Not the most stringent requirements to apply, which answers a lot of the subsequent behaviour.
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SALARY UPDATE:
ICE, like most federal agencies, utilizes the GS federal pay scale. Individuals working as ICE Agents begin at a pay grade that directly reflects their education and experience, although most new ICE agents begin at GS-5 which, as of 2012, was between $27,431 and $35,657.
GS-5: $27,431-$35,657
GS-6: $30,577-$39,748
GS-7: 33,979-$44,176
GS-8: $37,631-$48,917
GS-9: $41,563-$54,028
HSI special agents are usually offered at the GL-7 and GL-9 level.
To qualify at the GS-5 level and receive the equivalent salary, candidates must either possess a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university or at least 3 years of general experience.
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Aren’t LEOs paid much better? To accept lower salaries, either you live the job or you can’t find anything else.
You have to be current LEO to join, so unlikely for them to be so minded.
Evidence shows it’s not that unlikely
In the subject of the salary, cops typically make 35-50k per year. Some make far more if they are in a big city.
Overtime and side jobs is where they make the big dollars. Quiet night that ends in a shootout or a bad car accident, overtime. Provide security for the high school, may be overtime or a side job. So you can be a first year officer and make over 100k if your base salary and overtime facilitates that.
Departments try to keep overtime in check, but the more crime means more billed time.
It’s like there’s a financial incentive to have crime happen