think this is the flex you think it is. We have high school educated people roaming the streets with f*g guns. Yikes.” Others reacted more casually, with comments like “wow I should apply to ICE lmao” and “$200k to be ICE?? Sign me up!”The viral clip has also reignited curiosity about how much ICE officers actually earn.Claim Vs Reality According to a July 2025 report by the New York Post, ICE has been offering signing bonuses of up to $50,000 along with six-figure salary packages to attract top recruits. Entry-level positions reportedly come with base salaries ranging from $50,000 to $90,000 per year.Most ICE roles require at least a bachelor’s degree, while some positions demand a year of graduate study unless the applicant qualifies under Superior Academic Achievement (SAA). In certain cases, holding a master’s degree can waive requirements for higher pay grades such as GL-9.Given these figures, the officer’s claim of earning $200K with only a high school education remains questionable and may have been more of a sharp retort during a heated moment rather than a factual statement.