The Trump administration has proposed a bold new plan to address illegal immigration: deputizing IRS agents to assist with enforcement.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently sent a request to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, asking that IRS criminal investigators be reassigned to help tackle immigration-related crimes, such as human trafficking and illegal employment.
This move is part of President Donald Trump’s pledge to conduct the largest deportation effort in U.S. history.
The plan would leverage existing federal resources rather than expanding the size of government or creating an entirely new enforcement arm.
The IRS has over 2,100 special agents, highly trained law enforcement officers who typically investigate financial crimes and tax law violations.
Under this proposal, some of them would shift focus to apprehending, monitoring, detaining, and removing undocumented immigrants.
For those who support stricter immigration enforcement, this plan makes sense.
The federal government already employs thousands of law enforcement officers across various agencies, and instead of hiring new personnel or creating another bureaucracy, why not use resources already in place?
Many argue that illegal immigration is more than just a border issue—it involves fraudulent tax filings, illegal employment, and organized crime networks, all areas where IRS agents have expertise.
Not everyone is on board.
Opponents argue that pulling IRS agents away from tax enforcement could weaken efforts to catch tax cheats and ensure compliance. Democrats claim this is a misuse of federal resources at a time when the IRS has been given more funding to step up audits and enforcement.
But for those who have long been critical of the IRS and its growing power, this proposal may not be such a bad thing.
Many conservatives see the IRS as bloated and overreaching, particularly after it received billions in new funding under President Biden. If some of those resources can be redirected to a more pressing issue—like stopping the flood of illegal immigration—many see that as a win.
The proposal is still in the early stages, and it’s unclear how many agents would be reassigned if it moves forward.
The administration argues that this is a necessary step to get a handle on illegal immigration, while opponents are likely to challenge it in court.
This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
