The phones started ringing and the applications poured in. In a short time, more than 35,000 Americans put their names forward to become Homeland Defenders under U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It is the largest response for any position in the agency’s history.

These are not desk jobs. Homeland Defenders will interview foreign nationals, review their files, and decide eligibility for immigration benefits. The mission focuses on stopping fraud and blocking security threats before they reach our neighborhoods.

“The Homeland Defender Campaign has already been a tremendous success and has resonated with the American people,” USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said.

“I’m pleased to announce that in addition to seeing a historic number of applications, we are starting to bring on applicants at a rapid pace,” Edlow added.

The recruitment drive ran hard on social media. A short DHS video carried a direct message aimed at service-minded citizens who want to make a difference.

“Protect your homeland, defend your culture, become a homeland defender,” one DHS ad read.

The message reached far and wide. The video views climbed toward half a million. That wave of attention translated into a surge of qualified candidates, many with experience that fits the mission on day one.

Officials say the first class of Homeland Defenders will include former law enforcement officers and military veterans. These recruits know interviews, evidence, and pattern-spotting. They are used to pressure and process. They are used to winning.

USCIS tied the effort to a wider push to safeguard the immigration system. The agency framed the job as service, not just employment, with an emphasis on speed and standards. That includes incentives to compete for top talent in a tight labor market.

Homeland Defenders can be eligible for signing bonuses up to $50,000 and student loan repayment, along with other benefits. For many mid-career Americans, that package makes a move into public service possible.

“USCIS is not wasting time; we are committed to implementing President Trump’s priorities,” Edlow said.

“These candidates are not just applying for a job — they are applying to guard our values and defend our homeland. I look forward to onboarding many more Homeland Defenders in the coming weeks,” he continued.

The day-to-day work will center on interviews and document checks. It will also lean on data, cross-checks, and red-flag systems built to spot fraud. The goal is simple: stop bad actors early and clear the path for those who qualify under the law.

The campaign’s tone is purposeful. It calls for service, culture, and country. It meets a real need as national security and immigration enforcement face new pressure at home and abroad.

Support came quickly from communities that see the front line effects. Sheriffs, veterans’ groups, and former federal agents praised the call to serve. The early applicant pool shows it. A mix of experience, discipline, and patriotism is stepping forward.

This is also about speed. USCIS says onboarding has begun. Training and field placements will follow. The agency wants new teams in the chair, asking questions, and pushing cases to honest outcomes.

The response sends a message. When the country asks for help, Americans answer. They bring skills from patrols, deployments, investigations, and interviews. They bring a simple promise: keep the system honest and keep the nation safe.

That is what this campaign taps into. A spirit that says do the work, follow the law, and protect the homeland.