McALLEN, Texas (Border Report) — According to the Cato Institute, over 14,500 federal law enforcement officers from various agencies are collaborating with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to conduct nationwide raids and arrests, including newly designated special agents from USCIS.

This week, the Cato Institute revealed that ICE’s Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) is receiving support from nearly 17,000 agents who are not part of ERO, based on information provided to the nonprofit.

That includes diverting U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services employees to help with ICE raids.

The Department of Homeland Security this week announced a new class of USCIS employees had been “newly minted” as special agents to work with ICE.

Personnel from USCIS are being granted the power “to investigate and enforce civil and criminal violations of immigration laws within USCIS’s jurisdiction. This includes, but is not limited to, the ability to issue and execute warrants, arrest individuals, and carry firearms,” as stated in a notice published Friday in the Federal Register.

This includes ordering expedited removals. USCIS says it plans to recruit and train special agents for these roles.

“As (Homeland Security) Secretary Noem delegated legal authority to enhance our law enforcement capabilities, this rule enables us to achieve our critical objectives. This landmark decision will improve our ability to address immigration crimes, ensure accountability for immigration fraud, and serve as a force multiplier for DHS and our federal law enforcement partners, including the Joint Terrorism Task Force,” said USCIS Director Joseph Edlow in a statement.

Edlow indicates that this will permit his agency to manage investigations entirely in-house, rather than forwarding certain cases to Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and ERO agents.

The Cato Institute reports that other federal employees diverted to ICE ERO include:

• ICE HSI: 6,198
• FBI: 2,840
• Drug Enforcement Administration: 2,181
• Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives: 1,778
• U.S. Marshals Service: 650
• Border Patrol: 335
• Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations: 288
• Department of State – Diplomatic Security: 93
• CBP Air and Marine Operations: 68
• Department of Defense: 35
• IRS: 20
• Bureau of Prisons: 11
• U.S. Secret Service: 1

Moreover, state and local law enforcement agencies are partnering with ICE as part of the 287(g) program. The Cato Institute reports that more than 8,500 officers are supporting ICE operations.

The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) is opposed to arming USCIS personnel to become an arresting arm.

“The Trump Administration has transformed USCIS into an enforcement agency, weaponizing the immigration system against American families, asylum seekers, and businesses. What’s worse, this rule states they now plan to arm potentially hundreds of agents at USCIS,” AILA President Jeff Joseph said.

“Congress established USCIS after 9/11 to process legal immigration applications. Enforcement actions were left to other agencies to ensure that immigrants felt safe submitting their personal information and appearing for interviews. The administration’s continued attacks on those who are following the rules and going through legal channels will only serve to push people further into the shadows. Their aim of driving people out of the country shows a shocking disregard for the value and contributions that immigrants make to America,” Johnson said.

Sandra Sanchez can be reached at SSanchez@BorderReport.com.