Trump Uses Military, IRS, DOJ, and More for Mass Deportations \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ The Trump administration has turned nearly every federal agency into an immigration enforcement arm, extending crackdowns beyond Homeland Security to include the State Department, Defense Department, IRS, and Justice Department. Trump’s executive orders are driving mass deportations, stricter border security, and targeting sanctuary cities. Military assets, tax enforcement, and foreign diplomacy are now key tools in his immigration agenda.
Trump’s Expanded Immigration Crackdown: Quick Looks
- Whole-of-Government Strategy: Nearly every federal agency is now involved in immigration enforcement.
- State Department Role: Secured agreements with Guatemala, Panama, and El Salvador to accept deportees.
- Military’s Growing Involvement: Pentagon troops at the border, deportation flights from Guantanamo Bay, and Air Force planes used for removals.
- Justice Department Crackdown: Suing sanctuary cities, using federal law enforcement for immigration arrests, and holding detainees in federal prisons.
- IRS Enforcement: Cracking down on employers hiring undocumented immigrants.
- Education Department Concerns: Student loan data may be used to track immigration status.
- Trump’s Executive Order: Seeks to eliminate federal benefits for undocumented immigrants.
Deep Look
Trump Turns Every Federal Agency into an Immigration Enforcement Arm
President Donald Trump has dramatically expanded immigration enforcement beyond the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), transforming nearly every major federal agency into a key player in his deportation and border security strategy.
With Trump promising “mass deportations”, the State Department, Defense Department, Justice Department, IRS, and even the Department of Education are now actively involved in immigration enforcement efforts.
“The breadth of what is happening in these first couple of weeks is much wider than we saw during the first Trump administration,” said Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh of the Migration Policy Institute.
State Department’s New Immigration Focus
The State Department now plays a critical role in securing deportation agreements with foreign governments, ensuring they accept migrants sent back from the U.S.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s first international trip was to Central America, where he negotiated new agreements with:
- Guatemala
- Panama
- El Salvador
These agreements force those nations to accept deportees from other countries, addressing a key obstacle to mass deportations. Many countries refuse to take back their citizens, making removals more difficult.
The State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service has also been deputized to assist Homeland Security in immigration arrests and deportations, marking a significant expansion of its role.
“Just the fact that Rubio and his deputy, Christopher Landau, are leading the State Department signals a shift in priorities,” said Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies.
Military’s Expanded Role in Immigration Enforcement
The Defense Department has long provided logistical support for immigration enforcement, but under Trump, its involvement is more direct than ever.
Military Deportation Flights & Border Operations
- Air Force planes have been used for 26 deportation flights, supplementing ICE charter flights.
- Troop deployments at the U.S.-Mexico border have increased.
- Guantanamo Bay is now being used to hold and deport migrants deemed “the worst of the worst”, though the administration has not provided specifics on their identities or crimes.
Border Wall and National Emergency Powers
Trump’s Jan. 20 executive orders suggest further military involvement, including:
- Redirecting military funds for border wall construction.
- Considering invoking the Insurrection Act to expand military law enforcement powers at the border.
“There’s a very clear line in the mind of the American people who do not want to see uniformed military personnel arresting migrants in their homes, schools, or churches,” warned Tom Warrick, a former DHS official.
Justice Department Cracks Down on Sanctuary Cities
Attorney General Pam Bondi has aggressively targeted sanctuary cities—jurisdictions that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
- Lawsuit against New York: Challenging a state law allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses.
- Lawsuit against Chicago and Illinois: Alleging that sanctuary laws block federal immigration efforts.
Federal law enforcement agencies under the DOJ, including the:
- FBI
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
- Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
… have participated in high-profile ICE operations, assisting in arrests of undocumented immigrants.
Expansion of Immigration Detention
The DOJ’s Bureau of Prisons has also been ordered to house more detained migrants, increasing detention capacity for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
“DOJ agencies used to prioritize immigrants involved in criminal activity,” said Putzel-Kavanaugh. “Now, enforcement is much broader and much more public.”
IRS and Financial Crackdown on Illegal Immigration
The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), under direction from DHS Secretary Kristi Noem, is now:
- Investigating employers hiring undocumented immigrants.
- Monitoring undocumented workers for tax fraud or employment violations.
“Noem has tasked the IRS with helping enforce immigration laws in ways we haven’t seen before,” said a senior Treasury Department official.
Department of Education Concerns: Student Data as an Immigration Tool?
The Department of Government Efficiency, led by Elon Musk, has gained access to federal student loan data, which includes parents’ citizenship status.
Student advocates fear that information could be used to:
- Identify and track undocumented parents.
- Expand enforcement actions against undocumented families.
This potential use of education records for immigration enforcement is expected to spark legal challenges.
Trump’s Executive Order to End Benefits for Undocumented Immigrants
On Wednesday, Trump signed an executive order aimed at ending all taxpayer-funded benefits for undocumented immigrants.
However, most federal benefits were already restricted under a 1996 welfare law, except for:
- Emergency medical care.
- K-12 public education, which the 1982 Supreme Court ruling Plyler v. Doe guarantees to all children, regardless of immigration status.
The order directs all federal agencies to:
- Identify programs that provide benefits to undocumented immigrants.
- Ensure states do not use federal funds to support sanctuary policies.
What’s Next? More Agencies Could Join the Crackdown
Mark Krikorian of the Center for Immigration Studies predicts that even more agencies will play a role, including:
- Department of Labor: Expected to increase workplace immigration enforcement.
- Department of Housing and Urban Development: May restrict access to public housing for undocumented immigrants.
“We’re seeing a whole-of-government approach like never before,” Krikorian said.
Trump’s immigration enforcement strategy is only expanding, and as more federal agencies are drawn into the crackdown, legal battles are inevitable.
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