Trump Administration Expands Immigration Crackdown With Federal Support

President Donald Trump’s administration has taken a significant step to enhance immigration enforcement by granting authority to several federal law enforcement agencies to detain and deport illegal immigrants. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman announced the directive, which enables thousands of officers outside of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol to assist in immigration operations.

The new authorization extends enforcement powers to agents within the U.S. Marshals, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Bureau of Prisons. These agencies, which previously had limited roles in immigration enforcement, can now assist in tracking and detaining individuals residing in the country unlawfully.

Huffman stated that the measure aligns with Trump’s commitment to securing the border and removing individuals who entered illegally. She emphasized that past efforts lacked adequate resources to address the scale of the issue and that this directive would mobilize additional manpower.

With this expansion, an estimated 31,000 officers are now available to support ICE and Border Patrol, boosting the current force of approximately 40,000 personnel. While it remains unclear how many of these officers will be actively deployed, the directive provides the framework for a broader enforcement effort.

Recent enforcement actions have already demonstrated the administration’s intent. In a single day, authorities reported over 530 arrests in multiple cities, including individuals linked to violent gangs and sex crimes. These operations come after Trump ended policies that previously allowed migrants to be released into the U.S. while awaiting court hearings.

Federal law enforcement agencies are now preparing for an increased role in immigration enforcement, with internal memos instructing personnel to identify cases involving noncitizens and coordinate with DHS to process removals.