Republicans Shift Stance on Armed IRS Agents, Now Seeking Their Help with Immigration Enforcement

For years, Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, have been critical of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and its armed agents. However, a shift has occurred, as the Trump administration is now requesting IRS workers to assist with immigration enforcement.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem recently sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent requesting IRS agents from the Criminal Investigation unit to help with immigration crackdowns. This request follows the significant funding increase the IRS received under the Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act, although much of it has since been rolled back.

The IRS Criminal Investigation unit, which includes 2,144 special agents, focuses on fraud, trafficking, and other criminal cases. Unlike the larger IRS workforce, these agents are armed and often work in the field. Now, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is seeking to deploy them to assist Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with tasks such as monitoring unlawful hiring practices and targeting immigrants in the country illegally.

This request marks a significant change in the GOP’s position on IRS agents, as they previously falsely claimed that the IRS intended to hire 87,000 armed agents to harass middle-income earners. The current push to repurpose these agents reflects the Trump administration’s focus on border security and a broader reorganization of the federal workforce.

Experts warn that this shift in priorities could result in the loss of tax revenue. While reallocating federal workers to different tasks is not without precedent, experts argue that this particular move could harm efforts to catch tax evaders, with some estimates suggesting it could lead to billions of dollars in lost tax revenue.

Chloe East, an immigration policy expert, expressed concern that focusing IRS agents on immigration issues rather than tax enforcement could undermine the administration’s deficit-cutting goals. Critics argue that this could shift resources away from addressing serious financial crimes, such as money laundering, and instead prioritize immigration enforcement.

This move is emblematic of the broader policy changes under the Trump administration, as it continues to reshape government priorities in line with its stance on immigration and border security.