The Biden-era IRS expansion is being put to use in a different way under President Donald Trump, with trained IRS criminal investigators now being sent to the U.S.-Mexico border to assist in deportation operations. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has formally requested Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to authorize agents for immigration enforcement.
DHS Secretary Kristi Noem sent the request in a February 7 memo, asking for Treasury law enforcement personnel, including IRS investigators, to be deputized for border duties. These agents, normally focused on financial crimes, will assist in identifying human trafficking networks, investigating businesses that employ illegal immigrants, and helping detain and transport individuals arrested at the border.
IRS criminal investigators are already authorized to carry firearms and make arrests. Their ability to track illegal financial flows could provide a new tool for dismantling trafficking operations that rely on hidden networks of cash transfers and fraudulent business practices.
Trump’s administration has made it clear that immigration enforcement is a top priority, already securing over 11,000 arrests by ICE in the first 18 days of his term. However, reports indicate Trump is not satisfied with the pace of deportations and wants more aggressive measures in place.
The administration has already shut down the CBP One app, which was used under Biden to process asylum requests, and lifted restrictions that had limited ICE’s ability to detain illegal immigrants. Reassigning IRS agents to assist in border security is the latest effort to increase immigration enforcement.
While the exact number of IRS agents being redirected remains uncertain, Treasury and DHS officials continue working on the logistics. Additional federal personnel may soon be sent to bolster enforcement as Trump’s border policies intensify.
