The Trump administration is ramping up immigration enforcement by sending IRS criminal investigators to assist in deportation efforts at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has formally requested that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent authorize IRS law enforcement personnel to aid in immigration enforcement operations.

In a letter dated February 7, DHS Secretary Kristi Noem asked for IRS agents to help track financial networks linked to human trafficking and investigate businesses that employ illegal immigrants. IRS criminal investigators, trained to handle financial crimes, are also authorized to carry firearms and make arrests, making them a strategic asset in the administration’s immigration crackdown.

The move follows Trump’s call for an aggressive approach to removing illegal immigrants from the country. His administration has already overseen more than 11,000 ICE arrests since taking office and is seeking additional resources to further boost enforcement efforts.

Trump has previously suggested repurposing IRS agents for border security, referencing Biden’s 2021 expansion of the agency’s workforce. At a recent event, Trump stated that instead of auditing American citizens, these agents could be put to better use enforcing immigration laws.

With additional personnel at the border, DHS aims to dismantle trafficking networks and penalize companies that violate immigration laws by hiring unauthorized workers. The administration has also ended the controversial CBP One app, which was used to process asylum claims, and lifted Biden-era restrictions that limited ICE’s ability to detain individuals.

IRS officials have yet to publicly comment on the request, but Treasury Department sources have confirmed that discussions are ongoing regarding how many agents could be assigned to border operations.