The Trump administration is implementing new strategies to bolster immigration enforcement by enlisting the support of various agencies and federal groups, as revealed by memos from the Department of Homeland Security and emails obtained by NPR. This move involves tapping into resources from agencies like the U.S. Marshals Service and the IRS to aid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in its arrests and deportation efforts. While interagency assistance is not uncommon, the scale of this collaboration appears unprecedented, raising concerns among experts.

ICE, with a workforce of around 20,800 employees, faces mounting pressure to meet increased arrest quotas set by the White House. To address staffing shortages, the administration has expanded the involvement of agencies like the U.S. Marshals Service, the DEA, and the Bureau of Prisons in immigration enforcement tasks. Additionally, the administration has deputized State Department agents to assist with arrests and deportations.

However, the deployment of personnel from other agencies has sparked pushback from federal employees and Democratic lawmakers. Concerns have been raised about the lack of training and preparation for these new roles. As a potential solution, Congress has the option to bolster ICE’s capabilities through increased funding, which could alleviate the need to source workers from other agencies.

The unfolding developments underscore the complex challenges and debates surrounding immigration enforcement policies, as the administration seeks to address staffing shortages and meet its enforcement goals amid a changing landscape of interagency cooperation.