The FBI is significantly bolstering the Trump administration’s crackdown on criminal aliens by deploying its extensive resources and expertise nationwide. Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll confirmed the bureau’s proactive collaboration with Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies, ranging from major metropolitan areas to the American heartland. This joint effort focuses on apprehending illegal immigrants with known or suspected criminal backgrounds, leveraging the FBI’s intelligence capabilities, tactical units, and legal expertise.
Driscoll emphasized the FBI’s commitment to this initiative, stating that special agents in charge across all 55 field offices have been directed to coordinate with their DHS counterparts and offer assistance. The FBI is also ensuring its personnel are trained on Title 8 authorities, the section of the U.S. Code pertaining to immigration law, to effectively operate within the legal framework of these operations. This collaborative approach aligns with the acting Attorney General’s memo, which underscores the supremacy of federal law in immigration enforcement.
The FBI’s involvement marks a substantial escalation in the crackdown, bringing to bear resources that significantly augment the capabilities of local and federal partners. This includes deploying SWAT teams, intelligence analysts, and legal experts to support operations throughout the country. The impact of this enhanced cooperation is evident in the apprehension of numerous individuals who were previously moving freely despite their criminal backgrounds. Driscoll highlighted the critical role of intelligence sharing, citing New York as an example where prioritized targeting of the “worst of the worst” has led to dozens of arrests.
Beyond tactical and intelligence support, the FBI also contributes its expertise in crisis management coordination. Driscoll emphasized the inherently intertwined relationship between the FBI and DHS, noting their frequent collaboration on national security threats. He cited a case involving an ISIS travel network of Tajik nationals as an example of the effectiveness of interagency information sharing. The FBI’s rapid dissemination of intelligence to DHS enabled Customs and Border Protection to enhance border screenings, leading to mandatory detentions and deportation proceedings that prevented potential attacks on American citizens.
The current crackdown on criminal aliens leverages similar investigative powers and interagency cooperation. The FBI is deeply involved in assisting DHS components, including ICE, Homeland Security Investigations, and Border Patrol, in apprehending known criminal aliens across the country. Recent examples include the capture of a suspected human smuggler in El Paso, Texas, with ongoing investigations to determine potential gang affiliations. These targeted operations align with the warnings issued by Trump’s border czar, Tom Homan, who foreshadowed a focused effort to apprehend known criminal aliens.
Since Trump’s inauguration, immigration task forces nationwide have apprehended thousands of suspected illegal immigrant criminals. Recent ICE figures indicate approximately 5,500 arrests since last Thursday, encompassing individuals accused of child predation, gang membership, suspected terrorism, and other violent crimes. A suspected member of the violent Tren de Aragua gang, linked to an incident in Colorado, was recently apprehended in New York City, further illustrating the reach of these operations. President Trump has expressed his intent to send up to 30,000 dangerous illegal aliens to Guantánamo Bay, emphasizing the severity of the threat they pose to public safety. He also championed the Laken Riley Act, legislation mandating the detention and deportation of criminal illegal aliens and empowering states to challenge non-compliance with immigration laws. Despite the intensified focus on immigration enforcement, FBI officials assure the public that other crucial duties, such as counterterrorism efforts, remain a top priority.
