Plans are underway within the Trump government to increase the number of federal staff assigned to step up apprehensions of those found to be in the country illegally. This is according to inside sources and could involve widening the territorial scope of Border Patrol duties. The intention is to increase the number of arrests substantially on a national level, starting as soon as this week.
The expected build-up of federal personnel is accompanied by an intensification of crackdowns by the Justice Department on immigration-related crimes in various cities. Together, these highlight the escalating pursuit of the current government to fulfill the president’s commitment to massively deport illegal immigrants, even in the face of personnel and resource constraints that have been an issue for previous administrations.
More pressure is being put on Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers, whose main duties already consist of arresting and detaining those who have violated immigration laws. As with previous administrations, logistical issues have posed challenges to carrying out these duties, even as expectations rise for tough enforcement.
The enhancement of the crackdown is set to incorporate Border Patrol agents, known to have enforcement rights that cover the entire national territory. The inclusion of these additional operatives within the country’s interior is a clear increase in enforcement efforts.
The interior enforcement team will be supported by National Guard units in states where permissions have been granted by the governors. Although these units are not authorized to make arrests, they are expected to strengthen the arrest operation on the ground with what is referred to as ‘force protection’.
Additional power could be given to the National Guard in certain states, with the authorization of state governors, acting as an amplifier of the force already in play. Earlier this year, an agreement was made between the US Customs and Border Protection and the Texas National Guard to extend immigration authorities to specific personnel of the Texas Guard, under the oversight of CBP officials.
A CBP spokesperson eloquently explained the importance of cooperation with committed state governors, with specific reference to Texas. The state has been hit with unusually high migration issues recently, putting a significant strain on law enforcement resources and increasing the risk of security threats along the border.
The message from the administration is clear: they’re actively seeking state assistance in their ongoing efforts to apprehend and detain individuals without legal immigration status. As they struggle with the challenges posed, they have already enacted several methods within the federal government to arrest and confine these individuals.
As an illustration of the challenges, ICE currently has funding for about 40,000 detention beds and employs roughly 6,000 immigration enforcement officers. The White House’s officials have been advocating for the Department of Justice (DOJ) to heighten its crackdown on illegal immigration.
A significant shift of focus is being enforced in over two dozen cities, as federal agents are requested to shift some of their existing workload towards locating and apprehending illegal immigrants. This has led to the DOJ choosing 25 cities to concentrate their efforts, which started with a large deployment of federal agents from various agencies to aid in immigration enforcement.
Among the agencies assisting in these efforts are the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the US Marshals Service. Of these increased efforts, it is anticipated that about 45% will be carried out by FBI agents.
FBI agents, particularly those serving in regions deemed by the administration to be crime hotspots related to illegal migration, would need to dedicate up to a third of their working time to immigration law enforcement duties. However, in regions where illegal migration related crimes are less frequent, the proportion of resources allocated could be significantly reduced.
Such reallocation of resources could have effects on the ability of the Justice Department to address other federal crimes. This topic has become the subject of debate, especially as the department continues to pull away from tackling white-collar prosecutions, including foreign bribery cases.
The proposed broadening of the Border Patrol’s responsibilities, along with the intensified stance of the Justice Department on immigration-related crimes, clearly shows the administration’s resolution to uphold Trump’s promise of widespread deportation.
However, it is important to remember that immigration enforcement is a challenging task that requires efficient resource management and strong strategic coordination among various units in law enforcement. The boost in resources, either through the inclusion of Border Patrol agents or the assistance from National Guards, is expected to strengthen the enforcement operations.
Overall, the balance of meeting the promise of widespread deportation while effectively managing resources in a constrained environment remains to be seen. As the government seeks more collaboration with state authorities and continues its sweeping reallocation of resources, how this will affect the broader priorities of federal law enforcement is yet unanswered.