Trump Administration Expands Immigration Crackdown With Thousands Of New Officers

President Donald Trump’s administration has expanded its immigration enforcement efforts by granting new authority to thousands of federal law enforcement agents, significantly increasing the number of personnel tasked with locating and apprehending illegal immigrants. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman issued a directive authorizing several Justice Department agencies to support immigration operations.

The directive extends immigration enforcement powers to officers from the U.S. Marshals, Drug Enforcement Administration, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Bureau of Prisons. These agencies, which typically focus on their own areas of enforcement, will now play an active role in assisting Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol in rounding up individuals residing in the country unlawfully.

Huffman described the move as a necessary step in fulfilling Trump’s commitment to enforce immigration laws and ensure national security. She stated that law enforcement agencies under the Justice Department will now have the resources to identify, track, and detain individuals who entered the U.S. illegally, something that was previously limited to DHS personnel.

With this expanded workforce, an estimated 31,000 additional officers are now available to assist with enforcement, nearly doubling the current number of agents dedicated to immigration matters. This surge in personnel is expected to increase the administration’s ability to conduct large-scale operations.

Since Trump’s return to office, hundreds of arrests have been made across several cities, including the apprehension of individuals linked to criminal activity such as gang violence and drug offenses. Recent operations targeted known sanctuary cities where local officials have resisted federal enforcement efforts.

The administration has vowed to continue efforts to secure the border and enforce existing immigration laws, with plans to ramp up operations nationwide in the coming months.