Trump Directs Federal Agencies To Support Immigration Crackdown

In a move to strengthen immigration enforcement, President Donald Trump has authorized thousands of federal law enforcement officers to assist in apprehending illegal immigrants. Acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine Huffman signed a directive allowing Justice Department agencies to support immigration operations.

The newly granted authority applies 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 primarily focus on other federal crimes, will now play a larger role in immigration enforcement efforts.

Huffman stated that this expansion provides much-needed support to existing immigration officers, citing the failures of previous policies that allowed illegal immigration to surge. She said the administration is committed to using every available resource to fulfill Trump’s campaign promise of large-scale deportations.

The additional agents could provide an estimated 80% increase in enforcement capacity, adding more than 31,000 personnel to assist ICE and Border Patrol operations. The directive outlines that these officers will assist in locating, processing and removing individuals in the country unlawfully.

Since taking office, Trump’s administration has already made significant strides in enforcement. In a single day, more than 500 arrests were carried out across several cities, including sanctuary jurisdictions. Officials reported that many of those detained had criminal records linked to serious offenses.

Internal Justice Department memos have instructed federal officers to prioritize identifying individuals who may be in the country illegally and to coordinate with immigration officials to expedite deportation proceedings.