The Trump administration has authorized U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to employ its own armed federal agents with the power to investigate and arrest individuals for immigration violations. This move represents a significant departure for the agency, which has traditionally focused on adjudicating applications for green cards, citizenship, and humanitarian benefits, separate from enforcement and deportation operations.
Under a new rule from the Department of Homeland Security, which will take effect 30 days from its publication, USCIS can hire “special agents” with standard federal law enforcement powers, including the authority to carry firearms and execute search and arrest warrants. According to a statement, the agency plans to train several hundred agents to investigate immigration fraud among both applicants and the lawyers who represent them.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow said the change will help “hold those that perpetrate immigration fraud accountable” and act as a “force multiplier” for the Department of Homeland Security and its law enforcement partners. He added that the agency will be able to more efficiently clear backlogs, prosecute individuals who exploit the system, and remove them from the country.
However, critics argue that the presence of armed agents at interview sites could have a chilling effect, potentially deterring eligible individuals from applying for benefits they are entitled to.
This policy shift is part of a broader administration effort to intensify immigration enforcement. It follows other recent USCIS measures that have increased scrutiny on applicants, including the resumption of “neighborhood investigations” involving interviews with neighbors and coworkers. The agency also recently updated its guidelines to consider “anti-American ideologies or activities,” including social media content, as a significant negative factor in its decisions.
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