The Trump administration is mobilizing thousands of FBI and other federal agents to target undocumented immigrants across more than two dozen American cities in an unprecedented expansion of immigration enforcement resources.
At a Glance
- About 2,000 federal agents from FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service are being redirected to support DHS immigration operations
- FBI agents will make up 45% of the Justice Department’s contingent in each affected city
- The initiative spans over two dozen U.S. cities with coordinated enforcement actions expected in coming days
- This reallocation has raised concerns about impacts on other priorities like financial crime investigations
- The operation represents a significant shift in Justice Department resource allocation
Mass Redeployment of Federal Agents
The Trump administration has launched a major redeployment of federal law enforcement resources, redirecting approximately 2,000 agents from the FBI, DEA, ATF, and U.S. Marshals Service to support Department of Homeland Security operations targeting undocumented immigrants. The initiative will span more than two dozen U.S. cities, according to multiple sources familiar with the directive. FBI field offices have been instructed to provide significant personnel for these operations, marking an unusually direct involvement in immigration enforcement activities.
In each affected city, FBI agents are expected to constitute nearly half of the Justice Department’s contribution to these operations. While federal agents have previously assisted immigration authorities on a smaller scale, this expanded collaboration represents a substantial shift in priorities for agencies typically focused on criminal investigations, counterterrorism, and national security matters.
New: FBI field offices around the country have been ordered to assign significantly more agents to immigration enforcement, a dramatic shift in federal law enforcement priorities that will siphon resources away from counterterrorism, counterintelligence and fraud investigations,…
— Ken Dilanian (@KenDilanianNBC) May 14, 2025
Shifting Federal Law Enforcement Priorities
The enhanced focus on immigration enforcement comes as part of a broader strategy that appears to be reshaping Justice Department priorities. Resources previously dedicated to white-collar crime investigations, including foreign corruption probes and anti-money-laundering compliance in cryptocurrency markets, have reportedly been decreased. This represents a clear policy shift that elevates immigration enforcement above certain types of financial crimes that had been priorities under previous administrations.
The administration’s decision to involve traditional law enforcement agencies in immigration operations at this scale is unprecedented in recent history. While ICE and Border Patrol have primary responsibility for immigration enforcement, the addition of thousands of FBI, DEA, and ATF agents represents a significant expansion of federal capabilities directed at immigration issues.
Trump Administration Aims to Use 2,000 F.B.I., Drug and Gun Agents For Immigration Enforcement in 25 US Cities https://t.co/vyKShS3HYi
— Devlin Barrett (@DevlinBarrett) May 13, 2025
Operational Impact and Agency Concerns
The directive has reportedly generated internal discussion about resource allocation within affected agencies. Current and former officials have expressed concerns about how this reassignment might impact ongoing investigations into domestic terrorism, organized crime, and public corruption. With FBI agents constituting 45% of the Justice Department’s contingent in these operations, field offices must balance these new duties against existing case loads and priorities.
Law enforcement sources indicate the operations will be coordinated and strategic, targeting specific locations in urban centers where federal authorities believe significant numbers of undocumented immigrants with criminal records may be located. The initiative builds upon existing interagency frameworks but significantly expands both their scope and the number of personnel involved.
Local Reactions and Enforcement Challenges
As news of the expanded operations has spread, some local jurisdictions with sanctuary policies have indicated potential resistance to federal enforcement efforts. This creates additional complexity for federal agents operating in cities where local law enforcement may be restricted from cooperating with immigration operations. Despite these challenges, the administration appears committed to moving forward with the enforcement initiative across all targeted locations.
The coming days will reveal the full operational scope of this initiative as federal agents deploy across the country. Immigration advocates have expressed concerns, while supporters of stricter immigration policies have welcomed the enhanced enforcement approach. The reallocation represents one of the most significant shifts in federal law enforcement priorities in recent years, clearly demonstrating the administration’s determination to address immigration enforcement through unprecedented interagency collaboration.
