The Trump administration has ordered Internal Revenue Service (IRS) criminal investigators to the U.S.-Mexico border to aid in deportation efforts. A memo from Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent formally requested that these agents be deputized to assist with immigration enforcement operations.
IRS criminal investigators, while primarily focused on financial crimes, are authorized to carry firearms and conduct arrests. The administration plans to use these agents to investigate businesses suspected of employing illegal immigrants and track financial transactions linked to human trafficking networks. DHS officials say the agents will also assist in detaining and transporting individuals caught crossing the border illegally.
Trump had previously suggested that IRS agents could be used for border security rather than tax enforcement, pointing to Biden’s decision to expand the agency’s workforce. His administration has now acted on that proposal as part of a larger strategy to enhance border operations.
Since taking office for a second term, Trump has prioritized deportation efforts, with ICE reporting 11,000 arrests within the first 18 days. However, sources indicate that Trump wants to see those numbers rise even further. The addition of IRS agents to border enforcement is expected to increase the scale of removals.
The administration has already lifted restrictions that limited ICE’s ability to detain illegal immigrants and ended the Biden-era CBP One app. By bringing in more personnel from the Treasury Department, officials hope to speed up the enforcement process.
Discussions are ongoing regarding how many IRS agents will be assigned, but additional Treasury Department personnel could soon be sent to further support border operations.
