The Trump administration is directing IRS criminal investigators to the southern border to assist in efforts to remove illegal immigrants and disrupt trafficking operations. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has requested Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to approve IRS law enforcement personnel for immigration enforcement duties.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem outlined the request in a memo to Bessent, seeking to use IRS agents to investigate financial networks linked to human trafficking and uncover businesses employing illegal workers. These agents, trained in financial crime investigations, are authorized to carry firearms and make arrests, making them a valuable addition to enforcement efforts.
IRS criminal investigators typically focus on tax fraud, identity theft, and financial crimes. However, with their experience tracking illicit money flows, they will be utilized to help identify trafficking operations and illegal employment schemes, areas that DHS has identified as crucial to border enforcement.
The move is part of a broader expansion of Trump’s immigration crackdown. Within the first 18 days of his administration, ICE has conducted 11,000 arrests. Trump has reportedly called for even stronger action, demanding that enforcement operations move faster and target more individuals.
His administration has already dismantled Biden-era policies that limited ICE’s ability to detain illegal immigrants. The CBP One app, which was used to process asylum claims, has also been shut down as part of a shift toward stricter border security.
While discussions between DHS and the Treasury Department are ongoing, additional federal law enforcement personnel could soon be reassigned to support the administration’s growing border enforcement strategy.
