Trump Transforms Every Federal Agency into Immigration Enforcers

Paul Riverbank, 2/22/2025In an unprecedented expansion of immigration enforcement, the Trump administration has transformed virtually every federal agency into an extension of border control. This whole-of-government approach marks a dramatic departure from traditional practices, raising questions about resource allocation and constitutional boundaries.

In a sweeping expansion of immigration control, federal agencies from the Pentagon to the Treasury are now actively engaged in identifying, apprehending and removing individuals who are in the country illegally. This whole-of-government approach marks a significant departure from previous administrations, where immigration enforcement primarily fell under the Department of Homeland Security's purview.

"The breadth of what is happening in these first couple of weeks is much wider than we saw during the first Trump administration," notes Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh from the Migration Policy Institute, highlighting the extraordinary scope of the current initiative.

The State Department, under Secretary Marco Rubio's leadership, has emerged as a key player in this expanded enforcement strategy. Rubio's first international mission — focused on securing deportation agreements with Guatemala, Panama and El Salvador — demonstrates the administration's diplomatic priority shift. The appointment of Christopher Landau, former ambassador to Mexico and architect of the "Remain in Mexico" policy, as Rubio's deputy further emphasizes this new direction.

Perhaps most striking is the Defense Department's enhanced role in immigration enforcement. The Pentagon has not only increased troop presence at the southern border but has also taken the unusual step of using Air Force planes for deportation flights — completing 26 such missions to date. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's declaration that "all department assets were on the table" signals an even broader military involvement ahead.

The Justice Department, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, has launched an aggressive legal campaign against sanctuary cities. "This is a new DOJ," Bondi declared while announcing lawsuits against New York and Chicago over their immigration policies. The department has also deployed FBI, ATF and DEA agents in high-profile immigration operations — a significant departure from these agencies' traditional focus.

Even traditionally uninvolved departments have been drafted into immigration enforcement. The IRS is now targeting employers of unauthorized workers, while the Department of Education faces scrutiny over potential use of student loan data to identify individuals in the country illegally. The Department of Health and Human Services has suspended legal services for unaccompanied migrant children.

Tom Warrick, former DHS counterterrorism official now at the Atlantic Council, warns about potential public pushback: "There's a very clear line that exists in the mind of the American people who do not want to see uniformed military people arresting migrants, especially in their homes and schools and houses of worship."

The administration's latest executive order seeking to end "all taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal aliens" further exemplifies this all-encompassing approach, though its practical implications remain unclear given existing legal restrictions on benefits for unauthorized immigrants.

This transformation of federal agencies into de facto immigration enforcement bodies represents a fundamental shift in American governance — one that supporters claim necessary for effective immigration control but critics warn could strain agency resources and potentially exceed constitutional bounds.

The Trump administration has launched an unprecedented mobilization of federal resources, transforming virtually every major government department into an extension of immigration enforcement — a dramatic shift that reaches far beyond traditional border security operations.In a sweeping expansion of immigration control, federal agencies from the Pentagon to the Treasury are now actively engaged in identifying, apprehending and removing individuals who are in the country illegally. This whole-of-government approach marks a significant departure from previous administrations, where immigration enforcement primarily fell under the Department of Homeland Security's purview."The breadth of what is happening in these first couple of weeks is much wider than we saw during the first Trump administration," notes Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh from the Migration Policy Institute, highlighting the extraordinary scope of the current initiative.The State Department, under Secretary Marco Rubio's leadership, has emerged as a key player in this expanded enforcement strategy. Rubio's first international mission — focused on securing deportation agreements with Guatemala, Panama and El Salvador — demonstrates the administration's diplomatic priority shift. The appointment of Christopher Landau, former ambassador to Mexico and architect of the "Remain in Mexico" policy, as Rubio's deputy further emphasizes this new direction.Perhaps most striking is the Defense Department's enhanced role in immigration enforcement. The Pentagon has not only increased troop presence at the southern border but has also taken the unusual step of using Air Force planes for deportation flights — completing 26 such missions to date. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's declaration that "all department assets were on the table" signals an even broader military involvement ahead.The Justice Department, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, has launched an aggressive legal campaign against sanctuary cities. "This is a new DOJ," Bondi declared while announcing lawsuits against New York and Chicago over their immigration policies. The department has also deployed FBI, ATF and DEA agents in high-profile immigration operations — a significant departure from these agencies' traditional focus.Even traditionally uninvolved departments have been drafted into immigration enforcement. The IRS is now targeting employers of unauthorized workers, while the Department of Education faces scrutiny over potential use of student loan data to identify individuals in the country illegally. The Department of Health and Human Services has suspended legal services for unaccompanied migrant children.Tom Warrick, former DHS counterterrorism official now at the Atlantic Council, warns about potential public pushback: "There's a very clear line that exists in the mind of the American people who do not want to see uniformed military people arresting migrants, especially in their homes and schools and houses of worship."The administration's latest executive order seeking to end "all taxpayer-funded benefits for illegal aliens" further exemplifies this all-encompassing approach, though its practical implications remain unclear given existing legal restrictions on benefits for unauthorized immigrants.This transformation of federal agencies into de facto immigration enforcement bodies represents a fundamental shift in American governance — one that supporters claim necessary for effective immigration control but critics warn could strain agency resources and potentially exceed constitutional bounds.