IRS agents and refugee officers are being dispatched to aid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in carrying out raids
In a renewed crackdown on immigration, various US agencies are collaborating to strengthen immigration controls.
According to a spokesperson from the Customs and Border Protection (CBP), enforcing immigration law is crucial for protecting America's national security, public safety, and economic strength. This initiative, spearheaded by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) within the Homeland Security Department, has seen agencies both within and outside DHS soliciting employees to join the efforts.
ICE, in particular, has been authorised under Title 8 of the U.S. Code to make arrests for civil violations of immigration law. This has led to hundreds of USCIS employees being sent to support immigration enforcement in recent weeks. Some USCIS employees have expressed personal objections to the assignments, but they recognise the benefits of the opportunity.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is also lending a hand, offering 100 Federal Air Marshals to ICE. The TSA agents will serve on 60-day assignments for their initial details, conducting in-flight security functions for select ICE flights. Additionally, 50 employees from the USCIS refugee office have signed up for ICE assignments, making up nearly one-quarter of the office's staff.
Customs and Border Protection is also sending its personnel to aid ICE, currently on targeted operations in the Los Angeles area. Raids have taken place at various locations, including worksites, farms, nightclubs, residential areas, federal buildings, and during court hearings or check-ins.
The efforts have not been without controversy. Widespread protests and increased violence against federal officers and agents have been reported. USCIS, however, is proud to support ICE with hundreds of volunteers, as stated by a USCIS spokesperson.
It's important to note that the Department of Homeland Security under President Donald Trump initiated cooperation with local law enforcement agencies to reinforce immigration controls. However, there is no specific mention that Trump or another official initiated collaboration between the Interior Ministry and the IRS to assign IRS agents to immigration enforcement.
This is the first time IRS agents are conducting this type of work, according to a government official. The IRS-Criminal Investigation's detailed agents are currently assisting with immigration enforcement operations, primarily helping establish a perimeter during raids and other operations.
The Trump administration is also increasing efforts to detain and deport undocumented immigrants. In 2019, USCIS employees received a push to sign up for ICE deployments, as they are doing now. Around 250 Internal Revenue Service agents are currently detailed to DHS to provide added immigration enforcement manpower.
Trump's executive order on his first day in office freezing refugee resettlement is currently tied up in legal battles. Despite this, the collaboration between US agencies continues, with each agency playing a crucial role in the ongoing immigration enforcement efforts.
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