In a move to bolster border security, the Trump administration is exploring the possibility of reassigning nearly 90,000 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents to assist with immigration enforcement efforts at the southern border. This initiative, directed by President Trump, aims to supplement existing personnel and strengthen the implementation of immigration laws.

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Kristi Noem has formally requested Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to provide IRS agents to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. The request is anticipated to be approved. Noem's letter to Bessent highlights President Trump's directive to explore all avenues for enhancing border security, including leveraging the authority to deputize federal employees for immigration-related tasks.

DHS has already established partnerships with various law enforcement agencies, including components of the Department of Justice, the Texas National Guard, and the Texas Attorney General's Office, to support the President's immigration agenda. However, Secretary Noem emphasizes the need for additional resources to fully execute the Executive Order. She points to the recent growth in the IRS workforce and budget as a potential source of qualified personnel to assist with immigration enforcement.

The proposed roles for IRS agents within ICE include participation in interagency task forces focused on complex cases involving tax evasion, immigration violations, and money laundering. They would also contribute to investigations targeting employers suspected of illegal hiring practices, human smuggling and trafficking rings, asset seizure, contract oversight, apprehensions, detentions, and removals.

While the IRS primarily focuses on tax collection and enforcement, its criminal investigators possess expertise in uncovering financial crimes, including drug trafficking, money laundering, and corruption. This experience could prove valuable in addressing the multifaceted challenges of immigration enforcement. Both DHS and the IRS have yet to comment on the proposal.