Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has authorized State Department special agents to assist in immigration enforcement efforts, significantly expanding the number of federal personnel eligible to carry out President Donald Trump’s mass deportation plan.

A memorandum signed by Noem allows up to 600 special agents from the State Department’s Diplomatic Security Service (DSS) to work alongside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in identifying, arresting, and deporting illegal immigrants inside the United States.

According to the memorandum obtained by the Washington Examiner, the deputized agents will have the authority to perform duties traditionally carried out by immigration officers, including:

• Investigating and locating individuals in violation of U.S. immigration laws
• Apprehending illegal immigrants within U.S. borders
• Enforcing federal immigration laws and regulations

“Under President Trump, we are defending American families and restoring their safety. If you try to enter illegally, you will be caught. You will be removed, and you will never return. Follow the law, and you’ll find opportunity. If you break it, you’ll find consequences.” Noem said in a statement on Monday.

Tonight, I’m announcing a nationwide and international multimillion-dollar ad campaign warning illegal aliens to leave our country NOW or face deportation with the inability to return to the US. This serves as a strong warning to criminal illegal aliens to not come to America. If… pic.twitter.com/VcVgJYfSKR

— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) February 18, 2025

The State Department has not yet commented on whether the deputized agents will receive specific immigration enforcement training before carrying out their new duties.

Noem’s move follows an earlier announcement on February 10, in which she called on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to assist ICE in deporting illegal immigrants with criminal records.

“Instead of having Biden’s 87,000 IRS agents take more money from Americans, I have requested that they help taxpayers SAVE money by helping ICE round up criminal illegal aliens for deportation,” Noem posted on X.

Instead of having Biden’s 87,000 IRS agents take more money from Americans, I have requested that they help taxpayers SAVE money by helping ICE round up criminal illegal aliens for deportation. pic.twitter.com/odpMunmm3o

— Secretary Kristi Noem (@Sec_Noem) February 10, 2025

She also sent a formal request to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, asking that IRS employees be assigned to work with DHS, which oversees ICE and border agencies.

Beyond the State Department and IRS, the Trump administration has also deputized law enforcement personnel from the Department of Justice (DOJ), including:

• Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
• Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
• U.S. Marshals Service

At the request of acting Homeland Security Secretary Benjamine “Carrie” Huffman, these agencies have been granted expanded authority to assist in immigration enforcement operations.

Since Trump took office on January 20, ICE has arrested thousands of illegal immigrants within U.S. borders.

• In the first week alone, ICE apprehended 2,373 individuals
• Over the past month, the total number of arrests has exceeded 11,000
• White House border czar Tom Homan announced on Monday that arrests were up 137% under Trump compared to previous levels
• The number of illegal immigrants with criminal convictions arrested has doubled

Trump and Vice President JD Vance have stated that their administration is targeting between 500,000 to 1 million illegal immigrants with criminal histories for arrest and deportation.

Illegal immigrants arrested under the expanded enforcement plan are held in federal custody while an immigration judge determines whether ICE can remove them from the country.

The Trump administration has continued to ramp up efforts to deport criminal illegal aliens, with Noem and other key officials emphasizing that federal resources will be used to their full extent to carry out the administration’s immigration policies.

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