FBI Deployed 6,500 Agents for Immigration Enforcement Under Trump’s Mass Deportation Push

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The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has dramatically shifted its workforce priorities under the second Trump administration, redirecting more than 9,161 personnel—nearly a quarter of its total workforce—to immigration enforcement between January 2025 and September 2025, according to records obtained by The Intercept through a Freedom of Information Act request. The number of FBI employees assigned to “immigration-related matters” surged from 279 before Trump’s inauguration to over 6,500 by September 2025, marking a 23-fold increase.

This unprecedented reallocation coincides with a broader Trump administration push to deploy federal law enforcement resources—including agents from the FBI, DEA, ATF, and IRS—to support Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deportation operations. The shift has drawn sharp criticism from lawmakers, immigration advocates, and national security experts, who warn it undermines the FBI’s core mission of counterterrorism and criminal investigations.

FBI’s Immigration Surge: A 23-Fold Increase in Personnel

By September 2025, 6,500 FBI employees were working on immigration, with the total number of personnel assigned to these tasks reaching 9,161 over the nine-month period. This represents roughly 24% of the FBI’s total workforce of 38,000 employees. The reallocation began almost immediately after Trump’s second inauguration, with 1,390 employees assigned to immigration by January 26, 2025—just six days into his term.

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The rapid expansion of FBI involvement in immigration enforcement continued as the administration escalated its deportation policies. By May 2025, the number of FBI personnel working on immigration peaked at over 5,700, coinciding with the administration’s announcement of a daily quota to arrest 3,000 people—a policy that drew widespread condemnation from advocacy groups and legal experts.

It remains unclear whether these personnel were drawn from the FBI’s 13,700 special agents or its broader workforce. However, a September 2025 disclosure from ICE revealed that 2,840 of those agents—approximately 1 in 5—were being redirected to support ICE enforcement and removal operations, according to the Cato Institute.

We’re talking about the FBI diverting people away from criminal investigations and ongoing criminal activity and into civil immigration enforcement.

David J. Bier, Director of Immigration Studies, Cato Institute

Bier and other experts argue that this diversion of resources away from public safety is a direct violation of Congress’s intent for the FBI’s mission. “This is showing the extent to which the resources of the FBI were put at the disposal of Immigration and Customs Enforcement contrary to the intent of Congress,” Bier said. “The abuse of the funds that Congress grants the FBI to accomplish its mission is clear.”

Director Kash Patel’s Role in the Shift

The surge in FBI personnel assigned to immigration enforcement occurred under the leadership of Director Kash Patel, who has been criticized for his willingness to prioritize Trump’s immigration agenda over the FBI’s traditional mission. Patel’s tenure has seen a marked shift in the bureau’s focus, with reports indicating that the FBI has reassigned agents from counterterrorism and other critical investigations to support ICE operations.

In June 2025, the FBI reported making 10,553 immigration-related arrests since January 20, 2025, according to data reviewed by Fox News. This figure underscores the scale of the FBI’s involvement in immigration enforcement, far exceeding its historical role in such matters.

That is a huge, huge number of people. This is just a somewhat shocking scale that we’re looking at.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, Senior Fellow, American Immigration Council

Reichlin-Melnick, who has testified before Congress on the cost of mass deportations, emphasized the unprecedented nature of the FBI’s involvement. “If you look at how quickly the scale of this ramped up and compare it to what we know was happening at the time, it’s very clear that a lot of this—probably the significant majority—was immigration enforcement,” he said.

National Security Concerns and Reassignment of Agents

The diversion of FBI agents to immigration enforcement has raised significant national security concerns, particularly amid heightened tensions with Iran. Following the U.S. Bombing of Iran in June 2025, the FBI was forced to reassign agents back to counterterrorism duties after previously diverting them to immigration-related work. This shift was prompted by concerns about potential retaliation and the need to monitor threats from Iran.

According to NBC News, the FBI’s Assistant Director for Counterterrorism issued guidance in June 2025 to reassign agents who had been pulled from counterterrorism roles to focus on immigration enforcement. The move came as experts warned that diverting agents away from national security priorities could leave the U.S. Vulnerable to emerging threats.

Anytime you’re involved in a war—and we certainly are—Consider be careful about retaliation and monitoring those threats. It makes little sense to divert people away from that during this time, especially.

David J. Bier, Director of Immigration Studies, Cato Institute

Despite these concerns, the FBI has continued to expand its role in immigration enforcement. Even after Congress passed the One Big, Beautiful Bill Act in July 2025, which allocated an additional $170 billion for immigration and border spending, the number of FBI personnel assigned to immigration remained high. Bier noted that the continued diversion of agents suggests a deliberate prioritization of mass deportation over public safety and national security.

FBI’s Response and Ongoing Controversy

The FBI has defended its reallocation of resources, stating in a statement to The Intercept that agents and staff are “dedicated professionals working around the clock to defend the homeland and crush violent crime.” The bureau added that it “continuously assesses and realigns our resources to ensure the safety of the American people, and we surge resources based on needs.”

However, the statement does not address the specific concerns raised by experts and lawmakers about the impact of this shift on the FBI’s ability to investigate criminal activity and threats to national security. ICE did not respond to requests for comment on the matter.

As of May 2026, the FBI’s involvement in immigration enforcement remains a contentious issue, with ongoing debates over the appropriate role of federal law enforcement in deportation operations. The reallocation of nearly a quarter of the FBI’s workforce to immigration-related tasks raises questions about the long-term consequences for public safety and national security in an era of heightened global tensions.

For more information on immigration enforcement and related policies, visit the Immigrant Legal Resource Center.

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