World Immigration News

Exclusive: Thousands of agents diverted to Trump immigration crackdown

Release Date: 2025-03-22
Media: Reuters
Summary: Under the Trump administration, federal law enforcement resources, traditionally focused on areas like child abuse, drug trafficking, and tax fraud, have been redirected toward immigration enforcement. Agents from agencies such as the FBI, ATF, and DEA are now involved in cracking down on illegal immigrants, a shift that has raised concerns about the impact on other criminal investigations. This reorganization is part of Trump’s broader efforts to deport millions of illegal immigrants, whom he refers to as “criminal aliens,” despite a lack of supporting evidence that immigrants are driving most major crimes.

Federal agencies have been reassigned to enforce immigration law, with some personnel, including those from the IRS, State Department, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), now handling immigration tasks. Critics, including Senate Democrats, argue that this shift diverts resources from important work, such as tackling terrorism, fraud, and child exploitation. The increase in immigration prosecutions, such as felony charges related to immigration offenses, has overwhelmed federal prosecutors. While these changes are framed as a necessary response to an "invasion" of illegal immigrants, they have sparked debate over the priorities and effectiveness of the administration’s approach.
Tags: USA

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