FBI Diverts 2,840 Agents to Immigration Enforcement, Outpacing Post-9/11 Counterterrorism Reassignment

A significant reallocation of Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) resources has seen approximately 20% of its agents, totaling 2,840 personnel, diverted to immigration enforcement duties. This shift, identified by data obtained by the libertarian-oriented Cato Institute, represents a more substantial redirection of FBI priorities than the 1,234 criminal investigators reassigned to counterterrorism efforts following the 9/11 attacks. The data highlights a profound change in the bureau's operational focus under current policies.According to Ken Dilanian of MSNBC, who reported on the findings, this diversion impacts a substantial portion of the FBI's approximately 13,800 agents. The Cato Institute's analysis, based on information received from a source within ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO), indicates that this move is part of a broader trend affecting nearly 15,000 federal law enforcement agents from various agencies. The think tank has consistently raised concerns that such reassignments could compromise public safety by drawing resources away from critical investigations.The consequences of this policy are reportedly significant, with former FBI officials expressing alarm over the diminished capacity to combat other serious crimes. MSNBC revealed that agents reassigned to immigration enforcement have had to step away from investigations into violent predators targeting children online, citing the Baltimore domestic terrorism squad as an example where nearly every agent was deployed to immigration duties. This has led to a national de-emphasis on domestic terrorism investigations, according to current and former officials.FBI Director Kash Patel's directive to involve agents in rounding up undocumented immigrants is cited as a primary driver behind these changes. While the FBI's Baltimore field office stated it "continuously analyzes the threat landscape and allocates resources and personnel to address emerging threats," critics argue that this shift leaves the nation more vulnerable. Former FBI executive Michael Feinberg warned that agents are less able to "keep their ear to the ground about what’s happening among extremist movements," potentially giving extremists "more latitude to do things that harm our society."The Cato Institute's report also underscores that this diversion extends beyond the FBI, encompassing agents from ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives (ATF). The think tank asserts that "Diverting law enforcement away from their duties investigating terrorist threats, child trafficking, and violent crimes to arrest people for minor violations of civil law makes Americans less safe." This comprehensive reallocation suggests a fundamental restructuring of federal law enforcement priorities, with potential long-term implications for national security and criminal justice.