The Trump government has made a significant change in U.S. immigration policy, announcing that U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will soon have armed law enforcement officers with arrest powers.
The shift, outlined Thursday in a new regulation, represents the first time that USCIS, historically charged with processing immigration petitions, green cards, and naturalization, is actually going to perform enforcement functions overlapping with those of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Under the policy, USCIS will have the authority to employ “special agents” who will have the power to investigate, arrest, and prosecute subjects for immigration fraud or other infractions. The special agents will also be permitted to carry firearms, serve search and arrest warrants, and exercise powers usually reserved for federal law enforcement agents.
The rule, signed by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, will go into effect 30 days from publication, USCIS announced in a release.
USCIS Director Joseph Edlow described the shift as a “historic moment,” saying it would reinforce the agency’s capacity to defend the immigration system.
USCIS has always been an enforcement agency,” Edlow said. “By maintaining the integrity of our immigration system, we enforce the laws of this country. This will more effectively combat immigration crimes, hold accountable those who commit fraud, and serve as a force multiplier for DHS and our law enforcement partners.”
What The Rule Means
The agency maintains that the action will enable it to more effectively combat immigration fraud, clear backlogs more quickly, and prosecute those who are abusing the system. In accordance with Edlow, dozens of new special agents will be trained to identify fraudulent applications and, if required, arrest applicants or attorneys.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) justified the plan, stating it would assist USCIS “fully complete its national security, fraud prevention, and public safety missions.”
Reactions And Backlash
The news has already generated heated controversy. Critics caution that bringing armed agents into an agency long linked with immigration benefits might undermine trust, inspire fear, and deter eligible immigrants from seeking out lawful status.
Doug Rand, a former Biden administration USCIS official, denounced the move as not necessary.
“They don’t have guns, and they’ve gotten along just fine for decades,” Rand said. “At best, the move is meant to intimidate people. At worst, it’s a reckless escalation of law enforcement that is utterly unnecessary at USCIS.”
Jason Houser, a former senior DHS official under both the Obama and Biden administrations, shared the same concerns. He claimed the action changes USCIS from a service-focused agency to one that leans heavily on enforcement.
“The message is unmistakable: enforcement where the benefits once were,” Houser said to NBC News. “There’s no room anymore for migrants to feel safe seeking out legal avenues without fear of detention.
Advocacy organizations also sounded the alarm. Nicole Melaku, executive director of the National Partnership for New Americans, termed the change “deeply alarming” and said it threatened to have a “chilling effect” on immigrants trying to find legal avenues to remain in the U.S.
“The intent here is to scare people away from coming to the process and create fear and distrust in an agency that has long been viewed as a public good,” Melaku said.
A Wider Push On Immigration
The move is part of the Trump administration’s wider effort to increase immigration enforcement. Earlier, officials floated the idea of deporting 1 million immigrants annually, in addition to other reforms at USCIS.
Recent changes include:
Reissuing “neighborhood investigations” of applicants, including interrogating neighbors and co-workers, a practice halted in 1991.
Updating the USCIS policy guide to include “anti-American ideologies or activities” on social media as a basis for denying benefits. The document says such conduct would be “an overwhelmingly negative factor” in discretionary determinations.
Critics of immigrant rights say these actions are imposing new hurdles on individuals trying to gain legal status in the U.S., casting the changes as part of an effort to dissuade people from applying through intimidation.
When the regulation goes into effect sometime in the next few weeks, USCIS will experience one of the most profound shifts in its history, obscuring the distinction between immigration services and enforcement. For numerous immigrants and their supporters, the shift has more questions than answers about what the future holds for U.S. immigration policy.
Leo Cruz brings sharp insights into the world of politics, offering balanced reporting and analysis on the latest policies, elections, and global political events. With years of experience covering campaigns and interviewing world leaders, Leo ensures readers are always informed and engaged.
