Trump Proposes Deputizing 90,000 IRS Agents for Border Security

President Donald Trump has proposed a controversial plan to deploy nearly 90,000 Internal Revenue Service (IRS) agents to assist with securing the southern border. This move comes amidst the administration's efforts to strengthen immigration enforcement and address the ongoing issue of illegal crossings.

DHS Request for IRS Deputization

According to a senior official within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Trump administration is seeking to deputize IRS agents to participate in illegal immigration enforcement. A letter sent by DHS Secretary Kristi Noem to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent formally requests that the IRS provide agents for this purpose, emphasizing the need to supplement available personnel at the border.

President's Directive and Partnerships

Secretary Noem highlighted that President Trump has directed her agency to take "all appropriate action" to secure the southern border and enforce immigration laws, including utilizing the authority to deputize federal employees for immigration functions. In response to this directive, DHS has established partnerships with various law enforcement agencies, including components of the Department of Justice, members of the Texas National Guard, and officials from the Texas Attorney General's Office.

Request for IRS Assistance

Despite these existing partnerships, Secretary Noem acknowledged that further resources are needed to fully implement the President's immigration agenda. She emphasized that the Department of Treasury possesses qualified law enforcement personnel within the IRS who could contribute significantly to immigration enforcement efforts, particularly given recent increases in the IRS workforce and budget.

Noem specifically requested that the Treasury Department make available qualified officials from the IRS to work alongside ICE agents on interagency task forces. These task forces would focus on building complex cases that encompass tax, immigration, and money laundering charges. Additionally, she sought IRS assistance in targeting employers engaged in unlawful hiring practices, investigations into human smuggling and trafficking rings, asset seizure, contract oversight, apprehensions, detentions, and removals.

Expanded Roles for IRS Agents

The request underscores the potential for expanded roles for IRS agents beyond their traditional tax-related responsibilities. While the IRS primarily focuses on collecting taxes and enforcing related laws, its criminal investigators are also involved in uncovering drug trafficking, money laundering, and corruption. This proposed deployment of IRS agents to the border would mark a significant shift in their operational scope.

Response and Implications

The DHS and IRS have not yet responded to Fox News Digital's request for comment on this matter. However, the proposal has sparked considerable discussion and debate regarding the appropriate allocation of resources and the potential implications for both immigration enforcement and the IRS's core mission.

The Trump administration's plan to deploy IRS agents to the border reflects a broader strategy of utilizing federal agencies in multifaceted ways to address complex challenges such as illegal immigration. The effectiveness of this approach and its long-term consequences remain subjects of ongoing analysis and scrutiny.