Thousands of federal law enforcement agents across the United States have been reassigned to immigration enforcement under President Donald Trump’s latest crackdown, in what experts describe as the most extensive reshuffling of federal policing resources since the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
The redeployment has seen agents who previously investigated financial crimes, drug trafficking, and child exploitation redirected to detaining and deporting undocumented immigrants.
The move follows an executive order signed by Trump on his first day back in office, declaring illegal immigration an "invasion" and ordering federal agencies to take coordinated action.
In the weeks since, multiple agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), have deployed personnel for immigration-related duties, according to current and former officials interviewed by Reuters.
Expanded scope of immigration enforcement
Before this year, immigration enforcement largely fell under the jurisdiction of two agencies: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), which have a combined staff of approximately 80,000. Now, other federal departments are being drawn into the effort.
ATF, which typically focuses on investigating firearms and explosives-related offenses, has had about 80% of its 2,500 agents reassigned to immigration enforcement, according to officials familiar with the agency's operations. ATF personnel are now primarily being used as “fugitive hunters” to track down undocumented immigrants.
Similarly, DEA, which has led anti-narcotics efforts nationwide, has diverted roughly 25% of its personnel to immigration-related operations. State Department security service agents, who traditionally work on diplomatic protection and visa fraud, have also been authorized to assist in tracking and detaining undocumented individuals.
A memo dated February 18 from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to the U.S. Secretary of State confirmed that these agents are now tasked with "investigating, determining the location of, and apprehending, any alien" living in the U.S. unlawfully.
Concerns over public safety and resource allocation
Critics argue that the shift in priorities is diverting resources from crucial crime-fighting areas, including counterterrorism, human trafficking, and financial fraud investigations.
“There’s a good argument that these changes will lead to some child victims continuing to be exploited,” said Matthew Allen, a former senior Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) official. HSI, which is ICE’s top investigative branch, had previously specialized in crimes such as child sexual exploitation, human trafficking, and drug smuggling. However, numerous HSI agents have now been reassigned to immigration enforcement, impacting the agency’s ability to pursue other cases.
The Justice Department’s data indicates that the shift is already altering prosecution trends. In San Diego, the number of felony immigration cases quadrupled in February compared to the previous year, while felony drug cases saw a slight decline. Similarly, Detroit recorded a significant rise in immigration prosecutions, jumping from two cases in February 2024 to 19 last month.
Senator Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the U.S. Senate, called the policy a "wasteful, misguided diversion of resources" and warned that it was making the country "less safe" by pulling agents away from investigating organized crime and corporate fraud.
However, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the policy, stating that prioritizing immigration enforcement did not mean reducing focus on violent crime. “President Trump views what has happened over the last couple of years truly as an invasion, so that’s how we’re trying to remedy that,” he said in an interview with Reuters.
Legal and constitutional challenges
The sweeping enforcement measures have already triggered multiple legal challenges. Lawsuits have been filed against the administration over the deportation of alleged members of a Venezuelan gang under an 18th-century wartime powers act, as well as the detention of a Columbia University student activist with legal permanent residency due to his involvement in pro-Palestinian protests.
The White House has maintained that all actions are within constitutional limits and are aimed at protecting U.S. citizens' safety and jobs. Meanwhile, Trump’s supporters argue that the crackdown is necessary to curb illegal immigration, which the administration has blamed for crime and economic strain—claims that are not fully supported by government data.
The immediate effects of the new policy have been mixed. While migrant crossings at the southern U.S. border reportedly dropped to their lowest level in decades in February, actual deportations have yet to see a major surge. Experts predict that removals will increase in the coming months as the restructured enforcement strategy takes full effect.
