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Republicans Rethink IRS Agents for Immigration Enforcement
For years, Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, have been vocal critics of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and its cadre of armed agents. They have repeatedly, and falsely, claimed that the IRS planned to hire 87,000 armed agents to harass middle-income earners. However, the tide seems to be turning, as the Trump administration is now considering a significant role for the IRS in immigration enforcement. According to a recent letter obtained by The Associated Press, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has requested that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent lend IRS workers to assist with the immigration crackdown. This shift reflects a broader reorientation of the federal workforce under the Trump administration, where workers are often encouraged to resign, reassigned to different roles, or even fired to align with the administration’s priorities.
IRS Criminal Investigation Unit: A Different Breed
The IRS Criminal Investigation unit, which employed 2,144 special agents in 2023, stands apart from the larger IRS workforce of approximately 89,000 employees. These agents are the ones who carry firearms and work in the field on cases involving trafficking, fraud, and other criminal activities. Noem’s letter specifically targets this specialized group, proposing that they serve in task forces with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The focus would be on targeting employers who engage in unlawful hiring practices, monitoring immigrants in the country illegally, and other related tasks. This request is rooted in the perceived need for additional law enforcement resources to bolster border security and enforce immigration laws more rigorously.
Noem’s Unusual Request
In her letter to Bessent, Noem emphasized that the Treasury Department has qualified law enforcement personnel available to assist with immigration enforcement, particularly in light of recent increases to the IRS’s workforce and budget. Despite the $80 billion infusion of funds the IRS received under the Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act being clawed back, Noem believes the agency has the capacity to contribute to the border security mission. However, experts in the tax and immigration fields find this request unusual and potentially problematic. Donald Williamson, the former executive director of the Kogod Tax Center at American University, described Noem’s request as "extraordinary." The reason for this is the unique expertise of IRS Criminal Investigation agents, who are typically focused on financial crimes rather than immigration issues. This redirection could lead to significant disruptions in the IRS’s primary mission of ensuring tax compliance and auditing employers for financial irregularities.
Potential Impact on Tax Revenue
Chloe East, a nonresident fellow at the Brookings Institution and an expert in immigration policy, warns that diverting IRS workers to immigration enforcement could have severe financial repercussions. The IRS is crucial for catching tax evaders and ensuring that the government collects the revenue it needs to fund various programs and services. By shuffling these agents to border-related tasks, the Trump administration risks losing billions of dollars in potential tax revenue. This is particularly concerning given the administration’s stated goal of reducing the deficit. East also pointed out that the passage of the Laken Riley Act, which calls for more border officers, further underscores the potential misallocation of resources. “The Trump administration would rather pursue immigrants rather than pursue money launderers,” she said, highlighting a trade-off that could have long-term economic consequences.
Precedent and Political Context
While there is historical precedent for reassigning federal workers to tasks outside their original roles, the scope and nature of Noem’s request stand out. Across different administrations, federal employees have sometimes been reassigned to other agencies or tasks to meet immediate needs or align with new policy goals. However, mobilizing a specialized unit like the IRS Criminal Investigation to handle immigration issues is a significant departure from past practices. Williamson noted that while this request isn’t entirely inconsistent with Republicans’ earlier criticisms of IRS hiring, it represents a substantial redirection of the IRS’s efforts. The IRS agents’ expertise in auditing employers and investigating financial crimes could be valuable in ensuring compliance with immigration laws, but the potential loss of tax revenue is a serious concern.
Uncertain Future and Response
The administration’s plan to redirect IRS agents to immigration enforcement remains uncertain, as representatives from the IRS Criminal Investigation and the Treasury Department have not responded to requests for comment. This lack of a public response could indicate internal deliberations or reluctance to publicly endorse a plan that could be seen as controversial. The proposal also faces criticism from both sides of the political spectrum, with Democrats likely to oppose it on grounds of potential civil rights violations and Republicans potentially questioning its practicality and effectiveness. As the debate continues, the future of this initiative remains in flux, but it underscores the administration’s commitment to border security and its willingness to use any available federal resources to achieve that goal.
